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Ken Buck's campaign seeded with grassroots
5/21/2010
By Leslie Jorgensen Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Buck, the Weld County District Attorney, coins his campaign as a grassroots effort — but perhaps he has the best of both worlds. His campaign headquarters is situated high above the Mile High City in the 10th floor office suite of political consultant Walt Klein.
On this Saturday afternoon, the building’s security is as tight as the Pentagon and it took some pull to get clearance for access to the campaign headquarters. The building entrance doors are locked to the lobby and the elevators require pass cards. A powerful security chief arrives by chance to waive us through — none other than the candidate’s wife Perry Buck, who is rushing to a wedding of a close gal pal. An elevator zooms up to the office closer to heaven, there are dozens of campaign staffers — some in meetings in a side conference room and a few individuals in enclosed offices. Klein arrives and playfully initiates a “dueling cameras” contest — taking photos of this reporter and of me, shooting him.  Buck for U.S. Senate campaign volunteer Adam Heller, left, Denver metro area coordinator Dick Poole, fundraiser Michele Haedrich, organizational director Danielle Olson; Weld County District Attorney and candidate Ken Buck, press secretary Owen Loftus, general consultant Walt Klein, office manager Luke Waggoner and scheduler Heather Williams.Photo by Leslie Jorgensen/The Colorado Statesman
The candidate, seated across from the campaign’s Denver metro area coordinator Dick Poole, is making calls to delegates to the state GOP assembly to be held May 22 at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. While photos are being snapped of the campaign staff, Buck and Klein lead the group in chanting, “Where is Jane on May 22nd?” Buck’s biggest Republican opponent is former Colorado Lt. Governor Jane Norton, who opted to bypass the traditional party assembly route and petition onto the ballot. Other GOP opponents, such as businessman Cleve Tidwell and patent attorney Steve Barton, are traveling the party assembly path. Former state Sen. Tom Wiens, like Norton, is also petitioning onto the ballot. On hand for the photo with Buck are campaign staffers Owen Loftus, press secretary, fundraising director Michele Haedrich, organizational director Danielle Olson, office manager Luke Waggoner, scheduler Heather Williams, Poole, and volunteer Adam Heller. Missing among the salaried staff are El Paso County campaign coordinator Robin Coran and newly hired campaign manager Kay Rendleman, the former El Paso County GOP chair who 48 hours later officially joined the Buck campaign. As Buck scurried out the door to travel to Walsenburg for a Republican dinner, Loftus promised to respond to The Colorado Statesman’s insider campaign questions. He did.  Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Buck and the campaign’s metro area coordinator Dick Poole dial for state delegate votes.Photo by Leslie Jorgensen/The Colorado Statesman
1) Who on the campaign would be able to change a flat tire? 2) Who is most likely to get a speeding ticket? 3) Do you have nicknames for staff members? If so, what are they? Why? 4) Who is mostly likely to bring sweets to the office? 5) Who spends the most time on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter? 6) What does the Buck travel with and NEVER forgets? 7) What’s the first thing the candidate does when he arrives home from traveling the campaign trail? 8) What book is the candidate reading right now? 9) What music energizes or soothes the candidate’s soul on the campaign trail? 10) Who on staff is most into pop culture? 11) Who is the campaign’s timekeeper? 12) Who on the campaign is most likely to brighten your day? |
May. 10, 2013Vol. 114, No. 19 |
The office suite, located on south Colorado Boulevard, offers expansive views of Denver and is decorated with an “ultra conservative avant-garde” art collection of Buck for Colorado murals — oops! Banners.