2020 ELECTION • SPECIAL EDITION

colorado politics
OCTOBER 2, 2020
VOL. 122 • NO. 40 • $3.50

Special coverage INSIDE

on what you need • Democracy, money and trickery. Insights, Page 2
to know by Nov. 3 • Six clear contrasts in the Senate race. Page 3
• An in-depth look at ballot initiatives. Page 9
• The tax questions for Denver voters. Page 15
• Who’s who in the races for DA. Page 18
• Full analysis of all 83 legislative races. Page 20

ILLUSTRATION BY JIM CARR, SPECIAL TO COLORADO POLITICS

2 Colorado Politics
Democracy, money and trickery make an odd brew
What you think is fair and
what Washington thinks is
fair are probably two different
things.
In a democracy you could
do something about that. In
reality all you can do is cast a
ballot on Nov. 3 and complain
a lot, not necessarily in that
order.
Our perceptions of reality
are distorted, and it didn’t
take much to get us there.
A guy I went to high school
with shared a Facebook post
recently that told other white,
older people that they were
being lied to by the media (and
apparently the cops): Breonna
Taylor wasn’t shot in bed. She
was actively stashing drug
money in her apartment, and
she’s not an EMT, either.
The alleged source is “a
zookeeper” from Oklahoma.
Wow, just like Joe Exotic. That
should have been a tipoff to
people sharing it. Social media
crowns nonsense and malig-
nant disinformation with the
same credibility as the Ency-
clopedia Britannica, until a Joe
Exotic knockoff seems credible.
If you’re not looking at your
news feed and saying, “Are you
serious?” then people are prob-
ably saying it about you.
Yet, the news is so crazy, you
can hardly blame people.
That’s kind of the feeling you
get with this Supreme Court
situation. In March 2016,
as Republicans held up his
Supreme Court nomination
for what would be 14 months
before Coloradan Neil Gorsuch
was seated, President Obama
called what was to come.
An article in Salon magazine
on Sept. 21 explained why it
matters. The title smacked of
truth, and I do mean smacked:
“Why America’s political fights
are as fake as pro wrestling.”
The piece was written by Chi-
2020 VOTER GUIDE • CREDITS
SECTION EDITOR
Linda Shapley
DESIGN
Stephanie Swearngin,
Stacey Horne, Ted Rayburn
COVER ILLUSTRATION
Jim Carr
RESEARCH
Rachel Lorenz
ADDITIONAL EDITING ASSISTANCE
Joey Bunch, Emily Ferguson,
Alayna Alvarez, Pam Williams
GRAPHICS
Evan Wyloge
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marianne Goodland, Joey Bunch,
Ernest Luning, Alayna Alvarez,
Michael Karlik, Eric Sondermann
COLORADO POLITICS (USPS 122-900 and ISSN 25753134), founded in 1898, is published every Friday. Periodicals are paid at Denver, CO. ADDRESS: Colorado Politics, 555 17th St, Ste 425, Denver, CO 80202
October 2, 2020
INSIGHTS Hundreds of
protesters
gather in front
of the Capitol
building on
Sept. 23 in
Denver after
the Kentucky
grand jury
JOEY BUNCH announcement
joey.bunch@coloradopolitics.com in the Breonna
Taylor case.
cago criminal defense attorney The crowd then
Leonard C. Goodman, who began march-
owns the news website Reader: ing downtown
”As academic studies have to the office of
shown, the wishes of ordinary U.S. Sen. Cory
Americans have little or no Gardner.
impact on the makings of fed-
eral government policy. (The
single exception to this rule
is for issues that don’t impact
the bottom line of the investor
class, such as reproductive KATHRYN SCOTT, SPECIAL TO COLORADO POLITICS
rights and identity politics; on
these issues ordinary Ameri- He characterized political “Because of the prevailing breakable glass of our cur-
cans can sometimes get their mood more as pendulum than power of the base voters rently fragile democracy. He’s
voices heard.) In other words, a three-card monte. the trifecta winning party long worried about the media
your opinion about most “Some other voters do in over-reaches with non-centrist turning serious subjects into
important issues carries zero fact have far more significant policies, until the mobile mid- competitive entertainment,
weight unless you are a major political power than he thinks, dle gets frustrated yet again,” which prioritizes spectators
donor or a bundler of donation separate from the power mon- he said, implying a but: “While over thinkers.
checks. These truths about ey players, who do wield exces- the middle is present, it is not Tom, like Kent, remains an
American politics help explain sive power,” Kent told me. “The represented proportionate to optimist.
why the largest single voting good old reliable base voters its actual membership, not “Donors don’t vote; the
bloc in America—nearly half of for each side, where positions even close.” people do,” he told me, turning
eligible voters—choose to stay are extreme and turnout is the I checked in with Tom Cos- to Goodman. “What’s missing
home on election day.” name of the game. “ grove, the filmmaker, politico from this analysis is how we
The game is rigged? No av- That makes legislative com- and an explorer of hope. the people allowed politics and
enue for democracy? We’re in promise is nearly impossible, Tom produced the docu- governance to become enter-
worse shape than I thought. I KT — he goes by KT now — mentary ”Divided We Fall: tainment and in the process
hoped to interview Goodman, continued. Unity Without Tragedy,” that numbed a significant chunk of
but his publicist never replied. “And every X years there is asked what it means to be an our population from partici-
I’m that important. a wave election as the mobile American anymore. The pic- pating in our democracy.”
I needed optimism and in- middle voters, out of disgust ture made its world premiere He followed up our email
sight. Luckily I’m friends with with the continued lack of April 30 on Rocky Mountain exchange about hope with
two experts in both. progress, shifts away from the PBS, before going national on links to two stories about what
Kent Thiry, the retired as recent incumbents and the American Public Television on happens if a defeated Presi-
CEO of Davita Inc., is Mr. Au- other side wins the trifecta of May 20. You can watch it on dent Trump fails to yield to a
tomatic on Colorado’s ballot. executive and both chambers the Rocky Mountain PBS web- peaceful transition of power.
“I think he is a few degrees of Congress.” site until May 2022 by clicking As parties go, you have two
off, maybe more,” Thiry replied Whether power corrupts here. choices, but increasingly it
in a recent email, when I completely, who knows, but Last month Tom urged seems like two sides of awful.
flagged the article to his atten- Thiry says it usually prevails; the networks covering Elec- My unaffiliated status never
tion the day after it came out. that’s why they call it power. tion Night not to juggle the looked so good.
2020 ELECTION • SPECIAL EDITION
coloradopolitics Chris Reen, Chairman
coloradopolitics
OCTOBER 2, 2020
Jared Wright, Publisher
VOL. 122 • NO. 40 • $3.50
Vince Bzdek, Editor at large, vince.bzdek@gazette.com
Linda Shapley, Managing editor, linda.shapley@coloradopolitics.com
Joey Bunch, Deputy managing editor/senior reporter, joey.bunch@coloradopolitics.com
Emily Ferguson, Digital editor, emily.ferguson@coloradopolitics.com
Dan Njegomir, Opinion editor, dan.njegomir@coloradopolitics.com
Christopher Osher, Senior investigative reporter/editor, chris.osher@coloradopolitics.com
Ernest Luning, Reporter, ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Marianne Goodland, Reporter, marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Alayna Alvarez, Reporter, alayna.alvarez@coloradopolitics.com
Michael Karlik, Reporter, michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Stephanie Swearngin, Design director, stephanie.swearngin@gazette.com
Rachael Wright, Calendar coordinator, rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Special coverage INSIDE Rona Mertink, Legal notices administrator, rona.mertink@coloradopolitics.com
on what you need • Democracy, money and trickery. Insights, Page 2
to know by Nov. 3 • Six clear contrasts in the Senate race. Page 3
www.coloradopolitics.com
• An in-depth look at ballot initiatives. Page 9
• The tax questions for Denver voters. Page 15
Office Phone 303.837.8600
Letters to the Editor info@coloradopolitics.com
• Who’s who in the races for DA. Page 18
Subscriptions www.coloradopolitics.com/subscription
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 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 3

2020 ELECTION • U.S. SENATE

Candidates offer contrasts on 6 issues

BY ERNEST LUNING
Colorado Politics

Colorado’s U.S. Senate race pits the

state’s two most well-known politicians
against each other in a battle that could
determine which party controls the
chamber after the November election.
Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner is
seeking a second term in a state whose
political landscape has moved to the left
since he unseated Democrat Mark Udall
six years ago in one of the closest races
in the country that year.
After serving eight years as governor
and a brief White House bid, Hicken-
looper joined a primary field of more
than a dozen Democrats hoping to chal-
lenge Gardner last summer. He won the
June primary over former state House
Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who ran
against Hickenlooper from the left. In
a race that Romanoff his opponent was
too cautious and moderate on issue
ranging from health care reform.
Early polls showed Hickenlooper
with a double-digit lead over Gardner,
though more recent polls have found
a tighter race, possibly due to millions
spent by Gardner and national Republi-
cans airing blistering attack ads blasting
Hickenlooper. Among other charges, the CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE
Republicans have highlighted findings U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a rally in February at the Broad-
by the state’s independent ethics com- moor World Arena, during the president’s visit to Colorado Springs.
mission that the Democrat twice violat-
ed a state gift ban and a ruling that held to air Oct. 6 on Telemundo; in Denver Trump looms over everything ed against calling witnesses during
Hickenlooper in contempt for snubbing on Oct. 9 at a televised debate sponsored No subject is expected to influence Trump’s impeachment trial and then
a subpoena to testify before the panel. by Channel 7, The Denver Post and oth- voters this fall so much as Trump and voted to acquit the president on
Hickenlooper, who built his brand er news organizations; and in Fort Col- reactions to the president’s record af- charges he held up foreign aid in an at-
as a politician in part by pledging he lins at a televised debate sponsored by ter nearly four years in office. tempt to bring down a political oppo-
wouldn’t run negative ads, reversed the 9News and Colorado Politics, along with Trump, who lost Colorado by about 5 nent. Hickenlooper, on the other hand,
long-held position in September when other news organizations. percentage points in 2016, has trailed made clear he would have voted the
he released a series of TV ads attack- Ballots start going out to Colorado vot- Democrat Joe Biden in polls all year other way on witnesses, evidence and
ing Gardner over additional pandemic ers on Oct. 9 and are due back to county and isn’t expected to do any better this whether to convict Trump in what the
relief legislation and the Republicans’ clerks by 7 p.m. Nov. 3. time, creating both a challenge and an Democrat called “a sham of a trial.”
efforts to overturn the Affordable Care The two candidates hold positions in opportunity for Gardner. Although Colorado’s electorate hasn’t
Act. National Democrats and outside line with their parties on most issues, While he broke with Trump four years lived up to its reputation for splitting
groups have poured millions more into and they’ve each staked out areas of ago before the 2016 election in the tickets much lately, Gardner’s cam-
ads blasting Gardner and portraying the expertise — Gardner, who sits on the wake of the “Access Hollywood” tape paign and Republican strategists be-
incumbent as a reliable ally of President Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is and wrote in Mike Pence’s name rath- lieve he has a path to victory if he can
Donald Trump. considered an expert on America’s rela- er than vote for Trump, Gardner soon persuade enough unaffiliated voters to
Democrats have to net four seats to tionships with countries in Asia, while became one of the president’s staunch- check off his name while casting their
win the gavel, or three seats if Joe Biden Hickenlooper, a geologist-turned-found- est supporters and was one of the first ballots for Democrat Joe Biden — be-
and Kamala Harris win, giving Harris er of Colorado’s brewpub industry, GOP senators to endorse Trump for cause they think Gardner has done a
the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. brings a small business perspective to re-election. Trump returned the favor good job delivering for Colorado or be-
The two candidates are set to debate nearly every topic — but offer sharp con- and embraced Gardner on stage at a cause they want a Republican Senate
four times in October — in Pueblo on trasts on a number of topics that have February rally in Colorado Springs, to keep a check on a Democratic pres-
Oct. 2 at a debate sponsored by the Pueb- been central to their campaigns. declaring that the Coloradan has been ident.
lo Chieftain newspaper; in a debate that Here’s a look at where Hickenlooper with the administration “100%.”
will be dubbed into Spanish and is set and Gardner stand on several key issues: Earlier this year, Gardner vot- SEE ISSUES • PAGE 4

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4 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • U.S. SENATE
ISSUES
FROM PAGE 3
Health care
While Hickenlooper and Gardner both
say they support policies that will yield
affordable health care that covers preex-
isting conditions, their records on what
could be the hot-button issue this cycle
couldn’t be more different.
On the most salient question, their
positions on the Affordable Care Act,
known as Obamacare, the candidates
are at polar opposites.
Hickenlooper boasts that he imple-
mented the federal legislation’s Medic-
aid expansion in Colorado when he was
governor, bringing coverage to some
400,000 additional state residents, and
put in place a state health insurance ex-
change. Gardner, on the other hand, has
opposed the legislation since his first
campaign for federal office and voted to
weaken, defund or repeal the legislation
numerous times.
Hickenlooper opposes a lawsuit pend-
ing before the U.S. Supreme Court
intending to strike down the ACA,
brought by the Texas attorney general
and supported by the Trump adminis-
tration. The high court is scheduled to
hear arguments in the case a week af-
ter Election Day, raising the stakes even
further
Gardner hasn’t taken an explicit posi-
tion on the lawsuit — which hinges on
the Republicans’ tax legislation remov-
ing the ACA’s individual mandate — but
said last year, “If the Democrats want
to stand for an unconstitutional law, I
guess that’s their choice.”
Hickenlooper maintains that the ACA
should be strengthened, something that
didn’t happen after its passage because
Republican lawmakers have been intent
on killing it rather than improving it.
While he supports creating a public
health insurance option to increase
competition and help reduce costs,
Hickenlooper has taken heat from his
party’s left wing for opposing “Medicare
for All,” the single-payer health care
plan supported by Vermont Sen. Bernie
Sanders and other Democrats.
Regardless, Gardner has repeatedly
leveled a false charge against Hicken-
looper, claiming the Democrat supports
a policy he actually opposes — Hick-
enlooper was booed by Democrats in
California when he argued against
“Medicare for All” on the presidential
campaign trail — and will usher in so-
cialized medicine.
Gardner says he supports popular ele-
ments of the ACA, including guarantee-
ing coverage to people with preexisting
conditions — totaling 2.5 million Colo-
radans, by some counts — and earlier
this summer introduced a 117-word bill
he says would accomplish that. Demo-
crats and health care experts, however,
say Gardner’s bill, which doesn’t have a
single co-sponsor, lacks certain key pro-
visions and wouldn’t accomplish what
he promises.
Along with his efforts to repeal the
ACA, Gardner helped Colorado’s state
government obtain a federal waiver to
implement a reinsurance program de-
signed to lower costs for some consum-
ers and has worked to increase price
transparency for prescription drugs. He
also supports allowing insurance com-
panies to sell plans across state lines to
lower costs and boost competition.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
Supporters of the Affordable Care Act, who are also opponents of Colorado’s GOP-led plan to undo Colorado’s state-
run insurance exchange, gather for a rally in January 2017, on the state Capitol steps in Denver.
director of the agency by a federal judge
in late September, who ruled that the
former oil and gas attorney with a his-
tory of advocating for the sale of public
lands had been filling the position ille-
gally.
One of the accomplishments touted
by Gardner was the decision last year
by the Department of Interior to move
BLM’s headquarters to Grand Junction,
bringing “federal decision-makers clos-
er to our public lands,” Gardner says on
his campaign site, “because he believes
government operates best when its clos-
est to the people it serves.”
Critics complained the move didn’t
bring more than a few dozen jobs to the
city on the Western Slope, and that it
COURTESY PHOTO was part of a Trump administration ef-
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner argues for the Great American Outdoors Act on the fort to hollow out some federal agencies
U.S. Senate floor on June 8. by requiring key personnel to uproot
and move across the country on short
Environment and public lands passed legislation authorizing a study notice.
Gardner points to Trump’s signature to determine whether Camp Amache in
this summer enacting the Great Amer- Southeastern Colorado should be added Climate change and energy
ican Outdoors Act as a major bipartisan to the National Park System. Both candidates have bucked their
achievement and a reason for Colorado Both candidates have been named parties’ traditional positions on energy
voters to send him back to Washington a “Friend of the Outdoor Industry” by matters, though neither stakes out posi-
for another term. the Outdoor Industry Association — tions much at odds with their party line.
The bill, which establishes permanent Gardner for sponsoring the bipartisan Garner sponsored legislature when he
funding for the Land and Water Conser- Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Econom- was in the state General Assembly to the
vation Fund from fossil fuel royalties, ic Impact Act, which helps authorities Colorado Clean Energy Development
also directs $9.5 billion over five years quantify the economic impact of the in- Authority; when he was running for the
to fund long-deferred maintenance on dustry, and Hickenlooper for his work Senate in 2014 he filmed a campaign
National Park Service properties. growing the state’s recreation economy, commercial in a windmill farm for one
The legislation won near-universal establishing Public Lands Day as a state of his first ads, in a nod toward his sup-
praise from environmental and con- holiday and his aggressive response to port for wind production tax credits to
servation organizations, including ones the Trump administration’s rollback of bolster the renewable industry.
that are typically casting Gardner as climate-related policies. Hickenlooper, who spent his early
an opponent of their agendas. “Con- Hickenlooper is a strong supporter years in Colorado working as a petro-
gress coming together to pass this act of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & leum geologist, was cozier than many
would address two fundamental crises Economy Act — known as the CORE Democrats liked with the state’s oil and
the world faces at once — catastrophic Act — meant to protect 400,000 acres gas industry and routinely sung the
climate change and the loss of biodiver- of public lands in Colorado, while Gard- praises of fracking, including famously
sity,” said Sharon Buccino, senior direc- ner has been noncommittal about the drinking fracking fluid during a con-
tor of the lands division at the Natural proposal, effectively stalling it, though gressional hearing to demonstrate its
Resources Defense Council. Trump has also threatened to veto the safety.
Hickenlooper supports the Gardner bill, should it make it to his desk. Gardner is one of the few Senate Re-
bill but otherwise faults his opponent Gardner also didn’t take a position publicans who acknowledges that cli-
on nearly every front involving conser- on William Perry Pendley’s controver- mate change exists and is caused by hu-
vation and public lands. sial tenure running the Bureau of Land man activity, though Democrats say his
Gardner helped create Canyons of Management. Pendley was ousted after
the Ancients National Monument and serving for more than a year as acting SEE ISSUES • PAGE 5

2020 ELECTION • U.S. SENATE
ISSUES
FROM PAGE 4
votes in Congress don’t reflect a sense of
urgency about the crisis.
At a subcommittee hearing he was
chairing in 2019, Gardner stated: “I be-
lieve in climate change. I believe in the
consensus within the scientific commu-
nity. I believe humans are contributing
to climate change, and I believe we have
work to do together to solve it.”
Gardner voted in favor of a 2015
amendment declaring that climate
change isn’t a hoax, and the same year
supported extending the wind produc-
tion tax credit. He’s also been among a
minority of Republican lawmakers op-
posed to GOP efforts to kill funding for
research into renewable energy and re-
ducing emissions.
Hickenlooper calls climate change
“the defining challenge of our times”
and says the country must address it
with “a fierce sense of urgency.”
He’s laid out a goal of transitioning to
a 100% renewable energy economy, with
net-zero emissions, by 2050, and an in-
terim goal of cutting greenhouse gases
43% below 2005 levels by 2030. Hicken-
looper wants the United States to rejoin
the Paris Climate Accord and reverse
Trump administration policies on cli-
mate, including establishing a fund to
help developing nations curb emissions
require that climate goals are part of
trade agreements.
While Hickenlooper doesn’t support
the Green New Deal — despite Gardner
continually attacking him for support-
ing the sweeping legislative proposal
— the Democrat has a long list of pro-
posals, including massive investment
in smart grid technology and research
into carbon capture, energy storage and
renewable energy. He supports moving
toward an entirely electrified vehicle
fleet and improving energy efficiency in
buildings.
Hickenlooper also supports a plan to
price carbon emissions to use market
incentives to reduce greenhouse gas-
es, as well as create a program like the
Peace Corps to encourage careers tack-
ling climate change.
Second Amendment, gun safety
Hickenlooper signed state legislation —
passed in the wake of the 2012 shootings
at an Aurora movie theater and an ele-
mentary school in Newtown, Conn. — to
require background checks on all fire-
arms sales in the state, make purchasers
pay for their own background checks and
JOHN HICKENLOOPER
Party: Democrat
Age: 68
Born: Narberth, Penn.
Residence: Denver
Family: wife, Robin
Pringle, senior vice
president at Liberty
Media Corp.; son Teddy
Education: Wesleyan University, BA in
English and MA in geology
Offices held: Mayor of Denver, 2003-2010;
governor of Colorado, 2011-2019
Work prior to public office: geologist for
Buckhorn Petroleum ; founded Wynkoop Brew-
ing Co. in Denver, which grew to a brewery and
restaurant empire under his part-ownership
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona, right, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, endorses former Colo-
rado Gov. John Hickenlooper, left, in Colorado’s Democratic Senate race during a rally in March in Aurora.
Former Gov. John Hickenlooper taps the computer’s camera on a Zoom call
about career reinvention on May 12.
ban magazines that hold more than 15
rounds of ammunition.
His critics point out Hickenlooper told
a group of sheriffs that he only signed
the magazine ban because a staff mem-
ber had committed him to it, but nation-
al gun safety organizations Brady PAC,
Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety and
Moms Demand Action are throwing their
support behind the Democrat, citing the
former governor’s support for gun-safety
laws at the state and federal level.
Hickenlooper supports establishing ex-
Signature accomplishments: Steering
Colorado in the wake of the Great Recession to
the top economy in the country, by some mea-
sures; working with the oil and gas industry
and environmentalists to create the first rules
to regulate methane emissions
Distinction: Was one of the first Coloradans
— along with Republican Cynthia Coffman, who
served a term as Colorado’s attorney general
— to receive more than 1 million votes, in their
2014 election wins
Trivia: Bourke Hickenlooper, his great uncle
and a Republican, served as governor of Iowa
in the 1940s and represented the state for four
terms in the U.S. Senate
Quote: “In the restaurant business, there’s
no profit in making enemies.”
October 2, 2020
VIA ZOOM
treme risk protection orders like the “red-
flag” bill passed by Colorado and other
states that allows authorities to remove
firearm temporarily from those judged to
be at risk to themselves or others.
Among Hickenlooper’s other nation-
al-level proposals: universal background
checks on gun sales, establish national
magazine limit, restore assault weapons
ban, strengthen enforcement against
dealers who sell firearms illegally and
straw purchasers and ban production
of “ghost guns” assembled from parts
CORY GARDNER
Party: Republican
Age: 47
Born: Yuma
Residence: Yuma
Family: wife, Jaime,
lobbyist; three young
children
Education: Colorado
State University, BA in political science;
law degree from University of Colorado
Boulder
Offices held: Colorado House of Repre-
sentatives from 63rd District, 2005-2011;
U.S. House of Representatives from the
4th District, 2011-2015; U.S. Senate from
Colorado, 2015-present
Colorado Politics 5
COLORADO POLITICS FILE
ordered online or made on 3D printers.
Gardner, one of the top recipients of
campaign support from the National
Rifle Association over his career, has
opposed federal versions of gun-control
laws adopted in Colorado.
A firm defender of the Second Amend-
ment, Gardner has sponsored several
pieces of legislation aimed at promot-
ing mental health awareness to reduce
youth suicides and preventing school
violence.
Accessibility
It’s been three years since Gardner last
held a traditional, in-person town hall
that was open to the public and publi-
cized in advance — the requirements the
nonpartisan Town Hall Project lays out
as essential elements for elected officials
who want to keep open lines of commu-
nication with their constituents. Gardner
has instead held tele-town halls that his
aides say reach many more Coloradans.
Since the state shut down in March to
slow the spread of the new coronavirus,
Hickenlooper, like Gardner, has been
campaigning mostly remotely and at
small gatherings around Colorado with
invited guests and limited press access.
Hickenlooper has, however, signed the
Town Hall Project’s pledge, committing
to hold at least four town halls annually
that meet the group’s criteria, if elected.
Gardner’s campaign didn’t respond to an
inquiry about the pledge.
Work prior to public office: Aide to
U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard
Signature accomplishments: Key spon-
sor of 2020’s Great American Outdoors
Act, hailed as most significant conserva-
tion legislation in a generation; landed
Bureau of Land Management’s headquar-
ters in Grand Junction and temporary
headquarters of the U.S. Space Command
in Colorado Springs; counts more bills
signed into law than the rest of Colorado’s
delegation combined
Distinction: Only Republican since 2004
to win statewide, top-ticket race — for sen-
ator, governor or president — in Colorado
Trivia: Was a Democrat in college
Quote: “I believe in Colorado.”
6 Colorado Politics
2020 ELECTION • COMMENTARY
Virtual fundraisers: a new way of politicking
TRAIL MIX
ERNEST LUNING
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
No one knows if remote political
fundraisers will survive when things
return to normal after the pandemic
ends, or if they’ll feel like an unpleas-
ant relic from a year everyone will
want to forget and move past.
But for months, as candidates and caus-
es have felt their way through an election
year like no other, the virtual events have
become ubiquitous, with checkerboarded
Zoom conferences replacing ballrooms
filled with dressed-up donors making
cracks about rubber chicken.
As with most campaign activities and
events held since the pandemic struck,
in Colorado the major parties and their
candidates have diverged somewhat in
their approaches to fundraisers, with
Democrats mostly opting for online
gatherings and Republicans tending to
meet up in person in recent months.
The state Democrats’ and Repub-
licans’ premier annual fundraising
dinners demonstrated the parties’
different takes, though the contrasts
were also no doubt influenced by the
calendar.
The Colorado Democrats held their
virtual Obama Dinner in June, early in
the pandemic, when restrictions were
still tight on public gatherings, while
the Republicans threw their in-person
Centennial Dinner in September, after
restrictions had loosened up and public
gatherings weren’t forbidden.
Both parties moved their big dinners
from April, when they’ve traditionally
been scheduled adjacent to state assem-
blies, to take advantage of party mem-
bers from all over the state converging
for a day or two of politicking. For years,
the GOP has had another major fund-
raising dinner in the fall, and that’s the
one they held did this year.
At the Democrats’ remote fundraiser,
more than 800 donors ponied up full
price to watch proceedings on com-
puter or smartphone screens while
supplying their own victuals, though
without having to engage baby sitters
or worry about parking or dry cleaning,
some told Colorado Politics they came
out about even.
The whole affair took about two
hours, moving briskly through a
lengthy list of speakers who paraded
through the windows, most appearing
for just a few minutes.
The keynote address was delivered by
U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Brooklyn
Democrat thought to be a potential
House speaker once Nancy Pelosi gives
up the gavel.
He was joined on the virtual podi-
um by more than a dozen prominent
Colorado Democrats and nearly all the
leading candidates from the recently
concluded party’s presidential prima-
ry, including Joe Biden and Kamala
Harris.
The Republicans threw their Cen-
October 2, 2020
Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright talks about growing up in Denver during an online fundraiser for U.S.
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Aurora, on Sept. 24.
tennial Dinner on the last Saturday of
September, at a GOP stalwart’s ranch
in Sedalia, strictly adhering to state
and county health guidelines regarding
social distancing and capacity.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, of Florida,
who’d been slated to headline the state
party’s dinner in April on the eve of the
state assembly and convention, showed
up to keynote the fall version, along with
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, who is seeking a
second term in one of the hottest Senate
races in the country this year.
Unlike the Democrats’ virtual Obama
Dinner, the Republicans’ shindig was
closed to the press, so there isn’t much
to report from the festivities.
Another virtual Democratic fund-
raiser held two days earlier, however,
allowed Colorado Politics to tag along
and take in the sights.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, the Aurora
Democrat who unseated Republican
Mike Coffman in the Aurora-based 6th
Congressional District two years ago
and is facing a challenge from Repub-
lican Steve House this year, welcomed
former Secretary of State Madeline
Albright to an early afternoon Zoom
fundraiser that drew around 100 at-
tendees on Sept. 24.
Albright, who emigrated as a child
with her family from Czechoslovakia,
grew up in Denver when her father,
diplomat Josef Korbel, established an
enduring legacy at the University of
Denver with the school of international
studies that bears his name.
A distinguished professor of di-
plomacy at Georgetown University’s
School of Foreign Service, Albright has
shaped the way generations — includ-
ing his own — view foreign policy and
the way America exercises its authori-
ty in the world, Crow said, introducing
his guest.
“My mother used to say on a regular
basis there are two great cities in the
world, Prague and Denver, and I agree
with her,” Albright said. She related
that Denver was where she became a
citizen, when she was in high school,
and said she still considers the city her
home.
Albright said she was recently asked
to describe herself in six words. “I
said worried optimist, problem solver,
grateful American,” she said during the
nearly hourlong conversation.
She spoke quietly but with authority,
spending most of her time answering
questions from the fundraiser’s attend-
ees, bringing a sort of shared intimacy
to the event impossible to duplicate in
a traditional hotel dinner.
“We all know that this is a difficult
and consequential moment for our
country,” she began. “Every day, we are
reminded that we are facing a public
health crisis, an economic collapse and
a long overdue reckoning with systemic
racism. We also have a potential crisis
of democracy with a president who
is determined to divide us and create
doubt and confusion about the validity
of this election.
“So we’ve got an awful lot of work to
do at home, but what Congressman
Crow understands is that there is no
longer a distinction between domestic
and foreign policy, because we know
that the world outside has not stopped
or slowed down to wait for us. In fact,
we can already see how our competi-
tors and adversaries are using this time
of crisis to further tarnish America’s
reputation and advance their own
standing in the world.”
After describing how China is step-
ping into the vacuum created by the
United States’ moves during the Trump
administration, Albright made a case for
re-engaging in the next administration.
“We need leaders who can help the
American people understand what is
at stake. The United States cannot lead
the world by withdrawing from it; we
cannot be AWOL. The United States
VIA ZOOM
cannot improve global institutions by
living them; we will have no leverage.
The United States cannot deal effec-
tively with multinational problems by
pretending that we can protect our
citizens by acting along. This election
will provide a fundamental test of
democracy’s ability to deliver effective
leadership, up and down the ticket,”
she said.
Ethan Wade, Crow’s finance direc-
tor and the fundraiser’s emcee, asked
Albright to describe the significance of
the ornate pin she was was wearing —
her vast collection of pins and fondness
for the stories behind them is well
known — noting that several attendees
had teed up the question in the app’s
chat window.
The pin, she said, was the emblem of
the secretary of state, an eagle, and also
included the year, “2020” under it.
“I think it’s very important time
to think about making sure that the
State Department is replenished and
revived,” she said.
In response to a question about the
fraught times ahead, Albright said: “I
think that what we need to do is keep
making clear what our Constitution
says. We’re the world’s oldest democ-
racy. We have to keep remembering
that and speaking and fighting and
being united in saying, ‘We know how
to do this.’ The thing that is the most
important — voting — as I said, is not a
spectator sport.”
In conclusion, Albright made a case
for staying optimistic and determined.
“The most important thing about
democracy is a peaceful transition
of power,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s
a coup. And this country doesn’t do
coups. What we do is understand the
importance of the people participat-
ing. We have to think about this every
single day from now on and under-
stand that we are the people that make
democracy work.”

2020 ELECTION • CONGRESS
Boebert makes CD3 competitive
BY JOEY BUNCH
Colorado Politics
The Western Slope wasn’t
supposed to be like this: a
swing district in Colorado’s
congressional delegation.
Lauren Boebert and Diane
Mitsch Bush make up an un-
expected barn burner few
could have predicted just a few
months ago.
Yet, each has positions that
are anything but surprises.
Boebert, a restaurant owner
from Rifle, backs guns, liberty
and general toughness against
government overreach. Many
of her positions are vague, as
is her experience as a first-
time candidate. She said her
mother was a Democrat, at
least sometimes. The campaign
for the 33-year-old high school
dropout calls herself a “self-
taught Republican conservative
through her life experiences.”
By sharp contrast, Mitsch
Bush, a 70-year-old retired so-
ciology professor, has a lengthy
record of public service, which
hurts as much as it helps when
it comes to politics. She is a for-
mer state legislator and Routt
County commissioner.
In the statehouse, she was a
details wonk, the chair of the
House Transportation Commit-
tee, a state-level Elizabeth War-
ren, in focus and work ethic, at
least. Her insistence on detail
would frustrate big-picture op-
ponents. On a Zoom call with
Undercard congressional race pits Crow, House
BY ERNEST LUNING
Colorado Politics
Colorado’s 3rd Congressional
District unexpectedly jumped
from the wings to center stage
at the end of June when Re-
publican Lauren Boebert upset
five-term U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton
in the Republican primary —
bumping the 6th Congressional
District from its customary sta-
tus as the state’s most competi-
tive congressional race into the
undercard slot.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason
Crow’s run for a second term
in the Aurora-based CD6 was
shaping up to be a fight, if not
the bellwether it’s been for
most of the last decade, when it
was among the most contested
seats in the country.
That’s because Crow did
something two years ago that
no one had been able to accom-
plish in decades: The young at-
torney and Army veteran dealt
Republican Mike Coffman a de-
feat at the ballot box.
Buffeted by 2018’s anti-Trump
sentiment that swept Colora-
do Democrats into offices they
hadn’t held in decades — or in
Democratic congressional candidate Diane Mitsch Bush talks
to firefighters in a YouTube ad from her 2018 campaign .
constituents about health care
on Sept. 27, she deftly but in de-
tail deconstructed when people
in Pueblo, among the poorest in
the state, pay the highest health
insurance premiums. It’s com-
plicated.
As drama goes, if Boebert is
Pueblo chili peppers and ice
cold beer, Mitsch Bush is oat-
meal and warm milk.
Four years ago, Mitsch Bush
supported single-payer health
care, but this year she’s talking
about a public health care op-
tion as a step toward universal
care. She also says she doesn’t
support the Green New Deal.
She does support rejoining the
Paris Climate Accord and in-
vesting in renewable energy.
That this race is closely
some cases, ever — Crow sent
Coffman packing after five
terms in Congress by about 12
points, helping the Democrats
take the majority in the House
of Representatives and imme-
diately jumping into the small
circle of the state’s rising stars
with budding national profiles.
In addition to making a splash
in Washington, with legislation
on gun safety and requiring
military bases to prepare for
climate change, Crow has cut
a bipartisan path on issues in-
volving small businesses from
his perch on a key House com-
mittee.
He’s taken the lead on other
hot-button topics, passing a bill
to open ICE centers — like the
one in Aurora — to visits from
members of Congress, and
Crow was one of seven House
members picked by leadership
to prosecute the impeachment
case against President Donald
Trump in the Senate trial, rock-
eting him into the spotlight.
Crow’s Republican challenger
is Steve House, a former state
Republican Party chairman
with a background in health
VIA YOUTUBE
watched is news in itself; the
3rd Congressional District is
reliably red country. That was
true when it was represented
by a conservative Democrat.
The seat has been occupied by
a Democrat eight of the last 30
years.
Boebert won the GOP primary
surprisingly but convincingly
over incumbent Scott Tipton.
The decision was made more
curious by the fact Trump en-
dorsed Tipton in the primary.
After a rising tide of nation-
al publicity since, she has en-
dured more scrutiny and faced
withering criticism over her
past run-ins with law enforce-
ment, health inspectors and tax
collectors.
She has voiced support for
care administration and a rep-
utation as a top-notch fundrais-
er. Through the year’s second
quarter, he brought in about
$800,000, a respectable sum
for a challenger but far behind
the nearly $3 million raised
through the same period by
Crow.
With national Republican ef-
forts pouring into CD3, House
has been left mostly fending for
himself in an expensive metro
media market, dimming his
chances of breaking through
against a freshman incumbent
in a slightly Democratic-lean-
ing district. Nonetheless, House
is running a real campaign.
While he faced some competi-
tion early on, House easily won
the nomination after peren-
nial congressional candidate
Casper Stockham jumped at
the last minute from CD6 to
CD7, deciding shortly before
congressional district assem-
blies that instead of challeng-
ing Crow, he would instead try
to deny Democratic Rep. Ed
Perlmutter an eighth term.
The move made Stockham the
only major-party Colorado can-
October 2, 2020
Lauren Boebert, the Republican nominee in the 3rd CD,
speaks to the Colorado Water Congress by video on Aug. 27.
QAnon conspiracy theories, but
says she’s not a member, and
refers to “left-wing lunatics.”
Boebert vows to win because
“freedom is a great motivator.”
The campaigning has been
curious and calculating on
both sides, even by pandemic
standards.
Boebert opted for a trip to the
White House to hear President
Trump’s nomination accep-
tance speech on Aug. 27 while
sending a video to the Colorado
Water Congress, a vital organi-
zation on the Western Slope.
She said she was sending a
video, however, before she an-
nounced she was going to see
the president. The forum was
online and the candidates got
the questions in advance.
didate in living memory to run
for Congress in three different
districts, including in his quix-
otic 2016 and 2018 campaigns
in the overwhelmingly Dem-
ocratic 1st Congressional Dis-
trict where he lost last cycle’s
bid against U.S. Rep. Diana
DeGette by an eye-popping 50
percentage points.
The ride-share driver and Air
Force veteran has been mount-
ing the same spirited campaign
in the Jefferson and Adams
county-based CD7 as he did in
the Denver-based CD1, regu-
larly showing up at conserva-
tive-hosted events all over the
Front Range. Stockham has
also produced a steady stream
of online speeches, interviews
and stunts.
The Democratic challengers
running in the state’s two other
GOP-held seats — the 4th CD,
where U.S. Rep. Ken Buck is
seeking a fourth term and the
5th CD, where U.S. Rep. Doug
Lamborn is seeking an eighth
term — have been making some
noise, but the solidly Republi-
can districts are long shots at
best for Democrats, even in a
Colorado Politics 7
TAKEN FROM VIDEO
Mitsch Bush, then, dropped
out of the Club 20 debate in
Grand Junction, which was to
be streamed online statewide
free this year, a dream scenario
with a respected organization.
She declined after the Demo-
crats’ nominee for U.S. Senate,
former Gov. John Hickenloop-
er, said he wouldn’t debate
Gardner on the Western Slope.
To compound the strangeness,
Boebert pulled out when Club
20 insisted she speak live rath-
er than submit a video.
Not long ago, snubbing Club
20, the 22-county coalition of
governments and businesses,
was political suicide in these
parts. On the other hand, it’s
been awhile since these parts
have rewarded Democrats.
wave year.
In the El Paso County-cen-
tered 5th District, Democrat
Jillian Freeland, a midwife,
sociologist and civic activist,
is making a solidly progressive
case in an electorate that leans
more conservative. In the 4th,
Marine veteran Ike McCorkle
has been all over social media,
challenging incumbent Buck
online in the vast district,
which includes Greeley, most of
Douglas County and the East-
ern Plains.
In the 1st CD, delegation dean
DeGette is seeking a 13th term
running against Republican
challenger Shane Bolling.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, who
like Crow vaulted into the lead-
ing ranks of young Democrats
in his first term, is running
for reelection in the 2nd Dis-
trict. He’s facing a challenge
from Republican Charles “Dr.
Charlie” Winn, a veteran
Navy flight surgeon and phy-
sician whose “Win with Winn”
platform vows he’ll practice
“evidence-based policy” the
same way he practiced “evi-
dence-based medicine.”
8 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • COLORADO RACES

Chances for many new faces

on Colorado Board of Regents
BY MICHAEL KARLIK
Colorado Politics
versity policy, and determining on diversity and finding mon-
whether mid-level manage- ey-saving opportunities for stu-
The nine-member University ment positions can be eliminat- dents, in particular from rising
of Colorado Board of Regents, ed to save money. health care costs.
with one representative from Incumbent Regent John
each congressional district and Dick R. Murphy (R) is a re- Carson (R) is not seeking re-
two at-large members, will have tired financial consultant and election.
three seats up for election this former deputy
year. state treasurer. 7th Congressional District
Each member serves a six- He also served Nolbert Chavez (D) is the
year term. None of the races as the chief fi- chief of external initiatives and
has an incumbent on the bal- nancial officer the executive director of City-
lot and currently, Republicans of the Boulder Center, a program at CU-Den-
enjoy a 5-4 advantage on the Valley School ver that connects the university
board. District, and to business and
The regents oversee universi- his company civic leaders.
ty operations, approve the sys- managed public Dick R. He represent-
tem’s budget, and hire the pres- entity funds for Murphy ed northwest
ident and other officers. Wyoming and Denver in the
Missouri. Murphy has a doc- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE state House
2nd Congressional District torate in economics from Iowa A motorist heads toward a Denver ballot drop-off site out- of Represen-
Callie Rennison (D) has State University and has taught side the election commission headquarters in Denver on Nov. tatives from
served as the associate dean of economics at schools in Iowa 7, 2017. 1995-2003. Nolbert
faculty affairs and the director and Idaho. Chavez re- Chavez
of equity and Title IX coordi- He wants to address accessi- He served as student body Ilana Spiegel (D) is a parent ceived a mas-
nator at CU’s bility and affordability of high- president while at CU and re- of four children who attended ter’s degree in political sci-
Denver and An- er education and ensure CU be ceived under- public school ence and public policy from
schutz Medical responsible for the educating graduate and and has 25 CU-Denver, and has worked as
campuses. “without bias or discrimination law degrees years of experi- a principal at the lobbying firm
She also for ALL students.” from the uni- ence as a class- Capitol Success Group.
worked as a versity. Murray room teacher, His platform includes priori-
statistician in Christian Vernaza (L) is a has been ap- staff developer, tizing investment in renewable
the U.S. Justice sales associate with Ed Carroll pointed to the author and ed- energy and creating financial
Department Motor Co. Inc., a Volkswagen Colorado Ac- ucation activist. equity between CU-Boulder
and professor of Callie dealership in Fort Collins. cess to Justice She received a and the Anschutz Medical
clinical research Rennison C o m m i s s i o n Richard master’s degree Ilana Campus — which attract sig-
at CU-Denver, Incumbent regent Linda and lists afford- Murray in education Spiegel nificant investments for re-
and she holds multiple master’s Shoemaker (D) is not seeking ability of high- from Columbia search — and the Denver and
degrees and a doctorate in po- reelection. er education as a priority area University and was the 2018 Colorado Springs campuses, a
litical science. for him. recipient of the Colorado Ed- disparity he terms the “haves
Rennison proposes investi- 6th Congressional District He also believes that “college ucation Association’s Colora- and have nots.”
gating hiring practices at CU to Richard Murray (R) is an at- campuses should be a place dan Award, which goes to a Chavez is running unop-
promote a more diverse faculty torney in private practice who where free expression and non-member who advocates posed. Incumbent Regent
and staff, increasing transpar- clerked for now-Chief Justice thought are protected and not for public education. Irene Griego (D) is not seek-
ency around violations of uni- Nathan B. Coats. stifled.” Spiegel promises to focus ing reelection.

