Current officers (elected 2013-2015) — please feel free to contact them with any questions, issues, or suggestions.
Chair — Pete LaBarre — E-mail: chair@teller-gop.org
Although Pete’s true involvement with politics began just a few years ago, his roots as a constitutional fiscal conservative Republican grow deep. Pete believes that the nation, in both the macro and micro sense, are best served by little government interference both in individual lives and in economic markets
Pete holds both a BSBA in Finance and a MBA from UCCS. His service to our country include six years of active duty Air Force and 27 years in the Air Force Reserve. Pete has taught Saudi flight crews to operate C-130 aircraft, sold real estate, and owned various successful small businesses. Pete has worked for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce as a small business analyst and served as city administrator for the city of Victor. He has also taught economics, business management and statistics for Pikes Peak Community College. Pete and his wife, Vicki, currently own all of the Denny’s Restaurants in Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
Pete has served on business boards of directors and community relations boards. He currently serves as the president of an 1100+ time share HOA, as a member of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Legislative Watch Council, and as a member of the Eliminating Barriers to Business working group with the El Paso County Regional Building Department.
ViceChair — Bill Miller — E-mail: vicechair@teller-gop.org
Bill Miller has extensive experience in both government and private enterprise. His educational achievements started with degrees in Computer Science and Business Management. He later added an MBA and graduation from the Harvard Advanced Management Program. He worked for more than 30 years in the private sector, primarily in information systems and software. As CEO or President he managed organizations with more than 150 employees and was responsible for the organizations’ profit or loss.
Prior to his retirement, he worked for 11 years as El Paso County’s Chief Information Officer. Here he managed a multi-million dollar budget and gained valuable experience in the inner workings of county government.
Secretary –Violet Watt — E-mail: secretary@teller-gop.org
Violet Watt-Warner is a lifelong Republican with a strong background in voting for fiscally-responsible conservatives. She is a third generation Colorado native and has lived and worked in Teller County for the last four years.
Violet is currently a Teller County employee. She brings to the TCRCC a strong belief that change for the individual, the community, and the nation occurs from the inside out. As a member of TCRCC leadership team, plans to provide insight and energy to the future of the local Republican Party. Violet is also a small business owner that has ridden the waves of good and bad economic times.
Holding a BA in Business Administration and Accounting, Violet will ensure that the TCRCC finances are accurate and transparent. Her background in accounting and business management will esnure that all statutory requirements are met on time and with accuracy.
Treasurer — Carol Soderstrom — E-mail: treasurer@teller-gop.org
Carol’s choice to follow in the footsteps of her parents, both active Republicans, led her to volunteer for the position of Treasurer of the Executive Committee. Her goal is to encourage local government to be honest and fiscally accountable to Teller County and to preserve a simple lifestyle for coming generations of Teller County so they may grow up unfettered by too much government regulation and pressure.
She and her husband, Bob, have lived in Teller County for 23 years and raised their children here. Carol is a small business owner, volunteer for the Clerk and Recorder’s Office, and participates in many non-profits in the area.