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Chambers takes lead in Arapahoe DA's race

By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 12, 2008 at 8:25 p.m.
Updated August 12, 2008 at 8:25 p.m.

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Early returns show that Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers is well on her way to winning a second term — despite law enforcement groups' efforts to unseat her.

Chambers is beating her GOP primary challenger George Brauchler, a former Jefferson County prosecutor, by a near 3-to-2 ratio based on a early returns and mail-in ballots.

The 18th Judicial District covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties.

Brauchler touted his endorsements from a half-dozen law enforcement organizations, but the backing of police unions, in the end, may not be enough to overcome Chambers' reputation as a tough on crime prosecutor.

"That's a sizeable lead that will be tough to overcome," said Dan Caplis, of the Caplis and Silverman Show on 630 KHOW. "I think voters value her reputation as a strong DA.

"She has won high-profile cases. Experience is so important when it comes to the DA position, and when you combine experience with her toughness with her results, I think that's an unbeatable combination."

The winner of the primary will face Democratic candidate Kevin Farrell. Given the district historically votes Republican, the winner of the primary will likely be the next DA.

The race for district attorney intensified the recent weeks leading up to GOP primary as Brauchler and Chambers faced off during fiery candidate debates.

Brauchler, 38, faced an uphill battle in his bid to unseat Chambers, a lightning rod district attorney, who has stayed in the headlines surrounding her high-profile tussles with police, judges, defense attorneys and county commissioners.

While Chambers personal style often draws criticism, her supporters consider her a highly principled district attorney who is not afraid to make waves and prosecute police when they stretch the boundaries of the law - regardless of the political backlash.

In her first term, she has been involved in one controversy after another.

She's the only DA in a generation to receive a public censure after she was accused of threatening a lawyer with a criminal probe to help a fellow Republican in a dispute with a collection agency. She says she was standing up for a victim of identity theft who was being harassed by a collection attorney.

"With Carol it's not business as usual," said her husband, Nathan Chambers, who took a leave as chairman of the Arapahoe County Republican Party to stump for his wife's re-election bid. "One thing about Carol is that she is fearless. She's not afraid to take on powerful interests."

Her relationship with police suffered after she accused an Aurora cop of evidence tampering and filing false reports. She has prosecuted 11 cops and deputies since taking office in 2005 on similar charges.

Though portrayed as an inexperienced outsider, backers of Brauchler look to him to repair strained relationships between the district attorney's office and law enforcement.

"We're hoping he can get strained relations back on track," said Chuck Deshazer, vice president of the Aurora Fraternal Order of Police. "The office needs to have someone with the highest moral integrity."

Brauchler said on the campaign trail that the public had grown tired of Chambers "defiance."

He petitioned his way onto the primary ballot and took a risk when he challenged an incumbent from his own party.

He took his candidacy to the rank-and-file Republicans, but GOP party activists are backing Chambers.

Comments

  • August 13, 2008

    12:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    AnotherFormerDAEmployee writes:

    Congratulations Frank Azar! You won the election. Four more years of unprincipled, unethical behavior from the DA's office.

  • August 13, 2008

    12:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    JaimeES writes:

    Bummer for Brauchler. That's Karma.

  • August 13, 2008

    12:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    CONCERNEDABOUTBRAUCHLER writes:

    Tilt. Game over. That’s why you lost. Team Brauchler resorted to anti-REPUBLICAN Party games.

  • August 13, 2008

    12:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Star writes:

    To WeNeedALeader, ConcernedAboutChambers, MyVoteIsIn, FauxCottrell:

    Marcia Brauchler ghostblogging under all these aliases was a major issue in the loss of this race.

    Why on earth Brauchler played into blog-art is stupid. Some forms of mass media work, like You Tube, etc. Obama can text. Brauchler, not so much.

  • August 13, 2008

    12:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SilpacTalk writes:

    Brauchler got a big spanking tonight! He should have kept his job. We don’t miss him in JeffCo, so here’s a link if he needs one:

    http://classifieds.denverpost.com/

    Oops, sorry. I’ve just been told he already has one.

  • August 13, 2008

    10:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    WeProudFew writes:

    Chambers needs to go. The fight is not over we can give her a run for her money. Don't give up this is a battle that Colorado can't afford to concede. www.kevinfarrellforda.com

  • August 13, 2008

    10:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MyVoteIsIn writes:

    Congratulations to Ms. Chambers. Her $60,000 worth of mail won the race.

    Tracking that money, any truth to the rumor that Frank Azar's sister admitted to forging documents to the DA's office out there in a criminal case and nothing happened about it? That's the rumble. Is that why the money came to Chambers? That is a story that will not go away . . .

  • September 24, 2008

    11:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    NotOnMyBlock writes:

    Honestly, in my opinion, the biggest factor in George Brauchler losing the race was the conduct Marcia Brauchler utilized during the election. As per my previous posts, Marcia Brauchler sabotaged George’s campaign efforts because of her spiteful and pitiful behavior. Big point - our block hosts “neighborhood dinners”, and Brauchler’s wife manipulated so many of our neighbors against “lawn man” and his spouse, the dinner coordinator sent a “false cancellation” to all attendees, to “uninvite” lawn man, etc. Then of course we were all re-invited to the neighborhood dinner on a different date. I even feel stupid, and somewhat guilty, acknowledging that we even attended. I did have the decency to call “lawn man” about the neighborhood antics, and I wish I had the same level of dignity he demonstrated. He really didn’t care if a handful of neighbors couldn’t stand up to Marcia Brauchler’s campaign of hate; all she has done is corrupt our neighborhood. The broad has been pretty indifferent to me since I refused to put a “GeorgeforDA” sign in my yard. Quoting John Hickenlooper, the fine mayor of Denver, “there is no benefit in having enemies”, but Marcia Brauchler doesn’t get it. “Lawn man was Dis-invited to a neighborhood get-together, but George Brauchler was Dissed by 8400 plus voters. This is a story that will not go away. I guess what comes around, goes around. Karma $ux$.