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2020 ELECTION • STATEWIDE INITIATIVES
Digging into the big ballot questions
BY JOEY BUNCH
Colorado Politics
Colorado voters once again face a
daunting list of arcanely worded ques-
tions barreling toward their mailboxes
starting Oct. 9. By Election Day on Nov.
3, the state wants answers to 11 ques-
tions that could shape the policies of
our state for the unmeasurable future.
The matters fill the scope: wolves on
the Western Slope, rewriting the prop-
erty tax formula, a late-term abortion
ban, taxing nicotine, offering paid leave,
reducing income tax rates and award-
ing Colorado’s future Electoral College
votes, respectively.
That’s not all. There’s casino gambling,
voter approval over major government
fees and leniency on charitable bingos
and raffles.
They share the ballot, however, with
the candidates for president, U.S. Sen-
ate and 83 of the 100 seats in the state
legislature.
And while the ballot issues don’t at-
tract the kind of big-money donors the
candidates do, it’s not nothing: collec-
tively Colorado issue committees raised
almost half of Jed Clampett’s fortune —
$10.7 million — from 28 respective issue
committees between early June to early
September, according to the most cur-
rent financial disclosures.
“We lose so much in the attention of
a presidential election, and with all the
weirdness in this year, I’m afraid some
important matters are going to get lost
in the shuffle ,” said Tom Wells, a voting
rights activist from Denver who is wag-
ing an online campaign to raise aware-
ness of lower-ticket issues in November,
told Colorado Politics.
“The right to vote is a gift and it’s your
voice. If you don’t vote, you don’t have
anything to say.”
Wells is urging people on the right and
left to consume the state’s Blue Book
guide on ballot questions, but also to
consult voter guides from organizations
and think tanks they trust.
Battle-weary ballot
“Don’t be gullible, but don’t be unin-
formed,” Wells said. “Understanding the
world you live in is the price of freedom
and the way you honor the sacrifice of
men and women who fought and died
and our forefathers who made this
country great.”
Last year, voters were asked just two
questions: to put a tax on sports betting,
which passed, and give up an occasion-
al tax rebate to pay for transportation
and education, which didn’t. The year
before, voters statewide considered a
whopping 13. Five passed.
Getting measures on the ballot is hard
enough: 124,632 valid signatures from
registered voters. Advocates have to col-
lect, usually, at least 160,000 to account
for duplicate signatures, non-voters and
jokesters who sign names like Bullwin-
kle J. Moose. That’s usually followed by
a million-dollar campaign on the major
Sisyphean issues.
Tax increases, for examples, haven’t
passed statewide since the Taxpayer’s
Bill of Rights joined the state Constitu-
tion nearly 30 year ago, unless the hike
was dealt to niche products, such as
marijuana, gambling, tobacco or other
user fees.
Since Colorado’s 1876 constitution was
first amended in 1880, Colorado voters
The Blue Book, the Colorado’s official guide to the 2020 ballot questions, are
arriving in mailboxes across the state. Mail ballots go out starting Oct. 9.
SAGE NAUMANN, COLORADO SENATE REPUBLICAN PRESS OFFICE
Rep. Dave Williams, R-Colorado Springs, is the prime sponsor of a bill to ban
abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy. He spoke at a Capitol press confer-
ence before a hearing on the bill on Feb. 11.
have sought to change the state consti-
tution 352 times, and succeeded just 165
times. Voters have been asked directly
to change state statutes 112 times and
agreed just 44, according to legislative
records.
The Colorado ballot, then, averages 3.4
asks per year.
Broadly, the subject of taxation ac-
counts for the most ballot questions, 72
(with three more this year), followed by
state government with 49 and elections
with 46. By the by, gambling is 9 out of
23, but pot is 3 for 4 on statewide vot-
ing.
The ballot is long this year. Chris
Brown, the policy and research director
for the Common Sense Institute, a busi-
ness-driven public policy institute, won-
dered out loud to Colorado Politics and
ballot policy experts about ballot fatigue
this year, and whether the costly, im-
pactful issues will get the cool consid-
eration they deserve in a landscape of
pandemic, politics and economic crises.
The state’s Blue Book analysis — 90
pages this year — details each of the
ballot measures and has been sent to
October 2, 2020
JOEY BUNCH, COLORADO POLITICS
registered voters.
Brown and fellow researchers at the
institute have applied a numerical anal-
ysis — and not a political spin — to most
of the ballot questions.
Here’s Colorado Politics’ analysis of
the highest profile questions, and a
summary of the rest:
Abortion limits
Proposition 115 took on a new empha-
sis on Aug. 18, with the death of Su-
preme Court Justice Ruth Bader Gins-
burg, a defender of abortion rights and
an icon in the preservation of the 1973
landmark ruling Roe v. Wade.
The question facing voters in Novem-
ber is whether Colorado joins the ma-
jority of states with limits on the period
in which an abortion is legal. Proposi-
tion 115 sets the limit at 22 weeks.
The day after Ginsburg’s death, the
opponents of 115 invoked her name in
their cause.
“In light of this tragic loss, the stakes
in November are greater than ever,
particularly when it comes to abortion
rights. We will no longer be able to rely
Colorado Politics 9
on the Supreme Court to uphold Roe
v. Wade — and should Proposition 115
pass, abortion access as we know it will
cease to exist,” the No on 115 campaign
said in a statement. “If ever there was a
time to double down and stop this dan-
gerous and deceptive abortion ban in its
tracks, now is the time.”
The latest Colorado ballot question is
not a full step toward outlawing abor-
tion as previous measures have done,
but it’s not a step activists on the other
side are willing to yield.
The measure is hotly opposed by the
usual abortion rights’ opponents, in-
cluding Planned Parenthood and CO-
BALT (formerly NARAL Colorado), the
ACLU and a number of left-leaning re-
ligious leaders affiliated with the Inter-
faith Alliance of Colorado.
Their fundraising to defeat the mea-
sure, $603,906, is more than five times
the war chest of those trying to pass it.
Backlit by the national debate over a
new supreme court justice, this ques-
tion just became a more of a political
street fight than it already was.
Christian conservatives, Catholics and
other entrenched abortion opponents
are leading the march to pass the mea-
sure. The Due Date Too Late campaign
to pass it is funded in part by the Coa-
lition for Women and Children, and its
registered agent is Republican activist
Marge Klein.
“Late-term abortion is dangerous and
it poses a substantial and medically doc-
umented immediate risk to the health
and life of the woman. Abortion mor-
tality increases 38% for each addition-
al week of gestation,” the campaign ar-
gues, in response to the measure’s need.
“Women are more likely to die from late
abortion (after 22 weeks) than from
childbirth. Also, research/studies show
that women suffer emotional trauma
and psychological pain after having an
abortion.”
Even if most Americans support abor-
tion, polls show a marked drop off for
abortions later in the pregnancy, the
campaign notes. A Gallup poll in May
indicated that just 29% of Americans
thought abortion should be legal in any
circumstance.
The proposal would bar abortions af-
ter 22 weeks of pregnancy, 5½ months
of nine-month term. Abortions after
that point would only be allowed to im-
mediately protect the life of the mother,
but not the risk of other health prob-
lems, incest or rape.
A violation would be a misdemeanor
and a fine up to $5,000, but it could cost
a physician his or her license.
Senior Rabbi Joe Black of the Temple
Emmanuel in Denver said it was not
the government’s role to intercede in
matters of faith or a woman’s decisions
made in consultation with her doctor,
her family and her faith.
He knows firsthand what that means.
Doctors told him and his wife their sec-
ond child carried a fatal, incurable ge-
netic disease, and they made an “ago-
nizing” decision to end the pregnancy,
he said.
“As difficult as it was to say goodbye to
the hopes and dreams of a second baby,
the thought of having to care for and
bury a suffering child who would die a
SEE BALLOT • PAGE 10
10 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • STATEWIDE INITIATIVES
Canadian gray wolves were first reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park in January 1995.
BALLOT
FROM PAGE 9
horrific death was unpalatable,” said the
rabbi.
He said it was critical to keep abortion
safe and legal for families like his, which
is not an encouragement of abortion but
the acknowledgment of an unfortunate
but sometimes necessary medical pro-
cedure.
“Proposition 115, if passed, would be
devastating to any couple in our situ-
ation,” Black said. “And while the facts
about the need to keep abortion safe
and legal are quite clear, the language
and obfuscation in this ballot initiative
is anything but.”
Republicans, primarily, are driving the
issue.
To remove any doubt, Ken Buck, the
uber-conservative congressman from
Windsor and chair of the Colorado Re-
publican Party, sent out a congratulato-
ry statement to the Due Date Too Late
campaign when it submitted its peti-
tions for the ballot in May.
“This team completed a monumental
task in the face of difficult odds and a
global pandemic,” said the candidate up
for reelection in the 4th Congressional
District. “I’m proud of their work and
this vitally important mission.”
In the same statement, however, Buck
dubbed it “a strong bipartisan issue.”
The effort is backed by evangelical
leaders and the Catholic Archdiocese of
Denver.
“This is a great opportunity to limit
the assault on children in the womb,”
said Deacon Geoff Bennett, the vice
president of parish and community re-
lations at Catholic Charities, which in-
cludes Respect Life Denver. “Colorado
has allowed the killing of the unborn up
until birth since 1967.”
Abortion Access for All, which opposes
Proposition 115, raised the most of any
Colorado committee this year, $3.4 mil-
lion, with various Planned Parenthood
chapters from around the country kick-
ing in about half of it.
The group also has endorsements from
top Democratic officials: House Speaker
KC Becker of Boulder, U.S. Sen. Michael
Bennet, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, state
Rep. James Coleman of Denver, Attor-
ney General Phil Weiser, Denver City
Council member Candi CdeBaca, state
Democratic Party chair Morgan Carroll
and others.
Abortion issues have been on the Col-
orado ballot eight times now, and failed
six.
This year marks the fourth time since
2008 that Colorado voters have weighed
in on an abortion-related question;
three times in a row about declaring a
fetus a lawful human being with pro-
tected rights — redefining “person” to
include “unborn human beings,” called
personhood for short.
In recent votes, it hasn’t even been
close. Amendment 67 in 2014 failed
with 65% against it, which overper-
formed compared to Initiative 62 that
failed with 71% opposition in 2010 and
Amendment 48 that failed against 73%
two years before that.
Stances with wolves
Gray wolves were hunted out of ex-
istence across the West by the 1940s,
when they disappeared from Colorado.
Now state and national environmen-
tal causers are driving Proposition 114
to reintroduce the wild canines to the
COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Western Slope, hopeful that Colorado’s
liberal voters on the Front Range will
agree, even if many of the cities ban pit
bulls in their neighborhoods.
They contend that restoring wolves to
the wild will allow them to gobble up
the overpopulation of deer and elk, who
congregate in streams, gobble up veg-
etation and stir up silt. Wolves would
move them on, and take out the sick
and elderly in the herd.
Colorado, with its lean to the left in
recent elections, is critical to the spread
of the wolf across the West. Republican
leaders in Utah have made clear they
don’t want the canines in their back-
yard, even passing a resolution in oppo-
sition to Colorado’s efforts last spring.
Eleven Mexican gray wolves were re-
introduced in Arizona and New Mexico
in 1998, but the Center for Biodiversity
estimates there are only 163 wolves sur-
viving in the wild there as of last year,
according the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-
vice..
Rob Edward, a volunteer who is presi-
dent of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action
Fund, the group behind the ballot issue,
said the vote is coming at a time of so-
cietal change.
“This new decade is already shap-
ing up to be one where longstanding
wrongs are redressed,” he said. “Those
who came before us felt righteous in
their war against wolves. We are here
today to say that such oppression has
no place in America.”
He said the public, more than ever, is
mindful of science.
“Science tells us that wolves are im-
portant,” he said. “Science also tells us
that it is possible for working ranches to
coexist with wolves as part of the land-
scape. Science tells us that returning
wolves can help restore balance to Colo-
rado’s wild places. Colorado is excited to
show the rest of the West what it looks
like to welcome wolves home with open
arms. Future generations expect us to
get this right.”
Wolves are still an endangered species,
though the question is under litigation,
so killing one will be a big deal by the
time state and federal penalties add
up. In Minnesota, for instance, home
to a healthy-sized population of wolves,
killing one for any reason other than
self-defense can net up to six months in
jail and fines up to $25,000.
Opposition is led by farmers, ranch-
ers and rural county commissions, who
note the state wildlife commission has
voted down the reintroduction in the
past for good reason.
“The proposal to introduce wolves
in Colorado might sound nice, but it
doesn’t stand up to the least bit of scru-
tiny,” said Shawn Martini, vice presi-
dent of advocacy for the Colorado Farm
Bureau. “Only in a crazy year like 2020
would voters be asked to spend millions
of dollars to forcibly introduce a species
that is already here. Parks and Wildlife
receives more than 100 reports of wolf
sightings a year.
“Now officers have confirmed a pack
of wolves in Colorado, and they are now
having pups! Moreover, wildlife biolo-
gists at Colorado Parks and Wildlife and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service don’t
support forcing wolves into Colorado
and have declined to do so four times
in the past. Amid a global pandemic
and economic ruin, let’s work on getting
back to normal, not spending scarce
taxpayer dollars trying to do what na-
ture has already done itself and against
the advice of our wildlife professionals.”
SEE BALLOT • PAGE 11
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 11

2020 ELECTION • STATEWIDE INITIATIVES

BALLOT
FROM PAGE 10

This past session, however, state Sen.

Kerry Donovan, a Democrat from Vail,
proposed legislation that would stall
reintroduction until 2025, until it could
be determined if existing wolves in the
state could constitute a viable, perma-
nent population and the state has a
better handle on how much taxpayers
could be on the hook for.
It went nowhere.
The wolves appear to have the public
in its pack.
In January a group of natural resourc-
es researchers at Colorado State Univer-
sity studied public views on wolf rein-
troduction.
An accompanying statewide online
survey of 734 Coloradans in August of
last year found statewide support for
wolf reintroduction: 84.9% of Front
Range residents, 79.8% of Western
Slope residents and 79.3% of Eastern
Plains folks.
“We found that an estimated 28.6% of
Coloradans would expect wolves to im-
pact them positively, 11.7% would expect
wolves to impact them negatively, and
59.7% would expect no impact,” the re-
port stated.

Smashing Gallagher
Colorado’s Gallagher Amendment is
a lot like the quote usually mistakenly
attributed to Mark Twain: “Everybody
complains about it, but nobody does
anything about it.” Amendment B would
do something about it.
The question gets rid of the constitu-
tional constraint that requires adjust-
ments to maintain 55% of the state’s
property taxes come from commercial
uses and 45% from homes.
A yes vote locks in current assessment
rates for individual home and business
owner, instead of regular adjustments
in service to the ratio. Any future in-
creases would require another vote of
the people.
As a result, Colorado has some of the
lowest residential property taxes in the
nation — advocates for schools and local
governments argue unsustainably low.
Amendment B isn’t a tax hike, at least
not directly or immediately. The assess-
ment rates would remain at their cur-
rent levels, but homeowners might lose
out on it going lower in the future.
Kent Thiry, the recently retired leader
of the health care conglomerate Davita,
is working on repealing the constitu-
tional formula.
Thiry is the chairman of the Say Yes on
Amendment B campaign, and it’s hard
to bet against his track record. He’s led
successful ballot efforts in Colorado to
re-establish the presidential primary,
open Colorado’s primaries to unaffili-
ated voters and put congressional and
legislative redistricting in the hands of
independent, professional boards in-
stead of politicians.
While home owners might think
they’re getting a break, they’re also
helping pay the higher property taxes
paid by businesses, who pass on their
costs.
The Gallagher Amendment was ad-
opted by voters in 1982 with the idea of
controlling taxes on homes and main-
taining a 55-45 ratio, but the ripple
effects have been dire for businesses
paying more and more as home prices
Michael Fields and Lindsey Singer of Colorado Rising State Action stand next to over 196,000 petitions in July that
they turned in to get Initiative 295 on the November ballot.
Kent Thiry, the former CEO of Denver-based DaVita Inc., is chairman of the
Say Yes on Amendment B campaign.
on the Front Range climb higher and
higher.
As a result, the tax rate on a home as-
sessment rate of 21% back then is 7.15%
today, explained JoAnn Groff, the prop-
erty tax administrator for the state of
Colorado. Meanwhile, commercial prop-
erty rates have quadrupled as a result.
Because the ratio is calculated state-
wide, rural towns and counties that
don’t have those kinds of commercial
property or residential values to tax are
left holding an empty bag to pay for ser-
vices, unless they can float a mill levy
to do that.
The original plan was for local gov-
ernments to adjust their mill levies to
balance things out, but that changed in
JOEY BUNCH, COLORADO POLITICS FILE PHOTO
1992 when voters passed the Taxpayer’s
Bill of Rights, which sent every tax hike
back to the electorate.
A recession poses additional risks to
local governments and local services,
including fire, water and cultural re-
sources, since residential tax rates won’t
automatically rise to maintain the ratio,
leaving another hole in a budget that’s
already leaking in a down economy.
Residential rates are projected to drop
to 5.88%. If Gallagher is repealed, that
rate will stay at 7.15%.
“Put simply, this is absolutely a tax
increase,” said Michael Fields, who is
chairing the committee to oppose the
amendment.
Civic coalitions and chambers of com-
COURTESY OF COLORADO RISING STATE ACTION
merce, as well as Club 20 on the West-
ern Slope and Action 22 on the Eastern
Plains, are supporting repeal, as well as
the National Federation of Independent
Business, the Colorado Farm Bureau,
the Colorado Association of Homebuild-
ers, the Colorado Oil and Gas Associa-
tion and the Colorado Business Round-
table.
Across the way, are some of those or-
ganizations’ usual allies: The Indepen-
dence Institute in Denver, Keep Prop-
erty Taxes Low, the Centennial institute
in Lakewood, as well as the Colorado
Apartment Association and Colorado
Counties Inc.
Thiry characterized the artificial for-
mula as an unnecessary recipe for
chaos, which both sides have generally
agreed needs fixes. He also sees it as a
local control issue, with metro Denver
largely dictating policy and services
to rural communities by dominating a
statewide equation.
“It’s skewing and moving dollars
around in a way nobody wanted, nobody
voted for,” he said of the constant bud-
get adjustments public officials make in
service to the arbitrary formula.
“There’s an awful lot of work to be
done and these Gallagher adjustments
all the time, and readjustments, is a
source of tremendous energy loss,” he
said, explaining that the uneven playing
field for businesses hurts the economy,
which in turn hurts all Coloradans.
Fields, the executive director of Colo-
rado Rising State Action, contends re-
pealing Gallagher would only lead to
even higher property taxes for without
fixing the real issue: the state’s obliga-
tion to back-fill school district funding.
He’s long said that’s a job for the legis-
SEE BALLOT • PAGE 12
12 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • STATEWIDE INITIATIVES
BALLOT
FROM PAGE 11
lature, and he says the Gallagher ban as
misguided.
He said it’s real money for low-income
and fixed-income people when tax col-
lection rise because of their neighbor-
hood. When he was a teacher earning
$33,000 a year, an increase in rent was
a life-altering occurrence, he said.
“We pay more in property taxes every
year,” he said, because a lower assess-
ment rate doesn’t erase fast-rising prop-
erty values.
Fields said there’s no gift to business-
es in the repeal, either. “There’s no drop
in that 29% assessment rate that’s still
going to be there. Businesses do matter,
but I think people matter, too.”
He said if seniors’ home values go up,
“It doesn’t add any more money into
their pockets to pay these higher taxes.
I think we need to have a discussion
about the business assessment rate, but
this repeal doesn’t do that.”
Taunia Hottman, the campaign spokes-
person for Yes on Amendment B, said
other conservatives are on board. Thiry,
though he’s been unaffiliated most of
his adult life, briefly ran for governor as
a Republican in 2017.
“Conservatives are coming on board
in big numbers because Gallagher is
an unmitigated disaster for Colora-
do’s small businesses, manufacturers,
farmers and ranchers,” she said. “With
all due respect to Mr. Fields, it’s a little
hard to say you’re a defender of a free
enterprise system while blindly sup-
porting an obsolete formula. Especially
one that crushes small businesses at a
time these local businesses are literally
fighting for their lives.”
The measure also was endorsed by for-
mer Colorado Republican chairman and
the party’s senior statesman, Dick Wad-
hams, as well as former U.S. Sen. Hank
Brown, the former president of the Uni-
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
in the context of a multibillion-dollar
budget, their options will add insult to
injury for many of us. The additional
amount they’ll need to cut is the same
amount as it costs to pay for the Senior
Homestead Exemption, a property tax
relief program that helps many older
Coloradans stay in their homes.”
Separate, but connected by common
interests, Proposition 117 would re-
quires voter approval for new state gov-
ernment enterprises with fee revenue
over $100 million in the first five years.
Fields and Colorado Rising State Ac-
tion convened many of the same allies
behind 117: the Voter Approval of Fees
COURTESY OF COLORADO FAMILIES FIRST committee, the Independence Institute,
Yes on 118, led by Colorado Families First, released a video on its website Americans for Prosperity in Colorado,
support the 2020 ballot question that would created a paid family and medi- the Centennial Institute and the state
cal leave insurance program for Colorado. Republican Party.
Likewise, the pushback is coming from
versity of Colorado. transportation, higher education, public the people behind the original Fair Tax
Worth noting: A Gallagher repeal in health or housing, said its backers, The proposal and the oil-and-gas opposition
2003 failed 78% to 22%. Fair Tax Colorado and the Colorado Fis- group Earthworks Action Fund.
cal Institute.
Taxing and spending Conservatives countered with The Paid family leave
Amendment B isn’t the only way Col- Real Fair Tax, which became Proposi- When some causes seem tapped out at
oradans are fiddling with government tion 116 to give everyone a tax cut. The the statehouse, they head to the ballot.
revenue this election. former failed to qualify for the ballot, Such is the case with Proposition 118,
Conservatives want a tax cut. the latter didn’t. the proposed paid family and medical
A pantheon of Republican stars The committee Energize Our Economy leave insurance program.
aligned behind Proposition 116 to low- has the support of the Independence In- Democrats at the Capitol have tried
er the income tax rate from 4.63% to stitute, Americans for Prosperity and and failed six times to pass a program
4.55%, which proponents say will spur the GOP campaign operation Unite for they’ve dangled in front of progressive
on the economic recovery and make up Colorado. constituents and low-wage earners for
for the lost revenue from less taxation Opponents say the measure is prepos- years. Until the past two years, the had
on earnings. terous as Colorado’s budget and state Republicans controlling the Senate to
Though tax cuts are the highest call- services are facing deep cuts, because of blame their failure on.
ing of any good fiscal conservative, the the recession, without taking out more. For the last two years, however, Dem-
measure made its way to the ballot first “If Proposition 116 passes, our elected ocrats couldn’t agree among themselves
as a counter to a proposal by more pro- legislators — who have already slashed after they took control of the House,
gressive groups to offer a smaller tax cut 25% from our state budget due to the Senate and governor’s office in the 2018
for most Coloradans and a harder hit on COVID-19 recession and must make election. Polis has been one of its chief
the wealthier folks, a campaign dubbed similar levels of cuts next year — will skeptics, insisting that any state pro-
The Fair Tax. have to figure out how to cut an addi- gram pay its own way without being
The tax would have netted about $2 tional $154 million from the things we subsidized by taxpayers.
billion a year for the state by lowering all rely on,” Scott Wasserman, president High enrollment could quickly drive
the rate to 4.58% for those earning less of the Bell Policy Center in Denver, the fund into insolvency, however.
than $250,000 and raise it to 7% on which supported the Fair Tax but oppos- Proposition 118 would allow an em-
earnings above that up to $500,000. es the Real Fair Tax, wrote in a Colorado ployee to take up to 12 weeks off for an
Half the windfall would have gone to Politics op-ed.
education and the other half to support “While this amount may sound small SEE BALLOT • PAGE 13
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 13

2020 ELECTION • STATEWIDE INITIATIVES

Road to the ballot starts with Title Board

BY MICHAEL KARLIK
Colorado Politics
Long before the proponents
of citizen-initiated ballot mea-
sure must convince a majority
of voters to support their pro-
posal, they must first win over
a majority of the three-member
Title Board.
The board’s mission is narrow:
it must determine whether the
proposal satisfies the Colorado
constitution’s requirement that
an initiative pertain to a single
subject. If so, the board sets the
ballot title that appears before
voters. Board members — rep-
resenting the secretary of state,
attorney general and Office of
Legislative Legal Services —
balance the requirement to
have a brief title with the ob-
ligation to describe all central
features of the measure, giving
voters a clear picture of what a
“yes” or “no” vote would mean.
Both designated representa-
tives must appear before the
board to describe their mea-
sure and answer any ques-
tions. Board members are not
The Title Board conducted a virtual meeting on April 1 to consider setting the ballot titles for
11 proposed initiatives.
allowed to base their decision
on the effects of the measure if
passed. If the board determines
it has no jurisdiction over the
initiative because it lacks a
single subject, the designated
representatives may ask for a
rehearing
Similarly, if the board deter-
mines it has jurisdiction and
sets a title, an objector may
request a rehearing and argue
for a rejection on single-sub-
ject grounds or a rephrasing
VIA ZOOM
of the title. For parties who re-
main dissatisfied with the Title
Board’s ruling, they may ap-
peal to the Colorado Supreme
Court.
The justices have the final
say, and may affirm the Title
Board’s decision or send the
measure back to the board for
further action.
While most of the board’s de-
cisions are unanimous, there
is occasional disagreement
about the single-subject deter-
mination. Board members can
look to past precedent from
the Supreme Court, but it is
sometimes difficult to discern
whether a given provision in a
proposal is truly connected to
the initiative’s subject, or is a
second topic altogether.
This year, proponents of some
ballot measures chose to file
multiple, sometimes in excess
of a dozen, minor variations on
a single proposal.
Although the expectation was
that they would only seek to
place one version on the ballot,
proponents believed they were
covering their bases in case the
board rejected some versions
on single-subject grounds, or
felt the comments of board
members may be helpful in de-
ciding which proposal to ulti-
mately back.

BALLOT away with the $100 betting limit and

FROM PAGE 12
illness, to care for a loved one or to bond
with a child up to $1,100 a week, for a
premium starting at 0.9% of the wages
in premiums. The employer would pick
up half the cost.
The program would especially be a
benefit for low-wage workers who are
most likely not able to get any sick time
off without losing wages.
Proponents, led by women’s advocacy
groups and anti-poverty organizations,
helps families and makes a positive dif-
ference in child development, while pro-
tecting jobs and allowing workers to care
for their families without jeopardizing
the financial well-being or job security.
The measure is supported by Colorado
Families First, which is supported by the
Colorado Fiscal Institute.
Opponents, mainly business groups,
say it puts a new financial and regulato-
ry burden on small businesses, because
mounting costs drive hiring decisions.
The insurance program also takes mon-
ey out of the pocket of people who will
never use significant medical or family
leave.
Chris Brown, the policy and research
director at the Common Sense Institute,
looked at existing data to make some
projections, estimating the employees’
share of the premiums would be be-
tween $740 million to $1.7 million in a
year and employers would cover $580
million to $1.4 billion.
Under the lowest cost scenario, Brown
said the program would be in trouble if
it had a claims rate above 6.2% for em-
ployees who took off an average of 9½
weeks, “then the contributions are not
significant enough to cover the benefit.”
A state employee benefit insurance
program won’t be cheap, either.
GIBSON SHAFFER, SPECIAL TO COLORADO POLITICS
The Adams County Clerk and Recorder facility prepares ballot bags for one
of the busiest days of the year. Ballot bags are color-coded and rotated after
each delivery shift to ensure anonymity.
Legislative analysts estimated that if
the measure passes, the state would have
to spend $3.2 million next year to launch
the program Then the cost would jump
to $48.6 million the following year to
staff, implement and administer the pro-
gram and pay the state’s share to cover
its eligible employees.
The Denver Metro Chamber of Com-
merce and The Colorado Chamber of
Commerce are the leading opponents
to ballot question. The state chamber
has opposed most but worked on some
solutions at the state Capitol, including
serving in the Family and Medical Leave
Insurance Task Force created as a com-
promise after the 2019 session.
“It’s disappointing that interest groups
have chosen to pursue a billion-dollar
program in the middle of an economic
crisis,” Loren Furman, the state cham-
ber’s senior vice president of state and
federal relations, said. “The business
community came to the negotiating ta-
ble in good faith to find a thoughtful leg-
islative solution, willing to compromise
in order to strike the right balance for a
family and medical leave program that
works for Colorado.”
The rest of the questions
Proposition EE would raise the taxes
on cigarettes and tobacco products and
create a new tax on vaping products to
raise money for K-12 education, rural
schools, affordable housing, eviction as-
sistance, tobacco education and health
care. The issue committee behind it
has collected $1.8 million since June
25, most of it from from Gary Commu-
nity Investments, philanthropist Stacy
Schusterman, who owns Samson En-
ergy, and Pat Stryker, the philanthro-
pist, progressive activist and heir to the
Stryker Corp. medical device company.
Amendment 77 would allow town
voters in Central City, Blackhawk and
Cripple Creek to decide whether to do
add more games, with 88% of the extra
tax revenue supporting job training and
student retention programs at commu-
nity colleges and the rest to local gov-
ernments. Local Choice Colorado, fund-
ed by casinos, has raised $2.2 million,
the second-most behind those seeking
to defeat the 22-week abortion ban. Op-
ponents worry lifting betting limits will
worsen the cost of gambling addiction.
Proposition 113 would pledge Colo-
rado’s future Electoral College votes to
the winner of the national popular vote,
the winner in all 50 states. Polis signed
the provision into law last year after it
was delivered by Democratic majorities.
Voters have to ratify it. The measure is
supported by the League of Women Vot-
ers, Common Cause Colorado, Fair Vote
and other leading Colorado progressive
groups. Opponents say Colorado is giv-
ing away its votes for president to more
populous states such as California, Flor-
ida and New York City. The measure is
opposed by chambers of commerce, as
well as the regional coalitions Club 20,
Action 22 and PRO 15.
Amendment 76 would change the
state constitution to clarify only legal
citizens can vote, largely a symbolic
political gesture. The constitution cur-
rently says, “every citizen” can vote. The
amendment changes it to “only a citi-
zen.” The proponent is Colorado Citizen
Voters, which is supported by Citizen
Voters Inc., a Florida-based organiza-
tion founded by Trump adviser John
Loudon, who has collected millions in
donations to run the issue in states.
Amendment C was referred to the
ballot by the state legislature. It would
allow nonprofit organizations that have
operated in Colorado for at least three
years to apply for a bingo-raffle license,
decreasing it from five, and allows
games to be run by workers who are not
members of the organization who can
earn up to minimum wage.
14 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • COMMENTARY
America’s new motto: Because we can
E pluribus unum. Out of many, one.
These days, hardly.
The motto has been an element of
the American ethos since an act of
Congress in 1782 made it a part of our
national seal.
But even the most patriotic optimistic
(or optimistic patriot) would be hard
pressed to defend with straight face its
applicability at the moment.
Our diversity masters teach us that
the idea of America as a melting pot
is hopelessly outdated. Supposedly,
we are now a salad bowl or some such
thing, tossed only lightly so that each
ingredient maintains its character. In
these enlightened circles, assimilation
is now a poisoned word as it places
an implicit burden on newcomers to
become part of an American whole,
something to which previous genera-
tions (including my immigrant parents)
aspired.
So much for any oneness there.
Maybe we would be better off with e
pluribus pluribus. Out of many, many.
Our current politics, for a few decades
now, defy any notion of unity. We have
sorted ourselves into rival camps,
defined not by skin tone but by tribal
colors, red or blue. Each tribe is bound
together more by hatred of the other
than by any strong set of shared values.
That would lead us to a revised motto
of e pluribus duo. Out of many, two.
Trust me on this: Two is not twice as
strong as one. Anything but. However,
this rewording would be appropriate to
our binary times. Except when it comes
to gender, too many of us too often
view the world in paired terms limited
to two choices. We are “pro-choice” or
“pro-life.” We identify (or are identified)
DOWN THE MIDDLE ber provides time to spare and should
belong to the president six weeks away
from likely being shown the door?
Because we can.
But this is not a partisan or tribal
statement. There is little doubt that the
other party embodies a similar spirit.
Given the chance 33 years ago, they
brought a new word into the vocabu-
ERIC SONDERMANN lary by “Borking” a nominee of both
EWS@EricSondermann.com intellect and character. Why? Because
they could and they did.
as pro-police or pro-protester; in favor If or when Democrats regain both the
of “building the wall” or “opening the White House and the Senate, they will
borders”; “socialist” or “capitalist”; be pushed strongly by their most im-
“racist” or “anti-racist.” We find comfort passioned members to even the score
and affirming company in our respec- through one court-packing scheme or
tive corners, but pretend there are only another. Surely, they will adopt somber
two corners to every issue. faces and proclaim high-minded prin-
In this sluggish habit, we paint only ciple. But few will be fooled that it is
in blacks and whites. We eschew nu- anything but raw retaliation.
ance. Recalling a favorite line from my Again, because we can.
father that fits these times long after How better to explain a party that
his death, “Well, I guess we’ve covered once preached accountability and fiscal
all the options from A to B.” responsibility, even if often just for op-
“Unum” left the station some time tics, but now apparently could care less
ago and has been rarely seen since. Do about oversight and stands effectively
we change it to “duo” or “pluribus”? mute as their president dismisses one
Or do we ditch this whole archaic departmental inspector general after
Latin thing in favor of a bit of truth in another? Chant it together: Because we
advertising? Let’s tell it like it is and can.
rally behind the truism that denotes How does someone of prominence,
the prevailing attitude all around. to understate it a tad, lead a lifestyle
Presenting my suggestion for the new of lavish luxury and tout his riches but
national motto: “Because we can.” year after year after year pay zero or
What better slogan for a country in virtually zero federal income tax? And
which the ruling party can contend in then have the unparalleled gall to point
mock seriousness that a Supreme Court to it as some mark of genius? You know
vacancy in February before a November the answer by now. Because he can.
election does not afford ample time On and on it goes. We would like to
and should be filled by the people’s believe that this is only a feature of the
choice of a new president — but that governing class. But there is unques-
a vacancy occurring in mid-Septem- tionably a trickle-down effect. We are
COURTESY PHOTO
loath to admit it, but take increasing
license to shade the truth or believe
only what is convenient or take every
advantage, unfair or not. “Because we
can” is not just Washington code. It fits
our country from sea to shining sea.
In fact, in a telling way, it is an ethic
that unites us across tribal lines.
Barack Obama was elected to the
presidency with the uplifting mes-
sage of, “Yes we can.” Si se puede, as
many would recite in our neighboring
tongue. But for all the inspiring talk of
hope and change, there was no short-
age of cynical, “because we can” cal-
culation when it came to governance.
Don’t forget that Obamacare passed
the Senate on a 60-39 party-line vote,
rushed through while Democrats still
enjoyed their filibuster-proof superma-
jority before the seating of a new-
ly-elected Republican to the vacancy
caused by Ted Kennedy’s death.
That is also precedent for this mo-
ment. Quoting Mark Twain,
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it
often rhymes.”
Turning to another late 19th-century
writer, Finley Peter Dunne gave one
of his fictional characters the apt line,
“Politics ain’t beanbag.” That has never
been more true than it is today.
Still, if America is to be truly great
again, and if there is ever serious intent
to recapture the unum, all involved
on both sides of the hardened divide
might consider an attitude adjustment.
It would sound mighty sweet to now
and then hear, “We could … but we
thought better of it.”
Eric Sondermann is a Colorado-based
independent political commentator.
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 15

2020 ELECTION • DENVER INITIATIVES

2B: HOMELESS RESOLUTION TAX

Voters to consider sales tax to fund homeless

BY ALAYNA ALVAREZ
Colorado Politics

Ask anyone in Denver over the last few

decades what issues have beset the city
most, and few will fail to rank homeless-
ness near the top of their list.
Ask them again, however, what should
be done about the persistent problem or
who should bear the burden of solving
it, and the consensus quickly clouds.
Meanwhile, against a backdrop of in-
decision and rent rising faster than in-
come, Denver’s homeless crisis is grow-
ing. The number of people experiencing
homelessness has increased by more
than a quarter since 2017, now affect-
ing nearly 4,200 people, according to
the latest Point-in-Time survey taken
in January, months before the pandem-
ic sparked soaring unemployment and
hurled housing stability further into
jeopardy.
Now — faced with mounting public
pressure over the management of large
encampments, coupled with fewer op-
tions to move people into shelters in or-
der to mitigate the spread of the corona-
virus — city leaders are taking a shot at
a solution by asking voters this Novem-
ber to pass a $40-million-a-year sales
tax to fund housing, shelter and services
for Denver’s unhoused residents.

Details of the proposal JAKOB RODGERS FOR KAISER HEALTH NEWS

The Homeless Resolution Tax would
raise Denver’s sales tax by 0.25%, or
2.5 cents on a $10 purchase. The aver-
age household would pay about $5.25
a month, according to a Department of
Finance analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics data.
The new funding would take effect Jan.
1, 2021, and be used in the immediate
term to help sustain the Department of
Housing Stability’s COVID-19 emergen-
cy response.
Part of HOST’s pandemic response has
included using federal aid — which ex-
pires at the end of the year — to lease
more than 900 respite and protection
action motel rooms for people with
underlying health conditions or who
may have contracted the virus. More
than 600 people experiencing home-
lessness in Denver have tested positive
for COVID-19, representing about 5% of
the city’s total cases. At least seven have
died.
“We have certainly no guarantees that
we will have a pandemic licked by the
end of 2020, and we need to be able
to resource those continued efforts in
2021,” Britta Fisher, the city’s chief hous-
ing officer, told the Denver City Council
during budget hearings Sept. 21.
Additionally in its first year, the sales
tax revenue would help the city transi-
tion more people to existing housing
as well as regrow its shelter capacity
by more than a hundred beds. Denver’s
shelters have been sliced by 56%, or
about 1,200 beds, due to social distanc-
ing requirements, according to Fisher.
The new funding will also help HOST
provide more equitable service, particu-
larly to people of color, who not only are
disproportionately impacted by home-
lessness, but also underrepresented in
home ownership and have a long history
of facing racism in the housing market.
Beyond the emergency response, the
city plans to use the sales tax revenue
David Scott loads supplies into his tent near 22nd Street in downtown Denver. He’s not worried about sweeps of
homeless encampments because Denver officials told him he could return once the sidewalks are cleaned.
to help build 1,800 new apartments over
the next decade; create at least 500 new
units of shelter or housing “in catalytic
projects” that combine shelter or ser-
vices with housing in the same building;
and expand shelters with beds, services
and 24-hour accessibility.
Additional goals, metrics and out-
comes will be set through annual and
three-to-five-year plan processes that
will involve community input and re-
quire Denver City Council approval.
The measure was referred to the ballot
unanimously by the Denver City Coun-
cil on Aug. 24 and is backed by Mayor
Michael Hancock and major service
providers, including the Colorado Coa-
lition for the Homeless.
Sponsoring the proposal was Coun-
cilwoman At Large Robin Kniech, who
called the plan “bold” and “very hum-
ble.”
“Humble,” she suggests, because the
city is dealing with economic forces that
far exceed Denver’s borders and require
a national response to address income
inequality and the affordable housing
crisis that’s plaguing cities across the
country. In fact, the U.S. falls short by
7.2 million affordable housing units
(and possibly as many as 12 million
units), according to the National Low
Income Housing Coalition.
But the proposed sales tax is also
“bold,” she touts, because “we may not
have all the answers, we may not have
all the resources at the scale to meet
these systems and these structures, but
we can still act to improve people’s lives
… at a time when our economy is chal-
lenged.”
Denver’s current local city sales tax is
4.31%, according to city documents, so
if approved, the local tax would become
4.56%, for a total sales tax of 8.56%,
when including all state and regional
taxes. If the city’s other sales tax mea-
sure to combat climate change also
passes in November, then Denver’s lo-
cal sales tax would be 4.81%, for a total
sales tax of 8.81%.
If both taxes pass, Kniech said, the city
would be in the upper tier of sales taxes
in the region, but still not the highest.
Concerns of another failed attempt
The Denver GOP is recommending vot-
ers reject the proposal on the basis that
it is a “large permanent tax increase to
address an issue that has already been
used to extract large, permanent tax in-
creases in the past.”
The city’s Affordable Housing Fund,
for example, was created by Denver City
Council in 2016 and combines proper-
ty tax revenue and a one-time fee on
commercial and residential property to
address affordable housing needs across
a wide income spectrum. It does not,
however, provide dedicated funding
for numerous expenditures the Home-
less Resolution Fund would, including
the acquisition, improvement and op-
eration of homeless shelters, as well as
housing referrals and services, tempo-
rary motel rooms and more.
The Denver GOP and others have tak-
en aim at the fact that there is no sunset
built into the measure, even if it proves
to be yet another failed attempt to tack-
le homelessness.
Kniech said adding an end date wasn’t
advised for this particular fund because
it would limit the city’s ability to ef-
fectively spend what’s in it. Generally
speaking, homeless development proj-
ects require a 15-year commitment, she
said, because “neighbors want to know
that funding for services is there, that
this is going to be a well-run building.”
Still, she said, hearing feedback around
the sunset issue was important because
it “really pointed to the question of
accountability: How are we tracking?
How are we creating metrics and really
making sure that we’re reporting … and
tweaking if we’re not seeing the out-
comes that we want?”
Her answer is an 11-member Housing
Strategic Advisors group that will track
progress, troubleshoot unmet goals and
hold public meetings. The Department
of Housing Stability will also provide an
online dashboard for the Homeless Res-
olution Fund that’s updated in real-time
and details investments and outcomes,
similarly to the reporting system set up
for the Affordable Housing Fund.
Questions have been raised, including
by District 9 Councilwoman Candi Cde-
Baca, around the sales tax’s “regressive”
nature, which some fear could hurt the
very people the policy is supposed to
protect.
Kniech has acknowledged the sales
tax model isn’t a perfect one but was
pursued nonetheless because Colora-
do’s Constitution largely prevents local
governments from passing “progres-
sive” taxes, which rise based on a per-
son’s ability to pay and tax lower rates to
low-income earners. Colorado’s Consti-
tution also bars taxing more on “luxury”
or vacation properties, and fees on real
estate transfers are ruled off-limits by
Colorado’s TABOR amendment.
Raising property taxes was a consider-
ation but ultimately tossed out, Kniech
said, because it would hurt small-
and medium-sized businesses more
than households due to the Gallagher
Amendment, which governs the state’s
property tax rates.
SEE 2B • PAGE 16
16 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • DENVER INITIATIVES
2A: CLIMATE FUNDING
Climate action sales tax faces uphill battle
BY ALAYNA ALVAREZ
Colorado Politics
As Colorado withers under wildfires
in a year anticipated to be the state’s
third-driest on record, its Capital city
is attempting to curb the culprit that
climate scientists for decades have
said is leading to bigger blazes, hot-
ter temperatures and more disastrous
droughts: greenhouse gas emissions.
First, however, Denver is looking to
voters this November to greenlight a
0.25% sales tax increase that would
fund hundreds of millions of dollars in
programs aimed at reducing the city’s
climate footprint. Half of what’s raised
would be dedicated to climate projects
directly affecting marginalized and
low-income communities, which have
been disproportionately impacted by
climate change.
Funds would also be funneled into
programs that support clean energy
jobs, phasing out the use of natural gas
in new buildings, solar power invest-
ments and sustainable transportation.
The tax is expected to raise at least
$36 million annually, according to the
task force that calculated the climate
tax. The goal is to move the city clos-
er to its target of achieving a 40% de-
crease in greenhouse gas emissions by
2025, a 60% drop by 2030 and a 100%
decrease by 2040.
“Nothing about solving the climate
crisis will be easy, but this is a case
where Denver residents will have some-
thing in front of them they can do,” said
District 7 Councilman Jolon Clark, who
worked with the task force.
In 2018, about 62% of Denver voters
approved an environmental tax, one of
only a handful across the country, that
infused tens of millions of dollars into
the city’s budget to invest in more green
space, including parks and trees, partic-
ularly in disadvantaged areas that ex-
perience higher temperatures from a
lack of natural landscapes. However, by
the end of this year, the city will have
allocated six times the amount of trees
downtown, in its central business dis-
trict, than in residential areas.
2B
FROM PAGE 15
In Denver, sales taxes are “less regres-
sive,” she said, because they exempt
food, medicine, fuel and feminine hy-
giene products, lessening the impact on
lower-income households. Visitors to
the city partially pay for the sales tax as
well.
“This was the most robust source we
could get that … spread the payments
across people so that it had less impact
on individuals; it gathered more money,
and it really did help to make an impact
at a size that other sources just wouldn’t
have matched,” Kniech said.
Other worries, including those felt by
Councilwoman At Large Debbie Ortega,
focused on the impact to small busi-
nesses and their employees, who strug-
gle to find footing in the midst of a ma-
This year, politicos from the left and
right suspect Denverites may not be so
generous.
For one thing, it’s not the only local
sales tax hike proposed on the ballot,
which some critics worry could come
across as “tone deaf ” to voters, who find
themselves in the midst of a crushing
financial crisis caused by the coronavi-
rus.
Voters will be asked whether to raise
taxes equally as much, by 2.5 cents on a
$10 purchase, to tackle homelessness. If
both pass, the city’s sales tax rate would
reach 8.81%, making it one of the high-
er rates in the area. Food, water, fuel,
medical supplies and feminine hygiene
products would be exempt from both
taxes, and neither would sunset.
Another issue, opponents argue, is
that the sales tax is regressive, meaning
everyone, regardless of income, pays
jor recession.
Kniech said small businesses will
not be burdened, because the “average
neighborhood store” charges sales tax
to customers and doesn’t typically pay
sales tax on the goods they’re selling.
“The businesses who are more likely
to be paying the sales tax are those who
purchase large amounts of aviation fuel
or a construction company that pays
sales tax on materials,” she said in early
August when presenting her proposal to
Denver City Council’s Finance and Gov-
ernance Committee.
Support from business advocacy
The Downtown Denver Partnership,
a business advocacy organization that
plays a pivotal role in shaping the heart
of the city, supports the tax.
“Our commitment to supporting peo-
ple in our community experiencing
homelessness is a key part of our mis-
sion to build an economically healthy,
vibrant, and inclusive center city,” Tami
the same amount of sales taxes.
“The environment is a really import-
ant issue to me in my heart … but I
cannot support a regressive tax like
this that unjustly puts the burden on
lower-class Americans,” Denver res-
ident Alexis Morris said in a public
hearing on the measure, arguing that
the tax should be shifted to the biggest
polluters.
Roughly 9 million metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions are produced
annually in Denver, the task force es-
timates. Pollution from buildings and
homes represented nearly half of the
city’s 2018 greenhouse gas emissions.
Transportation was the second-largest
source, responsible for 30% of emis-
sions.
“We’re asking too much from our vot-
ers right now,” said District 2 Council-
man Kevin Flynn, who plans to only
Door, president and CEO, said in a state-
ment Aug. 19.
The Downtown Denver Partnership
lobbied for the city’s 2012 ordinance
that outlawed outdoor camping, known
as the “camping ban.” In May 2019, the
group also helped fund the successful
fight against Initiative 300, the citi-
zen-led ballot initiative that would have
repealed the ban and other laws that ad-
vocates saw as criminalizing homeless-
ness.
But the proposal that will appear be-
fore voters this fall as Ballot Measure 2B
is an improvement, the business group
says, and better gets at the heart of
homelessness, which isn’t cheap.
The city spends about $26,000 per
person experiencing homelessness ev-
ery year, according to a 2019 report by
the Common Sense Institute, a Den-
ver-based, business-focused think tank.
The new sales tax increase would add
another $10,000 a year, according to
Chris Brown, CSI’s policy and research
ISTOCK
support the homeless resolution tax.
Raising revenue for climate action
through a sales tax is not the “appropri-
ate way,” he said, but rather the “easy
way out.”
A recent paper by the Bell Policy Cen-
ter showed that Colorado over the last
three decades has increasingly relied
on regressive taxes that hurt low- and
middle-income families.
“The regressivity of Colorado’s tax
code builds upon and exacerbates
long-standing racial inequality,” the re-
port states. “An overreliance on sales
tax has a cumulative negative effect on
Coloradans of color, as they are often
less likely to own homes and spend
more of their income on items affected
by sales taxes.”
Because of Colorado’s tax code struc-
SEE 2A • PAGE 17
director.
And those numbers are exactly why the
plan makes sense, proponents contend.
“It’s ultimately more expensive when
we don’t deliver impactful solutions to
homelessness,” Door told Westword.
“When we don’t have an individual in
housing or getting the resources they
need or in shelter, the overall expenses
from both the public and private side
continue to grow per that individual.”
The slogan for the anti-Initiative 300
campaign was “We Can Do Better,” and
now city leaders are confident this solu-
tion will show Denver voters they’re do-
ing just that.
“They didn’t want to vote no. They
wanted to vote yes. But they wanted to
vote yes on the right thing and on some-
thing that would make real and lasting
change for those who are most vulnera-
ble in our communities,” District 7 Coun-
cilman Jolon Clark said. “This is that.
This is what I believe our citizens have
been asking for.”

