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Chowdhury suspends bid for House seat after assault case

By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 31, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.
Updated August 1, 2008 at 12:03 a.m.

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Vince Chowdhury's name will appear on ballots for the Aug. 12 primary.

Vince Chowdhury's name will appear on ballots for the Aug. 12 primary.

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Vince Chowdhury, who pleaded guilty to assault charges for slapping his teen daughter, said Thursday he's suspending his Democratic primary campaign for House District 22.

But his name is already printed on ballots for the Aug. 12 primary, so Chowdhury said, "I will just let the people decide."

"I'm just not paying attention to a lot of political events at this point in time," he said. "I'm not actively campaigning. As you know, I had some personal issues that I needed to focus on."

Chowdhury declined to say whether he'll step down from the Jefferson County school board, as fellow board members asked him to do July 8 when he pleaded guilty.

"At this point, we're just assuming that he is remaining on the board," said district spokeswoman Melissa Reeves.

"So, we're expecting to see him Aug. 21 at the first board meeting of the 2008-09 school year."

The board cannot force Chowdhury to resign, because he was convicted of a misdemeanor and not a felony, Reeves said.

Unless he voluntarily resigns, he can only be removed from office by a voter recall.

The slapping incident began when Chowdhury arrived home June 17 and honked for his wife or daughter to open the garage door.

The door eventually was opened, but Chowdhury was angry, complaining he had to sit in the driveway honking for several minutes, the girl told police.

Although the wife and girl apologized, Katherine Chowd- hury told police her husband took the daughter's apology as "mocking" him and began slapping her.

The girl said he grabbed her by the throat and choked her.

Chowdhury publicly apologized to his wife and daughter after pleading guilty.

"I should have used better judgment," he said outside court.

"My intention was to discipline my child, who I felt was being disrespectful to her father. I know I should have handled it differently. I ask for everybody's forgiveness."

The court has ordered Chowdhury to stay away from his wife and daughter and attend anger-management and parenting classes under a one-year deferred judgment.

Comments

  • July 31, 2008

    3:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    Some folks just should not run for office. Including the mentally impaired.

  • July 31, 2008

    4:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    The_Punnisher writes:

    The next headline about Chowdhury....

    " Chowdhury goes Columbine on School Board "

    Time to get him out of ANY public office....

  • July 31, 2008

    5:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hola writes:

    Doesn't sound like a very classy dude.

  • July 31, 2008

    5:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    my3pugs writes:

    Where are the posters defending this man's right to be served by his dependent females as God Himself has commanded. Somehow I'm sure this is Bush's fault or Obama's doing, well? Anyone?

  • July 31, 2008

    5:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mytwosense writes:

    RickyLee, that's exactly what I thought reading this story!

  • July 31, 2008

    6:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    FCZ writes:

    Chowdhury declined to say whether he'll step down from the Jefferson County school board

  • July 31, 2008

    7:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    Once was a song, went: "Slap her down again pa, slap her down again, We don't want the neighbors talking about our kin. So slap her down again pa, slap her down again..." . Yeah, it's an oldie, not going to hear it on the airwaves today. Never smacked my 2 daughters, sets the girls up to accept abuse, that's not something any young lady should tolerate. I do get eyeball to eyeball with thier cute little faces; but I would never allow anyone to strike my girls. Thier mother is quite handfull, been married over twenty years, 5 kids, 4 grandchildren. Why I go fishing every week, all night long with the fellas, on a beautiful Colorado lake or stream. Smoke a good cigar, put a steak on the grill, drink and lie. Fishing is a good way to keep a marriage strong.

  • August 1, 2008

    7:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DD writes:

    www.recallvince.com

  • August 1, 2008

    8:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    Mymilehigh, some of fellas do bring a moll to hang out while we fish. My pal Terry keeps saying he's going to buy us all a hooker to fish with for our birthday. One guy has a medicinal Marijuana licence and smokes weed all night. Who cares. As far the gay love, buggery has never been something I would enjoy. We used to, years ago have guy, Rene, would hang out with us. Shame for him, nobody really thought to bugger him. In prison, they sling steel sometimes more brutally than any straight man. No pal, just fishing one night a week, really could careless about much else while I'm there. Be truthful, probably are a few gay couples out there fishing, used to run into a couple of lesbians. Had a real hottie next to me in the tournament about a month ago at Aurora Res., girl could fish too. Seems she started as a kid with her pops. Fishing probably saves a lot of relationships on both sides of the aisle.

  • August 1, 2008

    9 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    My lady has her own life, works out, goes out with her sisters and friends from work. If some dashing prince whirls her around the dance floor, I greatly appreciate that. She comes home a happy girl, young and confident again. I wouldn't be with her all these years if I didn't truly love her. Me, if she thought another gal was intrested, my wife would strarch my shirts and polish my shoes, in hopes the intrested woman takes this bum home for good. I'm no good, but my lady is classy. She me sweet little angel, love the way she spreads her wings, to borrow from BB King.

  • August 1, 2008

    12:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    Mymilehigh, have you been hanging out in the men's room at a felch bar or what? Watch wierd movies, learn wierd phrases, you're really concerned about your sexuality. Does it occupy a lot of your time? I could care less; but I'm sure you will want to share your thoughts. Sorry, I got to move on, help yourself.

  • August 1, 2008

    2:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    Didn't mean to put you up wet, sweetheart...

  • August 1, 2008

    3:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Who_Me writes:

    Nothing worse than being rode hard and put away wet. I know the horses hate it too.

  • August 1, 2008

    4:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Who_Me writes:

    But, he does look good in orange. Not many people can pull that off.