In The News

August 13, 2010 - From Townhall.com:

By Brian Walsh

After winning his competitive primary this week, Ryan Frazier will face off incumbent Democrat Ed Perlmutter in November for Colorado’s Seventh Congressional seat.

Standing up to the Perlmutter-Pelosi agenda in November is independent-minded Ryan Frazier, a Navy veteran and current Aurora City Council member. Unlike Perlmutter, Frazier possesses the leadership and vision that Coloradans deserve in Congress. As a member of the non-partisan City Council, Frazier has worked to balance budgets of over $750 million, expand small businesses and eliminate burdensome taxes. As a proud husband and father to three young children, he is committed to building a more prosperous future for Colorado.

Ed Perlmutter has represented the district since 2006 when he rode a Democratic wave to victory. Since elected, Perlmutter has steadfastly supported party boss Nancy Pelosi 98.2 percent of the time. He has been an avid supporter for the Democrats’ reckless agenda of more spending and fewer jobs which has consequently led to an eight percent unemployment – which has doubled since he was elected. Not only did Perlmutter support his party’s failed trillion-dollar stimulus and disastrous healthcare law, but he put thousands of Colorado jobs on the line by supporting the cap-and-trade bill which could devastate the oil and gas industry. With Colorado voters fed up with the Democrat-controlled antics in Washington, Perlmutter will face an uphill battle to November’s midterm elections. To make matters worse for Perlmutter, after supporting his party partisan so frequently, it has become clear to his constituents that his left-leaning views are too extreme for this rural and suburban district in central Colorado.

This sprawling district is located in central Colorado and covers the northern parts of the Denver metropolitan area, as well as many of its surrounding suburbs and the large rural eastern portion of Adams County. West of Denver, towards the mountains, lays Lakewood and to the east of Denver lies Aurora, a newer city with an increasing population.

As Perlmutter and his Democrat friends’ runaway spending binge threaten Colorado jobs and economic vitality, it is evident that middle-class families can no longer afford him. Fortunately for Colorado voters, Ryan Frazier offers them a better choice in November. Frazier has already proven he can balance a budget and offer common-sense ideas that can get the economy back on track and put Coloradans back to work. Faced with a formidable challenger, Ed Perlmutter will likely be among the many Democrat casualties of November’s upcoming elections.

August 10, 2010 - Ryan Frazier, the Republican nominee for the 7th Congressional District, released the following statement on his primary win. Lang Sias called Frazier earlier tonight to concede the election. He will take on incumbent Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden) in November.

“Our campaign has the best supporters and volunteers in Colorado. There is no way I would be the Republican nominee for the 7th Congressional District without their tireless support. Now, we embrace the hard work required to win in November, by earning the confidence of the people throughout our district."

“My fellow veteran and primary opponent, Lang Sias, ran a strong and principled campaign. His dedication to our great nation will ensure he continues to serve. Lang and I share common beliefs in limited government, lower taxes, a strong national defense, and the goal of defeating Ed Perlmutter in November. I hope Lang, and his supporters, will continue their commitment to conservative values and help us carry forward our message of a strong economy and fiscal responsibility to a win in the general election."

“The people have spoken tonight. I'm asking Americans of all backgrounds to Believe Again. They no longer want Washington insiders burdening future generations with mountains of debt. They don’t believe we can tax and spend our way to economic prosperity. They don’t believe new government powers and regulations create jobs and wealth. Instead, they want a fresh voice and a new way forward. They want to believe our children and grandchildren will have more opportunities and a better quality of life than previous generations. We must believe again so that together we can build a better future."

“Colorado needs a real representative of the people – not a congressman that’s out of touch with his constituents. Free markets, less spending, lower taxes, and investing in innovation will create jobs and get our economy back on track. In Congress, I will fight for common-sense policies that tighten Washington's belt and restore long-term fiscal discipline to our budget. Our families need representatives who will put America first.”

July 23, 2010

July 16, 2010 - By Lynne Bartels - The Denver Post -

It's rough knocking on doors in the aftermath of a hailstorm, Ryan Frazier has learned.

"Oh, I thought you were trying to sell me a new roof," Diane Thomas told him.

After learning the stranger on her front porch wasn't a salesman but her city councilman, and one of two Republicans running for Congress in her district, the 54-year-old ticked off a litany of concerns.

The economy. Foreclosures. Falling home values in her neighborhood just southwest of East Alameda Avenue and Interstate 255.

"I'm upside down in my house now after nine years," Thomas said. "It's disappointing."

Thomas' neighbor Ted Montague, 48, is a house painter who finds himself unemployed for the first time in his life.

"I'm behind you 100 percent," he told Frazier. "I like who you are. I like what you say. "

"Well, this is our year to take government back," Frazier replied.

That morning, between petting barking dogs and kicking an errant soccer ball to a group of kids in a front yard, Frazier explained to voters why he believes he's the best candidate to be their congressman.

"I've done my part to help my community for over a decade," he said.

Frazier, 32, had just turned 26 in 2003 when he was elected as an at-large representative to the Aurora City Council. He was re-elected in 2007, and Republicans leaders salivated over his future.

He's black and a veteran. He co-founded a charter school. And he has backed domestic partnerships in a state where Democrats won over unaffiliated voters by exploiting a perception that Republicans ignored the economy and focused on conservative social ideas instead.

