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Republican mounts challenge for Senate

Candidate Mark Aspiri visits Durango
Aspiri

Mark Aspiri isn’t backing out.

While other Republican candidates for Mark Udall’s U.S. Senate seat have withdrawn to pave the way for Rep. Cory Gardner’s challenge, Aspiri is running a long-shot campaign for the nomination.

“We need leadership that represents, and we need leadership that listens,” Aspiri said during a visit to Durango. “And we need leadership that brings the voice of Colorado to my side in the U.S. Senate.”

Aspiri, 46, has never held elected office. He serves as president of Generation Point LLC, an economic-development company, and also is president of the nonprofit 3P Foundation, which provides international development aid.

Aspiri lives with his wife, Jennifer, outside of Glenwood Springs.

Aspiri said he represents an alternative to Gardner in the Republican primary.

“The other candidates, they don’t understand what’s going on with water rights,” he said. “Most of them don’t know what our problem with water is, which is storage.”

Aspiri likely faces an uphill climb against Gardner, a congressman who many regard as a rising star in the Republican Party.

Aspiri criticized Gardner for receiving financial support from outside the state.

“If you look at his campaign contributions, they are from lobbyists, super PACs and out-of-state money,” he said.

Gardner’s federal filings show donations from groups representing health care, cable TV, bank and chemical industries, among others. Gardner had raised $720,000 at last count.

Aspiri had not reported any financial activity to the Federal Election Commission, according to the agency’s website.

Brad Blake, former chairman of the La Plata County Republican Party, said candidates are fast approaching decision time. If they can’t gather enough delegates to make strong showings at the local and state assemblies, some will drop out.

Blake met Aspiri during the candidate’s visit to Durango.

“I did have a chance to meet him, and I really liked him,” Blake said. “I think he had a lot of good ideas, good thoughts.”

Aspiri described himself as a “pro-life” candidate and a fiscal conservative. He criticized Udall for voting along with the Democratic Party.

“I’m going to vote 100 percent of the time for Colorado,” he said.

Aspiri said the Republican Party represents the will of the people, while Democrats represent “the whim of the people.”

An avid follower of foreign affairs, Aspiri said recent “saber-rattling” by North Korea, Iran and Russia is meant to send a message to the United States.

“It’s all coordinated,” he said.

Aspiri said Iran, Iraq and Syria seek to establish a “Shia crescent” of Islamic states, helped in part by the U.S.-led removal of Saddam Hussein.

Aspiri struck a balanced tone when discussing the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature health-care law.

Aspiri said the law has good intentions but doesn’t do enough to cut costs.

“We can’t afford what we’re doing,” he said.

cslothower@durangoherald.com



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