State legislative elections affect dealers as much as national races Legislative races can and should make a difference for all Coloradans, and certainly for us, in the automotive industry. The Colorado General Assembly is where many of the laws and regulations originate that determine how new car dealers must operate. Does party matter to the automotive started early this month (read more that know nothing about the auto industry? Yes and no, according about it in Jeremy Hamm’s column). industry. These meetings just give to CADA President Tim Jackson. The Legislative Grassroots Meetings us a chance at least to explain CADA does offer financial support (LGMs) are taking place in person what’s important to us.” to candidates, before and after whenever possible, yet many are What’s more, as a Western Slope elections. “Often, it’s driven more on live Zoom calls. dealer, Hellman said Zoom meetings electability versus positions or party “As I often tell people, the first step has been more than helpful. “We affiliation,” he explained. “We can to getting a vote is getting the can all get on Zoom, so I don’t have get support out of Democrats on a legislator to understand our issue,” to travel over the mountains all lot of our issues, so we’re not overly observed Jackson. It’s not their job the time — which takes the whole partisan. Where we have lately had to seek out our position. It’s our job day — and depending on when the trouble with Democrats is on more to make our position known.” meeting is, you may have to go the hard-core environmental issues. night before.” They’ve been less friendly on those.” Important meetings made The Colorado Chair of the NADA Relationships are our secret easier by Zoom Bill Hellman, chair of CADA’s PAC Steve Zeder added, “We have sauce Legislative Policy Committee politicians trying to make rules and CADA’s dealers have succeeded echoed that sentiment. “I can’t regulations for our industry that in getting support for our issues emphasize enough the importance they know nothing about. They’re by building relationships with of these meetings,” he said. “Every very intelligent people, but they individual legislators of both parties. time we have an election, you have have no experience.” Contributions That’s the thought behind the “100 freshmen legislators coming in to the President’s Club – an initial LGMs in 100 Days” campaign that $5,000 and annual renewals of September 2020 www.colorado.auto 11 $2,500 – “helps us make a very by businesswoman and political Senate, Kerry Donovan, who’s not meaningful financial contribution to newcomer Lynn Gerber. “Rachel has up for re-election. “Rural Colorado these legislators. Having the right been generally supportive of CADA used to have a seat at every table. people in place to prevent imposing issues,” Feeley said. “It’s a true swing When people talk about the war on Draconian rules… gives CADA the district, with very close registration, rural Colorado, I think it’s accurate. horsepower to really make changes.” where a difference could be made.” Those are seats where people can make a difference,” Feeley said. The relationship-building strategy has brought many legislative victories, usually with bipartisan support, including maintaining “As I often tell people, the first step to getting a vote is getting the legis- Sunday closure, warranty repair at retail rates, and a compromise last lator to understand our issue. It’s not their job to seek out our position. session on allowing manufacturers It’s our job to make our position known.” without existing franchises to sell direct to consumers. Tim Jackson, CADA President This election is a chance to Feeley identified the second seat Electric vehicles an issue, find more balance the GOP hopes to flip is Senate So Colorado legislative races bear District 26 in Arapahoe County. Sen. just not the only one watching, and CADA lobbyist and Jeff Bridges was elected twice to the “Before Gov. Polis’s election, CADA Brownstein Farber Hyatt Schreck Colorado House of Representatives approached the legislature in a Shareholder Mike Feeley is doing before he was appointed to the bipartisan manner,” Feeley noted. just that. This election season, all Senate in January 2019, when Sen. “With some environmental concerns 65 seats in the Colorado House Daniel Kagan resigned. finding traction in the legislature, of Representatives and 18 in the we’ve found that Republicans are Colorado Senate are up for grabs. Feeley thinks the GOP likely is more willing to listen to CADA. targeting House District 27 in Some Democrats are less inclined Colorado is among the few states Denver’s northern suburbs, where to hang with us on some EV where both houses of the state Republican businesswoman Vicki issues,” he said, the shift being how legislature and the governor’s office Pyne is seeking to unseat Democratic aggressive EV supporters are. are controlled by Democrats. This is Rep. Brianna Titone, Colorado’s first a break from tradition; Coloradans transgender elected official. Whether that will be an issue in the generally have preferred to have a 2021 General