2020 ELECTION • DENVER INITIATIVES
THE REST OF THE DENVER BALLOT
In addition to the tax measures on climate and
homelessness funding, Denver voters have 10
other ballot questions to consider:
2C: Professional services for the
Denver City Council
If approved, this city charter amendment, led
by Denver City Councilwoman At Large Debbie
Ortega, would grant City Council the authority
to hire professional services, including legal
counsel, without needing a green light from the
executive branch upstairs. The need, she says,
has come to the forefront on multiple occasions,
including just a few years ago when council
members were required to review a massive
contract for the Great Hall Project at Denver In-
ternational Airport, which ultimately went sour
and cost nearly $184 million to terminate. This
bill is one of a series on the ballot that would
empower the city’s legislative branch.
2D: DOTI advisory board
A second charter amendment led by Ortega
would create an advisory board for the city-run
Department of Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture, which was created with voters’ approval
last year. The Board of Transportation and
Infrastructure would provide policy and opera-
tional strategy advice to the director, currently
Eulois Cleckley, and review the proposed annual
budget. The board will be made up of 19 people,
all of whom will go unpaid. Six members will be
appointed by the mayor, and 13 will be chosen
by each of the 13 City Council members. Those
selected to the board must live in the districts
of their appointing council member and repre-
sent “a variety of interests, backgrounds and
geography,” according to the bill.
2E: City Council approval of mayoral
appointments
Part of a series of ballot questions that would
give the legislative branch more oversight of
the executive branch, this charter change would
give council members the authority to approve
11 cabinet appointees, plus the sheriff, and fire
and police chiefs. The initiative is spearheaded
by Councilwomen Amanda Sawyer and Candi
CdeBaca with the intent of ensuring more ac-
countability and transparency within the city’s
executive leadership. “Now more than ever, we
owe it to our constituents to give them a more
representative government,” Sawyer said.
2F: Removing outdated language from
city charter
Another bill led by Sawyer, this ballot referral
2A
FROM PAGE 16
ture — specifically the constraints im-
posed by the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill
of Rights, an anti-tax constitutional
amendment OK’d by voters in 1992 —
most cities only have two tools to work
with to boost their budgets: sales taxes
and property taxes.
Still, Flynn and others say they would
have rather moved forward with the cli-
mate advocacy group Resilient Denver’s
ballot measure that would have gener-
ated cash for green initiatives by raising
utility bills based on energy usage.
That measure was sponsored last year
by Clark but met with opposition from
Mayor Michael Hancock and business
groups. As a compromise, the city estab-
lished the new office of Climate Action,
Information that will be included with the mailed ballots for the 2020 gen-
eral election in the city of Denver is shown Sept. 29 at the Denver Election
Commission headquarters in Denver.
will remove outdated language from the city
charter, first created in 1904 and has been
updated over time, to modernize the way the
Denver City Council conducts public business.
The issue came to light during the coronavirus
emergency, when council members said it
became clear that the city charter could poten-
tially restrict the body’s ability to do business
during times of emergency. The goal is to
remove overly prescriptive language to give the
council more flexibility to adapt the way they
meet in times of uncertainty.
2G: Expanding Denver City Council’s
budgeting authority
Also part of Denver City Council’s effort to
strengthen its own power, this ballot measure
— the second led by Kniech — would give council
members the authority to change the city’s
budget mid-year. Denver’s governing document
Sustainability and Resiliency and con-
vened a 26-member task force that
worked with Clark to come up with the
new ballot measure.
District 9 Councilwoman Candi CdeB-
aca voted to refer the new measure to
the ballot out of respect for voters, but
she wasn’t pleased with the policy.
“It’s really disappointing that we took
a whole year to get to a sales tax, con-
sidering what we started out with,” she
said, referring to the Resilient Denver
initiative, which has since been pulled
from the ballot. “I thought that was
more courageous — more complex —
but definitely more courageous, in shift-
ing the burden to our commercial and
industrial users.”
Clark and task force members say the
sales tax is but a starting point, a mere
piece of the $200 million annually and
$3.4 billion overall they estimate needs
to be raised to put up a fair fight. Other
steps may include implementing a ve-
October 2, 2020
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
currently does not allow the Denver City Council
to initiate a spending proposal, even with su-
per-majority support, to address a pressing city
need in the middle of a fiscal year that may not
have been known or possible to take up during
the annual budget process. If the mayor doesn’t
agree that the spending proposal is urgent or
approve of the proposed approach, funds may
have to wait a full year to be addressed in the
next regularly scheduled budget.
2H: Closing broadband gap
Denver voters will be asked to decide whether
to help bridge the city’s broadband divide.
The bill, pushed forward by Councilman Paul
Kashmann, would exempt the city from Senate
Bill 152, which prevents municipalities from
directly addressing broadband. The exemption,
if passed, would not devote any public dollars to
broadband, but provide the possibility to exam-
hicle efficiency fee and raising parking
meter and parking permit fees.
The Denver GOP opposes the ballot
measure because it is a “substantial tax
increase for unspecified programs.”
The measure was approved unani-
mously by the 26-member task force,
which included representatives from
Resilient Denver, Sierra Club, Denver
Metro Association of Realtors, Xcel
Energy, the International Indigenous
Youth Council, Denver Streets Partner-
ship and others.
The investment cost of a few billion
dollars pales in comparison, the task
force says, to the roughly $20 billion
they estimate could be incurred from
inaction.
“Every day that we wait, the price tag
on this goes up higher and higher, and
the threat to the most vulnerable com-
munities in our city goes up,” Clark said.
Task force member Dominique Gomez
echoed Clark as she highlighted the par-
Colorado Politics 17
ine all options to broadband service. Currently,
Denver is tied to mainstream providers, such as
CenturyLink and Comcast. “I don’t want Denver
to necessarily go build its own broadband infra-
structure and say, ‘To heck with Comcast.’ I don’t
want to do that,” Kashmann said. “But what I
want to be able to do is have more flexibility.”
2I: Clarification on the Clerk
and Recorder’s appointees
The ballot measure proposal, led by Denver
Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez, would allow for
the office to be restructured into three divisions,
each with a director at the top. Lopez’ thinking
is that all high-ranking employees should be
appointed, so this change will let him appoint
those people instead of having a mix of appoin-
tees and hired employees. The goal is clarity, and
no impacts are anticipated to the city budget.
2J: Allowing pit bulls in Denver
Denver voters will decide whether to lift the
city’s pit bull breed ban, beginning in January,
after more than three decades. The bill is led by
Councilman Chris Herndon and would establish
a permitting system for pit bulls, breeds that
include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American
Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull
Terrier. If approved, pit bull owners would need
to obtain a “breed-restricted permit.” If no
violations for the dog are recorded for three
consecutive years, it would be allowed to reg-
ister like any other dog in Denver. The measure
was vetoed by Hancock earlier this year for
safety reasons.
4A and 4B: Funding for Denver Public
Schools
Denver Public Schools is asking voters wheth-
er to provide $827 million in more funding for
the school system through bond and mill levy
proposals. The bond measure would provide
$795 million to build and maintain schools in the
district. The second ballot initiative, called “Debt
Free Schools,” would invest $32 million into
mental health, nursing, special education and
teacher compensation, with $15 million for DPS
employees, including an increase in the mini-
mum wage to $14.77 an hour and cost of living
increases for teachers. The bond measure would
help schools with maintenance, capacity, air
conditioning, technology, a rebuild or remodel
of the Montbello High School campus and $31.7
million in school funds to invest in communal
spaces like classrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds,
libraries, gyms and auditoriums.
ALAYNA ALVAREZ, COLORADO POLITICS
allels between environmental injustice
and the coronavirus pandemic.
“If there is any lesson from six months
of COVID-19, it is that prevention and
early investment is way better than try-
ing to address the fallout of failing to
act,” she said. “We also know that our
Black, Latino, Native American and
low-wealth communities will be dis-
proportionately impacted by climate
change and already are today by heat,
by air pollution” and even the coronavi-
rus. “Failing to act — and act decisively
— will, more than anything, fail those
communities.”
District 6 Councilman Paul Kashmann
agreed the sales tax is “the right way to
go.”
“It’s an essential step in preparing
Denver to remain a viable city in the
future and doing our part to solve this
problem. We can’t solve the world’s
problem. But this is an opportunity for
us to lead.”
18 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • DISTRICT ATTORNEYS

GETTY IMAGES

ONLY SIX RACES CONTESTED AMONG 22 UP FOR VOTE

BY MICHAEL KARLIK • COLORADO POLITICS
There are 22 judicial districts in the state, each with a district attorney elected on a partisan basis. The DA’s office decides whether to
pursue criminal charges and prosecutes criminal infractions of state law within their jurisdiction. District attorneys, who also decide
whether to charge police officers who kill or injure individuals, have received increased scrutiny following a summer of racial justice
protests. However, in Colorado, the vast majority — 16 — of the DA races have only one candidate running.

1st Judicial District (Gilpin, Jefferson)
Matthew Durkin
(R) is chief deputy
district attorney and
first began working in
the office as an intern
in 1996. He also served
as a deputy attorney
general for Colorado,
heading the Criminal Justice Section.
Durkin is skeptical of lowering or
eliminating penalties for drug crimes
because it could perpetuate addiction.
It is a priority of his to reduce crime by
cutting recidivism.
Alexis King (D)
served as a deputy dis-
trict attorney for more
than a decade, where
she led the Juvenile
and Human Trafficking
units. Her other expe-
rience includes being a
magistrate, the Title IX attorney at the
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center,
and participating in the Colorado
Human Trafficking Council in 2016.
King believes that “over-incarceration”
of nonviolent offenders is a detriment
to the individual and an ineffective use
of tax dollars.
Both candidates are seeking to suc-
ceed Peter Weir (R).
2nd Judicial District (Denver) 4th Judicial District (El Paso, Teller) 6th Judicial District (Archuleta, La
Beth McCann (D) Michael Allen (R) Plata, San Juan)
is the incumbent. She will succeed Dan May Christian Cham-
served for eight years (R). He served in the pagne (D) is the
as a state representa- U.S. Navy and has incumbent who also
tive and was previously worked since 2011 in worked as a public
a chief deputy district the DA’s office. He is defender in his career.
attorney. McCann also currently the senior In his first election,
worked in the state deputy district attorney he indicated he would
attorney general’s office on civil litiga- who says he has “put every murderer pursue greater alterna-
tion and employment law. Her goals as away that I’ve faced in court.” Allen is tives to incarceration and bring more
DA have been to increase community in favor of preventing those convicted cases to trial, which he has reiterated
engagement and transparency, and to of attempted sex crimes from remov- for his reelection.
make child abuse, domestic violence, ing themselves in the sex offender
sexual assault, elder abuse and human registry and is skeptical of the extreme
trafficking prosecutions a priority. risk protection order, or “red flag,” law.
7th Judicial District (Delta, Gunnison,
Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray,
3rd Judicial District (Huerfano, 5th Judicial District (Clear Creek, San Miguel)
Las Animas) Eagle, Lake, Summit) Seth D. Ryan (R)
Heidi McCollum is the chief deputy
Henry L. Solano (D) will succeed in- district attorney who
(D) is the incumbent cumbent Bruce Brown will succeed Dan Ho-
who previously worked (D). She began working tsenpiller (D). He leads
as the U.S. Attorney for the DA’s office in the special victims
for Colorado. He also 2013 and has overseen crime unit, primarily
served in the Clinton the administration and targeting sex offenses
Administration as budget of the office. against adults and children. Ryan’s
solicitor for the U.S. McCollum’s priorities include prose- platform includes mentoring attorneys
Department of Labor and as an assis- cution of financial and technological in the office through in-house training
tant Colorado attorney general. Solano scams that take advantage of elder- and education, and to balance justice
has talked about a need to increase his ly and immigrant populations, and for the accused with justice for victims.
office’s funding to prevent cases from expanding investigations of welfare
being dismissed due to lack of prose- fraud.
cution resources.

2020 ELECTION • DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
8th Judicial District (Jackson,
Larimer)
Mitch Murray (R)
is the assistant district
attorney, who helps
administer the budget
and a staff of 80 people.
He began as a deputy
district attorney and
served in the Special
Victims Unit on sex crimes cases
against adults and children. Murray
worked with the Colorado Best Prac-
tices Committee to craft model pro-
cedures for eyewitness identification,
body-worn cameras and recording of
interrogations. He pledges to advance
public safety goals by recognizing
which defendants are a danger to the
public.
Gordon McLaughlin
(D) is a deputy district
attorney who was also
the lead prosecutor for
the Northern Colorado
Drug Task Force. He
previously worked as a
deputy district attor-
ney in Eagle County. McLaughlin is
campaigning on increased diversion
of low-level, nonviolent offenders to
reduce recidivism. He would like to
see an increased reliance on data to
direct which pre-trial defendants may
be released on supervision, and to stop
“overcharging” crimes, i.e. through
felony charges for minor offenses.
Both candidates are seeking to suc-
ceed Clifford E. Riedel (R).
9th Judicial District (Garfield, Pitkin,
Rio Blanco)
Jefferson J. Cheney
(R) is the incumbent
who served as a pros-
ecutor for more than
a decade and an Army
soldier. In his first elec-
tion, he criticized the
incumbent for being
too reliant on plea agreements for fear
of losing a trial.
10th Judicial District (Pueblo)
Jeff Chostner (D) is
the incumbent who pre-
viously served as Pueblo
County commissioner.
Prior to that, he was
a Pueblo city council
member, attorney in
private practice and
member of the U.S. Air Force’s Judge
Advocate General’s Department.
11th Judicial District (Chaffee, Custer,
Fremont, Park)
Kaitlin Turner (D) is Unit and Arapahoe County’s Child Sex
the incumbent appoint- Assault Unit. Karzen identified as a
ed in 2019 following
the resignation of her
predecessor. She was
a Cañon City council-
woman and former
civil defense attorney
who worked for the Federal Bureau of
Prisons. Turner’s prior work experience Kiowa, Prowers)
also included being a Special Assistant
U.S. Attorney and a clerk for the Colo-
rado Court of Appeals. She has commit-
ted to finding more cost-effective ways
of operating the office and prioritizing
resources for crimes that most affect
public safety.
Linda Stanley (R) has
worked as a hearing
officer for the Colorado
Department of Revenue
and as a municipal pros-
ecutor in Pueblo. Prior
to that, she was a deputy
district attorney in the
10th Judicial District. Stanley supports
hiring a full-time grant-writer to help
fund a cold case unit and a critical in-
cident team. She has also suggested ap-
pearing by teleconference in far-reach-
ing portions of the district to save on
travel costs. In 2019, Stanley received a
censure related to her transition from
private practice to state employment,
stemming from a failure to keep a client
facing trial apprised of her new job.
12th Judicial District (Alamosa,
Conejos, Costilla, Mineral,
Rio Grande, Saguache)
Alonzo Christopher
Payne (D) is a law-
yer who will succeed
Robert S. Willett (D).
He worked previously
for former U.S. Rep.
John Salazar and on the
attorney general cam-
paign of Ken Salazar. Payne’s platform
includes reducing the incarceration
rate of the San Luis Valley by ending
the “criminalization of poverty.” He
does not support private prisons and
favors incarcerating people at state-
run facilities instead. Payne warns
that crowded jails and “overzealous”
prosecutions could lead to civil rights
violations.
13th Judicial District (Kit Carson,
Morgan, Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick,
Washington, Yuma)
Travis Sides (R) is a
prosecutor who will suc-
ceed Brittny Lewton (R).
His campaign page on
Facebook includes many
posts critical of the
state’s COVID-19 health
orders and posts of stories claiming the
government “obscured/lied” about the
seriousness of the disease.
14th Judicial District (Grand, Moffat,
Routt)
Matthew Karzen (U)
is the incumbent ap-
pointed to the position
in 2019 after his prede-
cessor’s resignation. He
previously worked as a
deputy district attorney,
and before that for the
attorney general’s Gang Prosecution
priority alternatives to incarceration
for those suffering from addiction or
mental illness, with an emphasis on
balancing safety with “human decency.”
15th Judicial District (Baca, Cheyenne,
Joshua Vogel (R)
is the incumbent who
worked as a deputy and
assistant district attor-
ney in the office since
2013. Prior, he was a
law clerk to a Denver
District Court judge.
October 2, 2020
16th Judicial District (Bent, Crowley,
Otero)
William Culver (R), at left, is an
assistant district attorney.
Rodney D. Fouracre (D), at right,
is the former district attorney who
subsequently became a deputy district
attorney at the end of his term.
Both candidates are seeking to suc-
ceed Jim Bullock (R).
17th Judicial District (Adams,
Broomfield)
Brian Mason (D) is
chief trial deputy and
has worked as a deputy
district attorney since
2006. Earlier in his
career he worked for
the Clinton Administra-
tion, as chief of staff to
a member of Congress and as a fellow
with the German government in Berlin.
Mason’s platform includes creating a
civilian review board, to “vigorously”
investigate and prosecute alleged police
brutality, and train attorneys and staff
on implicit bias. He would also like
to teach preventive methods to senior
citizens for guarding against fraud and
scams.
Tim McCormack
(R) has worked in the
First and 17th judicial
districts, including as
the chief trial deputy
district attorney in the
17th. He began his legal
career at the county
prosecutor’s office in Sheridan, Wyo.
McCormack describes a need for pros-
ecutors to understand and engage with
the communities they serve and stands
for the “Rule of Law.”
Both candidates are seeking to suc-
ceed Dave Young (D).
18th Judicial District (Arapahoe,
Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln)
John Kellner (R) is
chief deputy district
attorney and supervis-
es the prosecutions in
Douglas, Elbert and
Lincoln counties. A Ma-
rine Corps veteran, he
co-founded the veterans
treatment court. Following his military
service, Kellner worked for the Boulder
County District Attorney. He pledges
to work with task forces to prosecute
people who illegally possess or use
firearms, and to reduce recidivism,
especially among juveniles. Kellner also
suggests examining overdose deaths to
locate drug dealers, and then pursue
enhanced sentences for those defen-
dants.
Amy L. Padden (D)
is an assistant attorney
general for the Special
Prosecutions Unit who
previously worked as an
Assistant U.S. Attorney.
She also served as a
prosecutor at the local
level, as deputy district attorney for
the Fifth Judicial District. Padden’s
platform includes ensuring that im-
Colorado Politics 19
migrants can participate safely in the
judicial process and supporting outside
prosecutors to examine serious police
misconduct cases. She opposes the use
of private prisons and believes in hir-
ing a consultant to review prosecution
data and employees to look at claims of
constitutional violations and dispropor-
tionate sentences.
Both candidates are seeking to
succeed George Brauchler (R). Due to
the creation of a 23rd Judicial District
in 2024, the winner will only serve
four years in the district as currently
constituted.
19th Judicial District (Weld)
Michael J. Rourke
(R) is the incumbent
who worked in the
18th and 19th judicial
districts before his 2014
appointment. He has
served as a trainer and
presenter on no-body
homicide cases, sexual assaults, crimes
against children, violent crimes and
legislative changes. Rourke, who pros-
ecuted crimes of violence earlier in his
career, also ran unopposed in 2016.
20th Judicial District (Boulder)
Michael Dougherty
(D) is the incumbent
who received an ap-
pointment to the office
in 2018 following the
resignation of his pre-
decessor. Prior to that,
he served as assistant
district attorney for the First Judicial
District and on the Colorado Commis-
sion on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.
A priority of Dougherty’s is establishing
problem-solving courts in the county,
such as a DUI court, as an alternative
to incarceration. He also proposes the
creation of a confidential reporting
system for public corruption.
21st Judicial District (Mesa)
Daniel Paul Ru-
binstein (R) is the
incumbent who served
as chief deputy district
attorney since 2005 un-
til his appointment in
2015 after the resigna-
tion of his predecessor.
22nd Judicial District (Dolores,
Montezuma)
Matthew Gregory
Margeson (R) is an
assistant district attor-
ney who will succeed
Will Furse (R). He
spent seven years in
private practice in the
Denver area. Margeson
has pointed to increased community
outreach, the continuation of the grand
jury system and offender rehabilitation
as his priorities.
20 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • LEGISLATIVE RACES

Lead Capitol reporter Marianne Goodland deconstructs all 83 legislative
races, as Democrats defend their majorities in both chambers while
Republicans try to reestablish a conservative beachhead.

Tight races could tip balance of power

BY MARIANNE GOODLAND
Colorado Politics

The battle for control of the

state Senate — the top legisla-
tive prize in 2020 — could boil
down to a handful of seats, and
unaffiliated voters will be key
in virtually every race, as well
spending by independent ex-
penditure committees.
There are 18 seats in the state
Senate up for election in 2020.
Democrats are defending 10;
Republicans eight. A 19-16 ma-
jority for Democrats has Re-
publicans hoping to flip two
seats they would need to take
back the majority. But they’ll
need to hold onto the eight they
have, including one that could
flip Democrat.
Colorado Politics’ analysis
shows of the eight Republi-
can seats, four are safe, three
lean Republican and one leans
Democrat. Of the 10 Democrat-
ic seats, nine are safe, one leans
Democrat.

The competitive seats

Senate District 8, north-
western Colorado: Republi-
can Sen. Bob Rankin of Carbon-
dale was appointed to the seat
in 2019 after the resignation
of Sen. Randy Baumgardner of
Hot Sulphur Springs.
Independent expenditure
committees, some backed by
Democratic donors, spent heav-
ily to ensure that Rankin, the
senior member of the Joint
Budget Committee and a cen-
ter-right Republican, won his
primary. The question becomes
whether that will repeat for
the November election. While
Republicans hold a 6,000-vot-
er registration advantage over
Democrats (down from a 7,400
advantage two years ago), there
are more unaffiliated voters
than either. Republican voter
registrations have dropped by
more than 1,000 in the past two
years, unaffiliated voter regis-
trations increased by 5,000.
Senate District 19, Jef-
ferson County: The seat has
flipped between Democrats and
Republicans in the past decade,
and is currently held by Demo-
cratic Sen. Rachel Zenzinger of
Arvada. Some of the same IECs
are already spending in favor
of Zenzinger, even though she
didn’t have a contested primary.
Although Democrats have in-
creased their voter registration
advantage over Republicans in
the past two years, unaffiliated
voter registration has grown by
nearly 6,000.
This district has been home
to the most expensive senate
race in the state for the past
Many seats are empty in the Senate chambers just before the start of their session earlier this year. Colorado lawmakers
returned to the state Capitol on May 26 in Denver.
eight years (averaging north of
$423,000 in candidate contri-
butions in 2012, 2014 and 2016)
and it’s starting to look that way
for 2020. Zenzinger has raised
more than any statewide legis-
lative candidate.
Senate District 23, Broom-
field, Larimer and Weld
counties: This open seat has
two women candidates vying
to replace term-limited Repub-
lican Sen. Vicki Marble of Fort
Collins. While this has been
considered a safe Republican
seat, population growth had
made this the fastest-growing
and largest senate district by
population in the state. SD23
grew from 104,000 registered
voters in 2016 to more than
139,000 as of July 2020, with
more than 20,000 voters added
in Weld County and 9,000 in
Broomfield County.
Democrats gained 4,000 vot-
ers between 2016 and 2020 to
32,524; Republicans gained
about 3,500 to 45,992. Unaffili-
ated voter registrations jumped
from 46,349 to 58,408, the larg-
est such increase in any state
senate district. Don’t be too sur-
prised if this district gets a new
look after the 2020 census.
Both major party candidates
had to win primaries in June,
depleting their campaign funds.
Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer,
a Weld County commissioner,
was strongly backed by cen-
ter-right IECs such as Weld
Strong, faces Democratic candi-
date Sally Bocella of Johnstown.
Senate District 25, Adams
County: Republican Sen. Kevin
Priola of Henderson has been
a reliably moderate vote in the
Senate. That said, Democrats
would like to increase their 19-
16 advantage, and this is one
of two prime targets, especial-
ly given that Democrats hold
a 6,500-voter registration ad-
vantage over Republicans. This
is also a district that saw a big
KATHRYN SCOTT, SPECIAL TO COLORADO POLITICS
jump in unaffiliated voter regis-
trations in the past four years,
by nearly 12,000.
Neither Priola nor his Demo-
cratic challenger, Paula Dicker-
son, had primary challenges.
Senate District 26, Arap-
ahoe County: The second of
the two targeted districts for
pickups by Republicans, SD26
includes the rural portion of
Arapahoe County as well as the
county’s largest cities: Green-
wood Village and Cherry Hills.
Kagan won his 2016 contest by
6 percentage points.
But this race will be hard-
er for a Republican to win in
2020 than it has been in the
past. Four years ago, the dis-
trict was nearly evenly divided
among Republicans, Democrats
and unaffiliated voters. Not any
more. Democrats have picked
up 3,500 voters, Republicans
have lost 2,500 and unaffiliated
voters increased by more than
9,000.
The race also includes Lib-
ertarian Party candidate Marc
Solomon, which could draw
votes away from the Republican
challenger, Bob Roth.
Senate District 27, Arapa-
hoe County: The biggest target
of them all for both parties, this
is an open seat being vacated
by Republican Sen. Jack Tate of
Centennial, who decided not to
run for another term.
Four years ago, Tate defeated
Democrat Tom Sullivan by 6.5
percentage points. But the dis-
trict looked a lot different back
then. The district has flipped in
voter registration since then. In
2016, Republicans held a nearly
8,000-voter registration advan-
tage of Democrats and 4,000
more than unaffiliated voters.
That lead has evaporated. Dem-
ocratic voter registration now
trails Republicans by just over
1,000 but unaffiliated voter reg-
istration has jumped by more
than 10,500 and lead all groups.
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 21

2020 ELECTION • STATE SENATE RACES

2015-16 legislative session 2017-18 legislative session 2019-20 legislative session Colorado Politics 2020 prediction
(detail below)

9 Safe Democrat
17 Democrats 17 Democrats 19 Democrats 2 Lean Democrat
3 Lean Republican
18 Republicans 18 Republicans 16 Republicans
4 Safe Republican

15 23
8 14 13 1
18
25
29
16
4
7 9
11 10
5 2 12
3
6 35

17
24
19 21
20 33
DETAILS ABOUT THE ROUNDUPS KEY
34 31 Safe Democrat
INFORMATION SOURCES
Leans Democrat
Voter registration statistics are from August 2020 (and from the same month if
previous years are cited) provided by the Secretary of State’s office. Campaign 32 28 Leans Republican
donations are from TRACER, the Secretary of State’s campaign finance database.

22 27 Safe Republican
ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTIONS Democrat not
Individuals and businesses (other than corporations) are limited to $400 per
two-year election cycle. Small donor committees, which get their money from
30 26 up for election
members and are limited to $50 per member per election cycle, are limited to Republican not
$5,350 per election cycle. Political committees, including those with contributions up for election
from corporations, can give a maximum of $625. Political parties can contribute
up to $20,325 per election cycle. EVAN WYLOGE AND LINDA SHAPLEY, COLORADO POLITICS
22 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • STATE SENATE RACES

SENATE DISTRICT 4 Top donors: Herschel Ramsey of Parker
($800), Michael Driscoll of Parker ($400) and RACE TO WATCH Senate appointment. Rankin is the senior
ABOUT THE DISTRICT Mary Ramsey of Parker ($300). member of the powerful Joint Budget Com-
Located in Douglas County, the district SENATE DISTRICT 8 mittee and also serves on Senate Appropri-
includes Parker, Castle Rock and Franktown, ations. Rankin is well-liked on both sides of
and goes all the way to the Douglas-El Paso ABOUT THE DISTRICT the aisle and has been a go-to for Democrats
county line. Located in northwestern Colorado, includes on major bipartisan legislation. That included
Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffatt, Rio Blanco, successful bills on winter driving condi-
Population: 167,965 Top donors: Like most Libertarians, Harlos Routt and Summit counties. Healthcare, tions in the mountains and the state’s 2019
Households: 58,823 has not reported any campaign contribu- both availability and cost; and the oil and reinsurance program, which helped reduce
Median Household Income: $112,729 tions. gas industry are big issues in the district. Western Slope health insurance rates in the
Median Age: 38.1% Over 65: 11% This is technically an open seat, meaning all individual market by 30%. He is also a strong
Poverty Rate: 3.5% COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS candidates are running for the seat for the advocate for the Western Slope’s oil and gas
Racial breakdown: 84% white; 9% Hispanic; Safe Republican. No Democrat has ever first time. Sen. Bob Rankin was appointed by industry and a reliably conservative vote on
2% Asian; 1% Black represented the district. Smallwood won his a GOP vacancy committee in January 2019 social issues.
first election 63% to 28% over his Demo- to replace Sen. Randy Baumgardner, who
Voter breakdown cratic challenger in 2016. resigned after Democrats took control of the Cash breakdown/Top donors
state Senate and after a 2018 vote to expel
18% Dem 41% GOP 39% UAF him on sexual harassment charges failed.
SENATE DISTRICT 10
THE CANDIDATES Population: 149,728
Jim Smallwood, ABOUT THE DISTRICT Households: 54,408
Republican Median Household Income: $71,202 Top donors: Colorado State Conference of
Located in northern Colorado Springs in El
jimsmallwoodforcolora- Median Age: 38.2% Over 65: 13% Electrical Workers small donor ($4,000), Colo-
Paso County. Issues include K-12 education,
do.com Poverty Rate: 10% rado Education Association ($3,750),
including school choice, taxes and the
About Smallwood: Racial breakdown: 79% white; 18% Hispanic; Conservation Colorado Action Fund ($3,500).
military. This is an open seat, held by the
Smallwood is an term-limited Republican Sen. Owen Hill. 1% Asian; 1% Black
insurance broker and
small business owner. Population: 158,273 Voter breakdown
He serves on the Senate
Health & Human Services Committee and
Households: 60,525
Median Household Income: $65,449
24% Dem 30% GOP 44% UAF
on the joint Legislative Audit Committee. Top donors: Homes for All Coloradoans, a
Median Age: 34.5 Over 65: 13% THE CANDIDATES
Notable bills: In 2019 he sponsored a bill pro-business, pro-property rights committee;
Poverty Rate: 9.5% Karl Hanlon, Democrat
(later signed into law) to require schools ($3,000); Apartment Assn. of Metro Denver
Racial breakdown: 73% white; 14% Hispan- karlhanlon.com
to provide information on safe haven laws, small donor ($2,675) and CARE small donor
ic; 5% Black; 3% Asian About Harlon: This is
which became embroiled in the controversy ($2,500).
Hanlon’s first run for a
over modifications to the sex education law. Voter breakdown statewide office. He is COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
He also sponsored the 2018 law requiring
standalone emergency rooms to fully inform 20% Dem 37% GOP 41% UAF a water and municipal Leans Republican. Both candidates had
attorney and rancher primary challengers, and the Democratic
consumers about their health care options.
THE CANDIDATES in Carbondale. He cites primary contest drew slightly more votes.
He has also twice sponsored bills, unsuc-
Larry G. Liston, health care, public lands In the past four years, voter registration
cessfully, seeking to repeal the state’s health
Republican and climate change as his major issues. for unaffiliateds jumped from 38% to 44%
exchange and the reinsurance program.
friendsoflarrylliston. of total registrations, while numbers for
com Bob Rankin, Democrats and Republicans have remained
About Liston: Liston Republican flat. Baumgardner won the seat 51% to 42%
Elissa Flaumenhaft,
served in the House votebobrankin.com in 2016. The primary drew big spending in
Democrat
from 2005 to 2013 and About Rankin: Rankin is favor of Rankin from independent expendi-
ej4sd4.com
has served two more running for the Senate ture committees, including from IECs with
About Flaumenhaft:
terms in the House. He for the first time. He Democratic donors.
A first-time candidate
lost to Hill in 2012. He serves on the House served three terms in
for statewide office,
Energy & Environment and Public Health the House prior to his
Flaumenhaft is a biol-
ogist for Terumo Blood Care & Human Services committees. In
and Cell Technologies. 2018 and 2019 he sponsored bills to allow
She mentors students at the STEM School nonresident electors to vote in special
in HIghlands Ranch and at the Aurora district elections, which earned a veto in SENATE DISTRICT 12
Lights Program. In her spare time, she is a 2018 from Gov. John Hickenlooper. He’s also
known for weekly salutes to the nation’s Cash breakdown/Top donors ABOUT THE DISTRICT
powerlifter and plays center on the Denver
Bandits, a women’s football team. economic progress under President Trump, Located in central and eastern Colorado
which generally earns him jeers from House Springs, El Paso County. District issues
Democrats. include K-12 education, including school
Wayne Harlos, choice, taxes and the military.
Libertarian Top donors: Liston has amassed a sizable
https://ballotpedia.org/ Randi McCallian, Population: 162,195
Democrat campaign war chest. Biggest donors: the Households: 56,711
Wayne_Harlos Colorado Republican Committee ($19,688);
About Harlos: Harlos, randiforcolorado.com Median Household Income: $66,945
About McCallian: A COPIC small donor ($5,350) and Colorado Median Age: 31.9 Over 65: 12%
of Castle Rock, is also Medical Society small donor ($1,000).
a first-time candidate first-time candidate for Poverty Rate: 8%
for state office. He is a state office, McCallian Racial breakdown: 68% white; 16% Hispan-
real estate agent who has worked in the ic; 8% Black; 3% Asian
previously ran for Castle Rock town council maternal and child
in 2018. His wife, Katie, is a Libertarian health fields and holds Voter breakdown
a master’s degree in public health. She
candidate in House District 45.
cites health care, affordable housing and Top donors: Carl Polhemus of Englewood 21% Dem 36% GOP 41% UAF
air quality as her biggest issues. She also ($400), Connie Schafer of Colorado Springs
Cash breakdown/Top donors ($400), Randal McCallian of Colorado Springs THE CANDIDATES
fosters pets.
($205). Bob Gardner,
Republican
Heather Johnson, votebobgardner.com
Libertarian About Gardner:
ballotpedia.org/Heath- Incumbent Sen. Bob
Top donors: COPIC (medical liability Gardner is known as
insurance) small donor ($2,000), Healthier er_Johnson_(Colorado)
About Johnson: She Top donors: Like most Libertarian the most loquacious
Colorado small donor ($1,000), NAIOP candidates, has not reported any campaign member of the General
(commercial real estate) small donor ($500); does not have a website
and has yet to respond contributions. Assembly. If you need
44 donors at the $400 level. someone to wax philosophic about an
to candidate question-
naires from any media COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS issue, he’s the go-to. His bills have focused
or voter groups. Safe Republican. No Democrat has ever on criminal justice, including corrections,
represented SD10. and the judiciary. He also cosponsored the
bill setting up workplace policies for the
General Assembly, in the wake of the sexual

2020 ELECTION • STATE SENATE RACES
harassment complaints filed against leg-
islators in 2017 and 2018. Gardner also has
served for several years on the Uniform
Law Commission, which comes up with
uniform state legislation on a wide variety
of issues. Gardner serves on the Senate
Judiciary and Appropriations committees
and is vice-chair of the joint Committee
on Legal Services. He also testified on the
trip to Connecticut for the commissioning
of the USS Colorado in the June ethics
commission hearing on former Gov. John
Hickenlooper, testimony the committee
found persuasive in finding Hickenlooper
had violated the state’s ethics laws.
Electra Johnson,
Democrat
electelectra.com
About Johnson: Chair
of the El Paso County
Democratic Party,
Johnson is a first-time
candidate for state of-
fice. She holds master’s
degrees in urban design and architecture,
and bachelor’s degrees in construction
management and interior design.
Zechariah L. Harris, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Zechariah_Harris
About Harris: Positions unknown. He has no
website and has not responded to candidate
questionnaires.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Apartment Association of Metro
Denver small donor ($2,675); COPIC small
donor ($2,000), Colorado Medical Society
small donor ($1,850).
Top donors: Gabriel Caunt of Colorado
Springs ($135), four donors at $100.
Top donors: As with most Libertarians,
Harris has not reported any campaign
contributions
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. No Democrat has ever
represented SD12.
SENATE DISTRICT 14
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Fort Collins, Larimer County,
including the campus of Colorado State Uni-
versity, the district’s issues include higher
education and agriculture. This is technically
an open seat. Sen. Joann Ginal, a Democrat,
was appointed by a Democratic vacancy
committee to replace Sen. John Kefalas, who
was elected to the Larimer County Board of
Commissioners in 2018.
Population: 164,588
Households: 63,703
Median Household Income: $61,756
Median Age: 29.1 Over 65: 10%
Poverty Rate: 16.7%
Racial breakdown: 80% white; 12% Hispan-
ic; 3% Asian; 1% Black
October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 23
Voter breakdown
34% Dem 21% GOP 44% UAF RACE TO WATCH Lynn Gerber,
Republican
SENATE DISTRICT 19 lynngerberforsd19.com
About Gerber: A first-
THE CANDIDATES
ABOUT THE DISTRICT time candidate, Gerber
Hans D. Hochheimer,
Located in northern Jefferson County, includ- is a small business
Republican
ing Arvada. One of the seats that the GOP owner and community
hochheimer4senate.
would like to flip in order to regain control volunteer, including
com
of the state Senate. This seat has gone back work with at-risk
About Hochheimer:
and forth in the past decade between the individuals and with animals. She advocates
This is Hochheimer’s
GOP and Democrats. for defending TABOR, increasing funding for
second attempt at the
K-12 education, affordable healthcare and is
SD14 seat. He lost to Ke-
Population: 148,396 pro-life.
falas in 2016 by a 56%
Households: 59,607
to 35% margin. He vows to work to repeal
the red flag law, defend TABOR and fight for Median Household Income: $77,052 Cash breakdown/Top donors
the oil and gas industry. Hochhemier is a Median Age: 39.6 Over 65: 15%
Poverty Rate: 6.6%
professor and chair emeritus of the physics
Racial breakdown: 78% white; 15% Hispanic;
department at CSU-Fort Collins.
3% Asian; 1% Black
Top donors: Zenzinger is the most success-
Voter breakdown ful fundraiser in the General Assembly from
Joann Ginal,
either party. Top donors: Colorado American
Democrat 31% Dem 25% GOP 38% UAF Federation of Labor small donor ($5,350),
joannginal.com
Colorado Apartment Assn. small donor
About Ginal: Ginal
($5,350), Realtor small donor ($5,350),
served three terms THE CANDIDATES
Colorado Dems ($12,000).
in the House before Rachel Zenzinger,
being appointed to the Democrat
Senate in 2019. She is rachelforcolorado.com
the chair of the Local About Zenzinger: She’s
Government Committee and also serves on a member of the Joint
Top donors: Gerber has 25 donors at the
Health & Human Services. She has sponsored Budget Committee, chair
$400 maximum contribution, including from
legislation on animal rights and more of Senate Appropria-
Pete Coors, the Colorado Liberty Fund and a
successfully, on prescription drugs, includ- tions and vice-chair of
variety of Republican political action
ing 2019 legislation allowing the importation the Statutory Revision
committees.
of prescription drugs from Canada. Committee. Legislation outside of the JBC
includes increasing the pay for the National COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Cash breakdown/Top donors Guard, work with the disability committee Leans Democrat. This was the most expen-
and bills on transportation funding. Zenzing- sive race in the state in 2016. Zenzinger and
er is the JBC’s moderate Democrat and from her 2016 opponent, Laura Woods, between
time to time has clashed with Polis over K-12 them raised $459,000. And independent
education funding. expenditure committees are expected to
have an impact here; IECs began spending in
Top donors: Hochheimer has been the
Zenzinger’s favor before the primary even
biggest donor to his election efforts, at
though she didn’t have a primary opponent.
$2,000; other donors include the Larimer
County Republican Party ($750) and the
Colorado Liberty Fund ($400), a political Poverty Rate: 9.1% Andrew J. O’Connor,
committee that works to elect Republican Racial breakdown: 74% white; 19% Hispanic; Unaffiliated
candidates to the House and Senate. 4% Asian; 1% Black ballotpedia.org/An-
drew_O’Connor
Voter breakdown About O’Connor:
O’Connor is the only un-
39% Dem 17% GOP 43% UAF affiliated candidate for
the General Assembly in
2020. He’s a first-time
Top donors: Ginal has a sizable cash THE CANDIDATES
statewide candidate. He has worked as an
advantage heading into the fall. Top donors: Sonya Jaquez Lewis,
attorney in other states but is not admitted
Colorado Democratic Party ($11,055), Democrat
to the bar in Colorado and is well-known
Colorado Apartment Assn. small donor sonyaforcolorado.com
as an anti-fracking activist. He has taken
($5,350) and the Realtor small donor About Lewis: Rep.
heat for comments threatening oil and gas
committee ($5,350). Jaquez Lewis was first
workers.
elected to the General
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Assembly in 2018. She’s
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Safe Democrat. The district has grown a pharmacist, serves
as vice-chair of the
substantially in the past four years, with un-
House State, Veterans and Military Affairs
affiliated voter numbers growing by 10,000
and Democrats have added 3,000. Republi- Committee and on the Public Health Care &
cans have lost ground in voter registration Human Services Committee. Her legislation
in the last four years. has largely focused on health care issues,
Top donors: Teamsters small donor ($500);
including cost.
18 individual donors at $400, including Pat
Stryker of Fort Collins.
SENATE DISTRICT 17 Matthew D. Menza,
Republican
ABOUT THE DISTRICT matthewmenzaforcolo-
Located in Boulder County, including rado.com
Longmont and Lafayette. This is an open About Menza: He’s a
Top donors: Menza lists 11 donors at the
seat; Democratic Sen. Mike Foote, who was systems engineer and
$400 level, including the Colorado Liberty
appointed in 2019, chose not to run for elec- Navy aviator who was
Fund. Others: Boulder County GOP ($225).
tion. The district’s biggest issue is oil and deployed four times to
gas; it is located in the Denver-Julesburg Iraq and Afghanistan.
basin and the environmental movement, He’s interested in small business economic
including anti-fracking activists, is very development, improving resources for
strong here. mental health and boosting teacher pay. He
also advocates for the repeal of the 2020
Top donors: O’Connor has yet to report any
Population: 154,731 legislation that modified the state’s rules on
campaign donations.
Households: 59,507 vaccinations.
Median Household Income: $77,725
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Median Age: 38.5 Over 65: 14%
Safe Democrat, period.
24 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • STATE SENATE RACES