Frazier's profile increased in 2008 when he co-sponsored a "right to work" ballot initiative, earning him the ire of labor unions and even Republicans trying to cut a deal to keep labor proposals off the ballot.

"People realized that I'm willing to stand up for things that I believe in, despite the political consequences and overwhelming pressure," he said.

This is an excerpt of the profile of Ryan Frazier that originally ran in the Denver Post on July 16, 2010. You can read the original article at DenverPost.com.

July 19, 2010

Part 1


Part 2

July 14, 2010 - Ryan appeared in an interview on Newsmax.com. Click below to watch the video:

June 21, 2010 - Ryan appeared on the Hugh Hewitt show today. An MP3 of his appearance is embedded below:

June 15, 2010 - Here is the full text of Ryan's recent op-ed that ran in the Aurora Sentinel:

Prosperity is possible
By RYAN FRAZIER

Prosperity is possible — yes, that’s right…it’s still possible. However, the out-of-control spending, “stimulus,” tax hikes, TARP, bailouts and industry takeovers coming out of Washington will not get us there. What will get us to prosperity is new leadership with common sense and a deep respect for the U.S. Constitution.

It has been a long time since America has enjoyed true prosperity; many people have forgotten what it looks like, while some generations have yet to experience it. And those of us with children worry that they won’t have the opportunity to accumulate wealth in their lifetimes. Here is what I think is possible for America:

Prosperity is when everyone who is willing to show up on time and do his or her best has a job. In numbers, prosperity means over 30 million more jobs, and an unemployment rate below 5 percent, rather than today’s nearly 10 percent. Prosperity means no more “discouraged workers.”

Prosperity means that if you lose one job, there is another one waiting for you. It means that you, as a worker, are in demand. It’s recruiters thronging our college campuses, eager to hire the new graduates. It’s a summer job for every teenager who wants one.

Prosperity means that real wages (which are 10 percent lower today than they were 38 years ago) are going up. A rising economic tide is lifting all boats. It means that you aren’t worried about having a job, or the money you need to pay your bills.

Prosperity is confidence in the dollar at home and respect for the dollar abroad. It means that you can save for retirement and your kids’ college education without fears that your savings will be destroyed by inflation.

Prosperity is being able to plan your career, plan your business, and plan your life, without having those plans thwarted by periodic financial panics and crises. It means that the big Wall Street banks earn their money the old-fashioned way, by financing real companies and real growth, rather than via speculation and trading.

Prosperity means seeing progress everywhere you look — better houses, better cars, better schools, better roads, better technology of all kinds. It’s Americans back on the moon and heading for Mars.

I believe that prosperity is not only possible, but something we have the freedom to choose. The U.S. Constitution is an instruction manual for prosperity. It provides for freedom and order, protected by a government possessing limited, enumerated powers. It does not provide for, and indeed does not allow, a government that runs everything and controls everything.

There is an age-old formula for prosperity: economic freedom, the rule of law, stable money, low taxes, free trade, and sensible regulations. This formula works because it maximizes private business investment — people putting capital to work to realize their dreams.

Private business investment drives the economy. It determines GDP, the number of jobs, and what those jobs pay. Government allocation of capital (e.g., the $787-billion “stimulus” bill) has not proven to be effective nor has it kept the promise of limiting the unemployment rate to 8 percent. It does nothing for “demand,” because the additional spending is completely offset by additional government bond sales. And, if governments could invest capital wisely and create real, self-sustaining jobs, Communism would have worked.

Before anything can be produced or anyone can be hired, someone must invest capital. The more capital is invested per worker, the better the job and the more it pays. Would you rather have the average job at McDonalds, or the average job at Apple Computer? Apple’s average capital investment per worker is more than $1.4 million; McDonalds’ is $78,000. However, many people would prefer the pay and benefits provided by a company like General Electric, whose capital investment per worker is almost $2.6 million.

We must foster private business investment in modern American industries of the 21st century: High-Tech, American Energy, Life-Sciences, Education, Engineering, etc. I believe that if we stabilize the dollar, reign in out-of-control spending and debt, reduce the corporate income tax, death tax, and capital gains tax, and support small business, our economy will fly to new heights.

Democrat and Republican leaders must put aside political gamesmanship in favor of a united focus on economic growth, so that all Americans can thrive. Our country, while imperfect, is exceptional. I have confidence that our people will meet the challenges of this new century.

So, take heart — prosperity is possible. Americans have ideas and the drive to bring them to life: we have already given the world telephones, airplanes, GPS, the Internet, Facebook and the iPod. And, there is plenty of capital available if we provide the right incentives. We the people must stand up for economic freedom, the rule of law, stable money, low taxes, free trade, and sensible regulations.

Ryan Frazier is a second-term at-large representative on the Aurora City Council

By Ivan Moreno, AP Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) ― Jun. 13 2010

Denver and Boulder vote for Democrats, and Colorado Springs and Colorado's rural regions vote Republican. That's a safe political bet.

But in Denver's sprawling suburban Congressional District 7, newly created in 2002, bedroom community conservatism combined with the district's ethnic diversity is giving the GOP hopes for an upset come November.

And that would be knocking off U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, the Democratic incumbent.

June 4, 2010