The Colorado Democratic Party’s Executive Committee approved the selection of the Budweiser Events Center in Larimer County for next year’s state convention at the committee’s meeting in Salida on Saturday.

As part of an effort to reach out to Democrats across the state, the party has been attempting to schedule more meetings outside the Denver metro area. There are only a limited number of venues, however, that can accommodate as many as 10,000 delegates and visitors anticipated at the April 16 convention and assembly next year, as well as house the 40-50 House, Senate and Congressional District meetings that must also be conducted. Vice Chair Beverly Ryken, who led the search committee, reminded the committee of the disastrous experience in 2008 at the World Center in Colorado Springs, where there was inadequate parking and delegate vehicles backed up onto the highway for hours. Pueblo members, however, expressed disappointment their hometown wasn’t selected after a very successful assembly meeting last year.

The committee also approved entering into joint fundraising agreements — known as JFAs — with the Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton presidential campaigns. Both have requested approval from the state Democrats to establish JFAs under an FEC provision that allows candidates to accept donations over the $2,700 limit permitted for individuals in a presidential primary, provided any excess is shared with state party organizations. Both Sanders and Clinton would like to see these funds earmarked for get-out-the-vote organizing. Whether the agreements eventually produce significant dollars remains to be seen, but, if they do, state Democrats plan to hire field organizers in targeted counties. Executive Committee members said it was important that organizers be recruited locally to the greatest extent possible. There was pointed grumbling about recent statewide GOTV efforts staffed by “college kids from back East, who couldn’t find Fort Collins on a map.” State chair Rick Palacio promised to screen all hires with a preference for Colorado candidates, although he reserved the right to hire the “best qualified” applicants available.

The lingering resentments from Palacio’s narrow re-election to a third term in February surfaced when one of his challengers, political consultant David Sabados, inquired “on behalf of others who couldn’t attend today” how many days Palacio was spending in the office each week. Currently living in Aspen, Palacio said he was traveling to Denver for one or two days each week, while devoting most of his time to rebuilding party strength west of the Continental Divide. He explained that Executive Director Anne Wilseck was focused on tending to Colorado’s Front Range and Eastern Plains counties. At least one Western Slope Chair rose to express her appreciation for Palacio’s availability after years when she couldn’t get her calls to Denver returned. Another member expressed disappointment that Palacio wasn’t spending more time in the office in light of his $100,000 salary. It is likely this will remain a burr under the saddle for some counties.

The meeting closed with a request by Sanders supporters to accelerate the platform process. Wearing sky blue T-shirts, it appeared they were eager to craft a document of progressive priorities for consideration by Colorado Democrats.

— mnhwriter@msn.com