Video Story
Watch VideoOne Pueblo delegate headed to Democratic National Convention
Story By: Ryan Wilson
Source: KOAA
Published Wed Aug 20, 2008, 08:40 PM MDT
Updated Wed Aug 20, 2008, 11:25 PM MDT
There is only one delegate from Pueblo who is going to the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week. And he has an interesting political past. Joe Torres was Pueblo County's Sheriff from 1969 to 1974. He lost his re-election after a controversy surrounding gas expenses. He says politics were to blame, but he never once gave up on his own party.
As Barack Obama gets ready to accept his party's nomination for president, Joe Torres is getting ready to make that nomination.
"It's like the superbowl and we're part of it, you know, we'll end up with a ring," Torres said.
He was born and raised in Pueblo and has always been active as a democrat, from knocking on doors, to posting signs.
"He's carried water for the donkey for a long time, and this is a nice perk for him, to be able to go to a national convention, especially one that's held in Denver," former Pueblo County Democratic Party Chairman Nick Gradisar said.
Torres loves politics, but he blames it for the loss of his job as sheriff. Torres says a wholesaler was over-billing his office for gas, and some speculated that he was splitting the profits. Torres was found guilty of conspiracy, lost his re-election bid to his under-sheriff after a recount, and hasn't held an office since. But he says he's moved on.
"When there's controversy, you need to get around it. You can't continue to feed it. You just need to get away from it and go onto something better," he said.
And now, he's moving on again. Originally, he supported Hillary Clinton, but now, he's backing Obama. And by staying true to his party and himself, he's found the best way to adapt to politics, where knowing that "you win some and you lose some," is the only constant.
"I've never stayed away from the party. I've stayed active. It's what I am. And it's what I want to continue doing," he says.
Torres was chosen out of about 100 delegates to represent his party. He voted for someone else but ended up getting the nod himself.
