Thursday night in Loveland may have appeared quiet but behind closed doors perhaps the most competitive race for city council this season was taking shape.
Insurance salesman Bob Snyder was toasting former State House Rep. Don Marostica’s recent job with the Governor at CJ’s Patio Grill. Marostica, excited about getting a job with Colorado’s Governor, generously threw himself a party to honor who else – Don Marostica. Snyder, a former head of Loveland’s Chamber of Commerce, was looking for support and likely money from Marostica for his run for city council to keep business as usual.
Across town at her home in Ward 2, Joan Shaffer was making final preparations to announce her campaign to represent Loveland residents in Ward 2 on Loveland’s City Council. Shaffer, a principal in a Loveland public relations firm, stated in her announcement, ““Our community has a bright future, and deserves a fresh approach to making sure we get there.”
Articulate, professional and an aggressive campaigner who helped pass Measure 2C and place it into Loveland’s city charter, Shaffer is a formidable candidate. How the race shapes up from here will depend on each candidate. In a city where too many people were elected to council without even one opponent, the November 3, 2009 local elections will provide Ward 2 voters a clear choice between two very different candidates.
Thanks for the update. I don’t know much about her.
I didn’t know Snyder was connected to Marostica. That doesn’t sound positive at all. We need people on our city counsel who really care about the city and are not just doing it to meet new clients.
Anywho lets wait and see. Maybe there will be an actual debate this time instead of that silly league of women viper’s forum where no one was allowed to mention another candidate or debate.
Great! Snyder is a McWhinneycrat and his wife Gail very rude.
Thanks for reporting this. Too often the seats are uncontested.
I’m glad there’s going to be a competitve race and appreciate Ms. Shaffer’s willingness to step up to the plate. I’m happy that it is someone who helped pass the fair elections initiative. Must be good, based on that.
I don’t know this Snyder guy or his wife…though I wouldn’t hold it against someone just because their spouse isn’t a saint.
My wife would have to take a lot of heat for me, in that case.
Does John have some other info about why Snyder might be tied to McWhinney?
Not without revealing too much about myself but here is what I can say. Look, Lynn Hammond introduced Gail at my Rotary. She is a bright gal but her name dropping was obnoxious.
She wears the pants in that family though Bob is a nice enough guy even if not in charge. I am afraid Bob’s background doesn’t really equip him to cope with McWhinney’s sophisticated lobbying tactics or financial pressure.
Bob and Gail are both brokers (contrary to what this website said). Bob can’t afford to take on anyone like McWhinney who can really hurt his business if he crosses them. People in this town really need to get it through their heads that these local small business guys are doomed if they take on McWhinney. I is one that is why I don’t want to tell you who i am.
I don’t know this other gal but if she is willing to represent me instead of McWhinney on council I will be vot’n for her!!!!!!!
John’s got a point about the McWhinney strings in town. It’s not so simple as saying councilors are on the take–that’s probably how it seems, but that’s not a fair complaint. Still, a major corporation in a city the size of Loveland has a lot of influence, and it takes some savvy and grit to outmaneuver that in order to take a stand. With her PR background, I’m betting Joan can compete with Snyder, and then with McWhinney once she’s elected.