A reply to the absurd diatribe from Anthony Hartsook. The original emails are down below for context. Enjoy!

10/10 

Oh, Tony, Tony, Tony... you really just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you? I’ll bet you were screaming the words as you typed that diatribe. Here you are, painting yourself as the victim once again that is more twisted than a soap opera on steroids. Let’s break down this fairytale, shall we?

First off, Jeff Toborg, the Mayor of Parker, a man whose conservative values and principles coupled with his leadership has actually brought people together rather than divide them with petty disputes. But you, Tony, decided to endorse his rival, Comrade Rivero. Why? Because your feelings got hurt when Jeff chose a candidate over you in the 2022 election for HD44. Why? Because Jeff knew Dodd would be a better candidate to represent the citizens of Parker. Cry me a river, build a bridge, and get over it!

You whine about respect, claiming it's a two-way street. Here’s a newsflash, RESPECT IS EARNED, not demanded like some entitled child in a sandbox. You talk about loyalty, duty, and respect, yet you throw these values out the window when someone dares to support another candidate. What did you expect? A round of applause for your tantrum?

Let’s talk about those "horrific" campaign tactics you accuse others of, while conveniently forgetting your own campaign’s mudslinging. Accusing an opponent of pedophilia without a shred of proof or remorse. Classy move, Tony. Real classy.

And about those wine walks, you make it sound like you're the knight in shining armor for small businesses. But let's not kid ourselves. Your involvement seems less about the businesses and more about looking for anyone including the far left leaning Parker Chamber of Commerce to show you some love. Let’s not forget people the Parker Chamber of Commerce endorses Drag Shows and Douglas County Pride. The irony of you accusing Toborg of having a personal vendetta!

You mention your military service, trying to leverage it as a badge of honor in this squabble. But here’s the thing about military values, they don't just magically disappear when you take off the uniform. Yet, here you are, engaging in behavior that would make your old drill sergeant smack you so hard, you would be on the ground for a week.

And the whole bit about standing with Israel? Bravo, Tony, you stood somewhere. But using a tragic event to score political points? That's lower than low. But we expect nothing less from you.

Let's not forget the "brick with googly eyes" episode. If a brick can tie with you in popularity, maybe, just maybe, the problem isn't with the brick or the googly eyes, but the other candidate, “YOU”.

Tony, maybe if you spent less time on self-victimization and more on actual conservative governance, you might just learn why Jeff Toborg is respected. But please, keep sending these lengthy, self-aggrandizing diatribes. They're comedy gold.

Well folks that is just my humble opinion.

And if you need to see more interesting information on candidate Hartsook, I uploaded a taste of his Tracer Report for this cycle. Filled with Lobbyists and Consultants and other interesting donors.

The following is the Anthony Hartsook response:

From: repanthonyhartsook@

Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 6:09 PM

To: Stephen

Cc: Edward Hairfield; Kim Baer; meghann Silverthorn; Steven Peck; Robin Webb; Dennis Adams; Meredith Devencenty-Rudolph; jplevnia@; George Allen; Laura Farlett; Aleta You; Dana Bonham; John Fielding; ndomreis@; Susan Renyolds; annie.weekly@; Pam; Jeff Toborg

Subject: RE: Our party deserves an explanation on your endorsement of a non-Republican for Parker Mayor

Hello Steve,

Thank you for your email. You want to know why I won’t support Jeff Toborg and instead support his opponent, let’s examine the record. This list is not all inclusive, but it includes some major issues.

Jeff Toborg and his family used to be friends with our family. We shared many dinners together and hours of conversation. We shared Christmas Eve dinner together several times. That all changed when I ran for HD44 in 2022 and Toborg suddenly and without explanation supported my opponent, Terry Dodd. Toborg went completely silent with us, and we never shared another family event together. It was the ultimate Ghosting. Before Toborg ghosted us he told me that I could not win without his support.

When I first ran for HD44, Aleta You suggested that I speak and coordinate with Terry Dodd who was the HD44 Chair at the time. I met with Dodd in the August/September 2021 timeframe, to discuss my candidacy. Little did I know that he was planning to run against me. When he made his announcement three months later in the December 2021/January 2022 timeframe, after I had been sharing with Dodd and Toborg what I was doing, Toborg was solidly in his camp. The attacks against me started immediately. They tried to force me through the assembly process where Dodd was the former Chair and had all his supporters. I chose the petition process to gather over 1000 valid republican signatures. I won the primary 62.7% to 37.3%. Dodd complained that I stole the election.

