Registered voters will soon cast a ballot in the primary election of their choice, and we vehemently encourage everyone to exercise this important right.
For registered Democrats, the primary does not require making a decision as the primary consists of uncontested races. But Republican voters, as well as the unaffiliated who opt to complete the Republican ballot, have some choices to make.
The pages of this newspaper have featured Republican candidates who have met one-on-one with newspaper staff, detail of presentations from four Lincoln Day dinners across Northeast Colorado and also content from many debates. Some of those did not advance to the primary ballot, but many did. We’ve interacted with the candidates in various settings, earnestly attempting to get to know the person as much as the politician, and with this background the Brush News-Tribune, Fort Morgan Times and Sterling Journal-Advocate make the following recommendations in the Republican primary election.
U.S. Senate
Recommendation: Joe O’Dea
A wealthy, self-made businessman, Joe O’Dea has impressed us with his ability to tackle a variety of issues, much in the manner he has tackled countless construction contracts. He has termed his opponent, State Rep. Ron Hanks, a one-issue candidate, which largely appears to be true.
Hanks has endlessly harped on the outcome of the 2020 election, of which we understand many voters share some concern. We have not heard deeper discussion of issues important to Eastern Colorado in speeches he offered at the Republican Assembly and at the Republican Rumble debates, or during his address to Morgan County Republicans, where his speech began “Trump Won”.
People these days in Eastern Colorado are searching for a Cory Gardner, not someone to rehash an election from two years ago. Cory was a senator who we found would lend an ear to agriculture, energy and industry, often seeking input and collaboration. He understood the elements that keep Eastern Colorado economies thriving, and shared the values of Eastern Colorado. Cory sought solutions to everyday problems those of us in rural areas experience. We believe that person to be Joe O’Dea.
O’Dea appears to be genuine in his desire to help working Americans, reduce the unsustainable national debt and strengthen America. He’s not an Ivy League attorney, but an approachable everyman who dropped out of college to open a construction company. Washington needs more people with this background. Unlike most politicians, he doesn’t just speak of the American Dream, he lives it.
His adoptive father was a police officer, perhaps a reason tackling crime and drugs are among his leading priorities, and certainly a reason for his strong work ethic. Nearly every law enforcement association in Colorado supports O’Dea. He wants to solve the real issues facing Colorado and American families, not get lost in social issue debates.
This newspaper has met multiple times with O’Dea one-on-one in our community, and hasn’t had the opportunity to engage with Hanks. We would have accepted that opportunity, but didn’t need it. The best, most well-rounded GOP candidate to represent Eastern Colorado is Joe O’Dea.
He doesn’t want to rehash the past election, he wants to win this one. He is the candidate in this race with the chance to do just that in the general election.
Original source can be found here