SENATE DISTRICT 18
Voter breakdown RACE TO WATCH
ABOUT THE DISTRICT 38% Dem 18% GOP 43% UAF Sally Boccella,
Located in Boulder County, includes western SENATE DISTRICT 23 Democrat
Boulder County and the city of Boulder. One
of two Senate districts (the other is in Den- ABOUT THE DISTRICT sallyforcolorado.com
THE CANDIDATES About Boccella: A first-
ver’s SD33) in 2020 where Democrats hold Dominick Moreno, Located in Broomfield, Larimer and Weld
majority voter registration and GOP voter counties, the heart of Colorado’s oil and gas time state candidate,
Democrat Boccella has worked in
registration in the single digits. dominickmoreno.com industry, and includes a small portion of
Fort Collins, as well as Windsor, Severance radio and film produc-
About Moreno: Cur- tion and as a substitute
Population: 151,796 rently the vice-chair of and Broomfield. By population, this district
Households: 62,182 has exploded in the past decade, growing by teacher. She lists educa-
the Joint Budget Com- tion and healthcare as top issues.
Median Household Income: $75,795 mittee, Moreno served more than 48,000 voters since 2010, when
Median Age: 32.9 Over 65: 13% two terms in the House it also included a small portion of Adams
Poverty Rate: 17.1% County. It’s now the largest Senate district by Cash breakdown/Top donors
before being elected to
Racial breakdown: 83% white; 9% Hispanic; the Senate in 2016. He is vice-chair of Senate population in the state, at 141,997 voters. In
4% Asian; 1% Black Appropriations and the Capitol Building 2010, Republicans held a slight advantage in
Advisory Committee, and also serves on voter registration.
Voter breakdown the Legislative Council and the Statutory
50% Dem 9% GOP 39% UAF Revision Committee. He is a member of Both Broomfield and Weld counties have
seen dramatic population and voter growth Top donors: Kirkmeyer fundraises well but
the LGBTQ caucus, and his legislation has substantially spent down her campaign bank
included those issues, such as limiting the in the past decade. This is an open seat,
held by the term-limited Republican Sen. account fending off her primary challenger
THE CANDIDATES gay panic defense and making it easier for and went into the fall with less money on
Steve Fenberg, transgender individuals to obtain new birth Vicki Marble.
hand than her Democratic opponent. During
Democrat certificates. He also sponsored the 2020 law the primary, however, Kirkmeyer was backed
stevefenberg.org extending the state’s reinsurance program. Both candidates had to fend off primary chal-
lenges in 2020 to get to the general election. by independent expenditure committees
About Fenberg: Senate hoping to see a less hard-right Republican in
Majority Leader Steve the seat.
Fenberg leads the pro- Martin Mendez, Population: 181,648
gressive agenda in the Republican Households: 67,150
Median Household Income: $93,400 Donors include Broomfield County GOP
Colorado state Senate, electmendez.co ($3,500), the Apartment Assn. of Metro
sponsoring landmark About Mendez: He’s Median Age: 37.5 Over 65: 12%
Poverty Rate: 4.6% Denver small donor ($2,675) and Colorado
legislation in 2019 on oil and gas (SB181), a first-time candidate Chiropractic small donor ($1,500).
restoring voting rights for parolees and and a longtime member Racial breakdown: 80% white; 13% Hispanic;
other election laws, and banning conversion of various Republican 4% Asian; 1% Black
therapy for LGBTQ youth. committees, both in Ad-
ams County and statewide. He is anti-union, Voter breakdown
favors keeping the Gallagher amendment as 23% Dem 33% GOP 42% UAF
Peg Cage, Republican is, opposed the vaccination bill and supports
governmentofthepeo- more funding for mental health services in
ple.us jails. THE CANDIDATES Top donors: Colorado firefighters small
About Cage: A first- Barbara Kirkmeyer, donor ($4,000), International Brotherhood of
time candidate, Cage Cash breakdown/Top donors Republican Electrical Workers small donor ($4,000) and
opposed the 2020 www.kirkmeyerforcolo- Pipefitters Local 208 PAC ($1,000).
vaccination bill and is rado.com
opposed to how Gov. About Kirkmeyer: A COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Jared Polis has handled the pandemic. She long-time advocate for Leans Republican. The anti-fracking
is a former chair of the Boulder County GOP. oil and gas, Kirkmeyer movement is strong in Broomfield, while
Top donors: Professional firefighters union is currently a Weld those who back oil and gas dominate in Weld
Cash breakdown/Top donors small donor ($4,000), Colorado Education County Commissioner. County. In the June primary, the Democratic
Association ($2,750) and State Conference of She is opposed to the COVID-19 lockdowns contest drew more votes than did the Repub-
Electrical Workers small donor ($2,000). and if elected has promised to be “Jared lican race, and unaffiliated voters will make
Polis’s [sic] worst nightmare.” She favors the difference in November. If Republicans
school choice, oil and gas, and less business want to take control of the Senate, they’ll
regulation. need to hang onto this seat.
Top donors: Colorado Professional
firefighters small donor ($4,000), Healthier
Colorado small donor ($3,000), Colorado Top donors: Colorado Liberty Fund ($400); a
Education Assn. ($1,500), Boulder Valley $200 contribution from his own funds and
Education Assn. small donor ($1,000). $100 from Elena Campbell of Aurora. 2020 CROWN Act, which banned discrimina-
THE CANDIDATES tion based on ethnic/racial hairstyles and
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Karl Stecher, laws on early childhood education. In 2018, a
Safe Democrat. Moreno ran unopposed in Republican Buckner-sponsored bill allowing community
2016. In the June 2020 primary, Moreno drew stecher4senate.com colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in nurs-
more than 16,000 votes to Mendez’ 6,320. About Stecher: He’s a ing got pushback from Hickenlooper and
Top donors: Cage has provided her retired neurosurgeon CU, but he signed it anyway. She also has
campaign’s largest donation at $1,000; she and first-time candi- carried bills on organ donation and cancer
also has accepted $400 contributions from date for state office. treatment.
eight individuals and the Colorado Liberty SENATE DISTRICT 28 His issues include
Fund. conservation, including Cash breakdown/Top donors
ABOUT THE DISTRICT support for parks and open space; helping
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Located in Arapahoe County, including family-owned businesses and education,
Safe Democrat, period. central and southern Aurora. This is an open including “free choice in charter, private and
seat, held by the term-limited President Pro at-home schools.”
tem Nancy Todd, who served 16 years in the
Top donors: Stecher has yet to report any
SENATE DISTRICT 21 General Assembly.
Janet Buckner, campaign contributions.
Population: 152,909 Democrat
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Households: 55,086 janetbuckner.com
Located in Adams County, including Com-
Median Household Income: $74,466 About Buckner:
merce City. This senate district is the only
Median Age: 36.2 Over 65: 12% Currently Speaker
one with a Hispanic majority in the state, at
Poverty Rate: 7.3% Pro tem of the House,
53%.
Racial breakdown: 56% white; 19% Hispan- Buckner first came to Top donors: Colorado firefighters small
ic; 12% Black; 7% Asian the General Assembly, donor ($4,000), Colorado Educational
Population: 164,130
appointed by a Dem- Association ($2,750) and Fund for Education-
Households: 52,682
Voter breakdown ocratic vacancy committee in July 2015 to al Progress of Aurora ($2,650).
Median Household Income: $58,105
replace her late husband, Rep. John Buckner.
Median Age: 32.7 Over 65: 10% 35% Dem 22% GOP 42% UAF She serves on the House Appropriations, COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Poverty Rate: 14%
Health & Insurance and Education commit- Safe Democrat. Fuggedaboutit. Buckner is a
Racial breakdown: 53% Hispanic; 39%
tees. Laws sponsored by Buckner include the shoo-in to win the race to replace Todd.
white; 3% Asian; 3% Black
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 25

2020 ELECTION • STATE SENATE RACES

RACE TO WATCH restaurants to sell take-out alcohol. Along RACE TO WATCH Denver Regional Council of Governments, on
with Sen. Jeff Bridges, Priola sponsored the the board of the Colorado Municipal League
2020 law raising the age of tobacco sales SENATE DISTRICT 26 and the Associated General Contractors of
SENATE DISTRICT 25 to 18. Colorado and as a governor’s appointee to the
ABOUT THE DISTRICT Regional Air Quality Council.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT Paula Dickerson, Roth lists as his issues fiscal responsibility,
Located in eastern Adams County, the district Located in Arapahoe County, including Cherry
Democrat Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village water resources management, improving Colo-
includes Brighton but is largely rural. paulaforcolorado.com rado’s infrastructure and tailoring educational
and Littleton. This is technically an open seat.
About Dickerson: A Sen. Jeff Bridges was appointed by a Demo- pathways with K-12, trade school and tradition-
Population: 168,986 first-time candidate for al college learning.
Households: 54,257 cratic vacancy committee to fill the unexpired
state office, Dickerson term of Sen. Daniel Kagan in January 2019 and
Median Household Income: $64,741 is a teacher, member of
Median Age: 32.8 Over 65: 9% is hence running for the seat for the first time.
the Colorado Education Marc Solomon, Libertarian
Poverty Rate: 13.6% Association and lifelong ballotpedia.org/Marc_Solomon
Racial breakdown: 47% white; 40% Hispan- Population: 161,747
Adams County resident. She cites public Households: 68,755 About Solomon: Solomon is associated with
ic; 5% Black; 4% Asian education, paid family leave and a “fix” to My Freedom Bank, is an advocate of privatized
Median Household Income: $67,888
TABOR as her top issues. Median Age: 37.5 Over 65: 15% banking and author of “Stop Being Poor: And
Voter breakdown Learn How to Free Yourself from the Banks.”
Poverty Rate: 11%
32% Dem 24% GOP 42% UAF Cash breakdown/Top donors Racial breakdown: 70% white; 15% Hispanic; He does not have a website and his platform
8% Black; 4% Asian is unknown.

THE CANDIDATES Voter breakdown

Kevin Priola,
Republican
kevinpriola.com
About Priola: Don’t let
the lopsided advantage
for Democrats in voter
registration fool you.
He’s won the Senate
seat, and served four
terms in the House before that, races with a
disadvantage in party voter registration. He
knows how to win the support of unaffiliated
voters.
Priola is a moderate Republican, well-liked
on both sides of the aisle and a go-to for
Democrats when they want to ensure a bill
has bipartisan support. That said, this is
one of the two top targets by Democrats for
flipping a seat in 2020 (the other is Senate
District 27, below).
Priola serves on the Senate Business, Labor
and Technology Committee. His track record
includes sponsorship of the 2020 vaccination
law that many Republican candidates are
campaigning against, the 2018 bailout for the
Public Employees’ Retirement Association
and a popular 2020 law allowing bars and
SENATE DISTRICT 29
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Arapahoe County, this district is a
mix of urban and rural, including Aurora and
eastern Arapahoe County, all the way past
Deer Trail, more than 50 miles.
Population: 160,470
Households: 54,915
Median Household Income: $58,889
Median Age: 33.3 Over 65: 10%
Poverty Rate: 13.5%
Racial breakdown: 41% white; 32% Hispan-
ic; 17% Black; 5% Asian
Voter breakdown
36% Dem 22% GOP 41% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Rhonda Fields,
Democrat
rhondafields.com
About Fields: Fields,
whose son and his
fiance were murdered
by two of the three
men now on Colorado’s
Death Row, served three
terms in the House before being elected
to the Senate in 2016. She currently chairs
the joint Capital Development Committee
and the Senate Health & Human Services
Committee, is vice-chair of State, Veterans
& Military Affairs, and also serves on the
Top donors: Homes for All Coloradoans
($3,000) Apartment Assn. of Metro Denver
small donor ($2,675), CARE small donor
($2,500), Lincoln Club of Colorado small
donor ($2,350).
Top donors: The Fund for Educational
Progress, which is housed in the same
building in Aurora as several public
education organizations ($5,350); Colorado
firefighters small donor ($4,000) and
Colorado electrical workers small donor
($4,000)
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Leans Republican, only based on whether
up-ballot races (Gardner/Hickenlooper and
Trump/Biden) have an impact in the district.
Otherwise would be considered a solid
Republican seat because Priola’s the one run-
ning. Republicans must hang onto this one if
they have any chance of retaking the Senate.
Legislative Audit Committee. She is often a
moderate voice in the Senate and stymied
Democratic attempts to repeal the state’s
death penalty until 2020, when two Repub-
licans crossed over to support the repeal,
giving it 19-13 approval. In 2020, she was a
co-sponsor of the law enforcement account-
ability measure, SB 217; and the law allowing
college athletes to be paid.
Michele Poague,
Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/
Michele_Poague
About Poague: This is
Poague’s third try at
the state Senate on the
Libertarian ticket. She’s
a science fiction writer but her position on
the issues is unknown.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado Medical Society small
donor ($5,350); Colorado firefighters small
donor ($4,000); Colorado electrical workers
small donor ($4,000).
33% Dem 24% GOP 41% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Jeff Bridges,
Democrat
bridgesforcolorado.com
About Bridges: Bridges
serves on the Sen-
ate education, local
government and joint
technology committees.
He served one term in the
House before being appointed to the Senate
seat, and admits he LOVES campaigning. In the
2020 session, he sponsored several COVID-19
relief bills, including for take-out alcohol
and sick leave. He also sponsored the law
allowing compensation for college athletes
and has carried numerous bills on education,
most signed into law. In 2017, he was a House
sponsor of a law allowing for self-driving cars
and a law promoting free speech on college
campuses. Along with Priola, Bridges also
sponsored the 2020 legislation that raised the
age for tobacco sales to 18.
Bob Roth, Republican
rothforsd26.com
About Roth: A first-time
candidate for state office,
Roth is a former city
councilman and mayor
pro tem in Aurora. He also
served as chair of the
Top donors: Despite three tries, Poague has
yet to report any campaign donations.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. This is one of two Senate
races that doesn’t have a Republican
opponent.
SENATE DISTRICT 31
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Denver, this district includes the
central east area, including Glendale. The
district has a small sliver in Arapahoe Coun-
ty north of Greenwood Village. SD31 is one
of the few where Democrats hold a plurality
of voter registrations. This is technically
an open seat, after Senate President Pro
tem Lois Court resigned in January due to
illness.
Population: 167,225
Households: 86,002
Median Household Income: $59,257
Median Age: 36.4 Over 65: 15%
Poverty Rate: 10.8%
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado Dems ($10,000), Realtor
small donor ($5,350), Colorado firefighters
small donor ($4,000).
Top donors: Roth has 30 donors at the $400
contribution level, including the Colorado
Liberty Fund and MDC Holdings CEO Larry
Mizel.
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, Solomon
has not reported any contributions.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. The district’s Republican
voter registration numbers have declined
since 2016, when Kagan won by six points
over former Arapahoe Clerk and Recorder
Nancy Doty. Early on, Republicans had this on
their target list but Roth’s fundraising trails
badly. Spending by independent expenditure
committees, which is likely to favor Bridges,
will also play a role here.
Racial breakdown: 70% white; 14% Hispan-
ic; 9% Black; 4% Asian
Voter breakdown
46% Dem 13% GOP 39% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Chris Hansen,
Democrat
hansenforcolorado.com
About Hansen: Hansen
was appointed to the
seat in January by a
Democratic vacancy
committee, after
serving three years in
the House, including on the Joint Budget
Committee. In the Senate, he’s a member
of the Senate appropriations, finance, and
state, veterans and military affairs commit-
tees. His most prominent issue: renewable
energy and everything that entails, including
electric vehicles.
26 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • STATE SENATE RACES
Doug Townsend,
Republican
dougtownsendforyou.
com
About Townsend: He
counts among his life
lessons growing up in
Indiana and Indiana
high school basketball.
While he hasn’t run for state office in Colora-
do before, he’s run for elected office in Indi-
ana several times, including for Indianapolis
mayor in 1991. Townsend is a certified public
accountant and served as CEO of what’s now
Denver’s Downtown Aquarium, helping it
through a financial restructuring. He’s also
a master scuba instructor. Townsend lists
issues such as anti-abortion, K-12 education
and school choice, and eliminating the
Hospital Provider Fee as a way of lowering
health care costs.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($6,000 in
two contributions in 2019, which appears to
exceed the contribution limit for small donor
committees), Colorado firefighters’ small
donor ($4,000); trial lawyers small donor
($2,000).
Top donors: Townsend has been his own
best funder, with $9,910 in cash and
non-monetary contributions. He’s also taken
$400 contributions from the Colorado
Liberty Fund and the Denver County GOP
Central Committee.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. In the last two elections for
this seat, Democratic candidates won with
69% of the vote.
SENATE DISTRICT 33
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Denver, including the airport,
Green Valley Ranch and Central Park (for-
merly Stapleton). This is an open seat, after
Sen. Angela Williams first decided to run for
the U.S. Senate but after ending that candi-
dacy abandoned plans to run for re-election.
This is the second of two Senate districts
(SD18 is the other) where Democrats have a
majority in voter registrations and the GOP
voter registration percentage is in the single
digits.
Population: 179,613
Households: 62,302
Median Household Income: $72,580
Median Age: 33.3 Over 65: 8%
Poverty Rate: 13%
Racial breakdown: 40% white; 33% Hispan-
ic; 20% Black; 3% Asian
Voter breakdown
53% Dem 7% GOP 38% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
James Rashad
Coleman, Democrat
colemanforcolorado.
com
About Coleman:
Coleman has served
two terms in the House,
working on the Appro-
priations and Education committees and as
vice-chair of Business Affairs & Labor. He
was a co-sponsor in 2020 of a redistricting
bill that banned counting prison inmates in
the counties in which they are housed. He’s
also sponsored legislation on education
and law enforcement issues.
Jerry Burton, Unity
Party Of Colorado
homeforallofus.com/
About Burton: A first-
time candidate, Burton
is the only member of
the Unity party running
for the Senate. He is
a veteran of the U.S. Ma-
rines and is an advocate for the homeless.
In 2019, he was part of the successful effort
to persuade a Denver judge to overturn the
city’s camping ban.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($4,400),
Colorado Education Association ($2,500),
Colorado electrical workers small donor
($2,000) and Healthier Colorado ($2,000).
Top donors: Burton has not yet reported
any campaign donations.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. ‘Nuff said.
SENATE DISTRICT 35
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
By land mass, the largest Senate district in
Colorado, covering one-quarter of the state,
a total of 26,000 square miles. It includes
the counties of Alamosa, Baca, Bent,
Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Huerfano,
Kiowa, Las Animas, Mineral, Otero, Prowers,
Rio Grande, Saguache and part of Pueblo.
This is an open seat, currently represent-
ed by term-limited Republican Sen. Larry
Crowder of Alamosa.
In voter registration, the most evenly-divid-
ed Senate district in the state among Demo-
crats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters.
Population: 138,041
Households: 55,245
Median Household Income: $40,398
Median Age: 42.4 Over 65: 20%
Poverty Rate: 19.4%
Racial breakdown: 59% white; 37% Hispan-
ic; 1% Black; 1% Asian
Voter breakdown
31% Dem 35% GOP 33% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Cleave Simpson,
Republican
simpsonforsenate35.
com
About Simpson: He’s
the general manager of
the Rio Grande Water
Conservation District, a
member of the state’s
Interbasin Compact Committee, which
facilitates conversations among the state’s
RACE TO WATCH
SENATE DISTRICT 27
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in southern Arapahoe County,
including Centennial, this is an open seat.
Republican Sen. Jack Tate decided not to run
for reelection in 2020. This is the hottest Sen-
ate race in the state. Republicans must hold
this seat if they have any chance of retaking
the Senate.
This district has had the most dramatic
change in voter registration of any Senate
district in the past four years. In 2016,
Republicans dominated all voter groups, but
unaffiliated voters have surged since then
and so have Democrats. The district also
had one of the best track records for voter
turnout (just shy of 80%) in 2016.
Population: 153,560
Households: 54,779
Median Household Income: $105,168
Median Age: 39.4 Over 65: 13%
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Racial breakdown: 76% white; 10% Hispanic;
7% Asian; 4% Black
Voter breakdown
28% Dem 29% GOP 41% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Chris Kolker,
Democrat
sites.google.com/view/
kolkerforcolorado/home
About Kolker: This is
Kolker’s second attempt
at state office; he ran
for House District 38 in
2018 and lost by just 374
votes to incumbent Republican Rep. Susan
Beckman, the tightest win for any Republican
in the General Assembly in 2018. Kolker is a
certified financial planner and small business
owner. A former high school history and gov-
ernment teacher, Kolker advocates for public
education funding, transportation funding
and a ban on military-style firearms.
nine basin roundtables, key players in the
state water plan. He is a first-time candidate
for statewide office and a fourth-generation
rancher and farmer in the San Luis Valley.
His top issues are agriculture, water and
education.
Carlos R. Lopez,
Democrat
carloslopezforcolorado.
com
About Lopez: Lopez,
a first-time candidate
for state office, is a
member of Trinidad City
Council and a former
board member of the Colorado Municipal
League. He believes the state government
gives short shrift to rural Colorado, and
advocates for better funding for health care
in rural Colorado as well as public education
funding.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado Apartment Associa-
tion small donor ($2,675); the Colorado
Suzanne Staiert,
Republican
suzannestaiert.com
About Staiert: A
former deputy secretary
of state under Wayne
Williams and a first-time
state candidate, Staiert
boosted her name rec-
ognition by prosecuting the ethics complaint
against former Gov. John Hickenlooper. That
complaint with the Independent Ethics Com-
mission resulted in a $2,750 fine against the
former governor and Democratic U.S. Senate
candidate as well as millions of dollars in
negative campaign ads about Hickenlooper.
Staiert also took a campaign contribution
from a member of the ethics commission
after being hired to prosecute the Hicken-
looper complaint, and a campaign finance
complaint filed against her earlier this year
over initially failing to disclose her income
goes to a formal hearing on Sept. 30. Staiert
points to economic recovery, government in-
tegrity and backing school resource officers
in public schools as her top issues.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: The Fund for Educational
Progress ($5,350); the Colorado Democratic
Party ($4,000), firefighters’ small donor
($4,000) and Colorado electrical workers
small donor ($4,000).
Top donors: Realtor small donor ($5,350);
Apartment Assn. of Metro Denver small donor
($2,675), Lincoln Club small donor ($2,350)
and NAIOP small donor ($500).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Leans Democrat. This is likely to see the
biggest spending by independent expen-
diture committees in favor of Kolker and
against Staiert in a race that has already
gotten pretty nasty.
Education Association ($2,500) and the
Colorado Medical Society small donor
($2,000).
Top donors: Lopez has put $4,380 from his
own pocket into the race. Other donors:
American Federation of Teachers ($500) and
15 donors at $400, including attorneys Frank
Azar and daughter Margeaux Azar.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Despite the even distribu-
tion of voter registration, it’s unlikely that
Lopez will be able to beat the better-funded
Simpson. Did you notice that Simpson picked
up a contribution from the CEA? He’s the
only Republican who they’ve given campaign
money to this year.

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
Five races could run wild in state house
BY MARIANNE GOODLAND
Colorado Politics
All 65 House seats are up for
election in 2020. Nine Demo-
cratic seats are held by Dem-
ocrats who are term-limited,
running for the Senate, or held
by Democrats appointed by
vacancy committees since the
2018 election. Six are held by
term-limited Republicans or
those appointed by GOP vacan-
cy committees.
Democrats hold a 41-24 ad-
vantage as of 2018; Republicans
have no chance of taking con-
trol of the House but do have
the opportunity to flip a couple
of seats, most notably in HD47.
Democrats’ best chance for flip-
ping a seat is in HD38.
Colorado Politics’ analysis has
five races considered competi-
tive:
House District 25 (Little-
ton/Evergreen): Democratic
Rep. Lisa Cutter of Littleton
was the surprise victor in 2018,
winning a House seat that had
never before been represented
by a Democrat. That win came
despite a voter registration dis-
advantage of about 4,000 for
Democrats, although as is true
almost everywhere, unaffiliat-
Election 2020
- the election that many believe
will define us as a state and
nation for decades to come.
Colorado’s #1 political news source
KATHRYN SCOTT, SPECIAL TO COLORADO POLITICS
Members of the House of Representatives continue their
work from the house floor at the start of the returning ses-
sion.
ed voters dominate. In 2020,
the gap has narrowed between
Democrats and Republicans,
although Republicans still have
about an advantage of about
2,000 voter registrations. Unaf-
filiated voters have increased by
3,398.
Cutter has a strong lead in
fundraising over Republican
challenger and former Jeffco
commissioner Don Rosier.
House District 27 (Arvada):
Incumbent Democratic Rep.
Brianna Titone became the first
transgender state lawmaker in
Colorado with her narrow victo-
ry over Republican Vicki Pyne,
a margin of 439 votes. Pyne is
challenging Titone in 2020.
Voter registration in 2018
leaned Republican, with about
a 2,000 voter registration ad-
vantage over Democrats. That
October 2, 2020
lead has evaporated to just over
300. Unaffiliated voter registra-
tions have picked up by more
than 4,000.
Titone is likely to pick up
strong financial support from
independent expenditure com-
mittees, as she did in 2018.
House District 37 (Centen-
nial): Similar to House District
25, Rep. Tom Sullivan is the
first Democrat to represent this
Arapahoe County district and in
2019 was the subject of a failed
recall effort. He won despite a
voter registration disadvantage
for Democrats in 2018. That gap
has evaporated since 2018, and
as is true for the other compet-
itive seats, unaffiliated voters
will make the difference in No-
vember.
House District 38 (Little-
ton): In 2018, Republican Rep.
Susan Beckman won a close
House race against Democratic
challenger Chris Kolker (who’s
running for the state Senate
this year). Beckman’s margin
was 374 votes.
But Beckman is gone, replaced
by Republican Rep. Richard
Champion last January when
Beckman took a job with the
Trump administration.
The stakes are high.
Are you fully informed?
For fact-based, objective
reporting behind the scenes
of Colorado’s power
structures, look no further.
Follow us on:
Colorado Politics 27
Democratic challenger David
Ortiz is on a fundraising tear,
bringing in four times the mon-
ey that Champion has so far
raised as of July 27. However,
Ortiz also spent heavily to win
his primary challenge against
Candice Ferguson.
Voter registration favored the
Republican in 2018, but it’s not
as comfortable a lead going into
the fall. Democrats have gained
nearly 800 registrations; Re-
publicans have lost 1,500 and
unaffiliated voter registrations
have grown by more than 2,700.
House District 47 (Otero,
Pueblo and Fremont coun-
ties): The closest race in 2018
was also the most contentious,
between eventual winner Dem-
ocratic Rep. Bri Buentello of
Pueblo and Republican Don
Bendell of Florence. Buentel-
lo won by just 321 votes and
became the first Democrat to
represent at least part of the
district since 2008, when it
included only Pueblo and Fre-
mont counties. It’s also a dis-
trict that Donald Trump won in
2016.
This year’s House race could
easily be as close, based on vot-
er registration.
28 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

2015-16 legislative session 2017-18 legislative session 2019-20 legislative session Colorado Politics 2020 prediction

37 Safe Democrat
34 Democrats 37 Democrats 41 Democrats 4 Lean Democrat
1 Toss Up
31 Republicans 28 Republicans 24 Republicans
23 Safe Republican

52
53 48 49 63
57 65
51
50 13
56
55 26
11 61 19
12
34 54 60
33 35
10 7
31 46
29 32 58 47
62 64
27 4 5 8 30 59
24 6
42
23 41 36
40 KEY
28 3
1 2 Safe Democrat Toss up
22 9 37 Leans Democrat Safe Republican
38
43 44
45 DETAILS ABOUT THE ROUNDUPS
25
INFORMATION SOURCES
Voter registration statistics are from August 2020 (and from the same
month if previous years are cited) provided by the Secretary of State’s
office. Campaign donations are from TRACER, the Secretary of State’s
campaign finance database.

ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTIONS

39 Individuals and businesses (other than corporations) are limited to $400
per two-year election cycle. Small donor committees, which get their
14 money from members and are limited to $50 per member per election
20 cycle, are limited to $5,350 per election cycle. Political committees, in-
cluding those with contributions from corporations, can give a maximum
of $625. Political parties can contribute up to $20,325 per election cycle.
16
15
18
17
21

EVAN WYLOGE AND LINDA SHAPLEY, COLORADO POLITICS


2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
HOUSE DISTRICT 1
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in southwest Denver with a small
sliver in Jefferson County. Includes neigh-
borhoods of Harvey Park, Westwood south
of Morrison Road and Fort Logan. The Jeffco
portion includes the Marston Reservoir area.
Population: 83,816
Households: 29,949
Median Household Income: $56,863
Median Age: 33.9 Over 65: 12%
Poverty Rate: 15.90%
Racial breakdown: 50% Hispanic; 39%
white; 6% Asian; 3% Black
Voter breakdown
40% Dem 18% GOP 40% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Susan Lontine,
Democrat
susanlontinehd1.com
About Lontine: Lontine
is running for her third
term in the House.
She chairs the House
Health & Insurance
Committee, the joint
Capitol Building Advisory Committee, and
also serves on the House State, Veterans &
Military Affairs and joint Legislative Council
committees. Her bills focus largely on health
care, but she’s also carried legislation on
school discipline and blocking law enforce-
ment from arresting someone based on a
civil immigration detainer.
Samantha Koch,
Republican
samanthaforcolorado-
values.com
About Koch: A first-
time candidate for
state office, Koch backs
school choice, enforce-
ment of immigration
laws, and is opposed to the state’s 2020 law
modifying vaccination protocols. She is a
makeup artist and hairstylist and owns an
online clothing and makeup boutique.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Healthier Colorado small donor
($3,000), Pipefitters Local 208 ($500),
Colorado Assn. of Nurse Anesthetists ($400)
and Pat Stryker, heir to Stryker Medical and
a frequent donor to Democratic candidates
and causes ($400).
Top donors: Denver County GOP central
committee ($500), Robert Lowdermilk of
Denver ($400), Darryl Merkle of Denver
($500, which exceeds the maximum for an
individual donation).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Lontine won her last two
races by an average of 62% of the vote.
HOUSE DISTRICT 2
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in central Denver, including Capitol
Hill, Wellshire and Washington Park.
Population: 83,895
Households: 44,521
Median Household Income: $66,694
Median Age: 31.1 Over 65: 10%
Poverty Rate: 10.9%
Racial breakdown: 80% white; 10% Hispan-
ic; 4% Asian; 3% Black
Voter breakdown
46% Dem 11% GOP 41% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Alec Garnett,
Democrat
www.garnettforcolora-
do.com
About Garnett: Cur-
rently House Majority
leader and running for
his third term, Garnett
made a name for him-
self early on as a bridge builder. That’s led to
major bipartisan legislation, such as the law
resolving years of disputes over construc-
tion defects and the law allowing sports bet-
ting in Colorado. But he also led the fight in
2019 to pass the controversial red flag law.
Garnett is a likely choice to run for Speaker
of the House in 2021 if re-elected.
He serves on the Executive Committee of
the Legislative Council and the Legislative
Council.
Victoria Partridge,
Republican
victoriaforhousedis-
trict2.com
About Partridge: A
first-time candidate
for statewide election,
Partridge is a flight
attendant whose
issues include small business and support
for trade schools and school choice. She
also advocates for solutions to the city’s
homelessness problem, which is a big issue
in the district.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: American College of ER
physicians, Colorado, small donor ($5,000),
COPIC small donor ($4,400) and Colorado
Medical Society small donor ($2,000).
Top donors: Fred & Sydnna Wulff of Denver
($400), Michael O’Rourke of Lakewood
($400) and Paul Linton of Denver ($200).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Garnett ran unopposed in
2018 and won with 73% of the vote in 2016.
HOUSE DISTRICT 3
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Arapahoe County, including
Englewood, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills
Village and Sheridan. This is technically an
open seat, meaning all candidates are run-
ning for the first time. Rep. Meg Froelich was
appointed in January 2019 by a Democratic
vacancy committee to replace Rep. Jeff
Bridges, who was appointed to the Senate to
replace Sen. Daniel Kagan.
Population: 85,026
Households: 35,655
Median Household Income: $69,626
Median Age: 37.9 Over 65: 14%
Poverty Rate: 11.4%
Racial breakdown: 76% white; 15% Hispan-
ic; 4% Asian; 2% Black
Voter breakdown
32% Dem 24% GOP 42% UAF
October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 29
THE CANDIDATES Voter breakdown
Dean L. Titterington,
Republican
49% Dem 9% GOP 40% UAF
www.deanforcolorado.
THE CANDIDATES
com
Grant Price, Republican
About Titterington: A
small business owner,
Ballotpedia.Org/Grant_price_(Colorado)
About Price: Price does not have a website
Titterington founded
outlining his positions. He is a vice president
the Cherry Creek Acad-
of World Sign Associates, a non-profit that
emy charter school and
sets industry standards for signage.
was a founding board member of the state’s
Charter School Institute. He is a U.S. Marine
Serena Gonzales-
veteran. He cites as his issues “Colorado val-
Gutierrez, Democrat
ues, law and order and safe communities,”
Serenaforcolorado.Com
and education and economic opportunity.
About Gonzales-
Gutierrez: A third-gen-
Meg Froelich,
eration HD4 resident,
Democrat
Gonzales-Gutierrez won
froelichforcolorado.com
About Froelich: This
her first election to the
state House in 2018.
is incumbent Froelich’s
She is director for the Denver Collaborative
second bid for HD 3.
Partnership and has worked with victims
She’s a filmmaker and
of domestic violence. Gonzales-Gutierrez
previously served
serves on the House Judiciary and Public
on the Greenwood Village City Council.
Health Care & Human Services committees.
Froelich is a member of the House Energy
She’s worked on legislation on affordable
& Environment and Transportation & Local
housing, including assistance during the
Government committees. Her legislation
pandemic, and on laws governing rights for
has focused on child support and criminal
mobile home park residents, and on bills to
penalties for failure to pay wages. She also
assist those in the child welfare system.
backs paid family and medical leave.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
David P. Jurist, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/david_jurist
About Jurist: This is Jurist’s second try for
HD3; the first was in 2012. He holds a 2020
master of science degree in data analytics
from CSU-Global and is also a sculptor. He
Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
does not have a website that states his
($2,000), Healthier Colorado ($2,000),
positions.
Colorado Education Association ($1,875) and
attorneys Frank Azar and daughter
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Margeaux Azar ($400 each).
Top donors: Froelich has been her
Top donors: Daniel & Marilyn Willard of
campaign’s most generous donor, with
Golden have each contributed $50.
$18,524 contributed. Other donors: Fund for
Educational Progress of Aurora ($5,350),
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Colorado Education Assn. ($5,000), Colorado
Safe Democrat. Republicans have done
firefighters small donor ($2,000).
everything they can to get voter attention
here, including with a candidate from “The
Bachelor” in 2016. No dice. Not with 9% in
active voter registration.
Top donors: Titterington is his campaign’s HOUSE DISTRICT 5
biggest donor, at $300. He also got $100
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
from Paul Lewan, former CEO of Lewan &
Located in Denver, including Globeville,
Associates.
Elyria-Swansea, the National Western
complex; downtown Denver, the state Capitol
and Lincoln Park; RINO and Five Points, west
of Downing.
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, Jurist Population: 89,142
has not reported any campaign contribu- Households: 38,224
tions. Median Household Income: $60,196
Median Age: 32.3 Over 65: 8%
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Poverty Rate: 18.5%
Safe Democrat. Democrats have held this Racial breakdown: 44% Hispanic; 44%
seat since 2008. white; 4% Asian; 5% Black
Voter breakdown
HOUSE DISTRICT 4
46% Dem 9% GOP 42% UAF
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in northwest Denver, including THE CANDIDATES
Edgewater and Mountain View, and from Jonathan Woodley,
Interstate 70 to Alameda Avenue. Republican
jpwoodley.com
Population: 83,446 About Woodley: A
Households: 32,776 member of the Na-
Median Household Income: $57,858 tional Guard, Woodley
Median Age: 34.7 Over 65: 11% manages restaurants
Poverty Rate: 19.5% in downtown Denver.
Racial breakdown: 47% Hispanic; 46% He pledges to protect
white; 1% Asian; 3% Black school choice, the 1st and 2nd Amendment,
the unborn and parental rights and TABOR.
30 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
Alex Valdez, Democrat
valdezforcolorado.com
About Valdez: Valdez
won his first election to
the House in 2018. He
serves on the Capital
Development Com-
mittee, and the House
Transportation & Local Government and
Energy & Environment committees. He also
chairs the LGBTQ caucus. Valdez’ legislative
accomplishments focus on green energy,
including bills requiring builders to offer
higher efficiency devices (including solar
panels) for new home construction, improve-
ments to the minimum energy code for
building construction, and electric vehicles.
He is co-owner of EcoMark Solar.
Joe Richardson, Unity
Party Of Colorado
https://www.ourcam-
paigns.com/Candidat-
eDetail.html?Candi-
dateID=474807
About Richardson: Has
no website, positions
unknown. He runs a
mail-order business and served for two
years as a Downtown Denver Ambassador
for the Business Improvement District.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Kristina Cook, chair of Denver
GOP ($400), Cody Davis of Grand Junction
($100), former US Congressman Bob Shaffer
of Fort Collins ($50).
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($3,000),
DaVita ($625), General Motors PAC ($625).
Top donors: Has not reported any campaign
contributions
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. A district as solidly “D” as
it comes. Those who have represented this
district in the past include former Speaker
of the House Crisanta Duran and former
Denver Mayor Federico Pena. No Republican
has represented this district in at least 50
years.
HOUSE DISTRICT 6
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in east central Denver, including
Montclair, Hilltop, Cherry Creek and east
Washington Park. This is technically an open
seat; Rep. Steven Woodrow was appointed in
February to replace Rep. Chris Hansen, who
was appointed to the Senate to replace Sen.
Lois Court.
Population: 84,903
Households: 40,192
Median Household Income: $74,327
Median Age: 40 Over 65: 18%
Poverty Rate: 10.5%
Racial breakdown: 69% white; 13% Hispan-
ic; 10% Black; 5% Asian
Voter breakdown
45% Dem 15% GOP 38% UAF
THE CANDIDATES THE CANDIDATE Racial breakdown: 67% white; 16% Hispan-
Bill McAleb, Jennifer Bacon, ic; 10% Black; 5% Asian
Republican Democrat
www.billbringsitt.com electjenniferbacon.com Voter breakdown
About McAleb: A About Bacon: Bacon
first-time candidate for currently is vice-pres-
41% Dem 16% GOP 41% UAF
statewide office, McAleb ident of the Denver
THE CANDIDATES
has worked in the oil School Board. She’s
Larry L. Braig,
and gas industry for running unopposed, and
Republican
more than three dozen cites as her priorities
braigforsafety.com
years. He advocates for preservation of public education and affordable housing.
About Braig: A former
TABOR and a balanced approach to energy.
Denver firefighter,
Cash breakdown/Top donors
this is Braig’s first
Steven Woodrow,
run for state office.
Democrat
He supports TABOR, is
woodrowforco.com
opposed to the National
About Woodrow: An at-
Popular Vote, and appears opposed to how
torney who focuses on
Gov. Jared Polis has handled the COVID-19
consumer attention and Top donors: 14 donors at the $400 level,
pandemic.
landlord/tenant issues, plus the Colorado Medical Society small
Woodrow serves on the donor ($1,000).
Emily Sirota,
House Rural Affairs &
Democrat
Agriculture and State, Veterans & Military COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
emilyforcolorado.com
Affairs committees. His sole House bill in the Safe Democrat.
About Sirota: Running
abbreviated 2020 session was on funding for
for her second term,
eviction defense, which failed.
HOUSE DISTRICT 8 Sirota serves on
the House Energy
Jeffrey Kennedy Crowe, Libertarian
ABOUT THE DISTRICT & Environment and
ballotpedia.org/jeffrey_crowe
Located in Denver, including North Capitol State, Veterans &
About Crowe: No website, biographical
Hill, Park Hill, Clayton, Whittier, City Park and Military Affairs Committee. She was the
information unknown.
Five Points east of Downing. most partisan lawmaker in 2019, the only
lawmaker in the General Assembly whose
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Population: 84,937 bills had only Democratic co-sponsors. That
Households: 39,154 included the National Popular Vote law that
Median Household Income: $63,786 voters will review in November. In 2020, she
Median Age: 34.9 Over 65: 11% reached out across the aisle, including a law
Poverty Rate: 13.5% requiring Holocaust and genocide studies
Racial breakdown: 63% white; 16% Hispan- in public high schools and support for early
Top donors: No reported contributions; has
ic; 15% Black; 2% Asian childhood educators. She also has spon-
failed to file his last six required campaign
sored bills on imposing campaign finance
finance reports.
Voter breakdown limits, a failed effort in 2020 on school
board candidates and a successful one on
56% Dem 6% GOP 37% UAF county candidates.
THE CANDIDATE
Wes Pinchot, Libertarian
Leslie Herod,
ballotpedia.rrg/wes_pinchot
Top donors: Four donors at the $400 level: Democrat
About Pinchot: A software engineer,
David Brittain, Jennifer Laird, Robert leslieherodforcolorado.
Pinchot does not have a website and his
Lowdermick and Valerie Chandler, all of com
positions are unknown.
Denver. About Herod: Running
unopposed for her
Cash breakdown/Top donors
third term in the House,
Herod is chair of House
Finance, the joint
Committee on Legal Services and vice-chair
Top donors: Already a declared candidate of Judiciary. Her passions include criminal
for HD6 when he was appointed, Woodrow and social justice, and she’s a leader in the
Top donors: Pipefitters local 208 ($500),
has put $30,500 of his own money into his Black Lives Matter movement in Denver.
attorneys Frank Azar and daughter
campaign. Other donors: Southwest Regional Legislation includes laws to prohibit housing
Margeaux Azar ($400 each) and Pat Stryker
Council of Carpenters ($2,675), Colorado discrimination based on income source,
($400).
Medical Society ($1,000) and Colorado the CROWN Act, a law on prison population
Education Association ($1,000). reduction and a law restoring voting rights
to parolees.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. This one’s likely to be a Cash breakdown/Top donors
landslide; Hansen ran unopposed in 2018
Top donors: Has contributed $3,000 to his
and 2016.
campaign, the largest donation to date.
Other donors: Fred Wulff of Denver ($400)
HOUSE DISTRICT 7 and John and Judith Case of Denver ($400
each).
Top donors: Denver firefighters small donor
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
($4,000), COPIC small donor ($2,000), SEIU
Located in Denver, including DIA, Green Val-
small donor ($1,949) and Colorado Medical
ley Ranch, Central Park (formerly Stapleton),
Society small donor ($1,000).
Montbello. This is an open seat; current
Democratic Rep. James Rashad Coleman is
running for the state Senate. COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has yet
Safe Democrat. to report any campaign contributions.
Population: 104,915
Households: 31,477 HOUSE DISTRICT 9 COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Median Household Income: $75,237 Safe Democrat. Sirota won the HD9 seat in
Median Age: 32.3 Over 65: 6% ABOUT THE DISTRICT 2018 with 73% of the vote.
Poverty Rate: 11.5% Located in Denver and a small portion of
Racial breakdown: 41% Hispanic; 30% Arapahoe County, including Glendale, Univer-
white; 21% Black; 4% Asian sity Hills, Southmoor and Hampden.
Voter breakdown Population: 86,627
Households: 42,180
51% Dem 9% GOP 39% UAF Median Household Income: $59,437
Median Age: 35.9 Over 65: 15%
Poverty Rate: 10.1%
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 31

