At the beginning of his congressional campaign, Gabe Evans promised to talk to anyone.
“I got nothing to hide,” said Evans during a KHNC radio interview in February. “I hand out my cell phone to anyone that listens. I figure if your job is to represent people, you ought to be accessible.”
But now, as questions have piled up about his stance on abortion, health care, gay marriage, and more, he’s dodging questions and even darting away as a limping reporter with a recent hip replacement asks him questions and follows him through a restaurant and into the parking lot.
After months of getting no response to emails sent to Evans’ campaign website, I found Evans, who’s trying to defeat U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), last Saturday at the Brighton Harvest Festival.
Colorado Times Recorder: “Hey Gabe.”
Evans: “How are you doing?”
CTR: “Jason Salzman with the Colorado Times Recorder.“
Evans: “How are you doing?”
CTR: “Good to see you.”
Evans: “You too.”
CTR: “I’ve been trying to reach you through your website and haven’t heard back.”
Evans: “You’ll have to reach out to Alan.”
CTR: “To Alan Philp?”
Evans: “Yeah, reach out to Alan.”
CTR: “You don’t want to talk to me?”
Evans: “Reach out to Alan.”
CTR: “Why? No questions?”
Evans: “Set up Alan, he’s the one doing my media.”
CTR: “Well, here you are. A question’s not a problem for you.”
Evans: “Reach out to Alan.”
CTR: “If I reach out to him, will you talk to me through Alan?”
Evans: “Yeah. Reach out to Alan. He does my media.”
CTR: “Okay, thank you so much.”
So I went back to the office and sent an email to Alan Philp, Evans’ spokesman.
“Hi Alan –
“I hope you’re well.
“I saw state Rep. Gabe Evans in Brighton yesterday, and when I tried to talk to him, he repeatedly said, ‘Talk to Alan.’
“So I’m reaching out to you to find a time when I can talk to Rep. Evans for 15 minutes, but even a five-minute interview would help. I want to discuss Patrick Henry College and the related issues of abortion and gay marriage.
“Thanks in advance for getting back to me.”
After waiting a few days, I saw that Evans was among the speakers Friday morning at a “Longmont Town Hall” at the Peppers Fireside Grill about a half hour north of Denver.
I arrived and watched Evans, who’s running in one the country’s most competitive congressional races, answer questions from the mostly friendly audience.
After the presentation, I approached Evans, who’d just talked to a college student and was standing with Alan Philp.
Colorado Times Recorder: “Hi Gabe. Jason Salzman, Colorado Times Recorder. Is now a good time to talk to me? Here’s Alan, right here.”
Evans: “Hang on one sec.”
I followed him as he walked to another section of the restaurant and circled back to where Philp was standing.
I asked Philp, “Can I ask my questions?”
“We’re good,” Philp replied.
Philp and Evans headed out the front door, and I followed.
“Your aunt says you still oppose gay marriage and abortion rights,” I called out, struggling to keep up behind them. “Is that true? Your aunt says you still hold those positions.”
“Thanks, Jason,” replied Philp.
“All right, Alan. Thank you. You guys have a good day.”
Unanswered, after all this ridiculous cat and mouse, are serious and basic questions that voters are asking as Election Day approaches.
Abortion. In an opinion article, Evans’ aunt, Jennifer Chavez, wrote that, despite his claims to the contrary, her nephew Gabe still opposes gay marriage and would ban abortion. What’s Evans’ response to this? His website states that he wants to “protect life at all states.” It also reads, “Coloradans must determine how to best protect women and babies’ lives.” What does Evans think Colorado’s abortion policy should be? He refuses to say, ignoring reporters’ follow-up questions.
Same-Sex Marriage. The college Evans attended states on its website, “Human sexuality is a great blessing created by God to be enjoyed within the context of a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman.” Does Gabe agree? Will he denounce this?
Democracy. Evans said “no-ish” when asked if the 2020 presidential election was legitimate. Does he have confidence that this year’s presidential election will be fair? Or does he expect to answer “no-ish” again if asked after this coming election whether it was legitimate?
You’d think a candidate like Evans, who says he has “nothing to hide” and will give his cell phone number to “anyone who listens,” would take questions from the Colorado Times Recorder, even if it’s a progressive publication. I’ll keep asking but it appears that’s not going to happen.
