GRAND JUNCTION — Ripping the majority title away from Democrats in the Colorado Legislature and maintaining Republican rule in Mesa County unified Republicans at Saturday’s Mesa County Republican Convention.

Republicans accepted nominations for candidacies in the state house, county commission and county district attorney, including House District 55 candidate Laura Bradford. Bradford will run against incumbent Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, in the Nov. 4 general election.

In her acceptance speech, Bradford labeled Buescher “a tax-and-spend liberal” and said she favors government that’s “not in people’s way.”

“My friends, it’s time to get back control of the state house,” Bradford said.

Former state Sen. Ron Teck nominated Bradford with the hope she’ll help Republican House District 54 Rep. Steve King “battle the forces of liberalism” in the state house.

“It will take hard work to win back this seat, but with our support she can do it ... she will win,” Teck said.

Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, said he’d love to see Republicans take control of any local, state or national position up for grabs this year.

“We say this every election year, but boy are the stakes higher this year,” Penry said.

Penry endorsed County Commissioners Craig Meis and Janet Rowland, who got the Republicans’ nod to run for re-election. Both may face Republican challengers on the Aug. 12 primary ballot.

“They do what they say, they stick to their guns, and they do what’s right,” Penry said of Rowland and Meis.

Rowland received nominations from Penry and CU Regent Tillie Bishop. Meis’ nomination was seconded by John Justman, who ran against Meis as Republican for county commissioner in the 2004 primary. Meis’ acceptance speech focused on the county’s participation in a lawsuit hoping to overturn Gov. Bill Ritter’s mill levy freeze, which caused property taxes to increase for Mesa County homeowners living on land with appreciating value.

“Let us vote on that,” Meis said, adding, “I hope we win our lawsuit.”

The county will also elect a district attorney this year. Pete Hautzinger, the only candidate so far, has held the title since 2004. Hautzinger inherited a thickening stack of felony filings when he came into office, but said felony cases have decreased in the past two years. Burglary, forgery, homicide and fraud arrests are all down as well.

“I’m not declaring victory, but I think we’ve turned the corner here,” Hautzinger said.

Riecke Claussen, former Mesa County sheriff, and Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, nominated Hautzinger as the county’s Republican candidate for district attorney.

“I know that when Pete walks into a courtroom, he knows exactly who he represents, and he hasn’t forgotten the pain and suffering created by the person he’s prosecuting,” Claussen said.

The Republican presidential nomination was not formally discussed at the convention, but several speakers commented on the race. Not one spoke publicly about Arizona Sen. John McCain, who leads in the delegate tally to receive the nomination, or any other Republican candidates. McCain came in a distant second behind former candidate Mitt Romney in Mesa County’s Republican caucuses Feb. 5.

Comments instead centered on Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s plan to pull troops out of Iraq within 60 days of her inauguration concerned former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis.

“The Republicans will be out after we win,” he said.

Former state Rep. Matt Smith encouraged Republicans to vote in November.

“We know that we have a challenge to this White House,” Smith said. “We are going to have to turn out in grand numbers to beat whoever is the Democratic nominee.”

Colorado Republicans meet again at congressional district conventions May 24-June 7. The state convention is May 31 and the national convention is Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The Mesa County Democratic Convention begins at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Central High School.

Reach Emily Anderson at eanderson@gjfreepress.com.