LASALLE — A second Weld County State House member has announced her intention to seek a seat on the Weld County Board of Commissioners.
Lori Saine, who currently represents House District 63, is term-limited after the 2020 session. She will now run for Weld County Commissioner District 3, which is currently held by Barbara Kirkmeyer, who is also term-limited. Former Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton, a Republican, has announced his intent to run as a Republican in District 3 as well.
There are three seats up for election on the Board of Weld County Commissioners in 2020. An at-large vacancy, currently held by Sean Conway, who is term-limited, District 1, which is currently held by Mike Freeman, who has announced he will seek re-election, and District 3.
House District 49 Rep. Perry Buck recently announced she would run for the at-large seat. Freeman, a Republican, is being challenged by Republican Windsor Mayor Kristie Melendez. A third candidate for District 1, Bill Gillard, pulled his intent to run for House District 28, instead.
“If you notice, the fight came to Weld County,” Saine said about the 2019 legislative session. “This is where the battle line has been drawn. Boulder wants Weld County. They want to control everything.”
Saine just moved to Dacono from Firestone, which is in District 2. However, she has called Dacono, which is in District 3, home most of her public service life, representing the people of District 3 on many different boards and commissions. She has previously served on the Dacono City Council and represented residents of District 3 during her time in the State House.
“These are my constituents,” she said. “I have always represented them. This is my home.”
Saine said she wants to follow in the footsteps of Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams.
“He stood up for not only this county but his state,” Saine said about Reams declaring he’ll sit in his own jail before he’ll enforce the Red Flag Law, which would take guns from anyone deemed by a court to be a mental health risk. “This is one of the most exciting times to be living. Even with all the opposition, we are faced with, we are winning. Will you stand up with me and say, ‘no more?’ “
Saine made her announcement in front of a crowd of about 100 who gathered for an end of session BBQ, reminding them that the United States was founded on religion.
“In this office, I can be the most helpful that I can possibly be,” Saine said. “I can help the folks here at home by staying closer to home.”
Saine said she believes the same skill sets she had in the legislature will help make Weld County run smoothly, run more efficiently, protect private property rights and continue to make sure the country remains debt-free and sales-tax-free.
“I want to help us keep Weld County great, to help keep the hordes away from Weld County, but also to help those in the legislature stand up to Gov. (Jared) Polis,” Saine said.
