Bruce knocked to No. 2 on the ballot

    Mark Waller, who was known before Saturday as the Republican challenging Rep. Douglas Bruce, earned a new title Saturday: frontrunner to take Bruce's seat.

    Waller received 57 percent of the vote from House District 15 delegates at the El Paso County Republican Assembly, winning top-line designation on the Aug. 12 primary ballot. Bruce, who earned 43 percent, is the first incumbent in recent memory to get outpolled at the assembly.

    Because each man received the minimum 30 percent support necessary to get onto the primary ballot, Waller's win means only that his name will appear above Bruce's on the ballot. Democrats also have two candidates competing for a spot on the November general election ballot for the seat in the overwhelmingly Republican district in northeast Colorado Springs.

    Bruce, who was censured by the House and yanked from one of his two committees since his December appointment to the seat, brushed off the loss. He goes into the primary with far greater name recognition among constituents and will draw support from a bigger crowd, he said.

    But longtime party officials, many of whom are backing Waller, said the victory will have tremendous ramifications for the first-time candidate. His ability to win backing from party insiders who have supported Bruce in the past shows that people who are tired of the incumbent's antics have a serious alternative, several said.

    "It's a real wake-up call that Mr. Bruce is in trouble," said Rep. Larry Liston, one of two Colorado Springs Republican legislators who nominated Waller on Saturday.

    "If he's in trouble with people who are somewhat in the know, I think there's going to be a popular groundswell of support for Mark Waller."

    Bruce, a former El Paso County commissioner who gained a following for authoring the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, began to lose his luster after taking his legislative seat.

    In less than two months, he's been censured for kicking a photographer, pulled off a military affairs committee after he did not back a Military Appreciation Day resolution and mocked by legislators from both parties.

    Waller, an attorney and Air Force reservist, played off that controversy Saturday, noting that his views on issues differed little from Bruce's conservative stances. But in him, constituents could find someone who would work with other legislators rather than alienate peers and leave the district without a voice, he said.
    A third candidate, business owner Steve Hasbrouck, dropped out of the race Saturday to back Waller.

    Bruce said Waller is an untested conformist who represented the status quo rather than government reform. He did not shy from what he termed his "brusque" and "sometimes tactless" style, and said he'll continue fighting for constitutional rights and against taxes.

    It is clear, though, that Bruce has lost some supporters. One of Waller's other nominators, Dan Lanotte, had backed Bruce as recently as the December vacancy committee meeting.

    "We're not saying that Doug is an evil man, because most of us agree with his principles," Waller supporter Brian Wess said as the votes were counted. "We're just saying that we need somebody who can communicate conservative ideals and represent us at the state Legislature, and unfortunately Doug has shown he can't do that."

    Waller - who received 139 votes to Bruce's 105 - said he intends to ramp up what was a relatively quiet campaign. Though he said Saturday's victory should help him build name recognition, he is aware that he hasn't won anything yet, he said.

    "I think the delegates have sent a clear message here," Waller added. "I think they're tired of the petty bickering and they're tired of the showboating, and they want someone who will represent them in Denver."

    Bruce said he hopes to engage Waller in debates and will try to portray the differences between his voting record and what he called Waller's lack of record.
    He said he did not take the votes of 139 people who supported Waller as any general outcry or rebuke against him.
    "It doesn't matter. Top-line means nothing," Bruce said. "People know me. They don't know him."

    CONTACT THE WRITER: (303) 837-0613 or ed.sealover@gazette.com

ELECTION CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

May 17: Colorado Democratic Party convention, at the Colorado Springs World Arena.

May 31: Colorado Republican Party convention, at the Broomfield Event Center.

July 14: Last day to register to vote and change party affiliation for the primary election.

Aug. 12: Primary election. The winners from each party will face off in the general election.

Aug. 25 to 28: Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Sept. 1 to 4: Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

Nov. 4: General election.