This week’s news of Republican state Senate candidate Frederick Alfred’s arrest for felony child neglect includes not only his personal family tragedy, but a potential political problem for the party that nominated him to run for office.
The Commerce City resident was arrested at a resort in Key West, Florida, on two charges of felony child neglect. He left his four- and six-year-old children alone at a resort hot tub while he bought drinks at the bar, and while he was gone, the 4-year-old girl almost drowned. Alfred initially refused to allow paramedics to take his children to a hospital before eventually consenting, according to an arrest report viewed by the New York Post.
Alfred has not commented publicly on his arrest nor on any plans to continue or end his campaign. He had not responded to an email request for comment. This article will be updated with any response received.
Given the severity of the charges, it seems likely that he will voluntarily end his campaign. But what happens if he does not? Can the party force him to withdraw? The legal question of whether a party could remove a candidate against their will doesn’t have an obvious answer.
The Colorado Times Recorder reached out to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office with the following question: Would a candidate who made the ballot via assembly have to willingly resign in order to be replaced prior to ballots going out, or is there a mechanism for the party to remove someone it deems no longer fit to run?
According to an SOS spokesperson, “Once nominated, candidates may choose to withdraw of their own accord. CRS [Colorado Revised Statutes, aka state law] is silent on whether a party would be able to do so.”
This leaves two potential options: the Colorado Republican state party bylaws and/or the Adams County GOP bylaws. Neither document addresses this situation.
Reached via text, Colorado Republican Party Vice Chair Eric Grossman offered the following statement:
“The electorate will decide the circumstance. Right now we pray for the entire family and a healing resolution to a sad situation.”
Colorado Times Recorder reached out to the Adams GOP Chair and other officers of the state party, but received no replies. This article will be updated with any responses received.