Assembly is hard to balance in the legislature, with one GOP Sen. Jack Tate’s retirement know. But the effort dealers put into house controlled by Republicans from District 27 in Denver’s south knowing their legislators could be and the other by Democrats. The and east suburbs sets up a battle the key on this and any other issues. between Republican Suzanne 2018 election changed that, giving “Once the legislature gets in both houses to the Democrats. Staiert and Democrat Chris Kolker. Kolker, a certified financial planner, session, there are all sorts of things Democrats control the state House narrowly lost a race for the Colorado that can pop up,” Hellman pointed of Representatives by 41 to 24. House in 2018. Staiert worked as out. From January through May, you According to Feeley (also a former an attorney and Deputy Secretary have to be on your guard.” state legislator), “That’s not likely to of State under Wayne Williams. Personally knowing legislators can change much. If anything, the Dems Feeley’s take is that the GOP has be key to a favorable decision. “You might pick up another seat or two.” the edge. can’t beat that,” he quipped. “If they In the Senate, the current Republicans will likely continue have a question, they’ll pick up the membership is 19 Democrats to to hold Senate District 35, which phone and call. And they’ll take your 16 Republicans. “There’s a much covers a huge swath of south call and understand what you’re smaller swing in the state Senate, central and southeastern Colorado, talking about.” with at least two competitive races,” according to Feeley. Sen. Larry Across the top of the next four Feeley observed. “The Republicans Crowder is term limited. The pages is CADA’s position on bills can’t lose anything. If they do, it Republican Cleave Simpson, that were important to dealers in makes it worse for them.” Jr., a rancher/farmer in the San the past two years. Incumbents’ Luis Valley, faces Carlos Lopez, Races to watch voting record on those issues a member of the Arkansas River Feeley said the race at the top of the show how aligned they were Power Authority who previously GOP’s agenda is in Senate District with dealers. Candidates’ names served on the Trinidad City Council. 19, covering North Jefferson County/ appear in light yellow. Party Arvada. Democratic Sen. Rachel Interestingly, there currently is only affiliation is reflected in the color Zenzinger is being challenged one rural Democrat in the Colorado of each person’s name. 12 Colorado Automobile Dealers Association September 2020 District Candidate County/Towns SB20-167 SB20-200 SB20-205 SB20-207 HB20-1415 SB19-188 HB19-1240 HB19-1289 HB19- 1325 CADA Position ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● House 1 Susan Lontine Denver ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Samantha Koch Candidate 2 Alec Garnett Denver ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Victoria Partridge Candidate 3 Meg Froelich Englewood ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Bill Klocek Candidate 4 Serena Gonzales- Denver ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Gutierrez Grant Price Candidate 5 Alex Valdez A. Denver ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Jonathan Woodley Candidate 6 Steven Woodrow Denver ● ● ● ● ● X X X X Bill McAleb Candidate 7 Jennifer Bacon Candidate 8 Leslie Herod Denver ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 9 Emily Sirota Denver ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Larry Braig Candidate 10 Edie Hooton Boulder ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Kenneth Stickney Candidate 11 Karen McCormick Longmont Mark Millman Candidate 12 Tracey Bernett Candidate Eric Davila Candidate 13 Judith Amabile Boulder Kevin Sipple Candidate 14 Shane Sandridge Colorado Springs ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● John Foley Candidate 15 Dave Williams Colorado Springs ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 16 Stephanie Vigil Candidate Andy Pico Candidate 17 Tony Exum Colorado Springs ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Robert Blancken Candidate 18 Marc Snyder Colorado Springs ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● George Rapko Candidate 19 Tim Geitner Falcon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Joseph Thompson, Jr. Candidate 20 Terri Carver Colorado Springs ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Megan Fossinger Candidate 21 Mary Bradfield Candidate Liz Rosenbaum Candidate 22 Colin Larson Littleton ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Mary Parker Candidate 23 Chris Kennedy West Lakewood ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● KEY: Candidate Monitor* Excused Support Oppose September 2020 www.colorado.auto 13 District Candidate County/Towns SB20-167 SB20-200 SB20-205 SB20-207 HB20-1415 SB19-188 HB19-1240 HB19-1289 HB19-1325 CADA Position ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Fred Clifford Candidate 24 Monica Duran Wheat Ridge ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Laura Imer Candidate 25 Lisa Cutter Littleton ● ● ●