For the record, some Colorado candidates have a record - The Denver Post

For the record, some Colorado candidates have a record - The Denver Post

Bounced checks and bankruptcies. Arrests and restraining orders.

The names of a slew of candidates running for the Colorado legislature can be found in police and court records and other official documents. Some incidents happened decades ago, while others were as recent as this year.

"This is the challenge of having ordinary people running for office," said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, who is overseeing House Republican candidates and was unaware some had police records.

"Everybody makes mistakes, some more serious than others," McNulty said. "When you have a citizen legislature, you get real people with real problems."

Republican Tom Janich of Brighton, running to unseat Democratic Rep. Judy

Colorado's Election 2010

Election News and Candidate Info

• Denver Post Voter Guide
• Colorado's Governor Race
• Colorado's U.S. Senate Race
• Colorado's U.S. House District 4
• Colorado's 2010 primary election voting-service centers
• Colorado Secretary of State Elections Division
• Check your voter registration
• Register to vote
• Request mail-in ballot
• The Spot blog

Solano, has been arrested five times, including once for resisting arrest.

"It's my record. I've got to own up to it," he said.

But the 48-year-old said his run-ins with the law happened when he was younger, and he now has a record of public service.

"Heck, if everyone in Adams County who ever drank one too many or smoked a joint would vote for me, I'd win in a landslide," Janich said.

Another legislative candidate with an arrest record is Democratic Rep. Dennis Apuan of Colorado Springs, arrested in 2002 at Peterson Air Force Base during a protest against nuclear weapons.

Republicans are incensed by the arrest, particularly since Apuan's district includes an Army post, Fort Carson. Voters elected him in the Democratic landslide of 2008, but Republicans are stressing his arrest in their attempt to unseat him this election.

"Hey, this is America"

"They've brought it up again and again and again, but it never really gains traction," Apuan said. "Hey, this is America. We have freedom of speech and freedom to peacefully assemble. Social change has come about in the United States through peaceful actions like this."

The Denver Post checked the names of Democratic and Republican legislative candidates against police, court and other government agency files.

Political campaigns have done their own background checks and are sending voters mailers outlining their opponents' pasts.

The constitution says state office can't be held by anyone convicted of "embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury, solicitation of bribery or subornation of perjury."

Most candidates questioned about their backgrounds were extremely candid, even offering up personal court records or going to the courts themselves for information in cases where the charge was available but not details of the case.

Read more: For the record, some Colorado candidates have a record - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frontpage/ci_16191395?source=email#ixzz10vmuGhRw