YOUR AD HERE »

It’s official: Aspen’s Clapper a commissioner candidate

Janet Urquhart
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado
Tom Clapper
ALL |

ASPEN – Aspen resident Tom Clapper’s supporters have filed his nomination petition and he has been certified as a candidate in the District 1 race for Pitkin County commissioner.

Clapper, who suffered a heart attack and several strokes in April after declaring himself a candidate for the post, is expected to be moved into a new rehabilitation facility in the Denver area. His condition continues to improve, according to web posts filed by his brother, Willard.

His certification as a candidate means Clapper’s name will appear on the Aug. 10 primary election ballot, according to the county clerk and recorder’s office.



Other candidates for the District 1 seat who have been certified to appear on the ballot are Brian Speck and David S. Weiss. Two others who have announced their intention to run but were not yet listed on Friday as certified by the clerk’s office are Jack Johnson and Rob Ittner.

Willard Clapper, in an update posted Thursday, said Tom called him up on the phone. “His voice is still rather thick and he is very deliberate in his statements, but he is awake, alert and talking! Yahoo!”




Go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tommyclapper/journal for updates on Clapper’s progress.

Patti Kay-Clapper, Tom’s wife and the incumbent commissioner in District 1, could not be reached for comment Friday. She has been in Denver with her husband almost continuously since his heart attack. Term limits will force her out of office.

At the primary, voters will choose two candidates in District 1 to advance to the November general election ballot. Concern that Clapper’s health could prevent him from serving – essentially making the November election a one-candidate race – could be a consideration for voters, conceded Roger Marolt, Clapper’s campaign treasurer.

“The good news is, people don’t have to make up their minds right now,” he said. “We can wait and see how he progresses through the summer.”

Also up for election in November is incumbent Rachel Richards, who has been certified as a candidate and is thus far running unopposed. Candidates have until June 4 to turn in nomination petitions.

janet@aspentimes.com