Linda Newell

LITTLETON, October 13, 2008 – State Senate Candidate Linda Newell of Littleton is urging her opponent to “come out of hiding and start talking to the voters of Arapahoe County.”

“She’s missed so many events, the sponsors are beginning to ask me where she is,” Newell said. “I have no idea. I have yet to meet her or hear from her. I’ve called her to congratulate her on winning her primary and to invite her to several forums we’ve organized. But I never heard back from her.”

After eight community events – including forums on the economy, education, children’s issues, senior issues and renewable energy – Newell has yet to meet opponent Lauri Clapp. The most recent event skipped by Clapp was a town hall last week on criminal justice issues sponsored by nine criminal justice organizations, including the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, Colorado Police Protective Association, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance. Clapp also skipped a recent candidates’ forum sponsored by the South Metro Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve had people joke that she’s ‘The Stealth Candidate’ because no one’s seen her,’” Newell added. “Maybe she doesn’t want the voters to find out about her extreme and callous voting record when she was in the Colorado House. Maybe she doesn’t want them to find out about her support for guns in schools and execution of juveniles and the mentally impaired. Or maybe she doesn’t want them to find out about her voting against seniors or education or school breakfasts or health and human services over and over again. I’ve never seen a candidate not even show up in the community or respond to newspaper candidate surveys. We’re also hearing that she’s not even responding to phone calls or e-mails from voters trying to reach her. Shouldn’t a candidate who wants to get elected at least be willing to talk with voters? But, then maybe she’s relying on the “R” next to her name on the ballot. Well, this isn’t the year or the race to do that. I’m getting a lot of support from Republicans because they know I’m the moderate candidate in this race and that my opponent’s out of touch with their views.”

Newell noted that Clapp “had a well-known reputation for being unresponsive to constituents, committee witnesses and fellow legislators when she was a member of the Colorado House several years ago. Now, she’s thumbing her nose at the very citizens she expects to send her to the Colorado Senate. The voters deserve more respect than that. If she’s unwilling to talk to voters about the economy, education, healthcare, children’s issues, senior issues, energy or criminal justice and law enforcement issues what is important enough to bring her out of hiding?”

A Littleton business consultant, Newell is running for the Colorado Senate from District 26, which includes Littleton and parts of Bow Mar, Centennial, Cherry Hills, Cherry Hills Village, Englewood and Sheridan. Newell’s running to provide common-sense solutions to the problems facing Colorado. She’s focusing on building protecting our economy, building stronger schools, providing affordable healthcare for all citizens and developing sources of renewable energy that will add jobs to the local economy. She’s worked for large and small businesses and as a consultant working with executives, managers and employees on job training and people strategies. She’s been active in community activities for many years, volunteering for the Girl Scouts, ARC, local public television, Littleton Public Schools and other worthy organizations.