Primary elections are just one year away, and we learned this week (Herald, June 11) that Hope Scheppelman of Bayfield, former secretary of the La Plata County Republican Central Committee and former vice chair of the Colorado Republican Party, is challenging fellow Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd.
Similar to CD3 Rep. Lauren Boebert, now serving in CD4, Scheppelman does not shy away from the extremes in conflict and controversy. In fact, she, like Boebert, seems to seek it. The local GOP asked her to resign, in part, over her support of the contentious former state party leader Dave Williams. She refused, was censured on an 18-3 vote of no confidence and was not reelected after one term (Herald, Aug. 7).
Scheppelman, in her release announcing her candidacy, called Hurd a “fake conservative … liberal elitist who is dead set against President Donald Trump … and (has) disdain for the MAGA wing of the Republican Party.”
With Scheppelman’s background as a Mayo Clinic-trained health care professional and service in the U.S. Navy, one might expect more decorum and professionalism. Instead, she leads with name calling. The new leadership in the state and La Plata County GOP appear tired of it.
The Herald’s editorial board and increasing numbers of Americans are tired of it, too. Please do not bring back the same negative rhetoric that Boebert delivered. Not only are the allegations levied against Hurd tiresome, but they are untrue. Hurd is moderate, not full MAGA. He stands with Trump on immigration, energy dominance and tax cuts, and bucks him on tariffs and on the pardon of Jan. 6 insurrectionists.
No matter what one thinks of his politics, he listens and has worked in a bipartisan fashion on some issues. He was on his way to becoming a priest before changing trajectories to attend law school. His demeanor reflects that.
In March, the county GOP elected Vanessa Ruggles of Bayfield as its new chair. Ruggles, like Hurd, represents the traditional arm of the Republican Party in contrast to the far-right MAGA wing of the GOP, Scheppelman represents.
If we have any hope of remaking American politics, it will depend on people who are still able to talk to, rather than yell at, one another. As of November 2024, when more eligible voters did not vote (89 million Americans) than did for either Trump (77.3 million) or Kamala Harris (75 million), something is awry.
The Herald’s editorial board believes in addition to sentiments of “my vote won’t make a difference” and unlikable candidates, it is also the noise and conflict that is turning off voters.
Expressing an interest in La Plata County Republicans moving beyond old controversies and focusing on positive change, Ruggles understands this (Herald, Mar. 30), although the La Plata County Democrats new chair, Teal Lehto, may not.
Ruggles shared she has little patience for ongoing division in the state and local party stating, “Let’s open dialogue and discuss.” Lehto, a 27-year old environmental activist best known for her viral social media posts, came out with some fairly strong words suggesting that she was tired of “Democrats playing nice.”
Lehto indicated that part of her strategy is about communication. With 22,000 followers on Instagram and over 66,000 on TikTok (see @westernwatergirl), she understands the “attention economy,” and how to reach (at least younger) voters.
We would argue that it is not by name calling and regret reading that Lehto called Boebert “ridiculous, insane and stupid.” Although she said it wasn’t meant to insult anyone with less education (Boebert attained a GED), it was meant to highlight what she observed in a lack of qualifications.
We’ve said it before, in an editorial (Herald, Mar. 26), “The humanity we want to see,” criticizing writer and political analyst David Brooks for calling conspiracy theorists stupid: “You cannot with any credibility on the subject of trust-building call someone stupid.”
Politics requires voter’s respect. The strongest candidates and campaigns stay focused on policy and issues that matter to people. For now, Hurd and the new leadership in the state and county GOP may have the best handle on this approach.