For over two and a half years, Toborg has supported and directed attacks against me. Toborg like anyone else is entitled to support whomever they wish. However, his betrayal of our friendship and his harsh accusations against me during the primary campaign were unforgivable. Toborg publicly renounced our friendship. He continued to support attacks against me by members of the HD44 committee. He was elected to Vicechair of the HD44 Committee, where he continued to attack me and supported attacks against me by Mark Hampton and others.

During the 2024 election cycle, Toborg and Hampton actively solicited anyone to run against me. I won during the assembly. But none of that slowed down the attacks by Toborg and Hampton. Toborg and Hampton conducted interviews using a brick with googly eyes as a prop that said the brick was a better candidate than me. They ran polls and all kinds of crazy propaganda stunts to discredit me. There was silence from the DCGOP even though I was the Republican candidate. Where was your righteous indignation back then? Where was the respect?

In July 2023, the Parker Wine Walks were shut down by the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division (LED). They issued a cease and desist order to the Parker Chamber of Commerce and the Parker Town Council for the wine walks. I started receiving calls from numerous business owners along Main Street and from constituents asking what happened to the wine walks. I started looking into the issue and spoke with the director of LED. The position of LED was that the wine walks were not in compliance even though the wine walks had been in existence since 2009.

At the August 2023, Denver Rustler’s breakfast reception, I saw Toborg. I asked him what happened at the Parker Wine Walks. He said that the wine walks needed to go away and that I should let it die. I told him I had received numerous calls from business owners and constituents that wanted and needed it back. Business owners said the wine walks brought in a lot of customers, and they made more money. I found out later from several business owners that Toborg had a personal vendetta against the President and CEO of the Parker Chamber of Commerce.

It is not my job to resolve disagreements between people. But it is my job to help small business owners, families, and constituents. That included the return of the Parker Wine Walks, passing anti human trafficking legislation, supporting parental choice for education, passing workforce development, passing legislation to support crime victims in the new 23rd Judicial District. And the list goes on for legislation that supports Republican values.

At the December 2023 meeting with the Parker Town Council and Mayor Toborg, Toborg accused me of being responsible for LED shutting down the wine walks. I told him absolutely not and he cut me off. Senator Smallwood came to my defense by explaining how rule making executive agencies can interpret legislation however they want. It was not a good meeting with Toborg making allegations that I was responsible the wine walks being shut down.

In 2024, I sponsored legislation to fix the process and reestablish the Parker Wine Walks. I received numerous letters and emails of support from Chambers of Commerce around the state that would benefit from the legislation. When I sponsored the 2024 legislation for the wine walks, there were accusatory comments on social media that asked why I was sponsoring legislation for the wine walks when I was responsible for ending the wine walks. These false accusations detracted from helping small business owners. Yet Toborg perpetuated this nonsense propaganda from the December 2023 meeting where he accused me of ending the wine walks.

In addition, Toborg along with Hampton wanted to eliminate the grocery tax. But they refused to acknowledge that it was a huge part of the funding for the Parker Police Department. Where were the questions about duty to protect the people instead of pushing a political agenda that would have resulted in defunding the police?

The narcissistic accusations from Hampton with the support from Toborg calling me things like a traitor and numerous other derogatory names are disgusting. The relentless attacks form Toborg and others because of some purity test is absurd. The name calling is childish and counterproductive. Where is the respect?

Following the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, there were pictures from news reports that were altered in posts by Hampton with anti-Semitic overtones saying I was cavorting with the enemy. On 9 October 2023, I was at Temple Emanual two days after the Hamas attack on Israel that slaughtered over 1200 Israelis. I was there supporting Jewish members. Where was the courage of others to stand with me? Where was the respect and integrity?

I stood there with personal courage, honor, and integrity to stand by Israel against Hamas. During my combat deployments, I had been on the receiving end of those 122mm rockets. Do not question my duty or loyalty. There were Democrats and Republicans in the audience. I was directed down front to sit with the other elected officials, many which happen to be Democrat. I wondered why more Republicans were not there to stand by Israel and say we will not tolerate these actions by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. But that didn’t stop Hampton from his disgusting anti-Semitic jokes and commentary. Where was the respect? Where was the outrage over what was happening?