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

HOUSE DISTRICT 10 Voter breakdown climate change, such as requiring 24/7 ic-leaning business chamber. She favors paid
air-quality monitoring at all drilling sites, family and medical leave, testified in favor
37% Dem 19% GOP 43% UAF paid for by the oil and gas industry. She also of the red flag law in 2019, and supports bold
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in central Boulder, including the favors a public option for healthcare. action on climate change.
THE CANDIDATES
University of Colorado-Boulder campus. Mark Milliman,
Population: 83,878 Eric J. Davila, Republican James E. “Jed” Gilman, Libertarian
Republican
Households: 33,538 ballotpedia.org/eric_davila ballotpedia.org/james_gilman
millimanforco.com
Median Household Income: $66,850 About Davila: He has no website and About Gilman: This is Gilman’s second try
About Milliman: A
Median Age: 30.1 Over 65: 11% biographic information is unknown. at state office; he ran for SD16 in 2018. In a
first-time candidate for
Poverty Rate: 17.9% July 28 Facebook interview, he said he fears
state office, Milliman is
Racial breakdown: 78% white; 12% Hispan- Cash breakdown/Top donors government overreach and that the state
an electrical engineer.
ic; 6% Asian; 1% Black government “fudged” the numbers on the
His website does not list
COVID-19 pandemic. He also stated politics
a bio or his positions,
Voter breakdown should not interfere with “family values.”
but he told the Longmont Times-Call in April
He marched in support of the C&C Coffee
52% Dem 8% GOP 39% UAF that he believes the House lacks ideological
Company in Castle Rock, which defied public
diversity. He is interested in boosting state
Top donors: Colorado Education Association health orders in May.
THE CANDIDATES efforts in transportation and telecommunica-
($2,500), Colorado Medical Society small
Edie Hooton, tions. Milliman was a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed
donor ($2,000), Colorado firefighters small Cash breakdown/Top donors
Democrat in July against the state, Fort Collins, Boulder
donor ($2,000).
ediehooton.com and Larimer counties over the mask mandate,
About Hooton: She is along with HD52 candidate Donna Walter.
majority caucus chair,
vice-chair of the House Karen McCormick,
Energy & Environment Democrat
Top donors: Thomas Roche of Greeley
committee and also karenforco.com
Top donors: Davila has not reported any ($400), Boulder GOP ($225) and Bob
serves on the House About McCormick: Dr.
campaign contributions. Bergstrom of Longmont ($200).
Local Government Committee. She is running McCormick is a veteri-
for her third term. Hooton’s legislation has narian and a volunteer
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
focused on mobile home tenant rights. She English teacher with
Safe Democrat. Jaquez Lewis, a first-time
also sponsored the legislation allowing those Longmont’s immigrant
candidate in 2018, won the seat with 74% of
on the autism spectrum to take medical community. She’s also
the vote.
marijuana, a bill vetoed by then-Gov. John affiliated with the Citizen’s Climate Lobby,
Top donors: Colorado firefighters ($4,000),
Hickenlooper but approved by Gov. Polis. which advocates for mitigation of climate
the Colorado Education Association ($2,500),
change, a popular issue in the district that HOUSE DISTRICT 13 Boulder Valley Education small donor
Kenneth J. Stickney, has seen massive floods and numerous
($2,000).
Republican wildfires in the past decade. ABOUT THE DISTRICT
ken4hd10.org Located in western Boulder and western
About Stickney: Active Boulder County, including Eldorado Springs;
in the Boulder GOP, Cash breakdown/Top donors Nederland and Jamestown; as well as Gilpin
Stickney is making his (Central City), Grand (Winter Park, Krem-
first run for statewide mling), Jackson (Walden) and Clear Creek Top donors: Similar to most Libertarians,
office. He’s a long-time (Georgetown and Idaho Springs) counties. Gilman has not reported any contributions.
Boulder resident who This is an open seat, represented by the
favors TABOR, is opposed to gun control, Top donors: Milliman has put $307 into his term-limited Speaker of the House, KC COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
including the red flag law, and in favor of campaign, the largest donation to date. His Becker. This House district, more than any Safe Democrat. Becker ran unopposed in
energy independence. only other donor: Boulder County GOP ($225). other, mixes urban and rural community 2016 and beat Sipple with 73% of the vote
interests as well as political ideology. Dem- in 2018.
Cash breakdown/Top donors ocrats in Boulder County dominate in voter
registration, while Republicans lead in Grand
and Jackson counties, although with much HOUSE DISTRICT 14
Top donors: Colorado firefighters small smaller population numbers.
donor ($4,000), the Colorado Education ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Top donors: Hooton has put $59,050 into Association ($2,500) and Boulder Valley Population: 79,764 Located in northern El Paso County,
her campaign account in the 2020 election Education small donor ($2,425). Households: 33,496 including east of the Air Force Academy and
cycle. Other donors: the Boulder Valley Median Household Income: $74,078 Chapel Hills Mall.
Education Association small donor ($1,000) COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Median Age: 39.3 Over 65: 15%
and Colorado Medical Society small donor Safe Democrat. Singer won his last two Poverty Rate: 15.8% Population: 89,110
($1,000). races with an average of 63% of the vote. Racial breakdown: 87% white; 7% Hispanic; Households: 31,188
2% Asian; 1% Black Median Household Income: $91,677
Median Age: 34.7 Over 65: 9%
HOUSE DISTRICT 12 Voter breakdown Poverty Rate: 6.1%
Racial breakdown: 78% white; 11% Hispanic;
Top donors: Stickney has put $500 into his
ABOUT THE DISTRICT 41% Dem 17% GOP 40% UAF 4% Asian; 3% Black
Located in eastern Boulder County, including
campaign. Other donors: Chet Winter of eastern Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville. This THE CANDIDATES Voter breakdown
Boulder ($400), Robert Sinton of Boulder is an open seat, held by Rep. Sonya Jaquez Kevin Sipple,
($400) and Stanley Kress of Lafayette ($400). Lewis, who is running for the state Senate. Republican 16% Dem 42% GOP 40% UAF
kevinsipple.com
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Population: 83,281 About Sipple: Sipple is THE CANDIDATES
Safe Democrat. Hooton won her 2018 race Households: 32,350 running for the second John Foley, Democrat
with 87% of the vote. Median Household Income: $84,691 time to represent the foleyforhd14.org
Median Age: 39.8 Over 65: 13% district. A co-founder of About Foley: This is
HOUSE DISTRICT 11 Poverty Rate: 7.9% Eldorado Natural Spring Foley’s first try at state
Racial breakdown: 75% white; 17% Hispan- Water, he now runs office, although he
ABOUT THE DISTRICT ic; 4% Asian; 1% Black Armillary Aviation in Eldorado Springs. His ran for El Paso County
Located in northern Boulder County, platform includes defense of TABOR, support sheriff in 2018. He ad-
including Lyons, Niwot, west Longmont and Voter breakdown for the 2nd Amendment, free-market energy vocates for affordable
Allenspark. This is an open seat, represent- 42% Dem 15% GOP 42% UAF production and school choice. healthcare, “common
sense gun laws” and promoting science for
ed by the term-limited Democratic Rep.
Jonathan Singer. THE CANDIDATES increased vaccine use. Foley is a retired US
Tracey Bernett, Judy Amabile, Army Lt. Colonel, with 27 years of service,
Population: 81,592 Democrat Democrat and deployed four times in Operation Iraqi
Households: 32,024 traceybernett.com judyamabile.com Freedom. He also was involved in some
Median Household Income: $71,616 About Bernett: A About Amabile: Ama- back and forth with a Libertarian candidate
Median Age: 40.9 Over 65: 16% computer industry bile is running for state for HD18, Nathan Foutch, in the wake of
Poverty Rate: 9.9% expert, entrepreneur office for the first time. Black Lives Matter protests in Colorado
Racial breakdown: 75% white; 19% Hispan- and engineer, Bernett She is a co-founder of Springs.
ic; 3% Asian; 1% Black led efforts to revitalize Polar Bottle, a popular
the Butterfly Pavilion. water bottle for outdoor
She’s run 36 marathons. Her issues include recreation, and a founding board member
of Good Business Colorado, a Democrat-
32 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

Shane Sandridge, gun control and free tuition at the state’s THE CANDIDATES Voter breakdown
public colleges and universities. Andres G. Pico,
Republican
shaneforhd14.com Republican
38% Dem 22% GOP 45% UAF
About Sandridge: Run- Dave Williams, pico4colorado16.com
THE CANDIDATES
ning for his second full Republican About Pico: Currently
Thomas “Tony” Exum
term, Sandridge serves daveforcolorado.com representing District 6
Sr., Democrat
on the House Business About Williams: He on the Colorado Springs
tonyexum.com
Affairs & Labor and serves on the House City Council, Pico is a
About Exum: He’s
Finance committees. Business Affairs & first-time candidate
running for his fourth
He is a former police officer and currently Labor and State, Vet- for state office and a
consecutive, and last,
an investment consultant. His bills have fo- erans & Military Affairs retired Naval Flight Officer with 21 years of
term in the House in
cused on social issues, such as anti-abortion Committee. A former active service. He’s also worked as a defense
2020. Exum is vice-chair
and pro gun rights. In 2020, he carried a bill liaison to the Trump campaign, Williams’ contractor. He has served as chair of the
of House Transportation
to prohibit transgender youth from partici- legislative agenda focuses on conservative Colorado Springs Utilities board, and lists
& Local Government and also serves on the
pating in school sports programs designated social issues, such as prohibiting sanctuary utilities governance as among his priorities.
Education committee. Among his bills: fight-
for female athletes. jurisdictions and abortions.
ing for water quality, with laws attempting to
He is vice president of logistics for a manu- Stephanie Vigil,
fix the PFAS water pollution problem in Foun-
David A. Thompson, facturing support services company, and a Democrat
tain and Security-Widefield. Also has laws
Libertarian lightning rod for House Democrats based on stephanievigil.com
under his belt on K-12 and higher education,
ballotpedia.org/david_ sometimes-inflammatory rhetoric. About Vigil: A first-
plus childcare and housing grants, including
thompson_(colorado) time candidate for state
during the pandemic.
About Thompson: Mike McRedmond, office, Vigil supports
A beverage service Libertarian shutting down oil and
Rob Blancken,
technician for PepsiCo, ballotpedia.org/mike_ gas wells and backs
Republican
he is running “to make mcredmond Front Range passenger rail and universal
https://robert4hd17.
the government more About McRedmond: healthcare coverage. She is a “long-time
com/
efficient and less intrusive.” His top issue is He’s a network devel- essential worker” and “survivor of childhood
About Blancken:
to “establish a fair tax system, thus eliminat- opment specialist for trauma, poverty, and disability.”
Making his first run for
ing the IRS.” aerospace company
elected state office,
Boecore. McRedmond ran for Congress in John Carl Hjersman,
Blancken has 35 years
Cash breakdown/Top donors 2016. He has not responded to candidate Libertarian
of experience working
questionnaires on his positions. ballotpedia.org/John_
for Colorado Springs Utilities. He pledges to
Hjersman
focus on transportation, education vouchers
Cash breakdown/Top donors About Hjersman: A
and mental health services. His campaign
Navy Reserve veteran,
manager is Kit Roupe, who represented the
Top donors: Andrew DePaul of Chicago Hjersman is a former
district in 2014 but lost to Exum in 2016 and
($250), Mary Bellesi of Colorado Springs officer of the Colorado
again in 2018.
($200) and Foley ($105). Libertarian Party. Hjers-
man also served as a marine engineer for 44
Susan Quilleash-
Top donors: He has put $500 into his years. This is his third run for HD16.
Nelson, Libertarian
campaign. Other donors: Kevin Dodson of
https://ballotpedia.org/
Rock Island, IL ($100), Marie Venner of Cash breakdown/Top donors
Susan_Quilleash-Nelson
Top donors: Colorado Medical Society small Denver ($100).
About Quilleash-Nel-
donor ($1,000), Apartment Assn. of Metro son: This is Quil-
Denver ($400), Colorado Chamber ($400). leash-Nelson’s fourth
attempt at the HD17
seat. She spent 22 years as a combat engi-
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000),
neer in the Army and is a substitute teacher
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000), Black Hills Corporation ($400), Colorado
in the Widefield School District and an
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners ($1,000), Chamber $400).
author of the sci-fi series “Mootoa’s Moons.”
Thompson has not reported any contribu- Apartment Assn. of Metro Denver ($400).
tions. Cash breakdown/Top donors
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Sandridge won in 2018
with 68% of the vote. Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, small donor ($2,000), American Federation
Top donors: Colorado Democratic Party
McRedmond has not reported any contribu- of Labor small donor ($500) and Martha
HOUSE DISTRICT 15 ($4,000), Colorado firefighters small donor
tions. D’Ambrosio of Colorado Springs ($200).
($4,000), Colorado electrical workers small
donor ($4,000).
ABOUT THE DISTRICT COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Located in El Paso County, eastern Colorado Safe Republican. The district that sent
Springs, including Cimarron Hills, Colorado Douglas Bruce and Gordon Klingenschmitt to
Springs airport and Peterson Air Force Base. the Colorado House doesn’t elect Democrats.
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, he has
Top donors: Blancken has put $1,100 into his
not reported any contributions.
Population: 91,978 HOUSE DISTRICT 16 campaign. Other donors: Coloradans for
Households: 31,632 Colorado, which backs Republican House
Median Household Income: $74,869 COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
ABOUT THE DISTRICT candidates ($1,000), Pikes Peak Firearms
Median Age: 32 Over 65: 9% Safe Republican. Liston won his last two
Located in El Paso County, the district is small donor ($500).
Poverty Rate: 6.1% contests with an average of 63% of the vote.
based in north Colorado Springs, including
Racial breakdown: 68% white; 16% Hispan- the CU-Colorado Springs campus. This is an
ic; 7% Black; 3% Asian open seat; Republican Rep. Larry Liston is HOUSE DISTRICT 17
running for the state Senate.
Voter breakdown ABOUT THE DISTRICT Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not
19% Dem 37% GOP 41% UAF Population: 84,220
Households: 33,637
Located in El Paso County, south Colorado
Springs, including the neighborhoods of
reported any contributions.

THE CANDIDATES Median Household Income: $55,539 Stratmoor Hills and Kelker. The intersection COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
John Pyne IV, Median Age: 35.5 Over 65: 16% of US Highway 24 and Colorado 83 bisect the Safe Democrat. Democratic-leaning
Democrat Poverty Rate: 11.7% district. This district has bounced between independent expenditure committees are
www.johnforhd15.com Racial breakdown: 72% white; 16% Hispan- Democrat and Republican several times in already spending to support Exum.
About Pyne: A self-de- ic; 6% Black; 2% Asian the past decade.
scribed “Democratic
Voter breakdown Population: 83,485
HOUSE DISTRICT 18
Socialist,” Pyne is
Households: 30,552
making his first run for 21% Dem 35% GOP 41% UAF Median Household Income: $41,517
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
state office. He notes Located in El Paso County, from Manitou
on his website that “I Median Age: 29.3 Over 65: 9%
Springs to downtown Colorado Springs,
work an underpaid job just to have health Poverty Rate: 25.2%
including Colorado College.
insurance and can’t find affordable housing Racial breakdown: 43% white; 36% Hispan-
because of crushing student debt,” and says ic; 12% Black; 3% Asian
Population: 82,530
he will advocate for environmental justice, Households: 38,412
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 33

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

Median Household Income: $45,090 Population: 88,606 issues is privacy, whether for consumers with the El Paso GOP to run for the seat. Her
Median Age: 39 Over 65: 16% Households: 30,095 or those who work in public agencies. She’s issues include affordable housing, mental
Poverty Rate: 16.1% Median Household Income: $103,429 also passed laws on wildfire mitigation, giv- health and public safety, support for busi-
Racial breakdown: 75% white; 15% Hispan- Median Age: 40.8 Over 65: 13% en that her district’s residents include those ness, limited government and local control.
ic; 4% Black; 2% Asian Poverty Rate: 4.8% in Waldo Canyon. Carver also carried laws on
Racial breakdown: 82% white; 9% Hispanic; human trafficking training for law enforce- Liz Rosenbaum,
Voter breakdown 3% Black; 2% Asian ment and to assist veterans with a variety Democrat
of services, including business, career and lizrosenbaum.com
30% Dem 25% GOP 43% UAF Voter breakdown property taxes. About Rosenbaum:
This is Rosenbaum’s
THE CANDIDATES 12% Dem 49% GOP 37% UAF Meg Fossinger, second run for the HD21
Marc Snyder,
Democrat seat. She’s the founder
Democrat THE CANDIDATES
megforcolorado.com of the Fountain Valley
snyderforcolorado.com Tim Geitner,
About Fossinger: This Clean Water Coalition
About Snyder: First Republican
is Fossinger’s first run and has been recognized as a rising star
elected in 2018, Snyder timforhd19.com
for state office. She is a in the Democratic Party. Not surprisingly,
is an attorney and About Geitner:
social worker and cites she lists cleaning up the PFAS problem in
serves on the House Running for his second
among her interests Fountain Valley as one of her issues, but she
Business Affairs & term, Geitner serves on
reducing K-12 class size, better teacher pay, also supports paid leave, renewable energy
Labor and Finance the House Education
climate change as it relates to wildfire, and and more funding for K-12 education.
committees and on the Committee on Legal and Energy & Environ-
healthcare reform.
Services. His bills have included tax exemp- ment committees. He
Michael Seebeck,
tions in lodging, energy use, agriculture and is an Army veteran who was deployed in
Judy Darcy, Libertarian Libertarian
alcohol. Afghanistan and is a volunteer with Exodus
fb.me/darcycohd20 ballotpedia.org/Mi-
Road, which combats human trafficking. His
About Darcy: Her second run for HD20 chael_Seebeck
George M. Rapko, legislation has included a law on patient
Darcy pledges to “repeal laws and take About Seebeck: This
Republican visitation rights during the pandemic and
power from government. Government is too is Seebeck’s second
georgerapko4hd18.com correcting the definition of a police working
big. Free people don’t have rulers.” run for HD21. He is a
About Rapko: A first- horse, designed to prevent animal abuse.
former vice-chair of
time candidate for state
Cash breakdown/Top donors the Libertarian Party of
office, Rapko is a 16- Joe Thompson,
California. Seebeck is a software engineer
year veteran of the US Democrat
with Northrop Grumman. Other than support
Air Force. He is against facebook.com/
for expanded mail voting, his positions are
one-party control of state government. He JoeThompsonforHD19/
unknown.
also is involved in the sturm-und-drang in About Thompson: A
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000),
the El Paso GOP. In a Ballotpedia question, first-time candidate for
Realtor small donor ($1,500), Colorado Cash breakdown/Top donors
Rapko said he believes in transparency and state office, Thompson
Medical Society small donor ($1,000).
representing HD18 from the district, not advocates for fair wag-
from the statehouse. es, lower housing costs, universal health-
care, affordable education and the wealthy
Nathan Foutch, Libertarian paying their fair share.
ballotpedia.org/Nathan_Foutch
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000), 11
About Foutch: A first-time candidate for Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado electrical workers contributions at the $400 level and contri-
state office, Foutch caught flak over an
small donor ($2,000), Cruz Klein of Colorado butions from political action committees run
exchange with a candidate in HD14 in June
Springs ($400), Fossinger Bookkeeping by Landgraf, Rep. Colin Larson of Littleton,
regarding a Black Lives Matter protest.
($400). Sens. Paul Lundeen of Monument and Bob
He advocates for full decriminalization of
Gardner of Colorado Springs. Also has con-
scheduled substances, reducing property Top donors: COPIC ($2,000), Black Hills
tributions from Rep. Larry Liston of Colorado
taxes and letting people make their own ($400), Colorado Chamber ($400).
Springs and former Speaker of the House
choices about COVID-19.
Frank McNulty.
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not
Cash breakdown/Top donors
reported any contributions
Top donors: Has not reported any contribu-
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
tions.
Safe Republican. Carver has never had
a close general election contest; she ran Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS unopposed in 2014 and won in 2016 and 2018 small donor ($4,000), Kathleen Ricler of
Top donors: Realtor small donor ($5,350), Safe Republican. Geitner won in 2018 with with an average of 63% of the vote. Colorado Springs ($400) and Gary Bechan of
Colorado firefighters small donor ($4,000), 75.9% of the vote. Colorado Springs ($266.60)
COPIC small donor ($4,000).
HOUSE DISTRICT 20 HOUSE DISTRICT 21
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
ABOUT THE DISTRICT Located in southern El Paso County, includ-
Located in El Paso County north of Colorado ing the Fort Carson Army Base, Fountain
Springs, including Garden of the Gods, the Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not
Top donors: Gail Rapko of Media, PA ($200), Valley and Security-Widefield. This is an open
US Air Force Academy, Cascade, Palmer Lake reported any contributions.
John Pitchford of Colorado Springs ($200) seat, represented by term-limited Republi-
and Waldo Canyon. can Rep. Lois Landgraf.
and former Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
($100).
Population: 80,089 Safe Republican. Landgraf backed Bradfield
Population: 88,135
Households: 31,408 in her primary against Ray Garcia, and has
Households: 26,455
Median Household Income: $72,831 won the district handily every time. And
Median Household Income: $63,160
Median Age: 38 Over 65: 17% while Rosenbaum may be a rising star in
Median Age: 28.4 Over 65: 7%
Poverty Rate: 9.8% the Democratic party, the party has not yet
Poverty Rate: 9%
Racial breakdown: 79% white: 11% Hispanic; stepped up to support her financially.
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not Racial breakdown: 61% white; 20% Hispan-
3% Asian; 3% Black ic; 10% Black; 3% Asian
reported any contributions.
Voter breakdown
HOUSE DISTRICT 22
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Voter breakdown
Safe Democrat. Snyder won with 57% of 21% Dem 39% GOP 39% UAF 22% Dem 32% GOP 44% UAF ABOUT THE DISTRICT
the vote in 2018. This is a traditional Demo- Located in south-central Jefferson County,
cratic stronghold. THE CANDIDATES the district includes Columbine High School.
THE CANDIDATES
Terri Carver, Mary Bradfield,
Republican Population: 78,831
HOUSE DISTRICT 19 terricarver.org
Republican
Households: 29,896
marybradfield.com
About Carver: Running Median Household Income: $95,487
ABOUT THE DISTRICT About Bradfield: This
for her fourth and final Median Age: 41.7 Over 65: 15%
By land mass, a huge district. Covers eastern is Bradfield’s first
term in the House, Poverty Rate: 4.2%
El Paso County, from the Douglas County run for state office,
Carver serves on the Racial breakdown: 85% white; 10% Hispan-
line to the Pueblo County line, including although she’s been
House Judiciary and ic; 3% Asian; 1% Black
Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, Peyton, involved in GOP politics
Transportation & Local in El Paso County for
Calhan and Yoder. Also includes Schriever
Government committees. One of her key years. She resigned her vice-chair position
Air Force Base.
34 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
Voter breakdown
24% Dem 33% GOP 42% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Mary Parker,
Democrat
parkerforcolorado.com
About Parker: This
is Parker’s fourth try
for HD22 since 2012,
including running as an
unaffiliated candidate
in 2016. She is a small
business owner and systems engineer. Park-
er is pro-choice, believes in more funding for
public education and higher education, and
supports renewable energy.
Colin Larson,
Republican
colinforcolorado.com
About Larson: Running
for his second term,
Larson survived a
brutal primary against
former state Rep. Justin
Everett with the sup-
port of strong spending from independent
expenditure committees. He serves on the
House Education and the Public Health Care
& Human Services committees. Larson has
been a go-to on major bipartisan legislation,
including 2020’s HB 1001, upping the age
for tobacco purchases to 18, and an effort
with Assistant House Majority leader Chris
Kennedy on changing the law around county
commissioner redistricting, which failed.
His name has come up as a candidate for
Assistant House Minority Leader, should he
win his November election.
Margot Herzel,
Libertarian
margotherzl.com
About Herzl: Her
first run for statewide
elected office, Herzel
is a private music
teacher and works in a
pediatric dental office.
She believes in ending “political violence,”
including in discourse; requiring lawmakers
to read every bill introduced and reducing
the use of the safety clause.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
small donor ($4,000), state firefighters small
donor ($2,00), Jeffco Education Association
small donor ($1,000).
Top donors: Apartment Assn. of Metro
Denver small donor ($2,675) and $400 from
its political action committee; Colorado
Medical Society small donor ($2,000) COPIC
small donor ($2,000)
Top donors: Herzl is one of the few
Libertarian candidates running for the
General Assembly to take in campaign
contributions. Donors: Patrician McMahon of
Littleton ($500), Parker ($155) and Tom
Conwell of Conifer ($100).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Despite the intra-party
struggles, this is still a safe Republican seat.
HOUSE DISTRICT 23
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in central Jefferson County, includ-
ing north Lakewood and Green Mountain.
Population: 82,132
Households: 36,310
Median Household Income: $61,650
Median Age: 39.4 Over 65: 16%
Poverty Rate: 9.7%
Racial breakdown: 72% white; 21% Hispan-
ic; 3% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
34% Dem 21% GOP 43% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Chris Kennedy,
Democrat
kennedy4co.com
About Kennedy: Cur-
rently Assistant House
Majority Leader, Ken-
nedy is running for his
third term. He serves
on House Appropri-
ations and is chair of the House State, Veter-
ans & Military Affairs Committee. In 2020,
he sponsored the public option bill, which
failed, but he’s also interested in election
issues, such as the county commissioner
gerrymandering bill he carried with Larson
in 2020 and in healthcare transparency and
accountability.
Fred Clifford,
Republican
fredclifford.com
About Clifford: His first
run for statewide office,
Clifford is a machinist
and tool maker. His
issues include educa-
tional choice, enforcing
the law and defending TABOR.
Doug Anderson, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Doug_Anderson_(Colorado)
About Anderson: This is his second run for
the House in the past 20 years. Anderson
was elected twice to Lakewood City Council
as a Libertarian and was the first Libertarian
ever elected to office in a major city (Denver
Election Commission, 1987).
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado firefighters small
donor ($4,000), Healthier Colorado small
donor ($3,000), United Food & Commercial
Workers (UFCW) Active Ballot Club Education
Fund ($2,500).
Top donors: Foothills Republicans ($400),
Ben Engen of Arvada ($400), Davie
Wiechman of Lakewood ($400).
Top donors: Like most Libertarians,
Anderson has not reported any contribu-
tions.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Kennedy won in 2018 with
nearly 63% of the vote.
HOUSE DISTRICT 24 in 2016. Her then-12-year-old son, Weston,
became a nationwide media darling for his
enthusiastic support for the then-presiden-
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in central Jefferson County, includ- tial candidate. Laurel Imer is a small busi-
ing Wheat Ridge, Golden and Applewood. ness owner and clinic manager for a small
employer solutions company. She believes
Population: 81,473 in school choice, defense of TABOR and has
Households: 33,574 endorsements from former state Rep. Tim
Median Household Income: $65,829 Leonard and former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo.
Median Age: 37.8 Over 65: 16%
Poverty Rate: 13% Cash breakdown/Top donors
Racial breakdown: 79% white; 15% Hispan-
ic; 2% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
34% Dem 21% GOP 43% UAF
Top donors: Colorado firefighters small
donor ($4,000), Colorado electrical workers
small donor ($4,000), Colorado Education
THE CANDIDATES Association ($2,750).
Monica Duran,
Democrat
monicaduran.com
About Duran: Running
for her second term,
Top donors: Her top three contributions all
Duran serves on the
exceed the state limit for individual
Legislative Council as
donations: Trevor McManus of Golden ($800
well as on House Busi-
in non-monetary contributions), Bonnie
ness Affairs & Labor and
O’Meara ($800) of Broomfield, Brian O’Meara
State, Veterans & Military Affairs commit-
($800) of Broomfield.
tees. She works in the dental industry. Duran
was a sponsor of gun control legislation COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
in 2020 on safe storage of firearms. She
Safe Democrat. Duran won her first race in
also has carried bills on dental services for
2018 with 63% of the vote.
low-income pregnant women, and a foster
youth sibling bill of rights.
HOUSE DISTRICT 26
Laurel Imer,
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Republican
laurelimer.com Located in Eagle and Routt counties, includ-
ing Eagle, Vail, Gypsum, Steamboat Springs.
About Imer: Her first
run for state office,
Population: 79,231
Imer was Jeffco chair
for the Trump campaign Households: 27,302
RACE TO WATCH
Donald Rosier,
HOUSE DISTRICT 25 Republican
donaldrosier.com
ABOUT THE DISTRICT About Rosier: A former
Located in western Jefferson County, Jeffco commissioner,
including a small portion of Littleton and this is Rosier’s first run
Ken Caryl, but this is mostly a mountain for the General Assem-
district. Includes Evergreen, Genesee, Conifer, bly. He was a candidate
Morrison. Runs north to the Jeffco-Boulder for the U.S. Senate in
county line and south to the Jeffco-Douglas 2016 but failed to make the primary ballot.
county line. Rosier resigned his commissioner seat to be-
come general manager for the Douglas Coun-
Population: 80,251 ty Sterling Ranch development, which ended
Households: 31,386 after six months. A civil engineer, he is now
Median Household Income: $111,733 a consultant and runs an organic farm in his
Median Age: 46 Over 65: 17% spare time. His legislative priorities include
Poverty Rate: 4% funding for transportation and infrastructure
Racial breakdown: 89% white; 7% Hispanic; needs, increasing teacher pay and imposing
2% Asian; 1% Black “fiscal restraint” on state lawmakers.
Voter breakdown Cash breakdown/Top donors
26% Dem 30% GOP 43% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Lisa A. Cutter, Top donors: Colorado Democratic Party
Democrat
($12,500), Colorado Springs firefighters small
cutterforcolorado.com donor ($4,000), Colorado electrical workers
About Cutter: Cutter,
small donor ($4,000).
part of the 2018 “blue
wave,” became the
first Democrat in state
history to represent the
district. She is a public Top donors: CARE small donor ($2,500),
relations consultant and serves on the House Colorado Chamber small donor ($1,000) and
Education and Public Health Care & Human NAIOP (commercial real estate) small donor
Services Committees. She has been among
($1,000).
the most successful lawmakers; all of her
bills in 2019 were signed into law, including a
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
media literacy curriculum for public educa- Leans Democrat. Cutter won by 5% of the
tion and a law on Strategic Lawsuits Against
vote in 2018 over a last-minute replacement
Public Participation (SLAPPs), seen as a way Republican candidate. Democratic-leaning
for corporations to stifle citizen activism. independent expenditure committees are
She also was a sponsor of several COVID-19
expected to put big dollars into holding the
relief laws in 2020. seat in her favor.

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
Median Household Income: $80,461
Median Age: 37.3 Over 65: 11%
Poverty Rate: 8.2%
Racial breakdown: 74% white; 23% Hispan-
ic; 1% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
29% Dem 22% GOP 47% UAF
THE CANDIDATE
Dylan Roberts,
Democrat
dylanroberts.org
About Roberts:
Running for his second
term in the House,
Roberts is a deputy
district attorney in
Eagle County and in
his first term carried some of the biggest
bills in the Democrats’ agenda, including
reinsurance (which became law), the public
option (which didn’t), modifications to rural
jump-start zoning (law) and several bills on
water. He also became the first Democrat
to sponsor legislation intended to fix the
state’s long-troubled conservation easement
program, which went by the wayside in the
wake of the COViD-19 pandemic. He is chair
of the House Rural Affairs & Agriculture
Committee, serves on House Judiciary and is
vice-chair of Capital Development.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado Education Association
($2,000), Colorado electrical workers small
donor ($2,000), COPIC small donor ($2,000).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Roberts is running unop-
posed.
HOUSE DISTRICT 28
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in central Jeffco, including Lake-
wood and Belmar.
Population: 82,512
Households: 33,327
Median Household Income: $69,605
Median Age: 37.9 Over 65: 15%
Poverty Rate: 9%
Racial breakdown: 67% white; 25% Hispan-
ic; 4% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
34% Dem 22% GOP 41% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Kerry Tipper,
Democrat
kerrytipper.com
About Tipper: Running
for her second term
in the House, Tipper
serves on the House
Health & Environ-
ment and Judiciary
committees. She is also a Uniform Law
Commissioner, along with Sen. Bob Gardner.
In 2020, she carried the controversial law
requiring inmates in Colorado prisons to
be counted in their last known place of
residence, rather than in the counties in
which they are housed. A Tipper bill passed
in 2019 also allows local governments to reg-
ulate nicotine. Tipper, a lawyer and former
Assistant Attorney General, is expecting her
first child in October, a girl, and will be the
second Lakewood lawmaker to give birth in
2020, following Sen. Brittany Pettersen, who
represented the same House district before
Tipper. Something in the water?
Pedro “Pete” Roybal,
Republican
ballotpedia.org/Pe-
dro_Roybal
About Roybal: Pres-
ident of the board of
the Lakewood Veterans
Foundation, Roybal
recently finished eight
years on Lakewood City Council. He was
a last-minute replacement on the ballot
when Marijane Paulsen withdrew after the
deadline for withdrawing had passed. Votes
for Paulsen in the June 30, 2020, primary
election went to Roybal. He has no campaign
website so his position on the issues is
unknown.
Amara Hildebrand, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Amara_Hildebrand
About Hildebrand: She’s a partner with
Eugene Lynne, a land surveying and civil
engineering firm. She has 23 years experi-
ence in private and public land development
consulting, including eight years working on
RTD’s FasTracks project. Hildebrand has no
campaign website and her positions on the
issues are unknown.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
small donor ($4,000), COPIC small donor
($2,400), Colorado firefighters small donor
($2,000).
Top donors: David Wiechman ($400),
Foothills GOP ($400), Robert Blackwell
($400). In 2012, Roybal was fined $1,575 for
accepting a $2,000 loan from Wiechman for
his city council race. (Only banks can loan
money to candidates under state law).
Top donors: Like most Libertarians,
Hildebrand has not reported any contribu-
tions.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Tipper won in 2018 with
58.7% of the vote against a Republican can-
didate who showed little interest in the race.
HOUSE DISTRICT 29
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in north Jeffco, including Arvada,
Standley Lake and western Westminster. This
is an open seat, represented by term-limited
Democratic Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp.
Population: 78,098
Households: 30,901
Median Household Income: $74,972
Median Age: 38.2 Over 65: 13%
Poverty Rate: 6.7%
Racial breakdown: 73% white; 18% Hispan-
ic; 5% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
32% Dem 23% GOP 44% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Lindsey N. Daugherty,
Democrat
lindseyforcolorado.com
About Daugherty: An
attorney, Daugherty is
a first-time candidate
for state office. She
has worked in the
October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 35
RACE TO WATCH Advocates for Children) of Jefferson and
Gilpin Counties. She also has extensive volun-
HOUSE DISTRICT 27 teer experience. Pyne lists a variety of issues
tied to COVID-19 on her agenda, including
ABOUT THE DISTRICT safe reopening of businesses and schools,
Located in north Jeffco, including Arvada and as well as support to reduce costs for small
business health care.
Rocky Flats.
Population: 86,851 Cory Schaeffer, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Cory_Schaeffer
Households: 34,668
About Schaeffer: This is Schaeffer’s first run
Median Household Income: $86,622
for state office. He is a principal consultant
Median Age: 41.1 Over 65: 17%
for Configure LLC, and CEO of NexESS Analyt-
Poverty Rate: 5.3%
ics. He also is a voice actor. Shaeffer has no
Racial breakdown: 83% white; 11% Hispanic;
website regarding his political ambitions so
2% Asian; 1% Black
his positions are unknown.
Voter breakdown
Cash breakdown/Top donors
28% Dem 29% GOP 42% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Brianna Titone,
Democrat Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
briannaforcolorado.com small donor ($4,000), Colorado Education
About Titone: Titone Association ($4,000), Conservation Colorado
was part of the 2018 ($3,000).
“blue wave,” the first
Democrat elected to
represent HD27 and Col-
orado’s first transgender
lawmaker. Now running for her second term,
Titone serves on House Health & Insurance, Top donors: Her own contributions ($4,898),
Rural Affairs & Agriculture, and on the Joint Coloradans for Colorado ($1,001) and
Technology Committee. She’s a geologist and Colorado Chamber small donor ($500).
software engineer. Her laws included one on
price-gouging in response to the pandemic,
and perhaps the most interesting bill of 2020,
to allow natural organic reduction of human
remains, aka human composting, which died
in the wake of the pandemic. Top donors: Like most Libertarians,
Schaeffer has not reported any contribu-
Vicki Pyne, Republican tions.
vickipyneforhd27.com
About Pyne: This is COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Pyne’s second try for Leans Democrat. This is a rematch of the
HD27, after losing a 2018 contest, when Titone won by 439 votes.
close race to Titone in But Democratic-leaning independent expen-
2018. She is a program diture committees are expected to spend big
director for CASA here to support Titone.
(Court-Appointed Special
Obama administration and for Democratic Top donors: Colorado Education Association
Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. She advocates for ($5,000), Colorado electrical workers small
more school funding and reduced class size, donor ($4,000), trial lawyers small donor
job creation and small business support, ($4,000).
affordable housing and healthcare and
abortion rights.
Vanessa Warren-
DeMott, Republican
demottforcolorado.com Top donors: She’s put $495 into her
About Warren-DeMott: campaign in non-monetary support. Other
DeMott is a first-time donors: 11 donors at $400, including Foothills
candidate for state GOP, Jake Jabs and the National Federation
office. She is a recent of Independent Business (Washington, D.C.).
college graduate,
persevering for decades
after failing to graduate from high school
when she was younger. She advocates for
“realistic discussion about school culture
and choice” as it relates to violence and Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not
bullying; and for solutions for transportation reported any contributions, although he did
funding. report spending $811.
Ryan Van Gundy, Libertarian COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
ballotpedia.org/Ryan_Van_Gundy Safe Democrat. Democratic-leaning
About Van Gundy: Also a first-time candi- independent expenditure committees are
date for state office, Van Gundy served in already spending to support Daugherty.
the Navy for six years, and has worked as
an information technology system engineer.
He cites among his agenda stopping human HOUSE DISTRICT 30
trafficking, improving education, working on
homelessness and taxation, and reducing ABOUT THE DISTRICT
the size of government. Located in eastern Adams County, including
Henderson, Barr Lake, Front Range Airport
Cash breakdown/Top donors and Manila (site of the long-abandoned dog
track).
36 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

Population: 92,199 Median Age: 33.3 Over 65: 9%
Households: 28,273 Poverty Rate: 8.5% Tony Caputo, Mindy Quiachon,
Median Household Income: $67,545 Racial breakdown: 56% white; 36% Hispan- Republican Republican
Median Age: 32.2 Over 65: 7% ic; 4% Asian; 2% Black tonycforhd32.com mindyforcolorado.com
Poverty Rate: 13% About Caputo: A About Quiachon: A
Racial breakdown: 42% white; 40% Hispan- Voter breakdown first-time candidate first-time candidate for
ic; 6% Asian; 8% Black for state office,Caputo state office, Quiachon is
33% Dem 21% GOP 44% UAF is a native of Italy who a small business owner.
Voter breakdown was born to an unwed She supports school
THE CANDIDATE
mother and placed in a choice, “free market options” for health
34% Dem 21% GOP 43% UAF Yadira Caraveo,
Milan orphanage when he was 8 days old. He care and improving transportation, including
Democrat
was adopted at age 4 in 1957 and moved to advocating for the long-delayed light rail
THE CANDIDATES caraveoforcolorado.com
Trinidad. He has had a varied work life as a line to Boulder.
Kerrie Gutierrez, About Caraveo: She’s
tailor, home health aide and pastor, although
Republican running for a second
now largely retired. He supports TABOR and Cash breakdown/Top donors
kerriegutierrezhd30. term. Caraveo is a
Proposition 117 (enterprise fees), parental
com pediatrician and is
choice for education and is anti-abortion.
About Gutierrez: This vice-chair of the House
is her first run for state Health & Insurance
Jason Chapman, Libertarian
office. Gutierrez was a Committee, and also serves on the House
ballotpedia.org/Jason_Chapman
legislative aide in 2017 Public Health Care & Human Services
About Chapman: He has no campaign Top donors: Colorado Education Association
for Sen. Kevin Priola Committee. She sponsored the 2020 law
website and his biographical information is ($3,750), Apartment Assn. of Metro Denver
of Henderson, and she also has worked at that put Proposition EE on the ballot, to hike
unknown. small donor ($2,675), Colorado Apartment
Denver International Airport as part of the taxes for tobacco, establish taxes on vaping
Assn. small donor $2,500).
management team for the Ambassador products, and use the money for preschool
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Program and Passenger services. She also education. In 2019, along with Rep. Susan
has worked on a variety of Republican Lontine, co-sponsored the law modifying
campaigns, including 2008 McCain/Palin, state’s sex education curriculum for public
2012 Romney/Ryan, and the 2016 Trump/ schools.
Pence campaign, as well as for Priola’s run
Top donors: Broomfield County GOP
for SD25. She supports adequate funding for Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado Education Association ($5,000), and six individual donors at the
law enforcement, the 2nd Amendment, and
($2,750), Colorado electrical workers small $400 level, including Benny Vagher of
opposes “excessive regulations” that drive
donor ($2,000), Pipefitters local 208 ($1,000). Broomfield, Ernesto Quiachon of Meridian
out oil and gas businesses and jobs.
Charter Township, Michigan, and Rose
Quiachon of Okernos, Michigan.
Dafna Michaelson
Jenet, Democrat Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
dafnaforcolorado.com small donor ($4,000), COPIC small donor
Safe Democrat. Gray won in 2018 with 57%
About Michaelson ($4,000), United Food and Commercial
Top donors: Caputo has put $3,672 into his of the vote in a four-way race.
Jenet: She’s running Workers ($1,500).
campaign, the largest contribution to date.
for a third term in the
Other donors: Adams County GOP ($500),
House. Michaelson Jen- COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Alicia and Carl Jones of Denver ($500). HOUSE DISTRICT 34
et serves as vice chair Safe Democrat. Caraveo is running unop-
of Legislative Audit, and posed.
on House Public Health Care & Human Ser- ABOUT THE DISTRICT
vices and Education committees. In 2020, Located in Adams County, including Thorn-
she led the effort to require Holocaust and HOUSE DISTRICT 32 ton and Northglenn.
genocide education in public schools, and
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not Population: 84,301
sponsored a law allocating COVID-19 funds ABOUT THE DISTRICT reported any contributions. Households: 29,350
for behavioral health, one of her signature Located in Adams County, including Com-
issues. She has carried legislation on health Median Household Income: $61,514
merce City and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
care, including for cancer treatment. She Median Age: 32.7 Over 65: 10%
National Wildlife Refuge. Safe Democrat. Benavidez ran unopposed
also was a co-sponsor of the 2019 bill ban- Poverty Rate: 13%
in 2018 and won with 64% of the vote in Racial breakdown: 52% white; 40% Hispan-
ning conversion therapy for minors. Michael- Population: 85,513 2016. ic; 4% Asian; 2% Black
son Jenet is a two-time cancer survivor who Households: 26,084
tested positive for COVID-19 last March. Median Household Income: $57,327 Voter breakdown
Median Age: 32.5 Over 65: 10% HOUSE DISTRICT 33
Cash breakdown/Top donors Poverty Rate: 16.2% 33% Dem 21% GOP 44% UAF
Racial breakdown: 59% Hispanic; 34% ABOUT THE DISTRICT
white; 2% Asian; 3% Black THE CANDIDATES
Located in Broomfield and Boulder counties,
Kyle Mullica,
including Broomfield, west Erie and Superior.
Voter breakdown Democrat
kylemullica.com
Top donors: Adams County GOP ($500), 40% Dem 15% GOP 43% UAF Population: 90,416
About Mullica: A reg-
Aiesha Spivey of Greenwood Village ($400), Households: 34,926
istered nurse, Mullica
Gary Mikes of Brighton ($400), Jeff Bernatow THE CANDIDATES Median Household Income: $90,002
volunteered to work at
of Commerce city ($400). Adrienne Benavidez, Median Age: 37.5 Over 65: 11%
the Cook County Jail
Democrat Poverty Rate: 4.8%
in Illinois, helping with
facebook.com/benavi- Racial breakdown: 77% white; 11% Hispanic;
one of the nation’s
dezhd32/ 8% Asian; 1% Black
worst early COVID-19 outbreaks. He’s running
About Benavidez: for his second term. Mullica sponsored the
An attorney and a Voter breakdown
2019 and 2020 vaccination bills, getting it
Top donors: Colorado electrical workers firebrand within the 32% Dem 22% GOP 45% UAF to the finish line in the abbreviated 2020
small donor ($4,000), Colorado Education Democratic caucus, season. Mullica also co-sponsored, with Rep.
Association ($2,750), Pipefitters local 208 Benavidez sponsored THE CANDIDATES Adrienne Benavidez, the 2020 law replacing
small donor ($2,175). the 2020 law that eliminated Columbus Day Matt Gray, Democrat Columbus Day with Frances Xavier Cabrini
in favor of Frances Xavier Cabrini Day, which matthewgray.us Day; and HB1001, which raised the age for
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS will be celebrated for the first time on Oct. 5. About Gray: Gray is tobacco sales to 18. He serves on the House
Safe Democrat. Michaelson Jenet has won She also sponsored the 2020 law requiring running for his third Health & Insurance, Public Health Care & Hu-
her two previous races with an average of more notification to local communities when term in the House. man Services committees and on Legislative
56% of the vote. there is a toxic air incident, was the House He is chair of House Council.
co-sponsor of the law to repeal the death Transportation & Local
penalty, and sponsored the 2019 bill prohibit- Government and also Mark Bromley,
HOUSE DISTRICT 31 ing law enforcement from arresting someone serves on the House Fi- Republican
on a civil immigration detainer from ICE. She nance Committee. Gray is an attorney; many vote-bromley.webnode.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT is majority co-whip and serves on the House of his bills focus on tax issues and marijuana com
Located in Adams County, including east Finance and Judiciary committees. Benavi- regulation. He was tapped to be a sponsor of About Bromley: The
Thornton. dez is running for a third term in office. the paid family and medical leave bill in the Adams County GOP
Population: 87,684 2020 session but it never came to fruition. withdrew its support for
Households: 28,663 Bromley after he made
Median Household Income: $75,044 threats against fellow

