It's Getting Harder for Cory Gardner to Make Appearances Without Being Confronted

Senator Cory Gardner hasn’t held a town hall with constituents in almost two years, and activists and progressive organizations say his office won’t respond to their requests for one-on-one meetings about specific issues. So ahead of his likely contentious re-election bid in 2020, they’re picking up momentum on a tactic for getting in touch with the Republican that saw success last week: finding out about the somewhat-public events he attends and confronting him there in a very public way.

On Tuesday, August 13, Gardner was popping into restaurants, bars and shops throughout Olde Town Arvada on a tour with Arvada’s mayor, Marc Williams, when dozens of activists arrived on the scene. Gardner was then flanked by a combination of staffers, cops and activists, with whom he occasionally engaged as he walked down the sidewalk. Mindy Mohr, of Arvadans for Progressive Action, said her group had learned of the tour and contacted other interested organizations.

Many of the faces and organizations represented were the same who confronted Gardner at a poorly publicized meet-and-greet event at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge on Thursday, August 8. Members of Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Conservation Colorado, NARAL Pro Choice, Progress Now Colorado, Indivisible, Denver Young Dems, JeffCo Dems and Moms Demand Action were in Arvada yesterday afternoon.

Greg Davis, a volunteer for JeffCo Dems, wanted to ask Gardner what he’s doing about immigration, funding for veteran’s health care and his lack of public appearances. “We have a lot of people that want to talk to him, and he won't hold a public town hall, and I find that very sad,” Davis says.

Read more: https://www.westword.com/news/constituents-confront-cory-gardner-in-arvada-11447338