Odd Couple Tour Grand Junction

Reading Between the Lines...

Republicans and Democrats alike were left scratching their heads on Tuesday, August 15th at the sight of former GOP legislator Gayle Berry showing her Democrat pal, Cary Kennedy, around Grand Junction. Kennedy, whose name sounds exactly like "Kerry...Kennedy" is the Democratic candidate fielded for Colorado State Treasurer.

On this, Kennedy's third visit, her total of campaign contributions from Grand Junction amounted to about $20. she said. Perhaps she's mounting a coin-operated election campaign.

Apparently, the local Dems were unsure whether or not to support a candidate who hangs out with and is a pretty good friend of a former Republican legislator.

In 2000, Kennedy was the author of a statewide initiative to increase funding for Colorado's public schools, Amendment 23. As policy director for Democratic House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, Kennedy helped legislative leaders build the bi-partisan budget proposal Referendum C, which failed by over 70% in Mesa County and by similar numbers across the Western Slope. Referendum C was enacted to restore state budget funding that was siphoned away by Amendment 23.

Meanwhile, Mark Hillman, the GOP candidate for Colorado State Treasurer, has already raised $2,526.67 just from Grand Junction residents.

As Hillman explained in a recent interview with the Sentinel, “[people] contribute because you’ve taken time to build a personal relationship and convinced them that you’re worth their investment.”

Kennedy's Referendum C was her solution to the state's structural budget deficit exacerbated by the demands of her Amendment 23. Grand Junction residents may have expressed their confidence in her competence with the $20 in support for her candidacy.

Kennedy could not have expected fellow Democrats to rush over to her side, not while keeping company with a well-known Republican.

Gayle Berry may have single-handedly torpedoed Kennedy's candidacy in Western Colorado by repelling already-scarce checkbook-toting Democrats during their two-some tour. Berry has claimed she's not exactly endorsing Kennedy. Despite Berry's desire to fraternize with her alleged friend, she'd do well in public to keep her distance. Candidate Kennedy's Democratic supporters must have felt a strong urge to hold their noses for fear of breathing the same air as a well-known former Republican lawmaker. And the campaign finance report affirms that they held their checkbooks, too.