UPDATED: Accused child molester briefly managed Hasan’s statehouse bid

The Pueblo man arrested Wednesday on charges he sexually assaulted a 5-year-old boy while working as the manager of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign for southern Colorado also managed the campaign of Republican state legislative candidate Muhammad Ali Hasan for two months in 2007, according to state records.

Jeffrey Bartleson, who listed his job as “political consultant” when he entered the Pueblo County Jail last week on another molestation charge, was the first of several campaign managers for Hasan, who spent more than $350,000 on failed bids in Senate District 8 and then House District 56.

UPDATE: Hasan released a statement to the Colorado Independent on Barlteson. Read it below the fold.

GOP 527 sued over illegal fliers targets Northwest Colorado races

Senate Majority Fund, a controversial 527 political committee being sued by Colorado Ethics Watch for alleged campaign violations, is raising some eyebrows in and around Steamboat Springs with a wave of fliers weighing in on the state Senate District 8 race.

State Senate candidate pulls signs from delinquent taxpayer’s property along I-70

Sunday drivers out soaking up mountain views along Interstate 70 will have a few less political signs to mar their vistas after someone stole two massive McCain-Palin signs near the Avon Wal-Mart Supercenter and Democrat Ken Brenner pulled his voluntarily from the same property.

Senate race sparks Western Slope energy debates

In many ways, the race for state Senate District 8 in Northwest Colorado is emblematic of the intense conflict between the state’s resurgent mining and energy industries and the long-dominant tourism and outdoor recreation economy that boomed after the last mining bust.

The petroleum pledge: Western Skies backers sign onto ‘energy action plan’

Rep. Frank McNulty is one of a trio of GOP state lawmakers thought to be behind the Western Skies Coalition — a Virginia corporation raising oil and gas money to target key state senate races.

In an interview with Colorado Independent, McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch) declined to discuss the group’s funding sources Tuesday, but he did acknowledge signing its “Energy Leadership Action Plan” pledge.

Sources say Penry behind Western Skies’ bid for Colorado GOP Senate majority

The Western Skies Coalition, a conservative Virginia corporation with an office in Littleton, is allegedly being used by state Sen. Josh Penry (R-Fruita) to raise funds from oil and gas companies in a bid target several key Colorado state Senate races and win back a Republican majority in 2010, according to several sources.

Western Slope Legislative Races Starting to Gel

How are the Colorado legislative races shaping up on the Western Slope? A quick synopsis shows that most seats will be contested, which will help make 2008 an exciting election year over the Divide.

Hush, Hush & On the QT: Dance the Western Slope Republican Shuffle

The Colorado Republican Party primary ballot is going to be less crowded next year because of a few twisted arms.