Greeley mayor underestimated rancor
By Monte Whaley
The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 11/08/2007 10:37:40 PM MST


Outgoing Greeley Mayor Tom Selders said he underestimated the rancor caused by illegal immigration in the city, which is one reason why he lost at the polls Tuesday night to political novice Ed Clark.

Selders said he was targeted by his political opponents β€” including Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck β€” who helped spread misconceptions that Selders was soft on crimes committed by undocumented workers.

Those efforts included fliers distributed weeks before Tuesday's vote that hinted Selders turned a blind eye toward gang behavior.

"I doubt if Ken Buck could be directly linked to the hate mail," Selders said. "But did he help provide input and inspiration for the mailers? You bet he did," Selders said.

Buck could not be reached for comment. He has criticized Selders for going to Washington, D.C., in May to decry the effects of immigration raids at the Swift & Co. plant in Greeley in December.

Buck also has targeted Selders' lukewarm reception for placing an immigration enforcement office in Greeley.

Selders β€” who had served two two-year terms β€” admits he misread how people could be swayed by the fliers, especially since illegal immigration was not a hot topic during election forums.

He also worries that the issue of illegal immigration in Greeley is producing an environment of hateful intolerance.

"I feel badly for the city because there is this anger and hatred within this community," he said. "I guess the method to get things done here now is to resort to insults and telling lies about people."

Clark beat Selders by a wide margin. He said he didn't need help from any outsiders to win.

"I think he underestimated me," said Clark, a former Greeley police officer.

Clark said he raised $20,000 during the early stages of the campaign to Selders' $8,000 by walking the streets of the city and listening to people's concerns.

"He didn't have the support that I had because of my 20 years of service to the community," Clark said.

Earlier this fall, Clark pulled a gun on a man who allegedly drove two girls to a fight at the school where Clark works as a security officer.

Selders said he did not make the incident a campaign issue.

"Obviously I needed to be nasty and a horse's (behind) to win," Selders said.

Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7411382