Gerri and I attended the Arapahoe County Republican Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night at the Radisson hotel on Parker road. The remodeled hotel did an admirable job of accommodating our group. The event was a smashing success.
One of the highlights of the evening was witnessing real estate mega star Edie Marks win the “Head or Tails” fundraising game conducted by former 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler and past Arapahoe County Chairman Rich Sokol. I was surprised and pleased how they both performed. I always thought that George was all business, and I know that Rich can be full of fun. Well, they were a great team and Brauchler could get a new gig as a comedian. Throw in master of ceremonies Jimmy Sengenberger to kibitz and it was a program for the ages.
To explain further what these Republicans do for fun; they play a game called “Heads or Tails.” Ladies carrying arm loads of Mardi Gras necklace beads roamed the crowd in packs selling these beads for $10 each with a limit of four per customer. How can one resist such a challenging game?
As the meal was served, the game began with perfect timing with everyone who purchased beads were asked to stand. My wife Gerri purchased two strands of beads to help fund the party. Some guests, like Edie, bought the limit of four.
The comedians asked the audience members who had beads to stand and almost everyone stood up except the elderly guys, like myself, who just watched in anticipation of where all this would lead.
“Put your hands on your head, or your tail” related George as Rich flipped the coin. The first toss was called a “tail.” If you had heads, and only one bead, you had to sit down on your tail end. They tossed the coin again, and I urged my wife to take tails again, she did and won a second time. Then another tail, and another tail, 15 people were left standing and they were asked to come forward for the grand finale to win a $500 gift certificate at Jake Jabs American Furniture Warehouse. Rich flipped the coin completely off the stage, but limber George retrieved the coin to call out “heads.” Only two contestants remained standing, Edie and an unidentified male both called heads and it came out tails. Now, turning their backs to each other, Edie went for heads and her opponent put his hands on his tail.
It was “heads” and Edie Marks was the grand slam winner. I’m sure Edie will go shopping and purchase some nice new furniture.
Next came the impressive parade of champions and state office seekers. Camp Bow Wow founder and candidate for governor, Heidi Ganahl, marched on stage wearing a great pair of red, white and blue cowboy boots and a sharp white jacket. She is a strong candidate and is supported by many Republican leaders.
Greg Lopez, former Parker mayor and Trump SBA Administrator was introduced and spoke about helping small business. Lopez once ran in a primary against Walter Stapleton, that GOP stalwart not seen since losing to Gov. Polis. The candidates were given 30 seconds each to give their campaign platforms by timer Myron Spainer.
The program proceeded onward. One of the highlights of the evening commenced with speeches by two Republican Congressmen, Doug Lamborn from Colorado Springs and Ken Buck from Greeley, two senior GOP leaders, both apparently in the Trump camp. Following brief speeches where they whipped the Biden administration on every front from immigration to Biden proposal to hire 85,000 new IRS agents to spy on personal bank accounts of accrued $10,000 yearly, once proposed at the monthly $600 level. The congressmen were interviewed by MC Jimmy who did a masterful job throughout the evening asking them questions about the tragedies going on in Washington D.C. Both of these incumbents have very safe districts and spoke bluntly about the budget, military debacles out of Afghanistan, immigration fiascos, etc. Buck related that he believes there are 10 U.S. Senators who will stand with Senator Joe Manchin to block the Biden $5 trillion spending debacle, quietly lurking in the background. They both projected a 2022 GOP victory taking back the House of Representatives in next year’s mid-term election.
Three Cherry Creek School board candidates were present and were given a 30 second public speaking opportunity. Bill Leach referred to the quote by Kelly Bates, “we don’t need a white man sitting on our board.” Bates, currently vice-president of the current school board made ludicrous comments in a recent forum that made the Fox national news. Another Bates guffaw was stating the current CCSD board are “not all wealthy white women who sit around eating bon bons all day.” You can’t make this commentary up folks. Fact-check it.
The last school board speaker was GOP state officer Schume’ Navarro who has been somewhat overlooked by the Republican hierarchy that she represents. Navarro had been busy with a lawsuit against school board practices regarding masks. She was the only candidate that instinctively, and spontaneously responded to Bates when Bates made inflammatory comments that will go down in history as some of the most racist remarks made by a school board president. A round of applause for Navarro for stating the Bates’ comments were “rude.” M.C. Jimmy began the evening program introducing Derrick Wilburn, an African American school board member and national spokesman on racial issues.
Wilburn took the microphone and began what was a masterful and powerful speech on diversity and why he did not feel oppressed as a black man. He blamed the racial divide, described as white privilege that he says exists not because of racism but because of family values. Wilburn explained that white families that marry and stay together only have a 3% chance of a child going to prison. Conversely, single parent black women, who raise their children by themselves have a vastly higher percentage of prison failures. It is all about maintaining a strong family and has nothing to do with white privilege but family relationships, Wilburn concluded.
Further, he raced through the major cities in America with total Democrat councils and mayors that have become a disaster. By this time, he had the audience in awe of his facts and figures and he was hitting the ball out of the park with every comment.
Fact, after fact, too many to remember as he related. “History is a matter of fact.” He said, “sure we had slavery, but we got rid of it 157 years ago.” About the brutal Civil War, he related that Union soldiers living in Ohio traveled thousands of miles to free slaves that they didn’t own, didn’t know, and died by the thousands in defense of freeing the slaves. History reveals that over 700,000 Union and Confederate soldiers died in the civil war and thousands more were wounded and crippled for life. Medical procedures were to saw off the limb with no pain medication, biting a wooden stick as they sawed off the injured leg or arm. Gangrene killed a great number of the wounded without modern day penicillin or medical care.
He ended his speech pleading for interest in school board elections about proper core values being taught in our schools. He said, “fifth-graders don’t have a choice to select a course like adults.” “Attend a class” he related, “see what teachers are teaching.” “These are the most important elections in America,” he concluded.
I was so impressed I Googled his speech given recently in Colorado Springs. He is a masterful thinker and speaker who is now being assisted by Steve Schuck, former candidate for Colorado governor and leading developer and civic leader in Colorado Springs.
After the dinner in a brief conversation Wilburn related that he and 20 black Americans were meeting with Schuck at his home this week.
Remember the name of Derrick Wilburn. Find him on your computer and listen to his speeches before you vote for school board candidates.
Schools shouldn’t be partisan hotbeds but our most precious asset for the future of America.
The Lincoln Dinner was an informative evening with Republican colleagues.