JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Colorado Republican Chairman Dave Williams faced mounting calls to step down Saturday amid a push by the GOP chair of one of the state's largest counties to oust him from the top party position.
"It is an aggressive move, but what Dave has been doing for the past few months is just unacceptable anymore," Jefferson County GOP Chairwoman Nancy Pallozzi told Colorado Politics after launching a petition on Friday to force a vote to fire Williams.
"He is not speaking on behalf of the Republican Party. He is speaking for himself," Pallozzi said.
Williams told Colorado Politics he isn't going anywhere.
Pallozzi said she believes Williams crossed a line last week with a mass email from the state party attacking Pride Month, sent days after the LGBTQ community kicked off the annual observance.
> Read the full story on Colorado Politics.
Elected officials across Colorado have denounced Williams' comments. On Monday, several elected officials in Teller County, including three mayors and the board of county commissioners, released a statement calling for Williams' immediate removal as chair of the state GOP.
The statement reads in full:
“We were recently made aware that the Colorado Republican Party issued a call to burn all Pride Flags. As elected officials of Teller County and our incorporated cities, we represent all of our constituents and have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Colorado Constitution. These documents afford and guarantee the right to assemble and free speech to all of us and will be fully protected in Teller County.
Furthermore, property rights and personal property, including any flag flown on private property, will also be protected. We condemn any attempt to abridge the freedoms of any law-abiding group or individual in the State of Colorado, and it will not be tolerated in Teller County.
This call to burn pride flags was authorized and approved by the State Party Chairman and is not reflective of the Republican Party in Colorado and does not reflect the views of the Teller County Elected Officials of either party.
We are calling for the immediate removal of Mr. David Williams, the Chair of the Colorado GOP, for continuing to incite hatred and further division in Colorado.”
Marissa Solomon contributed to this report.
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