Wil Armstrong's family ties are political asset

Armstrong name has been benefit in election bid

By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 24, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Wil Armstrong, a Republican running for his party's nomination to Congress in the 6th District, prepares for a debate Friday with opponents Steve Ward, Ted Harvey and Mike Coffman.

Armstrong Family Photo

Wil Armstrong played bass in a ninth-grade band while the family lived in Virginia.

Reed Sundine, of Parker, was ready when 6th Congressional District Republican candidate Wil Armstrong came up the driveway.

"You have my vote. I voted for your dad," the retired airline pilot said. "We know what your dad stood for. I hope you're a Christian, too."

"Yes I am," Armstrong assured him.

As Armstrong, a Greenwood Village businessman, wades into electoral politics for the first time, his name is his calling card.

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong, who stepped down in 1990 after two terms, dominated Republican politics in Colorado for years.

The elder Armstrong was also a businessman, with holdings in television stations and newspapers.

The connection between father and son leads to occasional sniping from backers of the other candidates, who say that Wil Armstrong is trying to ride his family connection into Congress.

"I think it's a big plus for me," Armstrong said of his father. "My dad, I think, exemplified being a citizen legislator. . . . While he was serving in public office, he was building businesses and creating jobs. So I ultimately think that's the right role model."

Armstrong has lined up endorsements from from many of the state's top Republicans, including former Gov. Bill Owens, U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, Attorney General John Suthers and Bill Armstrong. He picked up an endorsement Tuesday from former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

But Armstrong also notes that he's attracted more than 350 volunteers to his campaign.

Like Sundine, the Parker resident, many of Armstrong's supporters are reassured by his family ties.

"He'll have someone to lean on with his father," said former Elbert County Sheriff Jack Knous, who said he's leaning toward Armstrong.

Armstrong lists his business experience as his main qualification for Congress. His three opponents have experience in elected office.

"I don't think we need to send more career politicians back to Washington," he tells voters in his stump speech and as he goes door to door.

He often adds, "What we need is more real-world experience."

He shrugs off criticism that his business success is due to his father.

"I am in business with my dad, and I've been fortunate to have him as a business partner on some of my business ventures," he said.

But, he added, "I have other business partners who are not family members."

He is on the boards of several banks in which his father has no interest, Armstrong said.

"I feel enormously blessed that I've been able to be in business with my dad. In fact, I'm actually . . . fifth-generation father-son Armstrong working together in some capacity."

His main business, Blueberry Systems, provides software to mortgage bankers.

Armstrong was born in Denver. He attended schools in McLean, Va. He graduated from Virginia's James Madison University in 1989.

He worked as banker in Washington, D.C., following college.

Armstrong then moved to the nonprofit International Foundation, a Washington-based group that tries to create goodwill between the United States and foreign nations.

He was part of a project that lobbied for greater inspection of prisons in Russia, where he traveled in 1991.

Armstrong plays guitar and bass. He was part of several bands in high school and college, including one called the Jests. He enjoys big band music from the 1930s and '40s.

Armstrong does not mention religion in his stump speech or on his Web site. He stresses the importance of business experience in solving the nation's problems.

For example, he believes the energy problem could be alleviated if drilling for oil and building refineries were subject to fewer restrictions.

"I really do believe that if the government would get out of the way, that folks like us would look to the opportunities, the boundless opportunities that the energy problems that our country faces present, and that we'd be able to solve some of those problems," he said.

Wil Armstrong

* Occupation: Chief executive officer of Blueberry Systems, a software development and consulting firm

* Residence: Greenwood Village

* Age: 41, born in Denver

* Family: Wife, Kristy; children, Elisabeth, 13, Kathryn, 11, Jack, 8

* Education: Bachelor of arts, James Madison University, Virginia

* By the way: When he was 20, Armstrong spent a summer in India working with various charitable organizations, including Mother Teresa's home for the destitute and dying.

* Three priorities in office: Energy, federal spending, economy/taxes

* Top priority for 6th District: Energy/gas prices

* Best way to develop Colorado economy: Colorado can lead the nation in safe energy exploration.

* Endorsements: Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney; state Attorney General John Suthers; U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.; former Gov. Bill Owens; former state Senate President John Andrews

* Money raised: $592,191, plus $26,409 in loans from himself

* Number of campaign videos on YouTube: 10

* Touts: "Real world" business experience and being an outsider to the political process

* Critics say: Don't buy the political neophyte act - his father is former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong and he's riding on Dad's coattails.

* Web site: armstrongforcongress .com

• July 24, 2008

  8:58 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  BuffDriver writes:

  At a time when the GOP needs proven leadership to fight the Democrat-controlled US Congress, we don't need someone riding daddy's coattails to DC. There are serious issues (war on terror, national energy policy, Iran nukes, etc.) the GOP must try to push the libs into solving. We don't have time to have 'on-the-job-training' at this critical time in our Nation's history. Voters--take a serious look at Ted Harvey. Conservative. Experienced. Will fulfill Tancredo's legacy.

• July 24, 2008

  11:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  DownwardDog writes:

  And when you take a serious look at Ted Harvey you will come to one unmistakeable conclusion.... No effin way.

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