The first of four separate efforts to recall Democratic lawmakers over their gun votes failed as organizers attempting to oust Rep. Mike McLachlan of Durango didn’t collect the required number of signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot.

Those spearheading the recall effort against McLachlan collected “8,500 plus” signatures, but needed at least 10,586 valid signatures, organizer Dave Saleh said.

The number of signatures required is based on 25 percent of the votes cast in the last election in that district.

“We obtained signatures from about 20 percent of the voters … and we did it with no money, entirely grassroots, no pros, an amateur organization, ” Saleh said Tuesday.

McLachlan said the people behind the recall were “loud” and “strident,” but do not represent the majority of people in his House district.

“I always thought it was a distraction, and I want to move on from this experience,” he said.

But Saleh said organizers are debating whether to try another recall effort or wait and try to unseat McLachlan when he runs for a second term in 2014.

“We’re not done,” Saleh said. “Mr. McLachlan is going to be hearing footsteps regardless of how he wants to spin it.”

But the spin actually came from conservatives, who made light of the failed effort against McLachlan and said the focus is on unseating Senate President John Morseof Colorado Springs.

Morse is considered the easiest of the four Democrats to unseat, in part because only 7,178 signatures are needed. Organizers are paying signature-gathers and the NRA has joined the fight.

“The efforts in Colorado Springs shows that it takes serious special -interest money … to even have a shot to succeed,” said Rick Palacio, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party.

“The unfortunate part about all of this, is that this is going to waste hundreds of thousands of local taxpayer dollars that could be going to improve schools, fix roads, and help seniors.”

El Paso County estimates it would cost $150,000 to conduct the special election.

Also facing recall efforts are Sens. Evie Hudak of Westminster and Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo. The 11,285 signatures needed for Giron and the 18,962 signatures needed for Hudak are both due June 10.

The recall effort was hatched in southwestern Colorado, when McLachlan in February voted for gun bills, upsetting critics who said that violated the lawmaker’s claim to be pro Second Amendment.

Saleh said in talking to voters who weren’t focused on guns, they were able to gather support by saying politicians need to be held accountable, that they can’t “lie” to get elected.

Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com or twitter.com/lynn_bartels