While Republican assemblies in El Paso County drew hundreds of passionate voters Saturday to a marathon of meetings, many local politicians with name recognition opted out, choosing instead to collect signatures to earn a place on June primary ballots.

The assembly process can offer an efficient and cost-effective path to the ballot because gathering signatures on petitions is time consuming and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

So candidates competing in three county commission races, state house and senate elections and to replace Rep. Doug Lamborn made passionate pleas for votes at Vista Ridge High School. In some cases, they were introducing themselves to voters for the first time.

However, the number of candidates turning in petitions to qualify for the June ballot instead is up from two years ago and includes well-known names, such as the 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen, who is up for re-election, Colorado Springs Councilman David Leinweber, who is running for El Paso County Commission and current El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerf, who is running for State Senate District 12. State Senator Larry Liston and House Representative Mary Bradfield, both incumbents, are also turning in petitions, among others.

The trend allows newcomers or little-known candidates to capture a greater percentage of the vote at assembly and potentially give voters more choice during the June primary, when many El Paso County races are decided.

For example, during the House District 21 assembly, where Bradfield is the incumbent, two political newcomers, Jan Koester, a long-time Fountain resident, and Bill Garlington both made the ballot during the assembly meeting. They are running to represent an area that covers Fountain and Fort Carson.

Garlington ran for Congress in Florida in 2020 and called the Democratic leanings of western states, such as Colorado, New Mexico, a cancer.

“I am trying to bring Florida values to Colorado,” he said.

Some of the candidates petitioning onto the ballot, such as Bradfield, still attended the meetings, but did not stand for election.

Bradfield spoke to her constituents during the meeting explaining she did not want to participate because last year’s assembly was not well run. A judge ordered the House District 21 assembly had to be held again because El Paso County GOP Chairwoman Vickie Tonkins “had no authority to unilaterally and covertly” add a voting delegate.

Republicans also brought forward concerns about the assembly voting process in County Commission District 1, northern El Paso County, and in House District 15, western El Paso County to the state party. The party declined to intervene.

Still the assembly drew hopefuls who saw their efforts pay off Saturday.

In House District 16, Rebecca Keltie, captured 62% of the vote beating out her competition entirely. A delegate must receive 30% of the vote at assembly to appear on the ballot. For Keltie, it was not a last-minute effort.

“I have been out door knocking since November,” she said.

Keltie will face incumbent Stephanie Vigil, a democrat, in the general election to represent an area that covers eastern Colorado Springs.

Tonkins touted the process while she was running the assembly for County Commission District 4, which covers southeast El Paso County.

“I love the caucus and the assembly,” she said, noting it gives candidates a path the ballot without having to raise large amounts of money up front. She encouraged attendees not to support efforts to move away from the caucus and assembly process in Colorado.

“We have to push back,” she said.

Those who chose to collect signatures said long hours of door knocking helped them connect with many more voters than the assembly meetings.

County Commission Candidate Brenda Delgato Miller said she spoke with over 500 people in the district she has lived in for 25 years.

“It’s been a great experience,” said Miller, who is in a crowded race to replace Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez.

She also wanted to avoid going through the assembly process, when the chairman for the assembly, Raymond Garcia is also a candidate.

For former councilwoman, Brandy Williams gathering signatures to make the ballot in the County Commission District 3 race helped her reconnect with voters since it’s been 10 years since she held office. She estimated she spoke with 300 people and heard more about public safety concerns than in the past.

“I like the one-on-one conversations,” she said.