Colorado League urges CUs to get out the vote, defeat anti-CU candidates running in state elections

DENVER – With two key Congressional races at stake, the Colorado Credit Union League is revving up its political action program this month as it prepares to seek defeat of two anti-CU Republican candidates in the Nov. 5 election. In a letter sent to Colorado CUs, James D. Holt, the League’s president warned that an active get-out-the-vote campaign is vital in both Congressional races which “have great importance to Colorado credit unions.” There is considerable national attention, said the League, on the newly created 7th District in the suburbs north of Denver where Bob Beauprez, a Lewisville bank chairman and head of the Republican Party in Colorado is running against former Democrat State Senator Mike Feeley, a Lakewood attorney. Beauprez, CEO of Heritage Bank, has “long worked against credit unions,” said the League, noting his active lobbying to defeat a public funds bills which would have permitted CUs to accept surplus municipal funds. Feeley, who has championed CU causes, “stands a good chance” of beating Beauprez, the League added. The 7th District is crucial on a national scale since it has an even distribution of Democrats, Republicans and Independents and if Beauprez is successful, “he would most likely seek a seat on the Banking Committee posing substantial problems for credit unions.” In eastern Colorado’s 4th District, Democrat Stan Matsunaka, a Fort Collins attorney and president of the State Senate, is facing the GOP’s Marilyn Musgrave, a Fort Morgan ag business exec, who the League said “is not a friend of credit unions.” Musgrave, for example, voted with banks against CUs holding public funds, said the League. The League said it will be pouring its own PAC money into both races as well as asking CUNA’s assistance. If elected, both GOP candidates would “create great challenges” to the industry at the national level. “Rarely in politics do we find such bright line choices,” in building a political strategy, wrote Holt adding CUs need “to get involved.” That might mean communicating directly with CU members in those districts. In addition, “you can help credit union friendly candidates” in such areas as literature drops, yard signs, phone calls, and parades. “These are easy tasks but candidates remember who helped out during critical times,” the League concluded. [email protected]