A Republican who will challenge U.S. Representative John Salazar for his seat in 2010 made a stop in Grand Junction Thursday.

Ninth Judicial District Attorney Martin Beeson spoke before a full house at a Western Slope Conservative Alliance meeting.

He says he is a conservative Republican who believes the federal government has grown too much and is taking too much control over the economy.

During his speech he criticized Salazar saying he lacks leadership skills, is a pawn of Democratic leaders in Congress, and is not in line with Western Slope values and voters.

Amidst criticisms that Salazar's GOP challenger in 2008 did not campaign enough, Beeson says he plans to visit all areas of the Third Congressional District heavily over the next year and a half, and is confident he can win the election.

"The [Democrat's] policies are big government control policies at the expense of individual freedom," said Beeson. "I recognize that and I'm fighting against that."

For more information about Beeson and his campaign click on the link below.