Libertarian Tim Menger, who faces scandal-plagued Republican Jared Wright in Colorados House District 54, addressed Club 20 this morning. The Western Slope group originally did not invite him to participate in legislative debates. (Lynn Bartels/The Denver Post)

The controversy over Club 20 snubbing Libertarian candidate Tim Menger at its legislative debates ended today when he spoke to the group after an 11th-hour invitation.

I almost turned down your late invitation because I didnt want to show up to a place I had shamed into letting me in, he said.

Menger faces Republican Jared Wright in House District 54, which straddles Mesa and Delta counties. No Democrat ran for the seat, something the party kicked itself over after problems with Wrights finances and his tenure as a Fruita police officer surfaced.

Menger said he has a shot of winning the seat in the Republican-dominated district if he can pick up most of the Democrats, unaffiliated voters and some Republicans.

What I need is 2,500 of the 12,000 registered Republicans in my district to say, Hey I dont want to send a dishonest person to the state legislature. I am going to jump over for this election and I am going to vote Libertarian, get that guy in there, see what he does, Menger said.

Club 20 traditionally does not invite third-party candidates to its debates unless they represent 1 percent of the voter registration of the district. That wasnt the case in House District 54 so Wright was scheduled to have a solo presence on the stage.

A Libertarian Party official wanted to protest at Club 20, but Menger said he didnt support that.

I said, No, not only is it in my back yard but I am not protester. Club 20 is a club and they have a right to invite whoever they want, said Menger, who did write a protest letter to his local paper.

Wright ended up canceling at the last minute, and Club 20s executive board decided Friday to let Wright speak today for five minutes.

Continued here:

Libertarian gets to address Club 20, promises to oppose tax or fee hikes