RSSDemocrat Robinson to challenge Scott for new House seat in Grand Junction
Dan Robinson
QUICKREAD
Contested races
A few of the newly redrawn legislative districts in the region either will be decided in a primary race in June or the general election in November. Some of the contests could change depending on what happens in local assemblies this month, when candidates will be chosen by their parties. Here’s a rundown of current candidates:
• House District 54: Incumbent Rep. Laura Bradford, R-Collbran, against Republican Rusty Price of Palisade.
• House District 55: Incumbent Rep. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, against Democrat Dan Robinson.
• House District 57: Republican Robert Rankin of Glenwood Springs against Republican Ronald Roesener of Parachute.
• House District 61: Republican Debra Lynn Irvine of Breckenridge against Republican David Justice of Gunnison. The winner will face Rep. Millie Hamner, D-Frisco.
• Senate District 8: Sen. Jean White, R-Hayden, against Rep. Randy Baumgardner, R-Cowdrey. The winner will face Democrat Emily Tracy of Breckenridge.
Grand Junction attorney Dan Robinson is hoping to test the waters in the newly created House district that includes only the city.
The Democrat plans to announce today he will challenge Republican Rep. Ray Scott for the right to represent the city in the Colorado Legislature.
Robinson, a member of the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees, has lived in the Grand Valley for more than 34 years.
A Colorado native, Robinson was born in Trinidad, but he grew up on the Western Slope and earned his undergraduate degree in political science and economics from Western State College in Gunnison. His law degree is from the University of Connecticut.
Robinson served on the School District 51 Board of Education for eight years, from 2000 to 2008, and ran unsuccessfully for Mesa County commissioner in 2008. He is fluent in Spanish and is a 25-year member of the Powderhorn Ski Patrol.
Though Robinson declined to comment about his plans, he did confirm that later today he formally will announce his candidacy and file his paperwork with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office to make it official.
He will face Scott, who’s serving his first term in the Colorado House.
When the Colorado Supreme Court approved new legislative district lines last fall, Scott’s district was moved from the mostly rural parts of southwestern Mesa County and western Delta County to include only the city of Grand Junction.
The new district is a tough one for a Democrat based on party registration. According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, nearly 47 percent of registered voters in the district are Republican, while 29 percent are unaffiliated. Only 23 percent are Democrats.
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Commenting is not available in this channel entry.Excellent candidate!