American Constitution candidate files
Mike Potter
Staff Writer
Bailey-resident Zdenko Novkovic will be placed on the general election ballot as an American Constitution candidate for Park County commissioner in district 2. He is the only member of the party in the state running for a county commissioner seat.
"The reason I'm running for county commissioner is to see if we can make a change to provide better services to our citizens," he said.
Novkovic was selected to go on the ballot at the May 31 American Constitution state assembly held in Adams County. There are no county assemblies for that party.
Park County Clerk and Recorder Debra Green said certain minor parties can place candidates onto the general ballot at state assemblies without the candidates having to petition on.
"He went through the process. He got on at state assembly," she said.
Novkovic said he was dissatisfied with the current government and decided to take a crack at the political arena.
"I believe that having a third party in there would allow some other alternative thought processes and hopefully move [the county] in a direction that is positive," he said.
The American Constitution Party claims to be the third-largest political party in the country. It emphasizes the power of the states. Every state has a Constitution Party, although the names differ, Novkovic said. In Colorado, it is referred to as the American Constitution Party.
The Libertarian party also makes a claim to be third-largest party in the U.S.A.
When Novkovic first registered to vote years ago, he registered as a Republican, but has since become disillusioned with the party. He registered as an American Constitution Party member in February, which is also when his desire to hold public office was born.
He wants to bring more businesses to the county, including perhaps some light industry - something other than tourism to rely on.
"I don't think tourism is the answer," he said.
He also wants commissioners to get back to the task of running the county.
"I would like to see if we could better manage our government," he said.
If elected, he said, he would work to improve transportation in the county, upgrading and updating the infrastructure and making the county more enticing to businesses.
"I'm very straightforward and I want to keep it that way as a candidate," he said.
Phillip Hendrix, a supporter of Novkovic and fellow American Constitution Party member, said he has known Novkovic for a number of months and believes he would be a good man to hold public office.
"He understands the issues at hand, the issues that Coloradans have to deal with on a daily basis," he said.