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
Republicans and other candidates. Bromley
called a home-schooling parent a “home
Hitler,” in a now-deleted Facebook post.
Rob Stutz, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Robert_Stutz_(Colorado)
About Stutz: This is Stutz’ first run for state-
wide elected office. He owns Piping Solutions
in Thornton, but has no campaign website;
positions are unknown.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Realtor small donor ($5,350),
Colorado electrical workers small donor
($4,000), Colorado Education Association
($2,750).
Top donors: Adams County GOP ($500) before
they withdrew their support on July 8; Joel
Propst of Northglenn ($350), Jim & Jayne
Schindler of Thornton ($50).
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, Stutz has
not reported any contributions.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat, even without Bromley’s lack of
endorsement from his own party.
HOUSE DISTRICT 35
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Adams County, includes Westmin-
ster.
Population: 84,700
Households: 31,936
Median Household Income: $68,221
Median Age: 36.4 Over 65: 13%
Poverty Rate: 9.1%
Racial breakdown: 58% white; 32% Hispanic;
5% Asian; 2% Black
Voter breakdown
34% Dem 21% GOP 37% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Shannon Bird, Democrat
shannonbirdforcolorado.
com
About Bird: Running for
her second term in the
House, Bird is vice-chair
of House Finance and also
serves on the Appropria-
tions and Business Affairs
& Labor committees. She’s an attorney and a
former member of Westminster City Council.
Bird’s legislation has focused on affordable
housing and small business recovery from
COVID-19.
Roger Lehman, Republican
rogerlehmancoloradohouse35.com/index.html
About Lehman: A first-time candidate for
state office, Lehman is anti-abortion, pro-2nd
Amendment, favors private property, free
markets, and responsible capitalism, is pro-pa-
rental rights, in favor of school choice and the
freedom to home school.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 37
Top donors: State firefighters small donor
($4,000), Colorado Education Association RACE TO WATCH serves on the House Business Affairs & Labor
($3,750), Colorado electrical workers small and Finance committees.
donor ($2,000). HOUSE DISTRICT 37
Caroline Cornell,
ABOUT THE DISTRICT Republican
Located in Arapahoe County, including Cen- carolineforcolorado.com
tennial, west Greenwood Village, Dove Valley About Cornell: A
Top donors: Lehman has not reported any and Centennial Airport. first-time candidate for
campaign contributions but has spent $47.40. state office, Cornell is a
Population: 84,575 small business owner,
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Households: 29,529 career coach and board
Safe Democrat. Bird won her first election Median Household Income: $109,762 member of Girl Scouts of
with 59.3% of the vote. Median Age: 37.9 Over 65: 10% Colorado. She advocates for transportation
Poverty Rate: 3.2% funding out of existing revenue, protecting
Racial breakdown: 73% white; 10% Hispanic; TABOR and “alternative education programs.”
HOUSE DISTRICT 36 9% Asian; 4% Black
Cash breakdown/Top donors
ABOUT THE DISTRICT Voter breakdown
Located in Arapahoe County, includes eastern 28% Dem 29% GOP 41% UAF
Aurora, Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora Reser-
voir and the Arapahoe County fairgrounds. THE CANDIDATES
Tom Sullivan, Top donors: Colorado Democratic Party
Population: 89,942 Democrat
Households: 29,070 ($7,500), Colorado firefighters small donor
sullivanforcolorado.com ($4,000), Colorado electrical workers small
Median Household Income: $77,339 About Sullivan: Part of
Median Age: 32.9 Over 65: 7% donor ($4,000).
the 2018 “blue wave,”
Poverty Rate: 7.5% Sullivan became the first
Racial breakdown: 47% white; 23% Hispanic; Democrat to represent
17% Black; 8% Asian the district by defeat-
ing Assistant Minority
Voter breakdown Leader Cole Wist. Sullivan is best known for Top donors: Cornell has put $4,998 into her
35% Dem 22% GOP 42% UAF his advocacy on gun rights; his son, Alex, campaign, the largest contribution to date.
was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting Other donors: House District 60 GOP central
THE CANDIDATES in 2012. Sullivan started his first term with committee ($1,000), Coloradans for Colorado
Dustin Bishop, co-sponsorship of the red flag law and a 2020 ($1,000).
bill requiring reporting on lost or stolen guns.
Republican
bishopforhd36.com The red flag law earned Sullivan an aborted COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
About Bishop: A first- recall attempt launched by Rocky Mountain Leans Democrat. Gun control groups and
Gun Owners. Sullivan also co-sponsored the
time candidate for state Democratic-leaning independent expendi-
office, Bishop works for 2020 whistleblower law tied to COVID-19. He ture committees will spend heavily to keep
was one of three House Democrats in 2020
the city of Aurora in its Sullivan in the seat.
Open Space and Natural to vote against the death penalty repeal. He
Resource division. He’s
also skilled in martial arts. Bishop advocates
for a flat tax, school choice, is opposed to the RACE TO WATCH Richard Champion,
2020 change in the state’s vaccine law and the Republican
public option, and would like to see an end to HOUSE DISTRICT 38 championforcolorado.
Daylight Saving Time. com
ABOUT THE DISTRICT About Champion: This
Mike Weissman, Located in Arapahoe County, including is his second try for the
Democrat Littleton, Columbine Valley and Bow Mar. HD38 seat, although the
mikeweissman.com This is technically an open seat. Rep. Susan first time was more than
About Weissman: Beckman (R) resigned to take a job with the 20 years ago. An Army
Weissman is running for Trump administration; Rep. Richard Champion veteran and former mayor of Columbine Val-
his third term. He’s an was appointed Feb. 8 by a GOP vacancy com- ley, Champion owns a small energy company.
attorney and partner of mittee. Beckman, the first-term incumbent, He serves on the House Finance and Health
Colorado Democratic Par- won in 2018 in the most narrow victory for & Insurance committees. He did not sponsor
ty Chair Morgan Carroll. any Republican in the General Assembly, with any legislation in the 2020 session.
He chairs the House Judiciary Committee and a margin of just 374 votes.
serves on House Energy & Environment and Cash breakdown/Top donors
the Committee on Legal Services. Weissman Population: 86,717
has had a hand in almost every major election Households: 34,642
law change in the past four years. He also Median Household Income: $88,471
sponsored the law on price-gouging tied to Median Age: 44.3 Over 65: 20%
COVID-19 in the 2020 session, as well as the Poverty Rate: 5.9%
law creating a new 23rd Judicial District and Racial breakdown: 85% white; 10% Hispanic; Top donors: Colorado Education Association
a 2019 bill setting up an affordable housing 2% Asian; 1% Black ($5,000) Colorado electrical workers small
fund. Voter breakdown donor ($4,000), Conservation Colorado
($3,000), Southwest regional council of
Cash breakdown/Top donors 31% Dem 32% GOP 39% UAF carpenters ($2,675).
THE CANDIDATES
David Ortiz, Democrat
davidortizcolorado.com
Top donors: Bishop has not reported any About Ortiz: A first- Top donors: Coloradans for Colorado
contributions. time candidate for state ($1,000), Apartment Assn. of Metro Denver
office, Ortiz was a heli- small donor ($400), Certified Public
copter pilot in the Army, Accountants PAC ($400) and Larry Mizel of
and narrowly survived MDC Holdings ($400). Has more than two
a crash in Afghanistan dozen individual donors at the $400 level.
Top donors: State firefighters small donor that left him a paraple-
($4,000), Colorado Education Association gic. He advocates for better mental health COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
($3,750), UFCW ($2,500). services and funding as well as Medicare for Leans Democrat. Ortiz has shown strong
All, to address climate change and invest in fundraising numbers on his own, and this is a
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS renewable energy, and promoting responsi- district targeted for flipping by the Demo-
Safe Democrat. Weissman has won both his ble gun ownership, including gun safety. cratic House Majority Project. Democrat-lean-
previous races with a minimum of 55% of the ing independent expenditure committees are
vote. also expected to spend heavily here.
38 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
HOUSE DISTRICT 39
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Douglas and Teller counties. In
Douglas County that includes Roxborough
Park, Louviers, Sedalia, Larkspur and Frank-
town. In Teller County the district includes
Woodland Park, Florissant, Divide, Cripple
Creek and Victor.
Population: 83,508
Households: 30,642
Median Household Income: $107,824
Median Age: 44.2 Over 65: 16%
Poverty Rate: 4.5%
Racial breakdown: 87% white; 7% Hispanic;
3% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
17% Dem 43% GOP 38% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Mark Baisley,
Republican
baisley.org
About Baisley:
Running for his second
term, Baisley lives in
Roxborough Park and is
president of engi-
neering software firm
Slipglass Inc. He also has worked for NASA,
including at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
and Kennedy Space Center, and for Raytheon
and Martin Marietta. He’s also a former
chair of the DougCo GOP and a vice-chair of
the Colorado GOP. Baisley was the founding
president on the board of the STEM School
and Academy in Highlands Ranch. In the
House, he serves on the Education and
Health & Insurance committees and on the
Joint Technology Committee. He’s a sponsor
of bills tied to the House’s conservative
agenda, including a 2020 law that states
that lack of vaccinations cannot be used as
a basis for a child abuse or neglect charge.
He also sponsored a 2019 bill that would
have required training the state’s civil rights
commission on religious neutrality, tied to
the Masterpiece Cakeshop case.
Ian Chapman,
Democrat
www.ianchapman-
cohd39.com
About Chapman: A
first-time candidate for
state office, Chapman
lives in Florissant and is
an Army veteran who
was deployed to Afghanistan. He retired due
to injuries and is now a nurse working on
the front lines of COVID-19. He supports the
Green New Deal and advocates for solutions
to climate change. He also supports term
limits for Congress.
Bonnie Pyle,
Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Bon-
nie_Pyle
About Pyle: A first-
time candidate for state
office in Colorado, Pyle
also lives in Florissant.
She favors decrimi-
nalization of drugs and supported Denver’s
“magic mushroom” initiative in 2018. She
also advocates for the elimination of the
federal Department of Education. “States
and individual communities can determine
what is right for them far better than a
bloated federal department,” she told Ballot-
pedia in a candidate questionnaire.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: COPIC small donor and PAC
($2,550), Colorado Medical Society small
donor ($1,000), Anheuser Busch ($625).
Top donors: SJS Law of Colorado Springs
($117), David Palmer, address unknown, which
is required for contributions of over $20
($100), Janet Blessington of Highlands Ranch
($100).
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, Pyle has
not reported any contributions.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. This district is more
conservative than almost any you’d find in
El Paso County.
HOUSE DISTRICT 40
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Arapahoe County, including south
Aurora, Cherry Creek and Quincy reservoirs.
This is an open seat, represented by Speaker
Pro tem Janet Buckner, who is running for
the Senate.
Population: 80,402
Households: 29,555
Median Household Income: $74,092
Median Age: 35.3 Over 65: 11%
Poverty Rate: 6.3%
Racial breakdown: 58% white; 18% Hispan-
ic; 11% Black; 7% Asian
Voter breakdown
34% Dem 21% GOP 43% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Richard A. Bassett, Republican
facebook.com/Bassett-for-Colora-
do-HD-40-805192102998666/about/?ref=page_
internal
About Bassett: This is
Bassett’s second try for
HD40; he also ran in
2018. He is anti-union
and has claimed on his
Facebook page that
public employee unions
“keep bad cops on the
street, bad teachers in the classroom,
incompetent bureaucrats employed and
obedient Democrats in office.” He is an
emergency medical technician for Caliber
Patient Care and a former firefighter.
Naquetta Ricks,
Democrat
ricks4co.com
About Ricks: She’s run
for statewide office
twice before, for CU
Regent in 2012 and for
HD42 in 2016. Ricks
won a hotly-contested primary against
John Ronquillo in June. That race included
a negative mailer from the independent
expenditure committee Better Leaders,
Better Colorado, which backed Ronquillo,
and raised questions about Ricks’ residency.
If elected in November, she would become
the first Liberian native to ever hold elected
office in a state legislature. She’s the found-
er of the African Chamber of Commerce and
fled Liberia’s civil war to settle in Colorado.
She advocates for better funding for public
education, affordable housing, multi-modal
transportation, common-sense gun laws and
divesting from private prisons.
Rob Harrison,
Libertarian
drrobforcolorado.co/wp
About Harrison: This
is Harrison’s second try
for statewide office; he
ran for SD28 in 2012. He
is a nurse and specialist
in informatics who
works for UC Health as a systems archi-
tect. He is opposed to the red flag law and
National Popular Vote and how the state has
handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Thomas Jones of Aurora ($80),
Robert Frelinger of Aurora ($50) and himself
($40).
Top donors: A dozen donors at the $400
level. Other top donors: former Speaker of
the House Terrance Carroll ($250). Buckner
also gave Ricks $120 during the primary
although she is not listed as an endorse-
ment on Ricks’ website.
Top donors: Like most Libertarians,
Harrison has not reported any contributions.
He has, however, spent $575.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Democrats have a long
winning streak here.
HOUSE DISTRICT 41
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Arapahoe County, including
central Aurora and Overland High School.
This is an open seat, held by term-limited
Democratic Rep. Jovan Melton.
Population: 83,035
Households: 34,140
Median Household Income: $59,758
Median Age: 36.3 Over 65: 15%
Poverty Rate: 12.4%
Racial breakdown: 51% white; 21% Hispanic;
18% Black; 6% Asian
Voter breakdown
41% Dem 18% GOP 39% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Robert “Bob”
Andrews, Republican
andrewsforhd41.com
About Andrews: A
teacher and real estate
agent, Andrews is
pro-2nd Amendment,
anti-abortion, supports
small business and
small government, and fiscal responsibility.
Iman Jodeh, Democrat
imanforcolorado.com
About Jodeh: This is
Jodeh’s second try for
the General Assembly;
she filed to run for SD26
for 2020 but dropped
out to run for the open
seat in HD41. Jodeh is
executive director and founder of the local
nonprofit Meet the Middle East, and spokes-
woman for the Colorado Muslim Society. She
is also the community advocate & liaison for
the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. Jodeh is
a first-generation American whose parents
emigrated from Palestine. If elected, she
would be the first Muslim to serve in the
General Assembly. She favors bold action
on climate change, affordable health care,
paid leave, more investment in behavioral
and mental health care and criminal justice
reform.
Cash breakdown/Top donors:
Top donors: Preston Klimiper ($400),
Thomas Roche ($400), Walter Koebel ($400).
Top donors: Southwest Regional Council of
Carpenters ($1,500), Cobalt (formerly NARAL)
($500) and Ahmad Jodeh ($400).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Prior to Melton, the district
was represented for eight years by Rep. (and
then Senator) Nancy Todd.
HOUSE DISTRICT 42
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Arapahoe County, central Aurora,
including the CU Anschutz campus, Aurora
City Government offices and Gateway High
School. This district has the smallest number
of active voters of any House district in the
state.
Population: 83,005
Households: 28,567
Median Household Income: $46,704
Median Age: 32.2 Over 65: 9%
Poverty Rate: 18.6%
Racial breakdown: 42% Hispanic; 28%
white; 21% Black; 4% Asian
Voter breakdown
44% Dem 13% GOP 41% UAF
THE CANDIDATE
Dominique Jackson,
Democrat
jacksonforcolorado.com
About Jackson:
Running for her third
term, Jackson chairs
the House Energy &
Environment Committee
and serves on House
Health & Insurance and the Legislative Coun-
cil. Her focus is on prescription drug costs,
affordable housing and renters’ rights. She
also sponsored a bill in 2018 to require that
truckers be educated in human trafficking,
given that human traffickers use truck stops
as a site for their activities.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 39

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
small donor ($4,000), COPIC small donor
($2,000), Colorado Education Association
($2,000).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Jackson is running unop-
posed.
HOUSE DISTRICT 43
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Douglas County, including High-
lands Ranch.
Population: 82,028
Households: 30,315
Median Household Income: $112,025
Median Age: 40 Over 65: 12%
Poverty Rate: 3.6%
Racial breakdown: 83% white; 8% Hispanic;
5% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
24% Dem 35% GOP 40% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Kevin Van Winkle,
Republican
vanwinkleforcolorado.
com
About Van Winkle: A
small business owner
(KV Consulting), this is
Van Winkle’s fourth and
final run for the House.
He is Assistant House Minority Leader and
also serves on the House Business Affairs &
Labor Committee, as well as on the Commit-
tee on Legal Services, Legislative Council
and the Statutory Revision Committee. His
legislative accomplishments include a law
in 2020 to enhance Safe2Tell, the state’s
anonymous youth hotline; creation of the
23rd Judicial District, a 2019 bill cleaning up
the state’s sales and use tax administration,
and several bills on marijuana licensing.
He’s also been the main driver behind a
move to ban encryption of government
radio communications, such as police radi-
os, which has begun to pick up bipartisan
support.
Jennifer Mitkowski,
Democrat
jennforcolorado.com
About Mitkowski:
She’s a physician’s
assistant who moved to
Highlands Ranch in 2011
and has been active in
Douglas County school
board elections. She advocates for health
care transparency, prescription drug price
caps and better funding for public schools.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Realtor small donor ($5,350),
COPIC small donor ($2,000), Colorado
Medical Society small donor ($1,000).
Top donors: Colorado firefighters small
donor ($4,000), Colorado electrical workers
small donor ($4,000), South Metro firefight-
ers ($1,000).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Voter registration
numbers in the past two years have grown
for Democrats and unaffiliated voters and
dropped slightly for the GOP. The Democratic
House Majority Project has targeted this
race for flipping in 2020 but it will be a big
stretch, given that Van Winkle’s closest race
was a win by 9 points in 2018.
HOUSE DISTRICT 44
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Douglas County, Lone Tree and
Parker.
Population: 94,257
Households: 34,538
Median Household Income: $105,988
Median Age: 35 Over 65: 8%
Poverty Rate: 3.8%
Racial breakdown: 78% white; 9% Hispanic;
6% Asian; 2% Black
Voter breakdown
21% Dem 36% GOP 42% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Kyra D. Storojev,
Democrat
kyra4colorado.com
About Storojev: A for-
mer managing editor of
MOM Magazine, Storojev
is running for the Gen-
eral Assembly for the
first time. Along with
her husband, owns several small businesses
in Cloud computing and mortgage services.
She advocates for a law requiring radon
testing as part of home inspections and for
schools with high radon levels to mitigate
that exposure. She also favors strong mental
health support for youth and support for
small business.
Kim Ransom,
Republican
kimransom.org
About Ransom: She’s
running for her third
term in the House.
Ransom is a member
of the Joint Budget
Committee and is also
on House Appropriations. She also has
worked as a sales rep for the home-rental
company VRBO. Her non-JBC legislation
includes several efforts to prohibit discrim-
ination against employees based on labor
union participation, and an effort to exempt
Colorado from Daylight Saving Time. She
also co-sponsored a law clarifying court pro-
cedures when a parent seeks to relinquish
parental rights and the 2019 law allowing
those on the autism spectrum to obtain
medical marijuana.
Brian Meyer, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Brian_Meyer_(Colorado)
About Meyer: He has no website; his
biographical information and positions are
unknown.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Tonya Whitehouse of Castle
Rock ($500), six individual donors at $400.
Top donors: COPIC small donor and PAC
($2,550), Realtor small donor ($1,500),
Anheuser Busch ($625).
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, Meyer Cash breakdown/Top donors
has not reported any contributions.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Ransom’s closest race, in
2018, was a 15-point win.
Top donors: No reported campaign
contributions for the 2019-20 election cycle,
HOUSE DISTRICT 45 which is raising eyebrows.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Douglas County, including Castle
Rock and Castle Pines.
Population: 92,934 Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
Households: 32,114 small donor ($4,000), Colorado firefighters
Median Household Income: $117,092 small donor ($3,000) and a $3,000 loan.
Median Age: 38.2 Over 65: 11%
Poverty Rate: 3.3%
Racial breakdown: 86% white; 9% Hispanic;
2% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not
reported any contributions.
18% Dem 42% GOP 39% UAF
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
THE CANDIDATES Safe Republican. Neville has won his last
Patrick Neville, three races with at least 60% of the vote.
Republican
patrickforcolorado.com
About Neville: HOUSE DISTRICT 46
Currently the House
Minority Leader, but it’s
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
a position he may not
Located in Pueblo County, including Pueblo
keep after Nov. 3. Now
west of I-25 and south of US 50, the state
running for his fourth
fairgrounds and Lake Pueblo. Also includes
and final term in the House, Neville has pre-
Beulah, Rye and Colorado City.
sided over an increasingly-divided caucus,
leading to criticism within the caucus that
Population: 82,671
he’s raised lots of money but hasn’t helped
Households: 32,464
stop the bleeding of seats. Neville serves on
Median Household Income: $46,288
the Executive Committee of the Legislative
Median Age: 40.2 Over 65: 19%
Council and the Legislative Council. He’s
Poverty Rate: 18.2%
been involved in several unsuccessful
Racial breakdown: 54% white; 41% Hispan-
lawsuits against the state, over attempts to
ic; 2% Black; 1% Asian
overturn the red flag law and the governor’s
mask mandate. He’s the standard-bearer
Voter breakdown
for the conservative agenda in the House,
with bills to prohibit discrimination based 39% Dem 25% GOP 34% UAF
on labor union participation, allowing con-
cealed handguns in schools, anti-abortion THE CANDIDATES
measures, proof of citizenship to vote (which Daneya Esgar,
is on the 2020 general election ballot), and Democrat
a bill to reduce the state’s income tax rate www.daneyaesgar.com
(also on the 2020 ballot). He also was a part About Esgar: Running
of the bipartisan sponsorship of the 2019 law for her third term in
allowing sports betting in Colorado. the House, Esgar is
the chair of the Joint
Katie Barrett, Budget Committee and
Democrat vice-chair of House
www.votekatieforcolo- Appropriations. She’s a strong advocate
rado.com/ for all things Pueblo, whether it’s Pueblo
About Barrett: A chiles or the Colorado State Fair. She was a
science and math co-sponsor in 2020 of the law creating the
teacher, this is Barrett’s newest state park — Fisher’s Peak — and the
first run for state office. law granting collective bargaining rights to
She’s interested in state employees.
addressing growth, including a requirement
that developers incorporate solar and wind Jonathan Ambler,
power into development plans and to fund Republican
transportation upgrades. She also backs the electambler.com
public option concept. About Ambler: Ambler
is making his second
Caryn Ann Harlos, try at HD46, after
Libertarian losing to Esgar by 17
ballotpedia.org/Caryn_ points in 2018. A former
Ann_Harlos superintendent of the
About Harlos: A first- Kim School District, Ambler is an author and
time candidate for state teacher. He advocates for school choice,
office, Harlos is secre- support for the 2nd Amendment, is largely
tary of the Libertarian anti-abortion except in cases of rape and
National Committee, incest, and calls single-payer healthcare
the governing body for the Libertarian Party. “socialism.”
In 2016, she sued Secretary of State Wayne John Pickerill,
Williams over the “ballot selfie” law. A feder- Libertarian
al judge slapped a temporary injunction on facebook.com/elect-
the law, and in 2017 Gov. John Hickenlooper pickerill/
signed a law allowing ballot selfies. Her About Pickerill: This is
husband, Wayne, is running for SD4. his second run for state
office; he challenged
Senate President Leroy
40 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

and Democratic donors who preferred a Mike Lynch,
RACE TO WATCH Bri Buentello, less hard-right candidate, she had to fend Republican
Democrat off a tough challenge from Grady Nouis. Van lynchforcolorado.com
HOUSE DISTRICT 47 bri4colorado.com Beber favors strong 2nd Amendment protec- About Lynch: Lynch,
About Buentello: tions and is anti-abortion, having been born of Wellington, got to
ABOUT THE DISTRICT Running for her second at 22 weeks. She’s a teacher who has worked the general election
Located in Otero and portions of Fremont and term, Buentello, who in charter schools. She also intends to be a by defeating Sen.
Pueblo counties, north of US 50 and east of lives in Pueblo, has been strong advocate for rural Colorado, the oil & Vicki Marble in the June
the city of Pueblo, including the airport. Also the most conservative gas and beef industries. primary. A graduate
includes Pueblo West and Avondale (Pueblo), of House Democrats. In of West Point, he is an Army veteran and
Penrose (Fremont) LaJunta, Fowler and Rocky a 41-24 majority, that means voting against Holly A. Herson, president of Western Heritage, a maker of
Ford (Otero). the caucus when necessary, including on the Democrat metal-cast belt buckles in Loveland. He pre-
oil and gas reform bill and the red flag law hollyfor48.com viously held leadership roles with Spectrum
Population: 78,933 in 2019. Buentello is a special ed teacher at About Herson: A resi- HR Systems, SHL-Aspen Tree Software Inc,
Households: 30,790 Pueblo East and has an autistic son, both dent of Johnstown, this and Stryker Medical. He told the Coloradoan
Median Household Income: $45,189 which guide her legislative priorities. She also is Herson’s first race in June he will advocate for transportation,
Median Age: 39.6 Over 65: 18% has sponsored laws to provide educational for state office. Herson water, and reducing government burden on
Poverty Rate: 17% opportunities to military veterans. She is vice- is a former legislative corporations.
Racial breakdown: 58% white; 37% Hispanic; chair of House Education and serves on the intern who now works
2% Black; 1% Asian House Rural Affairs & Agriculture Committee. in health care. She is a gun owner who backs Cash breakdown/Top donors
the 2nd Amendment but believes “with
Voter breakdown Cash breakdown/Top donors rights come responsibilities. Not everyone
should own just any firearm.” She also
31% Dem 32% GOP 36% UAF advocates for affordable housing and better
funding for education and higher education.
THE CANDIDATES Top donors: Eight donors at $400, including
Stephanie Luck, Top donors: House District 60 GOP ($1,000), Cash breakdown/Top donors attorneys Frank Azar and daughter
Republican Teller County GOP ($500), Fremont County Margeaux Azar.
stephanieluck.org GOP ($666.66) and several leadership PACs,
About Luck: In her which are run by General Assembly
second bid for statewide lawmakers. That includes the PACs run by
office, Luck, who lives Reps. Jim Wilson of Salida, Kim Ransom of
in Penrose, is anti-abor- Lone Tree and Colin Larson of Littleton. Top donors: Van Beber has loaned her
tion, favors gun rights, campaign $15,900. Other donors: COPIC small
TABOR, the rural life- donor ($4,000), Homes for all Coloradoans Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000),
style, limited government, religious freedom, ($3,000), Realtor small donor ($1,500). Homes for all Coloradoans ($1,500), Realtor
freedom of the press, local control, school small donor ($1,500).
choice, water rights, secure borders and free Top donors: Colorado Democratic Party,
markets. She is an attorney but not licensed ($7,500), Realtor small donor ($5,350), Pueblo COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
in Colorado and has been an Alliance Defend- Education Assn. small donor ($4,775), COPIC Safe Republican. Buck’s closest race, her
ing Freedom Blackstone Legal Fellow. In 2017, small donor ($4,400). first one in 2012, was won with 58% of the
she authored, with Colorado Springs attorney vote.
Mark Bruanlich, SB17-283, which states “it is COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
not a discriminatory practice for an owner of Toss-up to Leans Democrat. This is the small donor ($4,000), five donors at $400,
a place of public accommodation to decline number-one contested House seat in the including state Treasurer Dave Young. HOUSE DISTRICT 50
to provide goods, services, facilities, or other state. In 2018, it was the closest race in the
accommodation to an individual, group, General Assembly, when Buentello beat a COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS ABOUT THE DISTRICT
or event that represents a message with flawed Republican candidate by 321 votes. Safe Republican. In 2018, Humphrey’s clos- Located in Weld County, city of Greeley. Tech-
which the owner disagrees.” The law was in Democratic-leaning independent expenditure est race, he won with 67% of the vote. nically an open seat; Rep. Mary Young was
response to the Masterpiece Cakeshop case; committees are expected to put more money appointed in 2018 by a Democratic vacancy
ADF represented owner Jack Phillips in court. here than anywhere else. committee to replace Rep. Rochelle Galindo,
HOUSE DISTRICT 49 who resigned in the wake of allegations of
sexual misconduct and giving alcohol to a
Garcia in 2018. Pickerill’s platform includes ABOUT THE DISTRICT minor.
ending standardized testing and a repeal COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Located in Weld and Larimer counties (west
of drug prohibition laws, and to allow the Safe Democrat. Esgar ran unopposed in Population: 88,225
of Fort Collins), from the Wyoming state line
General Assembly to “judge the constitution- 2016 and won in 2018 by 17 points. Households: 29,022
to Berthoud. Includes Red Feather Lakes,
ality of federal acts. If the GA determined a Drake, Windsor, Wellington, Rocky Mountain Median Household Income: $45,591
federal act, such as Obamacare or a firearms Median Age: 28.3 Over 65: 9%
restriction, was unconstitutional the GA HOUSE DISTRICT 48 National Park and Estes Park. This is an open
seat, held by term-limited Republican Rep. Poverty Rate: 21.2%
should declare the act null and void and un- Perry Buck of Windsor. Racial breakdown: 47% Hispanic; 47%
enforceable in Colorado.” He also supports ABOUT THE DISTRICT white; 3% Black; 2% Asian
repealing Colorado’s primary election law, Located in eastern Weld County, including Population: 96,837
which he calls a special privilege for the two Ault, Eaton, LaSalle, Gilcrest, Platteville and Households: 37,402 Voter breakdown
major parties. Johnstown. Does not include Greeley. This is Median Household Income: $85,889
an open seat, held by term-limited Republi- Median Age: 43.8 Over 65: 17%
28% Dem 25% GOP 44% UAF
Cash breakdown/Top donors can Rep. Stephen Humphrey of Ault. Poverty Rate: 6.7%
THE CANDIDATES
Racial breakdown: 88% white; 8% Hispanic;
Population: 90,637 Mary Young,
1% Asian; 0% Black
Households: 32,977 Democrat
Median Household Income: $78,333 maryyoungforcolorado.
Voter breakdown
Median Age: 37.6 Over 65: 14% com
Top donors: Pueblo Education Association Poverty Rate: 6.3% 21% Dem 38% GOP 40% UAF About Young: Wife of
small donor ($5,350), Colorado firefighters Racial breakdown: 73% white; 24% Hispan- state treasurer Dave
small donor ($4,000), Colorado electrical ic; 1% Asian; 0% Black THE CANDIDATES Young, she serves on
workers small donor ($3,000). Yara Hanlin Zokaie, the House Public Health
Voter breakdown Democrat Care & Human Services
www.yaraforcolorado. and Rural Affairs & Agriculture committees.
19% Dem 41% GOP 39% UAF com Her bills in 2020 have focused largely on
About Zokaie: A child welfare issues.
THE CANDIDATES resident of Windsor,
Top donors: Pete Soontag of Pueblo ($400), Tonya Van Beber, Zokaie is a first-gener- Sean Short,
Mike Durran of Pueblo ($300), Mary Ann Republican ation Iranian-American. Libertarian
Shrum of Colorado City ($250). vanbeberforstatehouse. She is a tax attorney, seanshortforcolorado.
com supports paid family leave, free preschool/ com
About Van Beber: Van early childhood education, more funding for About Short: His first
Beber’s first run for mental health services and advocates for run for state office,
state office has been elimination of cash bail. Short is director of
something of a trial by operations for Bloom-
Top donors: Rollover funds from his SD3 fire. With the support ing Health Farms. He’s
race ($114.55). from independent expenditure committees working on a master’s degree in systems

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
engineering from Johns Hopkins. Short is
interested in energy production, criminal
justice reform, mental health and substance
abuse and food security, according to his
ballotpedia questionnaire.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Colorado firefighters ($4,000),
Conservation Colorado ($2,500), UFCW
($2,500).
Top donors: To date, he has put $105 into his
campaign. He also received $50 from Keith
Laube of Montrose.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. When state Treasurer Dave
Young held the seat, he won his closest race
with 54% of the vote.
HOUSE DISTRICT 51
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Larimer County, including
Loveland.
Population: 88,688
Households: 36,117
Median Household Income: $66,356
Median Age: 41.1 Over 65: 19%
Poverty Rate: 8.1%
Racial breakdown: 85% white; 11% Hispanic;
1% Asian; 0% Black
Voter breakdown
23% Dem 34% GOP 42% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Hugh McKean,
Republican
mcckeanforstatehouse.
com
About McKean: Run-
ning for his third term,
McKean is the latest in
a line of center-right
Republicans represent-
ing the district. He previously served on the
Loveland City Council and is a contractor.
McKean is the odds-on favorite for House
Minority Leader in November to replace Rep.
Patrick Neville. McKean is also a heck of a
chili chef and won the House Chili Cook-off
in its first two years. He serves on the House
Business Affairs & Labor Committee and
on the Statutory Revision Committee. His
legislative accomplishments include laws to
expand I-25 in Northern Colorado, helping
local county governments with recovery
from the 2013 flood, and a bill to provide
$90 million in loans for the Chimney Hollow
Reservoir, part of Northern Water’s Windy
Gap Firming Project.
Vern Richardson,
Democrat
https://vernrichardson-
4hd51.com
About Richardson: A
first-time candidate for
state office, Richardson
is a write-in candidate
for HD51, so his name
will not appear on the ballot. He is a sales
manager for an injection molding company
in Berthoud. He believes every political race
should be contested to give voters a choice.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: McKean has put $29,750 of his
own funds into the race. Other donors:
Colorado Apartment Assn. small donor
($2,675), COPIC small donor ($2,000) Realtor
small donor ($1,500).
Top donors: Joe Chastain of Loveland
($100), four other donors at $50 or $51.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. A district that likes its
center-right lawmakers (see: Brian DelGrosso
and BJ Nikkel), McKean has won his previous
races with an average of 58% of the vote.
HOUSE DISTRICT 52
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Larimer County, includes Fort
Collins east of Colorado State University.
This is technically an open seat; Rep. Cathy
Kipp was appointed in 2019 to replace Rep.
Joann Ginal, who was appointed to the state
Senate to replace Sen. John Kefalas, who
was elected to the Larimer County Commis-
sion in 2018.
Population: 89,086
Households: 35,897
Median Household Income: $68,207
Median Age: 34.3 Over 65: 14%
Poverty Rate: 11.5%
Racial breakdown: 79% white; 14% Hispan-
ic; 3% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
33% Dem 22% GOP 43% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Donna Walter,
Republican
donnawalter.com
About Walter: She’s
a board-certified
naturopathic clini-
cian. This is Walter’s
fourth-consecutive run
for HD52. Walter was a
plaintiff, along with candidate Mark Milliam
of HD11, in a lawsuit against the state, Fort
Collins, Boulder and Larimer counties over
the mask mandate. Walter has been a citizen
advocate at the state Capitol for 25 years on
several issues, including testifying on behalf
of the Colorado Association for Naturopathic
Medicine. She believes in school choice,
improved healthcare access and is opposed
to a “government option.”
Cathy Kipp, Democrat
cathykipp.com
About Kipp: Kipp
previously served as
president of the Poudre
School District and a
stay-at-home mom who
has worked as a data-
base developer. She
serves on the House Education and Energy
& Environment committees. Her legislation
has focused on K-12 education and higher
education issues, such as allowing colleges
to determine whether to require national
test scores and higher ed outcome measure-
ments. She also co-sponsored the 2019 bill to
require appliances to meet energy efficiency
and water efficiency standards.
October 2, 2020
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Charles Schmidt of Fort Collins
($400), Steven Faler of Fort Collins ($400),
Mark Patlan of Timnath ($350).
Top donors: Colorado Education Association
($2,750), Colorado firefighters small donor
($2,000), Colorado electrical workers small
donor ($2,000)
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Ginal won her three
previous races with no less than 54.7% of
the vote.
HOUSE DISTRICT 53
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Larimer County, including west
Fort Collins and Colorado State University.
Population: 85,942
Households: 32,071
Median Household Income: $55,392
Median Age: 25.9 Over 65: 8%
Poverty Rate: 21.5%
Racial breakdown: 80% white; 11% Hispan-
ic; 3% Asian; 2% Black
Voter breakdown
35% Dem 19% GOP 44% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Jeni James Arndt,
Democrat
jeniarndt.com
About Arndt: Running
for her fourth and final
term in the House,
Arndt has been an
educator at the K-12
and university levels.
She serves on the House Business Affairs &
Labor and Rural Affairs & Agriculture com-
mittees, and on the Statutory Revision Com-
mittee. Her bills have focused on agriculture
and water issues, including a 2018 bill to
help the state fund efforts to battle invasive
mussels at Colorado’s reservoirs and lakes.
She also was the House co-sponsor of SB20-
200, which repealed the death penalty.
Adam Shuknecht, Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Adam_Shuknecht
About Shuknecht: A first-time candidate,
Shuknecht is a key account manager for
Kemin Industries in Fort Collins. He has no
website and has not responded to candidate
questionnaires.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Apartment Assn. of Metro
Denver small donor ($2,675), Colorado
Education Association ($1,500), Colorado
Apartment Assn. small donor ($1,000).
Top donors: Like most Libertarians,
Shuknecht has not reported any contribu-
tions.
Colorado Politics 41
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat, given lack of Republican
opposition in the last three elections. Arndt
ran unopposed in both 2016 and 2018.
HOUSE DISTRICT 54
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Mesa and part of Delta counties,
not including Grand Junction. Includes Fruita
(and the south end of the Pine Gulch wildfire
area) Palisade, Collbran, the Grand Mesa and
Delta.
Population: 80,357
Households: 31,656
Median Household Income: $52,969
Median Age: 40.8 Over 65: 18%
Poverty Rate: 15.9%
Racial breakdown: 81% white; 15% Hispanic;
1% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
15% Dem 44% GOP 39% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Matt Soper,
Republican
electmattsoper.com
About Soper: Running
for his second term in
the House, Soper serves
on the House Judiciary
and Health & Insurance
committees and on the
Committee on Legal Services. His legislation
has largely focused on legal issues; Soper
has been a reliable go-to for bills with bipar-
tisan support. That includes the 2020 human
composting bill, a 2019 law on rights-of-way
for snowplows and a 2020 law eliminating
cash bail for low-level offenses.
Once the House resumed activity last May,
Soper initially refused to wear a mask,
stating “my district doesn’t really buy the
whole mask thing.” He later reversed that
after accepting a donation of 10,000 masks
from Taiwan on behalf of the state.
Soper’s first term got off to a rocky start,
with accusations he didn’t live in the district
for the previous 12 months, and that his
mother evicted a disabled family from a
rental property so that Soper could claim
district residency. At least three complaints,
filed with the 7th Judicial District, the Secre-
tary of State and the House, were dismissed.
AliceMarie Slaven-
Emond, Democrat
alicemarieforhd54.
wordpress.com
About Slaven-Emond:
A nurse practitioner,
Slaven-Emond is
making her first run for
state office. She also
owns a healthcare consulting company and
has done medical missionary work for the
last dozen years in Haiti. Her website does
not identify any legislative positions.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000),
Colorado Medical Society small donor
($1,000), Delta County GOP ($1,000).
Top donors: Colorado electrical workers
42 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES

small donor ($2,000), Delta County Dems
($250), Dave and Linda Slater of Arvada
($400 total).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS Top donors: Mesa County Dems ($1,500),
Safe Republican. Soper won his first race in Colorado electrical workers small donor
2018 with 66% of the vote. ($1,000) and five contributions that exceed
the state’s individual contribution limit of
$400, from Aaron Young of Grand Junction
HOUSE DISTRICT 55 ($800), Fredericka Howe of Grand Junction
($800), Karen Hayashi of Grand Junction
ABOUT THE DISTRICT ($500), Robert Traylor of Grand Junction
Located in Mesa County, including Grand ($500) and Norma Akright of Grand Junction
Junction. ($450).
Population: 81,636
Households: 33,717
Median Household Income: $53,038
Median Age: 38.4 Over 65: 18%
Poverty Rate: 15.9% Top donors: She has not reported any
Racial breakdown: 81% white; 15% Hispanic; campaign contributions
1% Asian; 1% Black
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Voter breakdown Safe Republican. Rich won with 62% of the
vote in 2018.
20% Dem 38% GOP 40% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
HOUSE DISTRICT 56
Janice Rich,
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Republican
Located in eastern Adams and Arapahoe
janicerichforcolorado.
counties, including Brighton and a small
com
portion of north Aurora (Adams) and Ben-
About Rich: Running
nett, Strasburg, Byers, Deer Trail and Watkins
for her second term
(Arapahoe).
in the House, Rich previ-
ously served as Mesa
Population: 98,702
County Treasurer. In her
Households: 32,424
first term, Rich was a co-sponsor of some of
Median Household Income: $90,546
the most significant bipartisan bills run in
Median Age: 37.2 Over 65: 12%
the General Assembly, including reinsurance
Poverty Rate: 6.6%
and modifications to the Rural Jump-start
Racial breakdown: 70% white; 21% Hispan-
Act. She’s also kept a watchful eye on how
ic; 4% Asian; 3% Black
the state deals with the Grand Junction
Regional Campus, a facility targeted for
Voter breakdown
redevelopment that previously housed Colo-
radans with developmental disabilities. 24% Dem 34% GOP 41% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Scott Beilfuss, Rod Bockenfeld,
Democrat Republican
scottfor55.com bockenfeld.com
About Beilfuss: Second About Bockenfeld: A
vice-chair of the Mesa resident of Watkins,
Democratic Party, this Bockenfeld is running
is Beilfuss’ first run for his second term
for state office. He’s a after an upset victory
retired life insurance in the 2018 primary. He
agent. Beilfuss advocates for lower health- serves on the House Appropriations, Finance
care costs and better healthcare access; and Judiciary committees and on Legisla-
free college tuition for the first year, better tive Audit. Previously, Bockenfeld served 12
funding for public higher education and years on the Arapahoe County Commission.
affordable housing for seniors. He’s run only a few bills of his own in his
first term, including a law modifying the
expungement of juvenile court records and
Sierra Garcia, benefits for disabled first responders.
Green Party
facebook.com/Sier-
raGarciaGPCO/ Giugi Carminati,
About Garcia: The only Democrat
candidate running for giugiforcolorado.com
the General Assembly About Carminati: An
from the Green Party, attorney with a degree
Garcia is on her first at- in space law (!), she is
tempt at state office. She is secretary of the Colorado captain for
state Green Party. Garcia cites as her agenda Lawyer Moms of Amer-
“to help the local Grand Junction community ica, “a mobilization of
develop strategic plans for economic growth lawyer moms opposing family separation at
relating to Green Party standards with the border.” She also founded The Woman’s
Innovative reform.” Lawyer law firm. In addition to immigration,
Carminati advocates for affordable housing,
Cash breakdown/Top donors low-cost child care, technical education and
affordable, accessible healthcare. Carminati
lives in Aurora.
Kevin Gulbranson, Libertarian
kevingulbransonlibertarian.info
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000), About Gulbranson: An Aurora resident, Gul-
Pueblo Association of Realtors small donor branson is president of Erowyn Enterprises
($500), Realtor small donor ($500). and plays the trumpet. He believes in ending
corporate welfare, separation of church and
state, economic freedom and the individual
right to bear arms. He calls himself socially Colin Wilhelm,
tolerant and fiscally responsible. Democrat
colincaresforcolorado.
Cash breakdown/Top donors com
About Wilhem: This is
Wilhelm’s second run
for HD57. He’s an attor-
ney who lives in Glen-
wood Springs. Wilhelm
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000), is chair of the Glenwood Springs Transpor-
Adams County GOP ($500), Realtor small tation Commission and a commissioner on
donor ($500). the Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning
Commission. His legislative priorities include
finding new jobs for those coming out of the
oil and gas industry, improving access and
lowering cost for healthcare, and advocating
for pay equity.
Top donors: Carminati has put $2,610 into
her campaign from her own funds. Other Cash breakdown/Top donors
donors: Alan Eustace of Menlo Park,
California ($400), Carolyn Monroe of
Tampa, Florida ($400) and Robert Eustace
of Menlo Park ($400). Also has an $800
contribution, exceeding the state’s $400
individual contribution limit, from Rodney Top donors: Realtor small donor ($500) and
Ellis of Houston. 17 donors at $400, including the Apartment
Assn. of Metro Denver small donor, Black
Hills, the Colorado Chamber and Ski Country
USA.
Top donors: Like most Libertarians,
Gulbranson has not reported any contribu-
tions.
Top donors: Wilhelm loaned his campaign
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS $5,800 and contributed another $1,250.
Safe Republican. Bockenfeld won the Other donors: Colorado electrical workers
district with 56% of the vote in 2018. small donor ($1,000) and Erin-Richards
Wilhelm ($375).
HOUSE DISTRICT 57 COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Rankin had no Democratic
opposition in 2014 and 2016 and won with
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
62% of the vote in 2018.
Located in Garfield, Moffat and Rio Blanco
counties in the northwest corner of the
state, including Rangely, Craig, Meeker, Rifle,
New Castle, Glenwood Springs and Carbon- HOUSE DISTRICT 58
dale. Also includes the north end of the Pine
Gulch wildfire area. This is technically an ABOUT THE DISTRICT
open seat; Rep. Perry Will was appointed by Located in Dolores, Montezuma, Montrose
a district GOP vacancy committee in Feb- and San Miguel counties, including Dove
ruary 2019 to replace Rep. Bob Rankin, who Creek (Dolores), Montrose, Nucla and
was appointed to the state Senate. Naturita (Montrose), Telluride, Mountain
Village and Norwood (San Miguel), Dolores,
Population: 78,063 Cortez and Mesa Verde National Park and
Households: 28,751 Canyons of the Ancient National Monument
Median Household Income: $67,357 (Montezuma) and the Ute Mountain Ute
Median Age: 36.5 Over 65: 13% Reservation.
Poverty Rate: 9.3%
Racial breakdown: 72% white; 24% Hispan- Population: 76,986
ic; 1% Asian; 0% Black Households: 31,921
Median Household Income: $49,672
Voter breakdown Median Age: 44.5 Over 65: 21%
Poverty Rate: 15.6%
20% Dem 36% GOP 42% UAF Racial breakdown: 76% white; 16% Hispan-
ic; 1% Asian; 0% Black
THE CANDIDATES
Voter breakdown
Perry Will, Republican
facebook.com/pages/ 21% Dem 41% GOP 37% UAF
category/Politician/
Perry-Will-House-Dis-
trict-57-Representa- THE CANDIDATES
tive-333598657264990/ Seth Cagin, Democrat
About Will: A resident sethforthehouse.com
of New Castle, Will is re- About Cagin: A resi-
tired from the Colorado dent of Telluride, this
Division of Parks and Wildlife where he was is Cagin’s second try at
a wildlife officer. His legislative success has HD58. He’s an author,
focused on water issues, a cleanup of the screenwriter and found-
parks and wildlife statutes to deal with en- ed The Telluride Watch,
forcement, and a 2019 law seeking to expand a weekly alternative
the supply of affordable housing. He’s also newspaper that is now part of The Telluride
been a co-sponsor on the law putting CARES Daily Planet. He advocates for transitioning
Act money into small business grants and away from fossil fuels to renewable energy,
the law setting up Fisher’s Peak, the newest and he believes in social and economic
state park. justice and environmental protection.

