Colorado Politics

Trump inauguration attracting who’s who of Colorado Republicans to D.C.

Colorado will be well-represented at Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities this week, as social media, announcements from attendees and lists from event organizers show.

All of Colorado’s Republican and Democratic members of the House and Senate are expected to attend as of Tuesday. About 50 House Democrats are boycotting the event, citing the president-elect’s spat with Democratic Rep. John Lewis of Georgia over the last few days.

Rep. Scott Tipton of Cortez is holding an open house Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Room 218 in the Cannon House Office Building for Coloradans in town for the festivities.

Perhaps the highest placed Colorado visitor is state Rep. Clarice Navarro of Pueblo, who is on the host committee for Trump’s Latino Inaugural Ball at the Mandarin Hotel Thursday night. She made sure Pueblo Chile was on the menu.

Then again, the all-female rodeo-performing Freedom Riders from Weld County will represent the state in Friday inauguration parade.

A Colorado luncheon is planned Thursday at Old Ebbitt Grill. Reps. Polly Lawrence of Roxborough Park and Perry Buck of Windsor will be in attendance. State Republican Party chairman Steve House and state party spokesman Kyle Kohli will be partying with The Donald, as well.

His campaign leaders in Colorado, Robert Blaha and Patrick Davis, also will be attending events. Trump’s Colorado spokeswoman Lydia Blaha also is in Washington, D.C., this week, serving as communications coordinator for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

“I am overwhelmingly grateful to be a part of this historic moment,” Lydia Blaha said via text Tuesday. “This inauguration is focused on the peaceful transfer of power and getting America back to a place of greatness. I will forever remember Nov. 8 as one of the greatest days in my life and Jan. 20 as one of the greatest  days in recent history.”

Dustin Olson, of Colorado-based Olson Strategies & Advertising, is serving as associate executive producer for public events and ceremonies.

“I was honored to work on President Bush’s 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee, but this time I’ve been given the opportunity to play a slightly bigger role in this truly historic event,” Olson said.. “It is tremendously humbling to be a part of producing what will be the most engaging and innovative inauguration yet.

“The gravity of what will transpire on Friday really hit me about a month ago on a bitterly cold and clear morning. We were doing a walk-through at the Lincoln Memorial learning what can and can’t be done on the grounds, and I was standing on the step where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his monumental speech. As I looked out over the mall at the reflecting pool, the Washington Monument, the Old Post Office Building, and the West Steps of the Capitol I got goosebumps as I realized that in less than a month-now just days away-it will all become real. This Friday Mr. Trump, Gov. Pence, and their amazing team will assume office and have the opportunity to make our nation truly great again.”

Jeff Wasden of the Colorado Business Roundtable, former state Sen. Greg Brophy, former state Rep, Mark Waller, Colorado Springs political consultant William Mutch and Jefferson County Commissioner Libby Szabo also are expected to attend events.

This list will continue to grow, so shoot me an e-mail if you’re going: joey.bunch@coloradopolitics.com. Caveat: I have to have heard of you to qualify as a who for this who’s who.


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