To the Republican National Committee:

As a former Republican candidate for the Colorado state House, I must convey my disappointment that the RNC allowed polling data to determine a candidate’s position at our GOP presidential candidate debates.

The fact that we had a large number of candidates running for office should not compel the party to use polling data to position them.

Votes are a determining factor, and we must keep our election system intact and fight for its integrity. Never before has polling data been used to determine a candidate’s worth for a debate.

As a woman, it was frustrating to have seen Carly Fiorina absent from the debate stage. When we fight to bring young women into our party, we missed an opportunity to showcase a conservative, successful businesswoman.

Having also been a chairman of the Summit County Republicans and Congressional District 2, I am well versed in politics and its workings. You have done our party and our voting process a great disservice by allowing polling data to take precedent over peoples’ votes.

I respectfully disagree and ask you to disallow this practice in the future.

Debra Irvine

Breckenridge