2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
Marc Catlin,
Republican
catlinforcolorado.com
About Catlin: A Mon-
trose resident, Catlin
is running for his third
term in the House. He
serves on House Rural
Affairs & Agriculture
and Transportation & Local Government.
Catlin has been manager of the Uncompah-
gre Valley Water Users Association and more
recently, a water right development coor-
dinator for Montrose County. He has been a
strong advocate for water issues, agriculture
(including hemp), broadband and Indian
child welfare, with successful legislation in
all those areas. He also was a cosponsor of
the 2019 law requiring two state agencies
to come up with a proposal on the public
option in healthcare.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: Five donors at the $400 level,
including Home Jue of Naperville, Illinois,
James Iacino of Denver (who ran for the CD3
congressional primary in 2020), and
Katherine Borsecnik of New York.
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000),
Colorado Medical Society small donor
($1,000), Montrose County GOP ($750).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Catlin defeated Cagin with
62% of the vote in 2018.
HOUSE DISTRICT 59
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Archuleta, part of Gunnison, Hins-
dale, La Plata, Ouray and San Juan counties.
Including Pagosa Springs (Archuleta), Gun-
nison (Gunnison), Lake City (Hinsdale, the
least-densely populated county in Colorado),
Durango, Hesperus and Fort Lewis College
(La Plata), Ouray and Ridgway (Ouray), and
Silverton (San Juan). Also includes the
Southern Ute Reservation, and Navajo and
and Blue Mesa reservoirs, the two largest in
the state.
Population: 82,370
Households: 33,595
Median Household Income: $60,115
Median Age: 41.7 Over 65: 18%
Poverty Rate: 9.9%
Racial breakdown: 80% white; 13% Hispan-
ic; 1% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
28% Dem 29% GOP 40% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Marilyn Harris,
Republican
marilynharrisforcolora-
do.com
About Harris: A Pagosa
Springs resident and
first-time candidate
for statewide office,
Harris is a longtime
leader in local, state and national Repub-
lican groups, including as president of the
Colorado Federation of Republican Women
and on the board of the National Federation
of Republican Women. Harris is interested in
affordable health care, water rights, school
choice, the right to bear arms and ensuring
Colorado businesses recover from COVID-19.
Barbara McLachlan,
Democrat
barbaramclachlan.com
About McLachlan:
Now running for her
third term, McLachlan,
a Durango native, is
chair of the House
Education Committee.
In 2019, she and Republican Rep. Jim Wilson
sponsored the bill setting up state-paid
full-day kindergarten. She’s also sponsored
bills on water, including on water quality tied
to mining impacts (the Animas River, which
was polluted in 2015 from a EPA-triggered
toxic waste water spill from the Gold King
mine, runs through the district). McLachlan
has carried numerous bills on education,
including programs setting up professional
development for principals, college credit
for work experience, and a law requiring
public schools to test for lead in their
drinking water.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: LaPlata GOP ($500), seven
contributions at $400, including former Rep.
J. Paul Brown and Joy Hoffman, chair of the
Arapahoe County GOP; Gunnison County GOP
($200).
Top donors: Colorado Democratic Party
($4,000), Voices for Choice small donor
($4,000), Colorado Education Association
($2,750).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. This district, more than any
other, has bounced between Republican and
Democratic in the past decade. McLachlan
beat incumbent Rep. J. Paul Brown by just
675 votes in 2016 but had no Republican
opposition in 2018. Since then, unaffiliated
voter registrations have surged by more
than 3,600; Democrats have almost pulled
even with Republicans, with more than 1,260
added, and Republican voter registrations
have stayed flat. Harris has no financial
support from the state GOP, a telling sign.
Democratic-leaning independent expendi-
ture committees are also expected to spend
big here.
HOUSE DISTRICT 60
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Chaffee, Custer, Park and parts of
Fremont County. Includes Buena Vista, Salida
(Chaffee), Bailey, Fairplay (Park), Westcliffe
and the west side of the Great Sand Dunes
National Park (Custer), Cañon City, Florence
and Penrose (Fremont). This district ranges
from some of Colorado’s most scenic areas
(the upper Arkansas River) to eight state
prisons and the federal ADX Florence, aka,
Supermax, the nation’s highest security fa-
cility. Twenty percent of all inmates housed
in Colorado state prisons are in Fremont
County. This is an open seat district, served
by term-limited Republican Rep. Jim Wilson
of Salida.
Population: 83,578
Households: 32,325
Median Household Income: $51,985
Median Age: 47.3 Over 65: 22%
Poverty Rate: 11.9%
October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 43
Racial breakdown: 82% white; 11% Hispanic;
1% Asian; 3% Black THE CANDIDATES
Julie McCluskie,
Voter breakdown Democrat
mccluskieforco.com
20% Dem 39% GOP 40% UAF About McCluskie:
A Dillon resident,
THE CANDIDATES
McCluskie is running
Ron Hanks, Republican
for her second term.
hanksforcolorado.com
She’s chair of House
About Hanks: A resi-
Appropriations and the
dent of Penrose, Hanks
Joint Budget Committee. Prior to becoming
is running for state
a lawmaker, she served as communications
office for the first time.
director for then-Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. Among
He served 32 years
her non-JBC bills: the bill that became
in the Air Force and
Proposition EE, which seeks higher taxes on
now owns The Western
tobacco and a first-ever tax on vaping prod-
Surveyor. He is pro-TABOR and 2nd Amend-
ucts, to fund early childhood education. She
ment, anti-abortion and in favor of limited
also has co-sponsored measures on mobile
government.
home tenant rights and broadband access,
and was a co-sponsor of the reinsurance law
in 2019. She was also a co-sponsor of 2019’s
Lori Boydston,
failed Proposition CC, which asked voters to
Democrat
end TABOR refunds in favor of transporta-
lorihd60.com
tion and education funding.
About Boydston: A
first-time candidate
for statewide office,
Kim McGahey,
Boydston lives outside
Republican
of Salida and is a ranch-
kimforhd61.com
er. She advocates for
About McGahey: This
improved broadband access, green energy
is McGahey’s second
and green jobs and more healthcare access.
run for state office;
he ran for CU Regent
Cash breakdown/Top donors
in 2014. A resident of
Breckenridge, McGahey
is a real-estate agent and a lifelong soccer
player and coach. He cites school choice, de-
fense of the Electoral College (aka anti-Na-
tional Popular Vote), using existing state
Top donors: Hanks loaned his campaign
revenues for transportation, and promoting
$20,000 and has put in another $2,451. Other
small business recovery from COVID-19 as
donors: Colorado Medical Society small
his issues.
donor ($1,000) and five donors at $400,
including Black Hills and the Colorado
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Chamber.
Top donors: Colorado Education Association
($2,750), COPIC small donor ($2,000), Allstate
Top donors: She’s put $676 into her
Insurance ($625) and Davita ($625).
campaign from her own funds. Other donors:
Fremont County Dems ($1,000), Chaffee
County Dems ($700), Joanne Allen of
Nathrop ($250).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Wilson has never won by
Top donors: Four campaign contributions
less than 59% of the vote.
that exceed the individual limit of $400,
including Dave Whittlese of Hotchkiss
HOUSE DISTRICT 61 ($800), George Bowser of Dillon ($500),
Marvin Spees of Topeka, Kansas ($500) and
Pat Dolan of Breckenridge ($500).
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Lake, Summit, Pitkin and parts COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
of Gunnison and Delta counties. Includes Safe Democrat. McCluskie won with 63% of
Cedaredge, Hotchkiss and Paonia (Delta), the vote in 2018.
Crested Butte (Gunnison), Aspen and Snow-
mass (Pitkin), Leadville (Lake), Breckenridge,
Dillon and Frisco (Summit). Includes Dillon HOUSE DISTRICT 62
and Green Mountain reservoirs and eight
major ski resorts.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in the San Luis Valley, including
Population: 82,594
Alamosa (Alamosa) Conejos (San Luis),
Households: 30,978
Costilla (Manassa and LaJara), Huerfano (La
Median Household Income: $62,895
Veta and Walsenberg), Mineral (Creede), Rio
Median Age: 41.2 Over 65: 16%
Grande (Monte Vista), Saguache (Center and
Poverty Rate: 11.6%
Moffat) and Pueblo counties (southeastern
Racial breakdown: 83% white; 13% Hispan-
Pueblo, east of I-25). This is the state’s only
ic; 1% Asian; 1% Black
legally-designated majority-minority House
district. Costilla, Huerfano, Saguache and
Voter breakdown
Conejos are the four poorest counties in the
30% Dem 24% GOP 44% UAF state. Includes the Great Sand Dunes Nation-
al Park and Adams State University.
Population: 79,524
Households: 31,911
Median Household Income: $36,546
Median Age: 39.4 Over 65: 18%
44 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
2020 ELECTION • STATE HOUSE RACES
Poverty Rate: 23.8%
Racial breakdown: 50% Hispanic; 46%
white; 0% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
40% Dem 26% GOP 33% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Donald E. Valdez,
Democrat
valdezforco.com
About Valdez: Running
for his third term,
Valdez lists La Jara in
his voter registration
but questions have
been raised about
whether he actually lives there or in the
million-dollar home in Pueblo West owned
by his wife, a Pueblo banker. He is vice-chair
of House Rural Affairs & Agriculture, and
also serves on the House Transportation &
Local Government Committee and on the
Statutory Revision Committee. In 2019, he
co-sponsored laws granting tax exemptions
on livestock ear tags and expanding the
teacher cadet program to include early
childhood education. He has also carried
bills on water rights. Valdez’ voting record
trends moderate; he voted against the oil
and gas reform bill (SB181) and the red flag
law (HB1177), both in 2019. He’s also gotten
into it with fellow members of the caucus,
leading to a scuffle outside the Speaker’s
office in 2018. Valdez had opposition in
the 2020 primary, and his opponent got
contributions from two current southern
Colorado Democratic lawmakers and a host
of former southern Colorado lawmakers
and former Democratic candidates, which is
unheard of.
Logan Taggart,
Republican
taggartforcolorado.com
About Taggart: A
resident of LaVeta, this
is Taggart’s first run
for state office. He is
a fiscal conservative
and believes in fewer
government regulations, reduced taxes and
keeping San Luis Valley water in the valley.
He is opposed to the red flag law passed in
2019 (which Valdez also voted against).
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($4,000),
Colorado Education Association ($2,750),
Apartment Assn. of Metro Denver small
donor ($2,675)
Top donors: He’s put $1,033 into his
campaign from his own funds. Other donors:
Alamosa County GOP ($500), and five donors
at the $400 level, including the Rio Grande
GOP, Lois Compton of Pueblo West and
Pamela Reed of Fort Collins.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Democrat. Valdez won his first two
races with a minimum of 55% of the vote.
HOUSE DISTRICT 63
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Weld County, including Erie, Fort
Lupton, Keenesburg, Firestone, Frederick,
Grover, Keota (the historic, mostly aban-
doned town featured in the History Colorado
exhibit) and the Pawnee National Grasslands.
District borders Wyoming. This is an open
seat, held by term-limited Republican Rep.
Lori Saine of Dacono.
Population: 93,773
Households: 32,114
Median Household Income: $84,756
Median Age: 36.2 Over 65: 11%
Poverty Rate: 6.8%
Racial breakdown: 72% white; 23% Hispan-
ic; 2% Asian; 1% Black
Voter breakdown
27% Dem 35% GOP 42% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Dan Woog, Republican
www.woogforweldhd63.
com
About Woog: A resident
of Erie, Woog is running
for state office for the
first time. He first had
to get past a primary
challenge from a Rocky
Mountain Gun Owner-backed candidate, Pat
Miller. Woog is a small business owner and
previously served as town trustee in Erie
and on the town’s planning commission. He
also is a hockey player (attention, Rep. Van
Winkle). He’s an advocate for the oil and gas
industry, private property rights, TABOR and
the 2nd Amendment and opposes the red
flag law.
Gen Schneider,
Democrat
genforhd63.com
About Schneider: A
first-time candidate for
state office, Schneider
is a stay-at-home mom
and former member of
the Dacono City Council.
She calls protecting reproductive rights
her number-one issue. She also advocates
for job retraining for oil and gas workers
ready to leave the industry and regulations
that protect them from injury, and for more
accountability from CDOT as well as com-
mon-sense gun laws.
Joe Johnson,
Libertarian
ballotpedia.org/Joe_
Johnson_(Colorado)
About Johnson: A
resident of Frederick,
this is Johnson’s third
run for HD63. In an
2018 interview with the
Daily Camera, Johnson said he is a national
account supervisor with BI Incorporated, a
subsidiary of The Geo Group, which operates
the ICE processing facility in Aurora and
which formerly operated the Cheyenne
Mountain Re-entry Center in Colorado
Springs until it closed in March. Johnson
previously served on the Frederick Town
Board of trustees. He told The Denver Post
in 2018 he advocates for better funding of
infrastructure, that business and housing
developers should pay their own way and
for more affordable healthcare, but not
government-based solutions.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($4,000),
Homes for all Coloradoans ($2,500), Colora-
do Medical Society small donor ($1,000).
Top donors: Weld County Dems ($450),
Sandra Bauer of Firestone ($300), William
Schneider of Dacono ($203.99)
Top donors: Like most Libertarians, has not
reported any contributions.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Saine never won with less
than 58% of the vote.
HOUSE DISTRICT 64
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Baca, Bent, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa,
Las Animas, Lincoln, Prowers and Washing-
ton counties. Includes Springfield (Baca),
Las Animas, home to the Bent Correctional
Facility private prison (Bent); Ordway (Crow-
ley), home to two prisons, including one
private prison; Elizabeth and Kiowa (Elbert),
Eads and the Sand Creek National Massacre
Historic Site (Kiowa), Trinidad, Kim and the
Army’s Pinon Canyon maneuver site (Las
Animas), Hugo (Lincoln), Lamar, including
the Amache Relocation Camp (Prowers) and
Akron (Washington). Technically, this is an
open seat. Rep. Richard Holtorf was appoint-
ed last December to finish the unexpired
term of the late Rep. Kimmi Lewis of Kim.
The district is huge; from Holtorf’s home in
Akron to the district’s furthest southwestern
edge, it’s more than 275 miles. And its odd
layout means its furthest northern county
-- Washington -- is part of this southern
Eastern Plains district, although counties 150
miles south are part of HD65, which covers
the northern Eastern Plains. As Eastern
Plains counties shrink in population, both
HD64 and HD65 have grown larger in land
mass.
Population: 78,232
Households: 29,209
Median Household Income: $52,793
Median Age: 42.6 Over 65: 18%
Poverty Rate: 13.6%
Racial breakdown: 72% white; 23% Hispan-
ic; 2% Black; 1% Asian
Voter breakdown
18% Dem 47% GOP 33% UAF
THE CANDIDATES
Edwin “Dean” Ormiston, Democrat
ballotpedia.org/Edwin_Ormiston
About Ormiston: A resident of Pritchett
in Baca County, Ormiston is co-owner of
Kirkwell Cattle Company (with former Rep.
Wes McKinley) and a former Baca County
commissioner. Ormiston is definitely a
southeastern Colorado Democrat, which
means conservative: he’s opposed to Gov.
Jared Polis’ appointment of Ellen Kessler, an
animal rights activist appointed to the state
veterinary board.
Richard Holtorf,
Republican
facebook.com/holtorf-
forcolorado/
About Holtorf: A res-
ident of Akron, Holtorf
is a farmer, rancher,
feedlot manager and
Army veteran. He
serves on the House Public Health Care &
Human Services and Rural Affairs & Agri-
culture committees. In 2020, he sponsored
successful legislation increasing the speed
limit on certain rural highways and increas-
ing the pay for the lowest-paid members of
the National Guard.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: He has not reported any
campaign contributions.
Top donors: Colorado Medical Society small
donor ($1,000), 20 contributions at $400,
including Colorado Farm Bureau, the
Colorado Chamber, Colorado Concrete PAC
and Colorado Medical PAC.
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. The last Democrat to
represent the district was McKinley (2005
to 2012). The district was redrawn in 2011 to
bring in four Republican-leaning counties
(Elbert, Kiowa, Lincoln and Washington).
HOUSE DISTRICT 65
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Located in Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Logan,
Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick and Yuma coun-
ties. Includes Cheyenne Wells (Cheyenne),
Burlington (Kit Carson), Sterling (Logan),
Fort Morgan (Morgan), Holyoke (Phillips),
Julesburg (Sedgwick) and Wray and Yuma
(Yuma).
Population: 76,357
Households: 29,423
Median Household Income: $50,253
Median Age: 37.7 Over 65: 17%
Poverty Rate: 12.1%
Racial breakdown: 70% white; 25% Hispan-
ic; 2% Black; 1% Asian
Voter breakdown
14% Dem 50% GOP 35% UAF
THE CANDIDATE
Rod Pelton,
Republican
peltonforcolorado.com
About Pelton: A
rancher and former
Cheyenne County
commissioner, Pelton is
running for his second
term in the House.
He serves on the House Appropriations,
Public Health Care & Human Services and
Rural Affairs & Agriculture committees. His
legislation has focused on behavioral health,
including a 2019 law providing more support
for high-risk families. He also sponsored the
law in 2020 to allow county commissioners
to reduce their salaries, a pre-pandemic bill;
and a law providing a tax exemption for ear
tags for livestock.
Cash breakdown/Top donors
Top donors: COPIC small donor ($2,000),
Logan County GOP ($500), Realtor small
donor ($500) and himself ($4,256).
COLORADO POLITICS ANALYSIS
Safe Republican. Out of 83 seats up for
election in the General Assembly in 2020,
this is the only one without a Democratic
candidate.
 IN T
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46 Colorado Politics
O.J. Simpson, center, reacts in October 1995 as he is found not guilty of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Gold-
man, as members of his defense team, F. Lee Bailey, left, and Johnnie Cochran Jr., look on, in court in Los Angeles.
Still coming to terms with my white privilege
Twenty-five years ago, the
nation sat glued to its TV set
to await the verdict in the O.J.
Simpson trial.
The jury had come in so
quickly and the evidence was
so overwhelming that some
legal commentators speculated
the Black football star would
be found guilty of two counts
of murder.
Instead, a jury acquitted
Simpson of killing his former
wife, Nicole Brown Simpson,
and waiter Ron Goldman,
who was dropping off a pair of
glasses a family member left at
the restaurant.
The cheers from the throngs
of Black observers who gath-
ered outside the courthouse
to hear the verdict were so
loud they frightened horses
carrying policemen who lined
the streets to ward off possible
trouble.
With discussions of white
privilege and Black Lives
Matter permeating the country
these days, the 25th anniversa-
ry of the O.J. Simpson verdict
is an appropriate time to touch
upon that touchiest of all
issues: race.
As we waited for the verdict
to come in, I argued with a
Rocky Mountain News col-
league that there was no way
Simpson would be convicted.
Think about it, I said, when
did Simpson look his guiltiest?
When he was heading down
the freeway ala “Driving Miss
O.J.” after a warrant had been
issued for his arrest.
Yet folks lined the freeways
cheering Simpson on and hol-
lering, “Go, Juice, Go!”
After the verdict on Oct. 3,
1995, outraged Americans
October 2, 2020
ON POLITICS was late at night and I made
several “farmer stops”; you
know, where you lightly tap the
brakes before sailing through
the intersection.
“Hey, you went through that
stop sign,” my passenger said
the first time.
By the third rolling stop he
LYNN BARTELS was so riled up I pulled over,
againlynn@gmail.com and demanded to know what
was going on. Did he have a
argued that a mostly Black jury warrant out for his arrest?
had acquitted Simpson because No, he said, but he had pre-
he was black. viously been stopped by police
And so what? was my re- when he did have outstanding
sponse. Convicting or freeing warrants, usually involving
defendants based on the color traffic offenses and unpaid
of their skin is a centuries-long fines. That means a visit to city
American tradition. Weren’t lockup and missing work, and
we all traumatized when Tom the real possibility of losing a
Robinson was found guilty in minimum-wage job and not be-
“To Kill A Mockingbird?” ing able to pay the latest fines.
A few months ago, I watched Had I been familiar with the
the documentary “O.J.: Made term “white privilege” at the
in America.” It dwelled not time I might have thought this
only on the trial, but also on was a perfect example.
police brutality, which is such Peggy McIntosh, an associ-
an ugly part of our history. ate director of the Wellesley
I never really understood College Center for Research
the fear and resentment on Women, in 1988 wrote
minorities have of the police what is described as a ground-
until I traveled to Kansas in breaking essay, “White Privi-
1997 to interview folks about lege: Unpacking the Invisible
the upcoming Oklahoma City Knapsack.” Among the signs a
bombing trial in Denver. The person enjoys white privilege:
Ryder truck used to blow up Doing well in a challenging
the federal building in OKC situation without being called
had been rented in Junction a credit to your race.
City, Kan. Two former Army Three decades later, Cory
soldiers stationed at nearby Collins, the senior writer for
Fort Riley were charged with Teaching Tolerance, an educa-
the crime. tion project of the Southern
I ended up giving a ride home Poverty Law Center, followed
to one of the people I inter- up on the subject: “Having
viewed. He was Black and by white privilege and recognizing
the time the evening was over I it is not racist. But white priv-
had a far different perspective ilege exists because of historic,
on what should have been a enduring racism and biases.”
simple ride through town. It I had long prided myself on
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
being fairly tolerant. When
I worked in Gallup, N.M.,
didn’t I buy sand paintings
from Navajos needing money
for gas, although I already
owned plenty of them? Didn’t
I buy sandwiches when I went
grocery shopping because
the American Indians who
followed me to my car often
asked for money for food?
When I moved to Albuquer-
que, I lived for several months
with a friend I met in Gallup.
She was Mexican; her husband
was Black. I slept in their
6-year-old daughter’s bed with
the Strawberry Shortcake can-
opy until I had saved enough
money to get my own place.
I didn’t really know a lot
about O.J. Simpson until I
watched the five-part docu-
mentary on him.
He didn’t think of himself as
Black, whether he was running
down the field with a football
or through an airport as part of
a Hertz commercial.
There would be no standing
shoulder-to-shoulder with
other Black athletes when it
came to social commentary,
whether it was the boxing
great who came to be known
as Muhammad Ali who refused
to be drafted, or Tommie Smith
and John Carlos, who stood
on a podium and thrust their
black-gloved fists in the air
during the national anthem at
the 1968 Olympics.
“Simpson was the count-
er-revolutionary athlete,”
former New York Times sports-
writer Robert Lipsyte says in
“O.J.: Made in America.”
“White America is looking
for someone who can erase
the threats of seemingly angry,
principled athletes who are
going to create a revolution in
sports. O.J. made people feel
good.”
That is, until he didn’t.
I was so busy patting myself
on the back for having a bit
of Atticus Finch in me that I
failed to see that my streak of
ugly was much deeper than I
thought possible.
Like most Americans, I was
horrified to watch a Minneap-
olis police officer kneel on the
neck of George Floyd for more
than eight minutes, killing the
Black man. His death in May
and others that followed gal-
vanized the Black Lives Matter
movement, and led to protests
that continue to this day.
But I seethed at the ply-
wood-covered windows and
graffiti at the state Capitol in
Denver and nearby buildings.
So I reached out to former
Rocky reporter April Wash-
ington, who is Black. We
worked side by side covering
the Capitol for the Rocky, and
have spent holidays with each
other’s families.
I told her that I knew the
importance of the Black Lives
Matter movement, but some-
thing needed to shake me out
of my obsession with the van-
dalism. Her comment worked:
“Black mothers live in a per-
petual state of PTSD,” she said.
Maybe that explains the
cheers outside a Los Angeles
courthouse. O.J. Simpson
might have been “seduced” by
white society during college,
as a childhood friend from the
projects maintained. But in
the end, he was a Black man in
America who had beaten the
system that October day.
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 47

Ports to Plains hailed by Gardner, not CDOT

BY MARIANNE GOODLAND
Colorado Politics

A new interstate through

Eastern Colorado that could
reduce truck traffic on I-25 re-
ceived support Sept. 28 from
Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado
and John Cornyn of Texas. And
while the Polis administration,
in a letter to Congress, stated it
didn’t oppose the project, the
state doesn’t have anywhere
near the $3 billion it would cost
to upgrade the targeted roads to
interstate standards.
But the Ports to Plains corri-
dor is also part of conflicting
messages from the Colorado
Department of Transportation.
One message to the feds says
Colorado doesn’t want the fed-
eral money if the project isn’t
part of CDOT’s master plan
(and it’s not), while another
from last May touted how much
traffic congestion would be re-
duced along I-25 if one of the
two highways already proposed
were converted to an interstate.
S. 4701 was introduced Sept.
25 by Gardner, although a text
of the bill is not yet available.
A similar bill in the House, HR
7151, would modify the Inter-
modal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act of 1991, known as
ISTEA, to convert US Highway
287 from Texas and Oklahoma
to Limon, and then north along
Colorado 71, to an interstate. ISTOCK
Neither measure has any sup- An aerial view of an intersection of Interstate 25 and Colorado Highway 14 east of Fort Collins.
port from Colorado’s congres-
sional delegation, save for Gard- Bill 97-1. That project turned US avoiding I-25, for example — to bring the facilities up to in- Kiely said that because Texas
ner’s support of the proposed 287 from a two-lane highway to and $55.6 billion in increased terstate standards, and does not and New Mexico were ready
Senate measure. a “super two”: all concrete and economic output. project to have the resources to to get on board, it meant their
The Ports to Plains corri- wide lanes with shoulders of He isn’t sure that CDOT will do accomplish the task in the next portion of the project was ap-
dor has two proposed paths. eight to 12 feet (although not the feasibility study for the US twenty years. CDOT’s current proved for future designation.
The first would go along US wide enough to meet interstate 287 portion. He said he gave a development plan of projects That designation, however, was
87/287/385 from Amarillo, Tex- standards). presentation to CDOT’s Freight is a statewide $4.8 billion plan for the second route, the one
as, north through the Oklaho- Joe Kiely, formerly Limon’s Advisory Council a month ago, that will take optimistically ten that excludes the Eastern Plains
ma panhandle and into Colo- town manager and now the hoping to find support for the years or more to build, and does and wouldn’t help with conges-
rado south of Campos in Baca vice president of operations future interstate. not make significant steps to- tion on I-25 through Colorado,
County. It would then go north for the Ports to Plains Alliance, So who pays for it? The Colo- ward bringing these highways since it would connect to I-25 at
along US 287 to Limon, where it said Monday that in the last rado Department of Transporta- to interstate standards.” Clayton, New Mexico.
connects with I-70. From there, two years, traffic has increased tion took the lead on the project Those standards, according to Gardner, in his statement
the interstate would go north along US 287 to the point that in 2004, with a “corridor devel- the Federal Aid Highway Act of Sept. 28, said Ports to Plains “is
on Colorado 71 to the Colora- 60% of it is trucks. opment and management plan.” 1956, include “design speeds of key to Colorado’s connectivity
do-Nebraska state line south of Kiely explained that the na- At that time, the project’s cost 50 to 70 miles per hour (depend- and the movement of goods,
Scottsbluff, as well as connect- tional highway system is about was estimated at $1.9 billion, ing on type of terrain), a mini- and it’s important we under-
ing with I-76. A feasibility study 5% of the national miles of with Colorado responsible for mum of two travel lanes in each stand and consider our long-
by CDOT released in May said roadway, which includes U.S. $474.7 million. Colorado’s share direction, 12-foot lane widths, term infrastructure needs in the
that the Colorado 71 extension, highways as well as interstates. is now estimated at $3 billion. 10-foot right paved shoulder, future. I appreciate the work of
known as the Heartland Ex- Interstates carry 55% of the That most likely means the fed- and 4-foot left paved shoulder.” local stakeholders to support
pressway, would reduce traffic traffic, largely through rural eral government will have to The kinds of improvements the corridor, and I will continue
on I-25 by 1,100 trucks per day. parts of the country, connecting pick up the tab. needed to bring US 287 and Col- my efforts to support Colorado’s
The second proposed route goods and people between ur- But Colorado’s recent support orado 71 to interstate standards infrastructure needs at the fed-
would avoid Eastern Colorado al- ban areas. for the project is on the soft are not in CDOT’s current de- eral level.”
together. The route veers off US Rural connectors, such as in- side. When Democratic Rep. velopment plan, known as the Cathy Shull of Pro 15, a mem-
287 at Dumas, Texas, and heads terstates, are very important to Peter DeFazio of Oregon, chair State Transportation Improve- ber of the Alliance board of
west along US 87 to Clayton, the economy, and an interstate of the House Transportation ment Program (STIP). directors, said the Ports-to-
New Mexico, on to Raton and would dramatically benefit Col- and Infrastructure Committee, Lew’s June 24 letter also in- Plains Corridor would “bring
then on to I-25, and without any orado’s Eastern Plains, he said. asked the states in the Ports to dicated the state might oppose a significant economic impact
reduction in truck traffic on I-25. The next step is feasibility Plain project to submit letters federal funding for the Ports to to the region as well as safe-
The idea of the Ports-to-Plains studies. Texas has just finished of support, which he wanted Plains interstate if it was an “ear- ty improvements for travelers
interstate is not a new one. It its study that would look at to include in the bill, Texas and mark” that didn’t fit within the on I-25. Once completed, the
was designated by Congress in costs and benefits, pick a route New Mexico didn’t hesitate, STIP. While projects for passing infrastructure will alleviate
1998 as a “high priority corri- and figure out where “relief Kiely said. Colorado doesn’t op- lanes on US 287 and Colorado 71 heavy congestion by redirecting
dor” on the national highway routes” need to go. Those could pose the project, but it doesn’t are part of the current STIP, up- freight traffic east, paving the
system, and with the recent ex- be critical in southeastern Col- support it, either. grades to interstate standards are way for future economic de-
tension of NAFTA it became an orado, given that US 287 runs CDOT’s June 24 letter to De- not. “Importantly, CDOT would velopment in eastern Colorado
even greater priority. right through the middle of a Fazio said that “communities oppose earmarks if proposed as and increasing the productivity
Colorado’s biggest contribu- half-dozen towns, including along the proposed route across part of the next [federal] surface of drivers transporting Colora-
tion began that same year by Springfield, Lamar, Eads and rural eastern Colorado have authorization bill and believes it do exported goods to Mexico
widening US 287 from Limon Hugo. strongly supported this desig- is important to prioritize funds and Canada.”
to the Oklahoma state line, in- Kiely said that the Texas nation.” However, CDOT Exec- for projects that have been fully This is just one step in a very
cluded in the same funding as study showed that the inter- utive Director Shoshana Lew studied from both an economic long process, Shull told Colorado
the Denver TREX project and state would pay for itself, with said, “CDOT does not have the and environmental standpoint,” Politics Sept. 28. It could be five
with funding through Senate $4.1 billion in travel savings — roughly $3 billion it would cost Lew wrote. years or it could be 30, she said.
48 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

Boulder adjusts health

order after complaints
BY HANNAH METZGER
Colorado Politics
Boulder County Public Health pulled
back on its order prohibiting gatherings
of 18- to 22-year-olds Sept. 28, citing
safety concerns from University of Col-
orado students.
Public Health Order 2020-07 was
amended to prohibit gatherings of more
than two college-aged people instead of
the original prohibition of gatherings of
more than one person.
Many argued the original order put
CU students in danger, especially
women.
“Any woman who has lived in Boulder
for any stretch of time can attest to the
fact that Boulder is not a safe place for
women to travel alone on foot, especial-
ly at night,” the CU Boulder Representa-
tive Council said in a statement Sept. 27.
“As long as the young women of this
University must fear for their safety, the
City of Boulder has no right to prohibit
them from taking even a single com-
panion with them as they walk their
dog, exercise or carry out any number
of essential activities.”
The newly allowed two-person gath-
erings must follow public health laws
concerning face coverings and social
distancing.
The public health order update also al-
lows “Stay-At-Home Residents,” defined
as high-risk transmitters of COVID-19,
to leave their property for essential
activities or for purposes required by
law, such as moving their car to avoid a
parking ticket.
The update also permits participation
in activities that are required by law or
serve adults with disabilities, including
jury duty, court orders, employment
and permitted educational activities.
This allows for participation in “any
life rites” such as wedding ceremonies,
graduation ceremonies, religious/wor-
ship services and funerals if the events
are authorized by and conducted in
strict compliance with Colorado De-
partment of Public Health and Environ-
ment public health orders.
Stay-At-Home Residents are still pro-
hibited from using any forms of public
transportation or ridesharing under the
public health order, even when travel-
ing to essential activities.
The CU council’s statement took is-
sue with the transportation restriction,
pointing to students without cars who
rely on friends or public transportation
to get to work and run errands.
“The City of Boulder has a habit of
treating CU students like a problem to
be dealt with,” the council said in its
statement. “The rise in positive cases
needs to be curbed, this is not in dis-
pute. However, the City of Boulder’s
approach to doing so is dehumanizing,
plain and simple.”
The full amended order is available at
bouldercounty.org.
Bustang is an intercity bus service that began in 2015 in Colorado.
CDOT seeks public input
on Pueblo-Trinidad route
BY MICHAEL KARLIK
Colorado Politics
The Colorado Department of
Transportation is seeking the pub-
lic’s input on a proposed bus route
between Pueblo and Trinidad start-
ing next summer.
“We want to hear directly from
those who plan to use these routes
to make sure we’re providing the
best service possible and helping
to improve transportation connec-
tions across the state,” said David
Krutsinger, CDOT’s director of the
division of transit and rail. “The
feedback we receive will give us
the vital information we need to
plan these routes in a way that it
meets the needs of our rural com-
munities.”
The survey solicits individuals’
THE GAZETTE FILE
suggestions for where to place
scheduled Bustang Outrider stops
along the route, as well as flag stops
around major intersections where
drivers can stop upon request.
Fares will range from $4 to $14, de-
pending on distance traveled.
The Pueblo-Trinidad route is one
of three that CDOT intends to de-
but next year. The others include
Craig to Denver in early 2021, Tellu-
ride to Grand Junction in the sum-
mer, and Sterling to Greeley, also in
the summer.
CDOT operates four Outrider seg-
ments currently, whose purpose is
in part to provide transportation
options to rural residents and con-
nections to more populous areas.
The survey will accept responses
through Oct. 31.

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OUT WEST ROUNDUP
NEW MEXICO
Organizers aim to save
spirit of balloon fiesta
ALBUQUERQUE • Fall in Albu-
querque just isn’t fall without the
annual international hot air balloon
fiesta, with its massive morning
ascensions filling the skies with
colorful balloons from around the
globe as spectators watch from the
packed launch field below.
Organizers had to cancel this
year’s event due to the coronavirus
pandemic, but Mayor Tim Keller
said Sept. 23 he wants to keep the
tradition alive for residents by invit-
ing local pilots to lift off from city
parks, golf courses and other open
spaces during the first full week of
October.
Keller said the question was how
Albuquerque could maintain its
traditions despite the limits that
COVID-19 has placed on social
interactions and large gatherings
like the balloon fiesta. He pointed
to the city’s Fourth of July celebra-
tion, saying the dispersed fireworks
displays at different spots around
town served as a model for how the
city could keep the spirit of the bal-
loon fiesta alive with smaller scale
launches.
Balloons will be widely spaced
when preparing to launch, and
balloon crews will be limited to five
people. Albuquerque police also
plan to patrol to ensure traffic is
smooth and that people are ob-
serving social distancing and mask
requirements.
Despite the small launches being
planned by the city, the cancelation
of this year’s fiesta is expected to
have economic consequences. In
2019, the event drew nearly 600
balloons from across the nation and
17 foreign countries, attracted more
than 866,000 visitors over nine
days and generated an estimated
economic impact on the Albuquer-
que area of more than $186 million
and $6.5 million in tax revenues for
the state.
Biologists seek help to
investigate bird die-off
ALBUQUERQUE • Biologists are
asking the public for help as they
investigate a statewide die-off
among migratory birds in New
Mexico.
The state Game and Fish Depart-
ment is working with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and other
agencies to determine the num-
ber of deaths and reason for the
occurrence. They’re asking people
to use the iNaturalist app to upload
photos and other information to
help track the event.
Biologists with the state agency
have collected about 300 samples
from the public and partner agen-
cies since issuing the call. The sam-
ples are being sent to the National
Wildlife Health Center for testing.
Migratory song birds such as
warblers and swallows account for
most of the birds that have been
collected so far.
Dead birds have been reported in
the Taos area and at Valles Calde-
ra National Preserve in the north
to the cottonwood forest along
the Rio Grande to southern New
A balloon is inflated at the 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 5 in Albuquerque, N.M. Or-
ganizers had to cancel this year’s event because of the pandemic, but Mayor Tim Keller is inviting local pilots
are being invited to launch from city parks, golf courses and other open spaces.
Mexico. Experts say residents have
reported birds dying in groups and
living birds exhibiting lethargic and
unusual behavior such as not eat-
ing, flying low or gathering on the
ground and being hit by vehicles.
Scott Carleton, the migratory bird
chief with the Fish and Wildlife
Service’s Southwest Region, said the
agency believes the recent mortali-
ties in New Mexico are attributable
to a fast-moving, severe cold front
that pushed into the region, seeing
temperatures drop as much as 40
degrees in a few hours.
UTAH
U.S. asked to delay
decision on tapping river
SALT LAKE CITY • Facing opposi-
tion from six states that rely on the
Colorado River for water for their
cities and farms, Utah asked the
federal government to delay a fast-
track approval process for build-
ing an underground pipeline that
would transport billions of gallons
of water to the southwest part of
the state.
Utah cited the need to consider
roughly 14,000 public comments on
a draft environmental impact state-
ment, released in June by the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation, for the Lake
Powell pipeline project. The project
would deliver water 140 miles from
Lake Powell in northern Arizona to
the growing area surrounding St.
George, Utah.
Those comments include a letter
Sept. 8 from water officials in Ari-
zona, California, Colorado, Nevada,
New Mexico and Wyoming urging
the U.S. government to halt the
approval process. They warned of
“multiyear litigation” over the proj-
ect that could complicate talks over
the future of the Colorado River,
which serves 40 million people in
the West.
Todd Adams, director of the Utah
Division of Water Resources, said
an extension would allow time to
October 2, 2020
review the comments and update
the environmental impact state-
ment, The Salt Lake Tribune report-
ed Friday. Utah made the request
Sept. 25.
The Bureau of Reclamation had
been expected to issue an updated
environmental impact statement by
November with a final decision in
January.
MONTANA
Lawyers eye neo-Nazi
website founder’s assets
Attorneys for a Montana real
estate agent are eyeing the assets
of a neo-Nazi website operator to
collect a $14 million court judgment
against the man for an anti-Semitic
online “troll storm” that he orches-
trated against the Jewish woman
and her family, court filings show.
More than a year has passed since
a federal judge in Montana entered
a default judgment against Andrew
Anglin, the Daily Stormer’s founder
and publisher. Plaintiffs’ lawyers
say the Ohio native has failed to pay
any of the monetary award to Tanya
Gersh.
Gersh’s attorneys from the South-
ern Poverty Law Center say they
intend to identify any of Anglin’s
assets that could be used to satisfy
the judgment. Trying to seize An-
glin’s assets will be “time-consum-
ing and extremely complex” given
his lack of cooperation and history
of holding assets in cryptocurrency
rather than more traditional forms,
law center lawyers wrote in a filing
last month.
Genocide, Holocaust education
bill passes House
In August 2019, U.S. District Judge
Dana Christensen ordered Anglin
to pay $4 million in compensatory
damages and $10 million in puni-
tive damages to Gersh.
In the lawsuit she filed in Mon-
tana against Anglin in April 2017,
Gersh says anonymous internet
trolls bombarded her family with
Colorado Politics 49
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
hateful and threatening messages
after Anglin published their person-
al information, including a photo of
her young son. In a string of posts,
Anglin accused Gersh and other
Jewish residents of Whitefish, Mon-
tana, of engaging in an “extortion
racket” against the mother of white
nationalist Richard Spencer.
KANSAS
Capitol meditation room
moved to create space
TOPEKA • Democratic Gov. Laura
Kelly has moved a Kansas State-
house meditation room created by
Republicans as a place for prayer
and reflection to a less-visible space
to create more room for her staff to
social distance during the coronavi-
rus pandemic.
The new meditation room is on the
building’s basement floor, down an
out-of-the-way hall in what used to
be a room set aside but only occa-
sionally used for shooting videos and
television interviews. A visitor must
go through double doors marked
as an exit, and pieces of scaffolding
and two unused security scanning
machines are stored in the hall.
Sand Creek monument at state
Capitol may finally find a home
Until earlier in September, the
meditation space was on the State-
house’s second floor, where Kelly
and her staff have their offices. It
now houses the desks of three
governor’s office constituent-services
staffers.
Senate President Susan Wagle, a
Wichita Republican and frequent
Kelly critic, called the change
“sad” and suggested the governor
“increased government so much
that staffers need to take over a
long-standing room for prayer.”
The old room’s chairs and couches
migrated to the new space, along
with a white flag featuring a picture
of a pine tree under “An appeal to
heaven.”
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
50 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

focus on denver
More changes coming on group living proposal
BY ALAYNA ALVAREZ
Colorado Politics
A proposal that would change
Denver’s zoning rules to raise
the number of people who can
share a home is expected to be
scaled back, again, following
fierce opposition from the ma-
jority of Denver City Council
members, who in early Septem-
ber urged city planners to hit the
brakes for further discussion.
“Seven of us twice requested
when COVID hit that this be
slowed down because the pub-
lic engagement had been cut
off precipitously,” District 2
Councilman Kevin Flynn scold-
ed chief city planner Andrew
Webb on Sept. 1. “Instead, you
forged ahead without regard to
the fact that, from that point
on, the public could only react
to what was drawn up rather
than having authentic input
into what would be drawn up.”
Under the current plan —
which has been in the works
for nearly three years — the
number of allowable unrelated
occupants would rise from two
to five, along with any number
of their relatives. A maximum
of 10 unrelated adults would be
allowed in houses 2,600 square
feet or larger.
However, now faced with
mounting backlash from the
council and some residents
who fear what’s proposed could
threaten the safety and char-
acter of their neighborhoods,
Denver’s Community Planning
and Development Department
has agreed to explore alter-
natives in collaboration with
council members.
Among CPD’s considerations
are lowering the base number
of five unrelated adults; cap-
A member of the public speaks in opposition to Denver’s proposed group living project on
March 4 at the Scheitler Recreation Center. In the background, Denver’s senior city planner
Andrew Webb listens before addressing the speaker’s concerns.
ping the number of adults who
can share a home, regardless
of their relationship; mandat-
ing a zoning permit for larger
households to ensure parking
and fire safety requirements
are met; and allowing larger
households by bedroom instead
of square feet.
“We’ll also look to some oth-
er ideas that have been offered
up to us as well, including po-
tentially a separate use type for
houses of unrelated adults and
those with related adults,” Webb
told City Council’s Land Use,
Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture Committee on Sept. 29.
Webb and his team are sched-
uled to meet with the LUTI
Committee five more times over
the next two months to dive
deeper into the details of the
plan, which council members
ALAYNA ALVAREZ, COLORADO POLITICS
have criticized for its lack of for more housing options is key
community input, particularly to addressing our city’s hous-
from people of color, as well as ing needs, and that need for
its complexity and vast scope. those housing options has only
The proposal not only applies grown more urgent in the wake
to households, but also impacts of COVID-19,” Mayor Michael
residential care and communi- Hancock said in a statement
ty corrections facilities, as well Aug. 19. “It’s more important
as homeless shelters and half- than ever that we have a zoning
way houses. code that reflects how people
The goal, planners have said live now, as well as the values
from the beginning, is to in- of the more equitable city we
crease flexibility and housing want to live in.”
options for residents living City data shows the median
in Denver — deemed the sec- income in Denver increased
ond-most gentrified city in the less than 10% annually between
country — to streamline per- 2005 and 2018, while rents
mitting processes for providers; started growing faster in 2010
and to make it easier for those and rose about 13% every year
experiencing homelessness, between 2015 and 2018. Mean-
trying to get sober or who have while, there are nearly 4,200
other special needs to live and unhoused residents in Denver,
access services. according to the latest Point-in-
“Opening new opportunities Time count conducted in Janu-
ary.
Most Denverites agree that
the city is in desperate need of
more affordable housing. But
many residents argue that this
group living proposal would
do more harm than good, lead-
ing to unsafe neighborhoods,
scarce parking, unfamiliar
neighbors and negative im-
pacts on property values.
Still, some city leaders say that
those fears and complaints —
which, for months, have flood-
ed the ears of council members
and city planners — may be
drowning out other, more mar-
ginalized voices who could ben-
efit from the proposal.
District 3 Councilwoman Ja-
mie Torres, for example, sees a
trend as she’s responded to and
analyzed the neighborhoods
talking about retaining “the
look and feel” of their com-
munity: “They’re not people of
color who are chiming into my
inbox to reject this proposal.”
Torres’ district in west Denver
alone has lost about 4,000 resi-
dents over the last three years,
she said, because they can no
longer afford to live there.
“I need every option on the
table when I’m thinking about
how to keep folks housed in
District 3,” she told Webb. “I
can’t get caught up in what
CPD determines is a family
relationship and what isn’t.
Because they need a roof over
their head.”
The last scheduled group liv-
ing meeting between CPD and
the council’s LUTI Committee
is slated for Dec. 1, when the
committee is expected to take
action on the proposal and de-
termine whether to refer it to
the full City Council for a vote.

