LITTLETON, Colo. (KDVR) — With Election Day inching closer and closer, races are heating up across many Front Range communities. An incident caught on camera in Littleton has some voters shocked and outraged.
Littleton voters said flyers encouraging votes for certain candidates and against a ballot question were hanging from their doors. Doorbell video shows, not everyone may be happy about them.
“It’s the kind of tactic that you hear about sometimes, but you really don’t expect in local politics,” said Littleton voter Erin Roethlisberger. “There should be an apology, at the minimum. I am definitely reticent to support someone for council and for mayor that would conduct themselves in this manner. If there is not an apology, then I certainly hope the voters will make themselves known in terms of how they feel about this kind of conduct.”
In a video now circulating on neighborhood apps, neighbors said a man who resembles current City Councilman and mayoral candidate Patrick Driscoll walks up to a porch, places what appears to be a campaign flyer supporting him on the door and then removes a door hanger.
“Just surprise and disappointment was my first reaction. I was kind of like ‘Oh, that’s just not a good look.’ It’s really disappointing to see someone do that,” said Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter. “I have no idea to why he might have done this. I know all eight candidates that are out there right now are campaigning, working hard. We spend a lot of time, a lot of money campaigning, trying to get our message out there and try to talk to as many voters as we can because we want to all hear from our constituents.”
FOX31 tried to call and text Driscoll about the video, but we received a text back asking if we could talk later. Neighbors shared a copy of the hanger with FOX31. One side of it urges voters to vote for progressive and “open-minded” candidates, including incumbent mayor Kyle Schlachter. He said he has worked well with the councilman over the years, sentiments echoed by their colleagues.
“We’ve worked together really well the whole time. I would say in recent months, it’s gotten a little more tense. Yeah, the competition is real,” said Littleton City Councilwoman Andrea Peters, of District 4.
As campaign signs cover Littleton lawns like leaves, voters wonder if a contentious ballot initiative about land use, Question 3A, on the city’s ballot could be at the heart of the bad behavior. The mayor encourages voters to do their homework and make their own decisions.
“I think that it’s important, as mayor and all of city council, represents the constituents of the city. And we want to be able to do that as best we can and I hope voters can figure out which candidates most align with their candidates and goals most align with our community and make the best decision that represents them,” said Schlachter.
With Election Day just three weeks out, voters hope this will be the last dramatic incident before the ballots are counted.
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