Forth will face Lee as Republican vying for House District 18
The House District 18 race has a new Republican.
Cameron Forth, a 41-year-old land surveyor who grew up in Colorado Springs, was appointed to replace Sonya Rose on the November ballot after Rose withdrew as a candidate.
Forth was picked by a vacancy committee composed of eligible House District 18 voters, however, since a quorum wasn’t present, Colorado Republican Party Chairman Steve House gave final approval to Forth taking the seat on the ballot.
Forth will face incumbent Rep. Pete Lee, a Democrat vying for his third terms since being elected in 2010.
“I saw this as an opportunity to turn the only blue district in El Paso County red,” Forth said, who was working Thursday surveying on the side of Pikes Peak. “I am a conservative. I am against big federal government and over regulation and I believe that all of that contributes to both big business and small business not being able to grow like they could.”
Forth, a father of four, said he is not a typical politician.
“I think I can reach out to more voters who are not happy with either the Democrats or the Republicans,” he said. “I am also about freedom, freedom of the people and getting government out of our lives.”
For example, Forth said he supported Amendment 64, the legalization of recreational marijuana, and doesn’t oppose same-sex civil unions, although he made it clear that at his church marriage is defined as between a man and a woman.
Forth said social issues wouldn’t be a driving force for him while making laws at the state Capitol.
He ran as an independent candidate for Congress in Idaho 10 years ago before he returned to Colorado Springs, his home town.
Lee said he will not be doing anything different in his campaign given the last-minute change in opponent.
“I don’t campaign against opponents, I campaign for my candidacy and to continue to promote my agenda, which is to improve student achievement and improve the operations of the schools.”
Lee has been an advocate for at-risk students and juveniles while he’s been a lawmaker.
“We continue to knock on doors every day to give voters information about my record, agenda and accomplishments in the Legislature,” he said.
Norman “Paotie” Dawson, a Libertarian who has run for office two other times in El Paso County, also is on the ballot.
“Well, as a general rule, the more people running for a given office, the better it is for voters,” Dawson said in an online chat with The Gazette. “I wish a Green Party candidate was running in HD 18, too – that would give voters a much better idea of the political spectrum rather than the usual, tired choices of the two major political parties in Colorado. It’s time voters had more choices to choose from each election.”
Dawson said his campaign, which hinges on the Libertarian principles of getting government out of everyday lives, is just beginning.
He lives in Manitou Springs and is deaf, which he said has given him “a unique perspective of the issues and problems we face in society.”
Dawson is a photographer and social media manager for SunWater Spa in Manitou Springs.
Forth said he expects to do in just over two months what other candidates do in eight months. He said his team will raise money and knock on doors.
“When I put my mind to something I’m a really hard worker,” Forth said. “It’s an uphill battle but it’s something I took on because I’m very, very passionate.”
The district, which includes Manitou Springs, southern downtown Colorado Springs and the neighborhoods near The Broadmoor hotel, is dominated by 16,989 unaffiliated voters, according to the Colorado Secretary of State’s August registration numbers. There are 14,566 registered Democrats and 13,407 Republicans.
During the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions it was the only House district from El Paso County that was held by a Democrat, but Democrats will try to win back House District 17 this fall. Rep. Kit Roupe, a Republican, won the district in 2014 over then-incumbent Rep. Tony Exum, a Democrat.
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Contact Megan Schrader: 286-0644
Twitter: @CapitolSchrader
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to clarify a quote by Cameron Forth.
Cameron Forth, pictured Aug. 25, 2016, is running as the Republican candidate for Colorado State House District 18 against Democrat Pete Lee. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Rep. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs.
Cameron Forth, pictured Aug. 25, 2016, is running as the Republican candidate for Colorado State House District 18 against Democrat Pete Lee. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)