In addition, Steve, your insinuation as a military officer that I abandoned the core values after retirement is not only insulting and ridiculous, but also unprofessional and unbecoming. If you are going to reference the Army values, here are all 7 values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. I would also suggest checking your spelling.

Loyalty is to the Constitution. Respect is a two-way street which is seriously lacking in the tone of your email and the outright slanderous attacks from Toborg and Hampton while you and others idly sat by and said nothing. Toborg regularly attends meetings with Hampton. Where is the respect that they have denied many other Republicans?

In general, I have ignored the disgusting comments and noise from Toborg and Hampton. People that sit behind keyboards and attack others demonstrate a complete lack of discipline and respect. But this last series of attacks and your email with your insinuations are way out of line. Where is the respect? Several District Captains have resigned citing the lack of respect among other reasons.

I have been spearheading the House Republican Caucus efforts to flip 5 seats, one of which is HD43. I have donated $450 to Matt Burcham’s campaign, which is one of the key seats we are trying to flip. I have supported and donated to our other candidates as well. I walk doors and make phone calls. I push hard to support our Republican candidates. Where was the DCGOP support at the candidate forum on Monday for HD43, 44, 45, SD2, and the Commissioner’s races? The Democrats were there in force supporting their candidates.

I will not support Toborg because of his hypocrisy, relentless attacks and lies against me, and his support and partnership with Hampton in attacking me during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles. Toborg also opposed the wine walks and opportunities to help small business owners. I have not attacked Toborg on social media or anywhere else, but clearly it appears to be okay for Toborg, Hampton, and others to attack us. So where is respect?

Toborg’s comments to me when I met with him and Aleta You at the beginning of the 2024 campaign cycle were that everything is in the past. He said it doesn’t matter. Well, it matters to me. Especially as Toborg and Hampton worked together to continue attacking me from the 2022 election cycle through the 2024 election cycle. If you want to help Republicans win, then I suggest you follow your own advice for respect and several values and help us win.

I have a race to fight and win and other state candidates to help win. Have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Anthony Hartsook

Colorado State Representative

House District 44

Cell: 720.202

The original Email to Anthony Hartsook

Email: Anthony.hartsook.house@coleg.gov

From: Stephen

Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 4:32 PM

To: Anthony Hartsook <anthony.hartsook >; Anthony Hartsook <repanthonyhartsook@ >

Cc: Edward Hairfield; Kim Baer; meghann Silverthorn; Steven Peck; Robin Webb; Dennis Adams; Meredith Devencenty-Rudolph; jplevnia@; George Allen; Laura Farlett; Aleta You; Dana Bonham; John Fielding; ndomreis@; Susan Renyolds; annie.weekly@; Pam <pjraser@; Jeff Toborg

Subject: Our party deserves an explanation on your endorsement of a non-Republican for Parker Mayor

Good afternoon Rep. Hartsook,

Since the revelation of your endorsement of a non-Republican candidate for the Mayor of Parker a couple of days back, I've been perplexed, bewildered, confused, and massively disappointed. I like to think of our elected officials as leaders, especially within the Republican Party, as you are the partisan candidate representing us at the Capitol, taking our Republican banner into battle of ideals and beliefs into the political arena on our behalf.

So these reactions, I assume, naturally come to our Executive Committee and Central Committee members when we see one of our elected officials, who respected the caucus and assembly process, and has been the recipient of active promotions from Republican Party channels both with boots on the ground and in advertising, to have to the gull to endorse someone other than a registered Republican for one of our municipal positions throughout the county.

Obviously, I have a unique perspective in working with our core team of GOTV members to help bring about the success of your campaign, but this does nothing to motivate that team to fulfill that stated goal.

Sir - I believe you owe our party an explanation. You owe the Republican Party of Douglas County, and the many members of our Central Committee working hard to get you elected across numerous neighborhoods in Parker, a complete and thorough explanation as to why you would put the growth of Republicanism in jeopardy through the endorsement of an Unaffiliated candidate.

As a military man yourself, I know your familiarity with the first, three core values of your previous service branch: loyalty, duty, and respect. Do these values stop once one leaves the uniforme? Or do these carry over to other organisations upon which one serves in?

I appreciate your timely response to those DCGOP officers and Parker-area District Captains on the CC line, as well as myself.

Respectfully,

Steve