Pueblo Commissioner Eppie Griego swaps from Democrat to unaffiliated amid party backlash

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Bri Buentello, the chair of the Pueblo County Democratic Party.

In July 2022, the executive committee of the Pueblo County Democratic Party stated that Pueblo County Commissioner Epimenio “Eppie” Griego was "not (a) Democrat" for endorsing a Republican candidate for an open commissioner seat.

Griego announced Thursday morning that he's officially leaving the Democratic Party and registering as unaffiliated. He has been facing increasing backlash in recent weeks from the local Democratic Party for allegedly saying an anti-gay slur to a city councilor.

“Every time I try to stand up for the people of Pueblo instead of the priorities of my political party, whether it be endorsing the right person for a job, supporting law enforcement and laws that will make it easier for them to hold criminals accountable, questioning needle or snort kit handouts, I have been attacked both professionally and personally,” Griego said.

Griego's announcement came Thursday morning at the commissioners’ work session. He appeared to be reading from a prepared statement.

“I'm here to do what is right for all of the people of Pueblo, not a political party,” Griego added. “That is why as of yesterday, I switched my party affiliation and I will serve the people of Pueblo County as an unaffiliated commissioner. With that being said, I'm excited to get back to work for the people. I will not comment any further unless that has to do with the great things happening in Pueblo County.”

Griego did not address the alleged incident with Councilor Vicente Martinez Ortega — nor state if he would seek an additional term next year.

However, he field paperwork on Wednesday with the Colorado Secretary of State to run for another term as county commissioner as an unaffiliated candidate.

Griego was elected to his first term in 2020 and now serves as the chair of the board of county commissioners.

He has not responded to the Chieftain’s requests for comment.

Griego has declined multiple requests for interviews since the alleged altercation was first reported, but said “as reported I did not utter the word that is being accused of me” in a statement shared by a county spokesperson after the initial story was published.

This is the first time in decades local Democrats do not have a clear majority on the Pueblo BOCC.

Commissioner Zach Swearingen was the first Republican elected to the board in decades in November 2022. Commissioner Daneya Esgar, who previously served eight years representing House District 46 at the state legislature, is the only Democrat remaining.

Democrats still have a majority in all of the county’s elected positions. Swearingen and Coroner Brian Cotter are the county's only other elected Republicans.

The Southern Colorado Equality Alliance, a local LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has asked Griego to apologize for his alleged remark. They also asked for commissioners to consider censuring Griego and for additional diversity training — which is the only part of their request that commissioners have discussed publicly. Griego appeared amenable to diversity training when it was brought up at the Tuesday work session.

The Chieftain has reported that local Democrats were considering multiple measures to oust Griego, including a primary challenge next year as well as convening a controversy committee to impose additional consequences.

Griego was censured last year by the party for endorsing Swearingen.

"It's great to see Commissioner Griego finally come clean with Pueblo about the truth: that he doesn't, and has never, shared our Democratic values of honesty, fairness, and economic justice," Bri Buentello, the chair of the Pueblo County Democratic Party, said to the Chieftain in a text message.

Buentello said that Griego has "betrayed" Democratic values as county commissioner: "Whether it was his inflammatory public comments regarding data-driven public health measures, making homophobic slurs, building a new jail that Pueblo voters voted down twice by double digits, or even lobbying our state legislators against bills concerning the same workers rights that he pledged to support as a union member when he ran for his seat."

She added that Puebloans "overwhelmingly elected" a county commission with majority Democrats, but that's not how the governing body has been working. "Instead, they got a commission that governs as a Republican majority against their will. Commissioner Griego’s change of party affiliation simply reflects that fact," Buentello continued, adding that the party will eventually nominate and elect "a champion of working families."

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo County Commissioner Eppie Griego changing party affiliation