El Paso County Commissioner Douglas Bruce

1 el paso county commissioner

1.1 2004 election
1.2 policy positions
1.3 conflicts county staff , commissioners

el paso county commissioner
2004 election

bruce sought election el paso county, colorado, county commission in 2004, winning republican party nomination defeating colorado springs councilwoman maraget radford in party primary. in general election, bruce defeated democrat stanley hildahl , 2 republicans ran write-in candidates backing of party leaders. bruce won general election 58% of vote. bruce self-funded campaign, refusing accept outside donations.

policy positions

while serving on el paso county commission, bruce opposition measures supported other 4 county commissioners. cast vote against implementing mail ballot elections, against county interference in proposed incorporation of falcon, colorado (although opposed incorporation), against package of road improvement projects recommended colorado department of transportation, against appointment of county administrator jeff greene, against stricter building codes mobile homes, , against awarding county grant anti-poverty agency, calling handouts deadbeats.

he unsuccessful in attempting reduce number of paid holidays taken county employees, instrumental in lowering property tax rates , in negotiating expansion of gravel pit operation. spoke in favor of turning on management of county fair volunteer organization , called number of volunteer boards , commissions reduced. bruce outspoken in support of deportation illegal immigrants, , went against normal practice of refusing support ceremonial resolutions support resolution in favor of creation of immigration , customs enforcement office in el paso county.

conflicts county staff , commissioners

when bruce joined commission, sought have salary of on $60,000 per year directed charity, per campaign promise. designating active citizens together, educational non-profit helped found, recipient, bruce sought have county not withhold income tax checks, money go directly charity , receive no direct personal benefit. after ten months of disputing arrangements county staff, bruce agreed accept checks taxes , deductions withheld. in 2007, bruce attempted use non-profit group donate copies of u.s. constitution local school districts distribute graduating seniors; several districts refused donation on logistical grounds or policies forbidding distribution of external material. nonprofit group has purchased tens of thousands of copies of constitution, goal of giving 1 every graduating high school senior in colorado.

because of opposition methods used finance construction, douglas bruce, county commissioner in 2005, objected placement of name on plaque marking county support of el paso county terry r. harris judicial complex. (pictured)

he refused accept vip pass colorado springs airport, characterizing bribe; objected introduction of public prayer during county commission meetings. bruce objected inclusion of name (alongside other county commissioners) on plaque marking county support of new courthouse expansion, threatening physically remove name plaque; opposition financing methods courthouse had been driving factor behind 2004 county commission campaign.

bruce s debating , speaking style during county commission meetings led occasional conflicts county staff , other commissioners. during first year, escalating series of disputes commissioner sallie clark led ruling, @ meeting chaired, bruce not allowed discuss colorado springs city politics. in 2006, bruce accused of intervening in county bidding process copying contract in favor of campaign supporter.

in 2006, el paso county attorney bill louis denounced bruce narcissist, sociopath , crackpot enabler supporting colorado s amendment 38, referendum designed ease rules petitioning measures onto election ballots. bruce , louis verbally tangled after louis called bruce s tactics guerrilla , louis announced: plan in limited power make sure [bruce s tenure in elected office] comes end @ point not of community of colorado , nation.

tensions rose during bruce s final weeks on county commission, sought vacancy committee s appointment state legislature. bruce criticized county staff being unresponsive inquiries, , sheriff terry maketa responded accusing bruce of harming morale of county staff, , told bruce supported bid legislature in order put in environment match ineffectiveness, statement applauded other county staff. during final commission meetings, bruce repeatedly cut off other commissioners during comments; other members of commission described behavior increase in grandstanding prior vacancy committee s meeting.