FACE THE STATE
Banker J. J. Ament announced his candidacy for state treasurer Monday morning making him the second Republican to formally enter the race. Also launched today were a campaign Web site and Facebook page, must-haves in the era of new media electioneering.
Before Ament can challenge Democrat state Treasurer Cary Kennedy in the 2010 election, he must face fellow Republican Walker Stapleton, who raised an impressive $138,000 last quarter. Kennedy brought in slightly less than half that amount over the same period. Ament’s first campaign finance report will be due October 15.
But while Ament has to play catch-up on fundraising, one possible edge may lie in the fact that he’s actually worked with the Treasurer’s office on financial matters. “Over the years, I’ve found countless areas of waste and mismanagement of taxpayer funds,” he said in a press release. “Too often the right solution has been dismissed by the inertia of bureaucracy and the Treasurer has failed to show leadership. So I’ve decided the way I can contribute most to restoring integrity and fiscal responsibility in State government is to take a break from the private sector and run for State Treasurer.”
Ament proposed making the treasurer’s office more lean by cutting down on overhead expenses, and he criticized Kennedy for allowing herself to “become an extension of the Governor’s office.”
Before entering the financial sector, Ament worked for former U.S. Senator Wayne Allard and former Congressman-turned-gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis.
Also considering a bid for the position is Republican Ali Hasan, former candidate for state House District 56.
Distributed by Colorado Capitol Reporters
