Blog: No one from Suthers camp asked Lathen to drop out of mayor’s race
There’s no telling who slung the first mud ball into the Colorado Springs mayoral campaign, but rumors were running rampant last week that former Attorney General John Suthers asked candidate Amy Lathen to drop out of the race in exchange for an appointment in his administration, should he win.
Lathen said Thursday through her campaign spokeswoman that someone who financially supports John Suthers’ campaign offered her a position as Chief of Staff, but she would not reveal the name of the person who made the offer.
Lathen did not return a call from The Gazette seeking comment. She said, through the spokeswoman, that the Suthers camp did not make the offer.
Suthers said this Thursday: “Let me be clear, neither I nor anybody authorized by me has made any kind of offer to Amy Lathen. I would make no such commitment before the election.”
Suthers and Lathen are among six candidates running for mayor in the April 7 city election. The others are Joel Miller, Mary Lou Makepeace, Lawrence Martinez and Tony Carpenter.
John Suthers speaks to a crowd of hundreds as he officially announces his candidacy for Colorado Springs mayor at a campaign kickoff party at the Ivywild School Saturday, January 17, 2015. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette
El Paso County Commissioner for District 2 Amy Lathen greets supporters Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette