Dan Maes
Encyclopedia
Daniel B. Maes is an American businessman and politician of Dutch descent. He was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election
. Maes lives in Evergreen
.
Rib Lake
, Wisconsin
, where his father, Earl Maes, had roots. His father died in 1972. As a boy, Maes was active in church, the Boy Scouts, student government, and high school football. Maes continued football in college as a walk-on fullback until a leg injury in his first season. In 1983 Maes earned a Bachelor of Arts
in sociology
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
From 1983 to 1985 he was a police officer in Liberal, Kansas
, but was dismissed after disclosing to his fiancé that there was an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation of her family. In his appeal of the dismissal to Liberal's city manager
, he claimed the KBI offered the option of disclosure during the investigation given the delicate position he was in. The city manager, Alan Morris, denied the appeal because Maes stated in the letter he had disclosed the existence of an investigation to his fiancée.
Maes moved to Colorado in 1985 and started work in sales and sales management, and then joined Voice-Tel of Colorado. He negotiated a managing partner role through sweat equity at the Western New York offices in 1995. The company sold out to a publicly-traded company in 1997, and Maes finished his career with the company in Oakbrook, IL through 2000.
He then returned to Colorado where he entered the credit reporting industry in 2003, owning his own credit reporting agency Amaesing Credit solutions by 2005. He sold this company in 2009 and turned his attention to the Colorado governor's race.
. He received the most votes at the Republican party assembly on May 20, 2010, and was listed first on the primary
ballot for Governor of Colorado
against Scott McInnis
. Maes campaigned across Colorado until the primary, on August 10, and Maes won with 50.6% to 49.3%.
In July Maes agreed to pay a $17,500 fine for campaign finance violations, for improperly classifying the occupation of several contributors and for "untimely reimbursements of expenses over 20.00." Maes insisted this was a politically-motivated legal action timed just one week before the launch of mail in ballots for the primary." According to The Denver Post, Maes paid himself $42,000 in mileage reimbursements.
On July 28, 2010, some Maes supporters claimed robocall
s from the McInnis campaign were received, stating that Maes had exited the gubernatorial campaign in order to support McInnis. The McInnis campaign denied these claims, stating that robocalls were made by the El Paso District Attorney, Dan May, saying he supported Scott McInnis.
In early September Maes was embroiled in controversy after the Denver Post questioned his claims of working undercover with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation
. The Post investigation found that officials in Kansas either had no recollection of them or could not confirm them.
Questions about Maes' background led some supporters, including former Republican U.S. Senator Hank Brown
, to withdraw their endorsements. The Denver Post called on Maes to leave the race.
In the November 2010 general election, Maes won 11.2% of the vote, finishing behind both Democratic Denver mayor John Hickenlooper
and late entry Constitution Party
candidate Tom Tancredo
, a well-known and outspoken ex-Republican congressman. Tancredo had threatened to enter the race if McInnis and Maes didn't pull out. As the campaign wore on, the question was not whether Hickenlooper would win, but whether Maes would get at least 10% of the vote. Had he dropped below 10%, the Republican Party would have been legally defined as a minor party under Colorado law. Maes continued to campaign with no financial support from the Colorado GOP, RNC, nor the Republican Governor's Association. Ultimately, he finished just 20,000 votes over the threshold.
Regarding the issue of itemizing taxes on public utility bills, Maes was against it and stated to the Grand Junction Sentinel in a June 2010 interview, “People say, ‘Why am I paying this additional fee?’ They’re aware of it, they’re informed of it, and it concerns them. If they roll it into the cost, nobody sees the extra cost, and they’re less likely to express an opinion one way or the other about it.”
In August 2010, the Denver Post reported that Maes had criticized the City of Denver's membership in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Maes explained his belief that the "ICLEI is part of a greater strategy to rein in American cities under a United Nations treaty" and that local support for ICLEI is "converting Denver into a United Nations community." A spokesman for Maes' campaign said that Maes was trying to draw attention to ICLEI's "extreme" views on global warming, and according to the Associated Press
"told The Associated Press that Maes was trying to say that the biking initiative is a “gateway program” being pushed by ECLEI on cities that eventually lead to extreme measures, such as the promotion of abortions and population control."
Colorado gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor of Colorado, who will serve a four-year term to begin in January 2011. John Hickenlooper won the race with over 50% of the vote. Incumbent Democratic Governor Bill Ritter announced that he would not...
. Maes lives in Evergreen
Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Evergreen is roughly west of Denver. The population was 9,038 at the 2010 census...
.
Early life, education and career
Born in the Chicago area, Maes and his five brothers were reared in ruralRural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
Rib Lake
Rib Lake, Wisconsin
Rib Lake is a village in Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 878 at the 2000 census. The village is within the Town of Rib Lake.-Geography:Rib Lake is located at ....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, where his father, Earl Maes, had roots. His father died in 1972. As a boy, Maes was active in church, the Boy Scouts, student government, and high school football. Maes continued football in college as a walk-on fullback until a leg injury in his first season. In 1983 Maes earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
From 1983 to 1985 he was a police officer in Liberal, Kansas
Liberal, Kansas
Liberal is the county seat of Seward County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,525.- History :S.S. Rogers built the first house in what would become Liberal in 1872. Rogers became famous in the region for giving water to weary travelers...
, but was dismissed after disclosing to his fiancé that there was an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation of her family. In his appeal of the dismissal to Liberal's city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
, he claimed the KBI offered the option of disclosure during the investigation given the delicate position he was in. The city manager, Alan Morris, denied the appeal because Maes stated in the letter he had disclosed the existence of an investigation to his fiancée.
Maes moved to Colorado in 1985 and started work in sales and sales management, and then joined Voice-Tel of Colorado. He negotiated a managing partner role through sweat equity at the Western New York offices in 1995. The company sold out to a publicly-traded company in 1997, and Maes finished his career with the company in Oakbrook, IL through 2000.
He then returned to Colorado where he entered the credit reporting industry in 2003, owning his own credit reporting agency Amaesing Credit solutions by 2005. He sold this company in 2009 and turned his attention to the Colorado governor's race.
2010 Colorado gubernatorial campaign
Maes entered the 2010 governor's race as a political newcomer in March 2009, working with the Republicans and newly rising Tea PartyTea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
. He received the most votes at the Republican party assembly on May 20, 2010, and was listed first on the primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
ballot for Governor of Colorado
Governor of Colorado
The Governor of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the...
against Scott McInnis
Scott McInnis
Stephen Scott Emory McInnis is a lawyer and former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado. In August, 2010, McInnis lost his bid to be gubernatorial nominee after a plagiarism accusation and apology hurt his standing.-Education and professional history:Born in...
. Maes campaigned across Colorado until the primary, on August 10, and Maes won with 50.6% to 49.3%.
In July Maes agreed to pay a $17,500 fine for campaign finance violations, for improperly classifying the occupation of several contributors and for "untimely reimbursements of expenses over 20.00." Maes insisted this was a politically-motivated legal action timed just one week before the launch of mail in ballots for the primary." According to The Denver Post, Maes paid himself $42,000 in mileage reimbursements.
On July 28, 2010, some Maes supporters claimed robocall
Robocall
Robocall is a term for an automated phone call that uses both a computerized autodialer and a computer-delivered pre-recorded message. The implication is that a "robocall" resembles a telephone call from a robot...
s from the McInnis campaign were received, stating that Maes had exited the gubernatorial campaign in order to support McInnis. The McInnis campaign denied these claims, stating that robocalls were made by the El Paso District Attorney, Dan May, saying he supported Scott McInnis.
In early September Maes was embroiled in controversy after the Denver Post questioned his claims of working undercover with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, or KBI is the criminal investigative arm of the state of Kansas. The agency was established in 1939 by the Kansas Legislature, and is a division of the state's Attorney General...
. The Post investigation found that officials in Kansas either had no recollection of them or could not confirm them.
Questions about Maes' background led some supporters, including former Republican U.S. Senator Hank Brown
Hank Brown
George Hanks "Hank" Brown is a former Republican politician and U.S. Senator from Colorado who served as president of the University of Colorado system from April 2005 - January 2008.-Education:...
, to withdraw their endorsements. The Denver Post called on Maes to leave the race.
In the November 2010 general election, Maes won 11.2% of the vote, finishing behind both Democratic Denver mayor John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
John Wright Hickenlooper is an American politician and current Governor of Colorado. A Democrat, he was previously the Mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2011.-Early life, education and career:...
and late entry Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
candidate Tom Tancredo
Tom Tancredo
Thomas Gerard "Tom" Tancredo is an American politician from Colorado, who represented the state's sixth congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009, as a Republican...
, a well-known and outspoken ex-Republican congressman. Tancredo had threatened to enter the race if McInnis and Maes didn't pull out. As the campaign wore on, the question was not whether Hickenlooper would win, but whether Maes would get at least 10% of the vote. Had he dropped below 10%, the Republican Party would have been legally defined as a minor party under Colorado law. Maes continued to campaign with no financial support from the Colorado GOP, RNC, nor the Republican Governor's Association. Ultimately, he finished just 20,000 votes over the threshold.
Political positions
Maes supports e-verification systems to stop illegal immigration. In 2009, he told The Denver Post, "My original opinion was that we should provide some path to citizenship to bring people out of that underworld." Maes later clarified his position, saying he never supported amnesty for illegal immigrants and did not intend the phrase "path to citizenship" to imply amnesty.Regarding the issue of itemizing taxes on public utility bills, Maes was against it and stated to the Grand Junction Sentinel in a June 2010 interview, “People say, ‘Why am I paying this additional fee?’ They’re aware of it, they’re informed of it, and it concerns them. If they roll it into the cost, nobody sees the extra cost, and they’re less likely to express an opinion one way or the other about it.”
In August 2010, the Denver Post reported that Maes had criticized the City of Denver's membership in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Maes explained his belief that the "ICLEI is part of a greater strategy to rein in American cities under a United Nations treaty" and that local support for ICLEI is "converting Denver into a United Nations community." A spokesman for Maes' campaign said that Maes was trying to draw attention to ICLEI's "extreme" views on global warming, and according to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
"told The Associated Press that Maes was trying to say that the biking initiative is a “gateway program” being pushed by ECLEI on cities that eventually lead to extreme measures, such as the promotion of abortions and population control."
Personal life
Maes' first marriage, by which he has one daughter, Jordan, ended in divorce in 1988. Maes and his current wife, Karen, have three children.External links
- Dan Maes for Colorado Governor official campaign site
- Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Maes speaks to Greeley 9.12 Greeley Gazette, March 26, 2010
- Maes stuns McInnis at GOP assembly with narrow victory The Denver PostThe Denver Post-Ownership:The Post is the flagship newspaper of MediaNews Group Inc., founded in 1983 by William Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder. MediaNews is today one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, publisher of 61 daily newspapers and more than 120 non-daily publications in 13 states. MediaNews...
, May 22, 2010 - Maes and Buck win big at GOP state assembly, Colorado Independent, May 22, 2010