Outdoor patio program to stay for one more year

BY ALAYNA ALVAREZ
Colorado Politics
Denver’s outdoor patio ex-
pansion program, a lifeline for
many restaurant and bar own-
ers throughout the pandem-
ic, will be extended through
October 2021, city leaders an-
nounced Sept. 29.
The initiative launched May
18 to temporarily allow restau-
rants and bars to utilize adja-
cent outdoor space — including
parking lots, streets and side-
walks — to resume sit-down
service while maintaining phys-
ical distancing amid the corona-
virus pandemic. The program
was initially scheduled to expire
Sept. 7 but was extended in July
through Halloween in anticipa-
tion of a second outbreak.
Now, after facing mounting
pressure from the business
community to keep the pro-
gram going, the city will stretch
it by another year.
“We’re proud this program
has been a lifeblood for ex-
panded serving capacity to help
keep Denver businesses open
and their employees working,”
Mayor Michael Hancock said
in a statement. “We will work
with restaurants and bars on
creative models that allow them
to extend this program through
the cold weather months, while
maintaining the strenuous
protections in place to prevent
COVID-19 transmission.”
The news comes as a relief to
the restaurant industry, and at a
critical time.
“We’re grateful to the City of
Denver for extending the out-
door expansion program for a
year,” Sonia Riggs, CEO of the
Colorado Restaurant Associ-
ation, told Colorado Politics.
“Continued capacity restric-
tions mean that restaurants are
facing a difficult winter, and
need as much help as possible
to survive into the spring.”
At least 333 businesses in
Denver have been approved to
expand their outdoor capacity,
amounting to more than $1.6
million in waived street occu-
pancy fees to make the program
more affordable for applicants.
The city has also approved at
least nine street closures to
support patio expansions, in-
cluding at Larimer Square in
downtown Denver, and contin-
ues to accept applications on a
rolling basis.
This winter, however, restau-
rants and bars will be chal-
lenged to find ways to keep
their patrons warm outside.
“It comes to the question of
how do you winterize those pa-
tios? How do you offer space
heaters?” said Eric Hiraga,
executive director of Denver
Economic Development and
Opportunity, who also leads the
Economic Relief and Recovery
Council, an advisory group cre-
ated in response to COVID-19
that’s leading this effort.
The state recently released
new guidance around winter
patios, which detailed ways to
construct temporary structures
that could help maintain heat.
“Those investments will be
significant, however, in a time
when restaurants are strapped
for cash,” Riggs said, “so we
continue to push for financial
assistance at all levels of gov-
ernment to help operators deal
with costs.”
The city is exploring ways it
could help fund winter equip-
ment, Hiraga said in late Au-
gust. For example, supplies like
heaters could be funded using
the second round of the city’s
small business relief grants,
which he said will be deployed
in the coming months upon
Denver City Council’s approval.
The revised patio expansion
rules will allow businesses not
impacting the public right of
way to request a 120-day exten-
sion past Oct. 31, 2021. Those
that have outstretched into the
public right of way can request
a 90-day extension past Hallow-
een, which will give Denver’s
Department of Transportation
and Infrastructure time to re-
view street, sidewalk, alley,
parking and travel lane closures
associated with the program.
That’s not the only change of-
fered in the extended outdoor
dining program, however.
Under new rules, businesses
can apply for additional ex-
tensions, after they’ve been
approved for their 90- or 120-
day extension. The city will
also consider permanent ex-
pansions and is encouraging
restaurants and bar owners
who want to make the leap to
get started on the application
process this fall.
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 51

Protest report from watchdog coming soon

BY ALAYNA ALVAREZ
Colorado Politics
Denver’s Office of the Inde-
pendent Monitor, a watchdog
agency over the police and
sheriff departments, is in the
final stages of its investigation
into the Denver Police Depart-
ment’s responses to the George
Floyd demonstrations.
The investigation was taken
on after Denver City Council
members sent a letter in June
urging the oversight agency
to examine DPD’s use of tear
gas, less-than-lethal bullets
and other unwarranted force
against peaceful demonstra-
tors and the media during pro-
tests sparked by the death of
Floyd, a Black man who died in
custody of white Minneapolis
police officers.
“We’re now in the process of
comparing our findings and
conclusions, digesting what all
this information means, how
it all sort of hangs together,”
Independent Monitor Nicho-
las Mitchell told Denver City
Council members during bud-
get hearings Sept. 24.
“It’s a lessons-learned review,”
he explained. “We are looking
at use-of-force issues, among
others, but it is focused on big-
ger-picture policy and proce-
dure and practice issues.”
Specific acts of misconduct
are investigated within the po-
lice department through DPD’s
Internal Affairs Bureau, inves-
tigations Mitchell said are still
ongoing.
Mitchell’s staff has spent the
last several months pouring
over “hundreds and hundreds
and hundreds” of hours of po-
lice body-worn camera, street
security camera footage, he-
licopter videos, cell phone
footage, audio records, officer
statements, crowd dispersal
orders, training of officers in-
volved, less-lethal equipment
dispersed and more.
The OIM also sought informa-
tion from Denver Health and the
Denver fire and sheriff depart-
ments, as well as documentation
from outside jurisdictions, to
understand their involvement
during demonstrations.
To get the work done, Mitch-
ell’s nimble team of five deputy
monitors spent weekends and
nights going over the infor-
mation, putting them under
“tremendous strain” and re-
sulting in “less active monitor-
ing” of investigations that have
cropped up since the racial jus-
tice protests.
Several council members
expressed their desire to
strengthen the manpower be-
hind the oversight agency,
which currently staffs 15.5 full-
time employees and plans to
maintain those staffing levels
in 2021.
The agency’s proposed bud-
get of nearly $1.9 million next
year reflects a slight decrease
compared to what was allocat-
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ed in 2020, but no changes to
the office’s operational or per-
sonnel budget will be changed.
The OIM was also spared
from deep budget cuts man-
dated this year and next across
most city agencies due to the
pandemic-induced recession.
Preserving the agency’s funds
was a “deliberate” decision,
“recognizing some of the pres-
sures” the office is feeling, said
city budget director Stephanie
Karayannis Adams.
Adams said the OIM has been
a “full participant” in the bud-
get process, and that no bud-
get expansions were proposed
by the OIM next year, which is
Denver Police
fire pepper balls
during a protest
May 30 out-
side the state
Capitol over the
death of George
Floyd in Denver.
Protests were
held in U.S.
cities over the
death of Floyd,
a black man
who died after
being restrained
by Minneapolis
police officers
on May 25.
partly why none were granted.
Council members Candi Cde-
Baca, Stacie Gilmore, Chris
Hinds, Robin Kniech and Ja-
mie Torres all expressed sup-
port for expanding the person-
nel budget for the OIM.
Several council members also
supported the budget request
from the Citizens Oversight
Board, which oversees the
OIM, and is asking for funding
for one full-time employee.
The deadline for City Council
members to submit changes to
the proposed budget is on or
before Oct. 6. The budget must
be finalized and approved by
City Council by Nov. 9.

RTD finalizes contract Archbishop leads prayer

with incoming CEO at Boulder abortion clinic
BY MICHAEL KARLIK
Colorado Politics
“It is not possible to be a Catholic in
BY MICHAEL KARLIK
Colorado Politics
The announcement came one day good standing and support abortion
after the international president of Archbishop of Denver Samuel J. Aq- or assisted suicide, to promote unnat-
The Regional Transportation Dis- Amalgamated Transit Union, which uila led a prayer outside of the Boul- ural sexuality, or to seek to push peo-
trict’s board of directors has conclud- represents thousands of RTD employ- der Abortion Clinic on Sept. 23 as ple of faith out of the public square,”
ed contract negotiations with its in- ees, wrote to the Polis administration part of the Catholic Church’s advoca- the archbishop wrote.
coming CEO, with a start date of Nov. requesting the use of highway fund- cy for a ballot initia- Although he did not mention Dem-
9 and an annual salary of $315,000. ing to fill a budget hole for which the tive seeking to limit ocratic presidential candidate Joe
“I look forward to agency is considering hundreds of reproductive rights. Biden by name, church leaders have
working collabora- worker layoffs. “The media and debated how to respond to Catholic
tively with the great “We have therefore been urging society, and many politicians who are pro-choice and
men and women governors to use all of their available politicians put out support same-sex marriage, as Biden
who keep RTD mov- tools to maintain transit service and the lie and the false does.
ing 365 days a year, avoid layoffs while we wait for an- premise that Catho- Aquila’s column appeared one day
seven days a week, other federal COVID bill. It has been Samuel J. lics only care about before President Donald Trump nom-
24 hours a day,” our experience that the best way for Aquila the unborn. That is inated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to
Debra said Debra Johnson, states to preserve bus and rail service not true. That is a to- the vacant U.S. Supreme Court seat.
Johnson whom the board during temporary funding shortfalls tal lie,” he said to a crowd of approxi- Some Republicans have accused the
hired last month. “I is by flexing federal highway funds mately 20 attendees, according to the opposition to Barrett’s fast-tracked
will stand with the men and women for transit,” wrote John A. Costa of Denver Catholic. nomination as indicative of “an-
of the organization and have my sal- the ATU. Proposition 115 would generally ti-Catholic bigotry” or “intolerance”
ary temporarily adjusted as we navi- “Given your long record in support ban abortions after the gestational of her faith. Aquila compared modern
gate the year ahead.” of public transportation, we urge the age of the fetus reaches 22 weeks. critiques of Catholicism to the tactics
Johnson is the current CEO of Long Colorado Department of Transpor- The measure imposes penalties on of the Ku Klux Klan.
Beach Transit in Southern California tation to take advantage of several doctors who perform such abortions, “The attacks on Catholics have shift-
who has 25 years of transportation flexible funding programs offered by but would not criminalize the women ed from the 19th century discrimina-
experience. Paul J. Ballard, who has the U.S. DOT to fund transit related who seek them. tion and claims that we can’t be loyal
been RTD’s interim leader since Feb- activities.” Aquila also referenced the subject citizens, to the recent assertions that
ruary, received a salary of $350,000. The governor’s office did not have in a column in which he told Catho- Catholics are judgmental and hateful
The board approved the contract on an immediate response to the re- lics more broadly that “religious free- towards women and sexual minori-
Sept. 29 by a 13-1 vote. quest. dom is on your ballot.” ties,” Aquila warned.
52 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

COLORADO ROUNDUP

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

The Olympic rings for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 pass
by on a barge by tugboats on Aug. 6 off the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo. It’s
been six months since the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until next year by
the COVID-19 pandemic.

STATEWIDE Application period opens for

SHARPEN YOUR House passes legislation
to fund anti-doping agency
PROFESSIONAL EDGE The U.S. House of Representatives on
Tuesday passed a bill to reauthorize
and fund the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency,
the organization that provides drug
testing and education for the United
States Olympic & Paralympic Commit-
tee and other sporting organizations.
“As the host of the 2028 Olympic
Games, it will be our responsibility
to ensure every athlete here is able to
compete on a level playing field,“ said
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, one of the
sponsors of the measure. “This legisla-
tion should send a very clear message
that anyone thinking about cheating
their way onto a podium in 2028 needs
to think twice.”
In its first year, the legislation autho-
rizes $15.5 million to USADA, increas-
ing to $24.9 million by 2028, when
the Summer Olympics will take place
in Los Angeles. The bill also directs
Lynn Bartels Joey Bunch several federal agencies, including the
U.S. Food & Drug Administration and
the attorney general, to cooperate in
prohibiting the use of performance-en-
hancing drugs.
A portion of USADA’s funding will go
toward promoting a “positive youth
sport experience,” which includes edu-
cation about sportsmanship, character
building and healthy performance.
Colorado expands, extends by 220-185approved
crisis counseling program to improve forecasting of wildfire
Colorado’s crisis counseling network smoke.
of mental health paraprofessionals
and professionals added three more
service providers on Monday and
announced that free services would
continue through June 2021.
Ernest Luning Eric Sondermann. The Colorado Spirit Crisis Coun-
seling and Training Program already
had 16 mental health and community
Read Colorado Politics for public policy service providers spanning the Front
Range, the San Luis Valley and the
insights from the state’s leading and Western Slope. Now, the Colorado
Department of Public Health and
most authoritative news columnists. Environment will cover the Eastern
Plains, and Solvista Health will serve
four counties immediately to the west Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
of the Front Range.
“These trained crisis counselors are its modeling of wildfire smoke emis-
there to listen and provide support
around the feelings that life during
the pandemic may bring up, such
as worry, sadness, hopelessness, or
anger,” CDPHE advised. “Providers
can also help people understand and
manage stress, develop coping strat-
egies, and connect anyone with other
resources they might need. All services pertained to boosting rural renewable
are free, anonymous, and can be con-
ducted virtually or over the phone.”
state Supreme Court seat
The Judicial Department has opened
the application period for the Supreme
Court seat of Chief Justice Nathan
B. Coats, who will leave the bench in
January upon reaching the mandatory
retirement age.
Pursuant to Colorado’s system
of screening judge applicants, the
15-member Supreme Court Nominating
Commission will accept materials from
interested candidates until 4 p.m. on
Oct. 19. The application for the position,
which pays $188,151 annually, includes
extensive questions about an applicant’s
professional and personal biography.
Only qualified electors who have been
licensed to practice law in Colorado for
the preceding five years are eligible.
The commission will meet on Nov. 5-6
to screen applications and interview
candidates. They will select three final-
ists for Gov. Jared Polis, who will then
appoint the justice within 15 days.
The appointee will serve a provisional
two-year term and undergo an eval-
uation by a citizen-led performance
commission. Voters will have the oppor-
tunity to retain the justice for a 10-year
term in 2022.
House OK’s clean energy bill
with wildfire amendment
The U.S. House of Representatives on
Thursday a clean energy bill
that contained a provision
“As wildfires continue to burn across
the Western United States, we must
make federal investments to provide
tools and data to keep communities
safe,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, who
was one of the amendment’s sponsors.
“Additionally, as COVID-19 continues
to impact our communities, we are
experiencing the convergence of two
monumental threats. We must remain
focused on keeping people healthy by
understanding the true impact of acute
air pollution and COVID-19 together.”
The amendment gives the National
tion $20 million per year to enhance
sions and movement. There is also a
directive for multiple federal agen-
cies to study the effects from chronic
exposure to wildfire pollution “in the
context of responding to the COVID–19
pandemic.” The underlying legislation
is known as the Clean Economy Jobs
and Innovation Act, and originally
energy capacity.
COLORADO POLITICS

COGCC inks 2,000-foot setback for drilling
BY DENNIS HUSPENI
Special to Colorado Politics
The Colorado Oil & Gas Con-
servation Commission on Sept.
28 approved a “preliminary
final vote” establishing new
2,000-foot setback rules for
drilling and fracking operations
statewide.
“Preliminary,” however, is
mostly a formality — Commis-
sion Chairman Jeff Robbins
confirmed the setback rule is
final, but all of the rule chang-
es must be adopted at once in
a final vote, expected by Nov. 1.
Commissioners closed the re-
cord on drafting and finalizing
those rules, meaning they will
stop taking evidence and hear-
ing testimony, which they’ve
been accepting since Fall 2019.
Robbins said he and a ma-
jority of commissioners deter-
mined the new setback rules
met all three requirements set
forth by Colorado law to guide
oil and gas industry regulation,
the first being to “provide sub-
stantially equivalent protec-
tions for public health, safety
Reaction to decision: Almost no one is happy
BY MARIANNE GOODLAND
Colorado Politics
Reaction to the “preliminary,
final” vote on setbacks between
occupied buildings and oil and
gas drilling sites shows that al-
most nobody — whether those
who pushed for a longer set-
back or those who wanted it
shorter — is happy.
The Colorado Oil and Gas
Conservation Commission
Sept. 28 voted to approve a
2,000-foot setback for drilling
and fracking operations, after
weeks of testimony from en-
vironmental groups, industry
representatives and local gov-
ernments, both those in favor
of the longer setback and those
who want local governments to
have the final say.
A formal, final vote on the
setbacks, part of the COGCC’s
work to implement Senate Bill
19-181, is expected by Nov. 1.
SB181 rewrote the state’s posi-
tion on the oil and gas industry,
revamping the COGCC from a
body that was supposed to fos-
ter oil and gas development to
one that regulates oil and gas in
a manner that protects public
health, safety, welfare, wildlife
and the environment.
The most controversial of the
rules to date have been about
the setback requirement, which
requires 2,000 feet between an
platform and occupied build-
ings, including homes and
schools.
Among those who testified
during the last four weeks of
hearings: Erin Martinez, whose
husband and brother died in
the explosion of their Firestone
home in 2017. That explosion
was caused by methane gas
A pumpjack near residences in Frederick in 2018.
and welfare.”
The rules are being changed
and established by the COGCC,
which was modified by Senate
Bill 19-181. That law changed the
group’s mission from a body that
Oil and natural gas operations occur in proximity to homes in a new Protect Colorado ad
released Sept. 25, 2020.
that leaked into the Martinez’s
basement from an improperly
abandoned flowline owned by
Kerr-McGee, a subsidiary of Oc-
cidental Petroleum. Last April,
the COGCC approved $18 mil-
lion in fines for the accident.
Through a spokeswoman,
Martinez told Colorado Poli-
tics that she is “encouraged by
the commitment to the 2,000-
foot residential setback to en-
sure public safety. The COGCC
should be commended for their
thoughtful work in moving to
a more balanced future for the
oil and gas industry and the
health and safety for the people
in Colorado. If there had been a
2,000-foot setback, my husband
Mark and brother Joey would
still be with us. I look forward
to continuing to work together
to make safety our top priority
and honoring the lives of my
husband and brother.”
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
advocated for oil and gas devel-
opment to one that regulates
“the responsible development
and production” of oil and gas
in a manner that protects public
health, safety and welfare, wild-
In 2018, voters rejected Prop-
osition 112, which would have
put the setback distance at
2,500 feet. That didn’t stop
environmental groups from
continuing to press the issue
during the past month.
Colorado Rising’s Joe Sala-
zar, the main proponent of
112, said Sept. 28 that “based
on the language all the parties
received just moments ago, we
are extremely disappointed
that the COGCC failed to listen
to outdoor industry and envi-
ronmental groups, including
ours, that requested a removal
of language allowing the COG-
CC to reduce setback limits to
500 feet.
“We also warned the COGCC
not to include variance lan-
guage in its rules,” Salazar said.
“Literally, Colorado courts have
noted that variances are ba-
sically a license to break the
October 2, 2020
life and the environment. It also
changed the commission from
a volunteer body to a full-time
professional one.
The new setback rules in-
crease the distance from the
current 500 feet that opera-
tions must be located from
homes and most any occupied
structure, including schools.
The new rules take effect Jan.
1, 2021. Any existing permit
applications filed, but not con-
forming to the new rules, must
be refiled under the new rules.
Commission Director Julie
Murphy said during the hearings
Sept. 28 there’s a “large backlog
of permits filed” that have not
been approved, and the staff has
been asking operators to prior-
itize the most viable ones. She
could not estimate how many
pending permits would have to
be re-filed to conform with the
new setback rules.
Robbins praised staff and
commissioners for taking evi-
dence and testimony from a “di-
verse group” of 93 stakeholders.
Republicans, the Colorado
COURTESY OF PROTECT COLORADO
law. SB 19-181 does not give the
COGCC the authority to give the
industry a license to break the
law when protections are set in
place. Do not be surprised if the
COGCC receives a legal chal-
lenge to its variance language.”
The oil and gas industry
wasn’t happy with the vote, ei-
ther.
Lynn Granger, executive di-
rector of American Petroleum
Institute/Colorado told Col-
orado Politics in a statement
that “while we appreciate some
changes made as this rulemak-
ing has progressed, we contin-
ue to have broad and grave con-
cerns regarding a number of
the rules tentatively advanced
today. The rules proposed
would set a troublesome prec-
edent, giving untethered dis-
cretion to the Director and the
Commission regarding when a
permit will be approved or re-
Colorado Politics 53
Cattlemen’s Association and
some industry representatives
had harsh criticism for the
group last week, saying that the
rule “would be a de facto ban
on drilling for oil and gas in
Colorado.”
Those industry advocates
have repeatedly cited a study
done in 2018 showing a 2,500-
foot setback would render some
85 percent of private, non-fed-
eral, undevelopable.
Robbins said during a confer-
ence call with reporters Sept.
28 that commissioners didn’t
agree with the study’s findings.
“There was sufficient evidence
and testimony that the 2,000-
foot setbacks, with the off
ramps, is the appropriate place
to be,” Robbins said.
Republican legislators and in-
dustry proponents have alleged
the commission is circumvent-
ing the will of a majority of
Colorado voters. In 2018, voters
soundly defeated Proposition
112 that called for a minimum
2,500-foot distance requirement
for fracking or drilling wells.
jected. This leaves little room
for certainty, as it would allow
for the rules to be interpreted
subjectively.
“We also maintain that there
is no scientific basis upon
which to effectively quadru-
ple the state’s existing setback
regulations, and fear that its
implementation will yield an
array of unintended conse-
quences. In their deliberations,
Commissioners failed to ac-
count for the multitude of other
regulations being considered,
both at the COGCC and the Air
Quality Control Commission,
that help bolster protections
beyond those allegedly implied
by setbacks. ... Nothing in the
ongoing regulatory sea change
will change that commitment.
We will continue to participate
in the upcoming rulemakings
with those priorities above
all else and are confident that
other parties will do the same.
Data, science and facts must be
the primary drivers in any fu-
ture changes we may see.”
The Colorado Cattlemen’s As-
sociation also reacted to the
vote. “The professionals at the
Oil and Gas Conservation Com-
mission not only overlooked the
interests of the landowners and
royalty owners, but rushed to
close the docket which ensures
our concerns will go unad-
dressed,” said Terry Fankhaus-
er, executive vice president for
CCA. “The Colorado Cattle-
men’s Association, on behalf of
landowners throughout Colora-
do, calls on Governor Polis to
right this wrong and allow for
due process and just consider-
ation of our property rights and
rural vitality.”
54 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

POLITICS CALENDAR
COMPILED BY COLORADO POLITICS

C
olorado Politics’ weekly political calendar will help you find political and public-policy events throughout Colorado. It
includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conven-
tions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances, water meetings,
book signings, county commission hearings, city council meetings and more. As a subscriber, you can submit your own
events for publication to calendar@coloradopolitics.com for free publication on this page. Please include who, what, when,
where and why for each event. (Party designations: R-Republican, D-Democrat, L-Libertarian, G-Green, S-Socialist, U-Union.)
Contact event organizers regarding any location changes or cancellations.

MONDAY, OCT. 5 HD 38 Monthly Meeting, 6:30-8:30 p.m., to

• (R) Jefferson County Republican Party:
Men’s Club, 7-9 a.m., 10151 W. 26th Ave., Wheat
Ridge, contact Fred Holden at 303-421-7619 or
jeffcorepublicanmensclub.org, cost $5.
• (R) Larimer County Republican Party:
Republican Breakfast Club, 7-8:30 a.m., 2842
SE. Frontage Road, Johnstown, cost for breakfast
and meting $10.
• DRCOG: Transportation Advisory Com-
mittee, 1:30 p.m., contact drcog@drcog.org
more more information on call.
• (R) Summit County Republican Party:
Women’s Meeting, 4:30-7 p.m., 2700 Golden
Eagle Road, Silverthorne.
• (R) Summit County Republican Party:
GOP Central Committee, 5:30-7 p.m., 151
Peake One Blvd., Frisco.
• City of Denver: City Council Meeting,
5:30-9 p.m., 1437 Bannock St., Denver.
• (R) Boulder County Republican Party:
W.I.N. Talks, 6:30-8 p.m., 619 Ken Pratt Blvd.,
Longmont.
TUESDAY, OCT. 6
• (R) Collegiate Peaks Republican Women’s
Forum, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 217 Crossman Ave.,
Buena Vista.
• (R) Delta County Republican Party:
Monthly Meeting, 6-7 p.,m., 21987 Austin Road,
Austin, contact Angie Many at 970-210-0948.
• (D) Arapahoe County Democratic Party:
1st Tuesday Action Group-Candidates and
Ballot Measures, 6:30-7:30 p.m., for Zoom call
information contact info@arapahoedems.org.
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist Party:
Immigration Working Group Meeting, 6:30-
8:30 p.m., 1400 N. Lafayette St., Denver.
• (D) Denver Democratic Party: HD 6
Monthly Meeting, 6:30-8:30 p.m., contact
HD6@denverdemocrats.org for Zoom call infor-
mation.
• (D) Boulder County Democratic Par-
ty: Field Leadership Action Group, 6:30-
8:30 p.m., 5735 E. Arapahoe Ave., Boulder.
• (D) Morgan County Democratic Party:
National Popular Vote presented by Sen.
Mike Foote, 7-8 p.m., visit coloradodems.org for
Zoom call link.
• (D) Douglas County Democratic Party:
Castle Rock District Meeting, 7-8:45 p.m.,
email info@douglasdems.org for Zoom call
information.
• (R) Jefferson County Republican Party:
North JeffCo Republican Women, 7-9 p.m.,
9100 100th Ave., Westminster.
GETTY IMAGES
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist Party:
Strategic Campaign Training, 7-9 p.m., regis-
ter at denverdsa.org for the Zoom call training.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7
• (R) Arapahoe County Republican Party:
Breakfast Club, 7-8:30 a.m., 7401 S. Clinton St.,
Englewood, contact Myron Spanier at 303-877-
2940.
• DRCOG: Executive Committee, 3 p.m.,
1001 17th St., Suite 700, Denver.
• DRCOG: Board Work Session, 4 p.m., 1001
17th St., Aspen Conference Room, Denver.
• DRCOG: Performance and Engagement
Committee, 5:30 p.m., 1001 17th St., Douglas Fir
Conference Room, Denver.
• (R) Denver Republican Party: Liberty
on the Rocks, 6-8:30 p.m., 80 S. Madison St.,
Denver.
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist Party:
Orientations WG Admin. Meeting, 6:30-
7:30 p.m., contact info@denverdsa.org for more
information.
• (D) Boulder County Democratic Party:
Longmont Area Democrats Meeting, 6:30-
8 p.m., 2121 Miller Drive, Classroom Bldg.,
Longmont.
• (R) Denver Republican Party: Log Cabin
Republicans Happy Hour, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 629
E. Colfax Ave., Denver.
• (D) Arapahoe County Democratic Party:
register visit https://register.gotowebinar.com/
register/110186866519859723.
• (R) Park County Republican Party:
Monthly Meeting, 7-8 p.m., 880 Bogue St.,
Fairplay.
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist Party:
Housing Justice Committee Monthly Meet-
ing, 7-8:30 p.m., email housing@denverdsa.org
for Zoom meeting information.
• (D) Douglas County Democratic Party:
Finance Committee, 7-8:30 p.m., email info@
douglasdems.org for Zoom call information.
THURSDAY, OCT. 8
• (R) Denver/Jefferson County Republican
Party: Foothills Republicans Club, 11:30 a.m.-
1 p.m., 6255 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, contact
Rick Enstrom at 720-346-6685.
• (R) Montrose County Republican Party:
Central Committee Meeting, 6-7:30 p.m., 930
Colorado Ave., Board Room, Montrose, contact
Scott Riba at 970-596-9998.
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist Party:
Defund Leadership Meeting, 6-7:30 p.m., con-
tact info@denverdsa.org for more information.
• (D) Broomfield County Democratic Party:
Monthly Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m., 280 Spader
Way, Broomfield.
• (R) Denver Republican Party: HD 9
Monthly Meeting, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 3355 S. Mo-
naco Parkway, Denver.
• (R) Denver Republican Party: HD 1
Monthly Meeting, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 5220 W.
Warren Ave., Denver.
• (R) Elbert County Republican Party:
Women’s Meeting, 7-8:30 p.m., 651 Beverly St.,
Elizabeth.
• (D) Arapahoe County Democratic Party:
HD 42 Virtual Monthly Meeting, 7-8:30 p.m.,
email HD42@arapahoedems.org for Google
Meets link.
• (D) Denver Democratic Party: Education
Study Group, 7-8:30 p.m., contact info@denver-
democrats.org for Zoom call information.
• (R) Denver Republican Party: HD 5
Monthly Meeting, 7-8:30 p.m., 221 W. 13th Ave.,
Denver.
FRIDAY, OCT. 9
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist Party:
Steering Committee Meeting, 5-6:30 p.m.,
contact info@denverdsa.org for more informa-
tion.
SEE CALENDAR • PAGE 55

AFP goes all in to put
Barrett on High Court
BY JOEY BUNCH
Colorado Politics
Normally it might come of little notice
that Americans for Prosperity-Colorado
is firmly behind President Trump’s pick
for the high court.
The Colorado chapter said it will roll
out “direct-mail, digital ads and other
tactics” to pressure Gardner and Dem-
ocratic Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet
to get behind the nomination of Judge
Amy Coney Barrett.
The organization also put up a web-
site, UniteForBarrett.com.
The same conservative powerhouse
said last year it would broaden its ap-
peal to Democrats. The organization is
backing Gardner for reelection this year
in a race where he is trailing in a state
that has moved to the left since he nar-
rowly won the seat in 2014.
The Barrett support is aimed at sev-
eral states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, North
Carolina, South Carolina Utah and West
Virginia — states where Trump or Re-
publican candidates for Senate need
help before Election Day.
In January, AFP Action’s Emily Seidel
told CNN, “We’re not looking for Dem-
ocrats. We’re not looking for Republi-
cans. We’re looking for people who are
committed to driving on these policies
that we believe will help improve the
lives of all Americans.”
When Trump announced the nomina-
tion of Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, AFP
promised a seven-figure effort to get
him confirmed.
“AFP directly reached more than one
million Americans in support of Jus-
tice Kavanaugh’s confirmation in 2018
through a combination of door-knock-
ing, phone-banking, and other tactics,”
CALENDAR
FROM PAGE 54
— Party: Liberty Toastmasters-North,
SATURDAY, OCT. 10
• (R) Douglas County Republican
Party: Executive Meeting, 8-9 a.m.,
4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock.
• (R) Weld County Republican
Party: Breakfast Club, 8-9:30 a.m.,
815 7th St., Ft. Lupton, RSVP to John
Kivimaki at 303-828-0262 or Marge
Klein at 303-246-2716.
• (R) Adams County Republican
Party: North Suburban Republican
Forum, 8:30-10:30 a.m., 9998 Grant
St., Thornton, contact Dana West at
303-280-0243.
• (D) Arapahoe County Democratic
Party: Aurora Democratic Breakfast
Forum, 8:30-10:30 a.m., 15350 E. Illiff
Ave., Aurora.
• (R) Denver Republican Party:
Denver Republican Women Month-
ly Meeting, 8:45-11 a.m., 290 E. Speer
Blvd., Media Room, Denver, RSVP at
denvergopwomen.org.
• (R) Arapahoe County Republican
Party: West Arapahoe Republican
Forum, 9:15-11:15 a.m., 2255 W. Berry
Ave., Littleton.
• (D) Denver Democratic Party:
HD 1 Meeting, 9:30-10:30 a.m., email
info@denverdemocrats.org for Zoom
call information.
October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 55
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President
Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S.
Supreme Court.
the organization said in announcing its
support for Barrett.
The latest pick is another lightning
rod for Democrats five weeks before the
election, after Republicans who con-
trolled the Senate in 2016 refused to
hold a hearing for President Obama’s
nomination in 2016 eight months be-
fore the election. The seat was open for Hal Bidlack Jon Caldara
almost 13 months until Colorado’s Neil
Gorsuch was confirmed, without Ben-
net’s vote.
Jesse Mallory, the Colorado director
for the organization, said Barrett should
meet Gardner’s approval.
“Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a highly
qualified judge who defends the Con-
stitution, interprets the law as written,
and protects our freedoms, and is just
the kind of judicial nominee that meets
Sen. Gardner’s criteria,” he said in a
Miller Hudson Paula Noonan
statement. “Our activists proudly throw
their support behind Judge Amy Coney
Barrett and we encourage Sen. Gardner
and Sen. Bennet to commit to her con-
firmation immediately.”
• (D) Adams County Democratic
Party: HD 32 Meeting, 10-11 a.m., 7125
Mariposa St., Denver.
• (L) Boulder County Libertarian
Kelly Sloan Jimmy Sengenberger
10-11:45 a.m., 315 S. Bowen St., Long-
mont.
• (D) Arapahoe County Democratic
Party: HD 3 Meeting, 10:30 a.m.-
12 p.m., contact info@arapahoedems.
Political junkies delight!
org for more information.
• (D) Mesa County Democratic Par- Join in on the debate.
ty: Dine-N-Dems, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 310 N.
7th St., Parking Lot, Grand Junction. Colorado Politics hosts regular opinion columns
• (D) Denver Democratic Party:
GOTV Volunteer Lit Drop, 11 a.m.- from all sides of the aisle from the
1 p.m. and 1-3 p.m., signup at gotv@ state's leading insiders and political experts,
denverdemocrats.org.
• (L) Boulder County Libertarian including Hal Bidlack, Jon Caldara, Miller Hudson,
Party: Longmont Leads with Logic
Weekly Vigil, 1-2 p.m., 600 Main St.,
Paula Noonan, Kelly Sloan and
Longmont. Jimmy Sengenberger.
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist
Party: Chapter Meeting, 2-4 p.m., for
Zoom link visit denverdsa.org or email
info@denverdsa.org.
SUNDAY, OCT. 11
• (D) Denver Democratic Party:
GOTV Volunteer Lit Drop, 11 a.m.-
1 p.m. and 1-3 p.m., signup at gotv@
denverdemocrats.org.
• (S) Denver Democratic Socialist
Party: Fight the Power School-Rec-
itation 5 Final Session, 1-3 p.m.,
for more information contact info@
denverdsa.org.
56
Public notices are required by the legislature of the State
Public notices are required by the
legislature of the State of Colorado
In the Matter of: North Huron, Ltd., a
Colorado Limited Partnership
Attorneys for Petitioner:
Frank W. Suyat, #27506
Brandon Sandberg, #42507
to inform residents of the state of the
Address: Dill Dill Carr Stonbraker &
Hutchings, P.C.
455 Sherman Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
everyday activities of government,
Phone No.: (303) 777-3737
Fax No.: (303) 777-3823
E-mail: fsuyat@dillanddill.com
bsandberg@dillanddill.com
Case Number: 2018CV31686
businesses and other events of legal
District Court, City and County of Denver,
Division: CV
Courtroom: 203
importance. Public notices are
TO RESPONDENTS:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and
required to file with the Clerk of this Court
public officials accountable. If you would like to publish a
an answer or other response to the attached
Application for Judicial Dissolution of a
essential to democracy our republic,
Limited Partnership and Appointment of
Paula Weidner to Wind Up the Limited
Partnership’s Affairs (“Application”). If
was made upon you within the State of
and an informed citizenry. Public
Colorado, you are required to file your answer
or other response within 21 days after such
service upon you, which is the last date of
publication. If service of the Summons and
notices remain most effective in
Application was made upon you outside of
file your answer or other response within 35
days after such service upon you, which is
the last date of publication. Your answer or
newspapers, as these permanent
counterclaim must be accompanied with the
applicable filing fee.
If you fail to file your answer or other
response to the Application in writing within
records cannot be altered or
relief demanded in the Application without
Dated: June 1, 2018
destroyed. Colorado Politics provides
WARNING: A valid summons may be issued
by a lawyer and it need not contain a court
signature of a court officer, or a court seal.
this valuable resource as a legally
The plaintiff has 14 days from the date this
summons was served on you to file the
case with the court. You are responsible
for contacting the court to find out whether
the case has been filed and obtain the case
adjudicated newspaper in the City
number. If the plaintiff files the case within
and County of Denver to keep local
residents informed and hold public
officials accountable. If you would
like to publish a public notice in the
City and County of Denver, please
emaillegals@coloradopolitics.com
COUNTY COURT
DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO
1437 Bannock St, Room 256
Denver, CO 80202
CASE NUMBER: 20C00512
DIVISION: Civil
COURTROOM: 175
In the Matter of the Petition of Adult:
Carissa Nicole Cherpes
For a Change of Name to:
Avery Jane Blackwell
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR
CHANGE OF NAME
Public notice is given on September 11,
2020 that a Petition for a Change of Name
of an Adult has been filed with the Denver
County Court. The Petition requests that
the name of: Carissa Nicole Cherpes
Be changed to: Avery Jane Blackwell
Courtney Lofland
Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk
Published in Colorado Politics:
September 25 and October 2, 2020
COUNTY COURT
DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO
1437 Bannock St, Room 135
Denver, CO 80202
720-865-7840
CASE NUMBER: 20C00664
DIVISION: Civil
COURTROOM: 170
In the Matter of the Petition of Adult:
Juan Carlos Desroses
For a Change of Name to:
Carlos Juan Desroses
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR
CHANGE OF NAME
Public notice is given on September 29,
2020 that a Petition for a Change of Name
of an Adult has been filed with the Denver
County Court. The Petition requests that
the name of: Juan Carlos Desroses
Be changed to: Carlos Juan Desroses
SDC, Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk
Published in Colorado Politics:
October 2, 9 and 16, 2020
COUNTY COURT
DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO
1437 Bannock St, Room 135
Denver, CO 80202
720-865-7840
CASE NUMBER: 20C00589
DIVISION: Traffic and Civil
COURTROOM: 170
In the Matter of the Petition of Adult:
Hayal Hanoon Abdulridha Al Darraji
For a Change of Name to:
Hayan Hanoon Abdullah Saadoon
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR
CHANGE OF NAME
Public notice is given on September 22,
2020 that a Petition for a Change of Name
of an Adult has been filed with the Denver
County Court.
The Petition requests that the name of:
Hayal Hanoon Abdulridha Al Darraji
Be changed to:
Hayan Hanoon Abdullah Saadoon
Published in Colorado Politics:
September 25, October 2 and 9, 2020
COUNTY COURT
DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO
1437 Bannock St, Room 135
Denver, CO 80202
720-865-7840
CASE NUMBER: 20C00667
DIVISION: Civil
COURTROOM: 175
In the Matter of the Petition of Adult:
Jill Kathleen King
For a Change of Name to:
Jillian Kathleen Green
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR
CHANGE OF NAME
Public notice is given on September 29,
2020 that a Petition for a Change of Name
of an Adult has been filed with the Denver
County Court. The Petition requests that
the name of: Jill Kathleen King
Be changed to: Jillian Kathleen Green
Published in Colorado Politics:
October 2, 9 and 16, 2020
Colorado Politics
COLORADO
POLITICS
PUBLIC
NOTICES
explained in this summons. If the plaintiff files
more than 14 days after the date the summons
was served on you, the case may be dismissed
upon motion and you may be entitled to seek
attorney’s fees from the plaintiff.
In the Matter of: North Huron, Ltd., a
Colorado Limited Partnership
Attorneys for Applicant:
Frank W. Suyat
Dill Dill Carr Stonbraker & Hutchings, P.C.
455 Sherman Street, Suite 300
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone No.: 303-777-3737
Fax No.: 303-777-3823
E-mail: fsuyat@dillanddill.com
bsandberg@dillanddill.com
Atty. Reg. No.: #27514 & #42507
Applicant, Paula Weidner, for Gale T.
Weidner, Jr., Director of Newcomb Weidner,
Inc., as General Partner of North Huron,
Ltd., by and through counsel Dill Dill Carr
Stonbraker & Hutchings, P.C. by Frank
W. Suyat and Brandon Sandberg, states
for Application for Judicial Dissolution
of a Limited Liability Partnership and
Appointment of Paula Weidner to Wind Up
the Limited Partnership’s Affairs:
1. Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute
(“C.R.S.”) § 7-62-802, a partner can file
an application with the Court to judicially
2. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-62-803, a partner
file an application with the Court to allow the
partnership to wind up the business affairs of
3.In accordance with C.R.S. § 7-62-802 and
C.R.S. § 7-62-803, Paula Weidner as the legal
representative and/or assignee of Gale T.
Weidner, Jr., hereby submits this application
for judicial dissolution and to wind up the
affairs of North Huron, Ltd. (“North Huron”).
4. Upon information and belief, North
Huron, is a Colorado Limited Partnership
with a previous place of business at 2800 S.
University, #33, Denver, Colorado 80210, and
14 Quince Street, Denver, Colorado 80230.
5. Upon information and belief, North Huron
purchased raw land in the city of Westminster,
than twenty (20) years ago (“Land”).
6. Upon information and belief, North
Huron sold the surface rights of the Land
in approximately 1996 (“Surface Rights”);
however, North Huron still owns the mineral
rights of the Land (“Mineral Rights”).
7. Upon information and belief, the General
Partner of North Huron was Newcomb
Weidner, Inc. (“Newcomb Weidner”).
8. Newcomb Weidner was in the business of
raw land partnerships, specifically, creating
limited partnerships with investors to
purchase, lease, and sell raw land.
9. Upon information and belief, the Directors
of Newcomb Weidner were Gale T. Weidner,
Jr., and Warner Newcomb.
10. Gale T. Weidner, Jr. was the Registered
Agent for Newcomb Weidner.
11. Warner Newcomb is deceased.
12. Newcomb Weidner was dissolved on
October 15, 2009.
13. Upon information and belief, North
Huron was a Limited Partnership created by
Newcomb Weidner as the General Partner,
and various investors as Limited Partners,
including Gale T. Weidner, Jr., and James
R. Cannon.
14. Gale T. Weidner, Jr. does not remember
the identity of any of the other Limited
Partners of North Huron.
15. Gale T. Weidner, Jr. does not have
possess10n of the North Huron limited
16. Efforts that have been made to find
of North Huron include: searching files and
records for tax and partnership information;
by Newcomb Weidner; reviewing attorney
files; contacting the Internal Revenue Service
for tax information; attempting to contact
accountants that previously worked with
Newcomb Weidner; researching documents
through Land Title; searching the Colorado
Secretary of State website; contacting the
buyers of the Surface Rights; and contacting
by Newcomb Weidner to inquire if those
investors were also investors in North Huron;
none of which has resulted in the North
Huron partnership agreement being located or
information on additional Limited Partners.
17. Upon information and belief, North Huron
ownership of the Mineral Rights. 18. North
October 2, 2020
COUNTY COURT COUNTY COURT
DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO
1437 Bannock St, Room 135 1437 Bannock St, Room 135
Denver,
Public CO
notices remain 80202
most effective in newspapers, as these Denver, CO 80202
720-865-7840 720-865-7840
adjudicated newspaper in the City and County of Denver to keep
local residents informed and hold public officials accountable. If
CASE NUMBER: 20C00623
you would like to publish a public notice in the City and County of
DIVISION: Traffic and Civil
Denver, please email legals@coloradopolitics.com
CASE NUMBER: 20C00578
DIVISION: Traffic and Civil
COURTROOM: 186 COURTROOM: 175
Huron has received offers to lease the Mineral 3. The directors of Newcomb Weidner were Date: August 2, 2018
In the Matter of the Petition of Adult: In the Matter of the Petition of Adult:
Rights. GaIe T. Weidner, Jr., and Warner Newcomb. Time: 2 p.m.
19. Upon information and belief, in addition Gale T. Weidner was the registered agent for Location: Courtroom 2B, 520 W. Colfax
to leasing the Mineral Rights, North Huron
20. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-62-802, Paula
Weidner, on behalf of her husband, Gale
Newcomb Weidner.
Ann M Stilgebauer
would be able to sell the Mineral Rights. 4. Warner Newcomb is deceased.
5. Newcomb Weidner was dissolved on
October lb, 2009.
Ave, Denver, CO 80204.
name for Isaiah Jeremiah Gallegos.
Suzanne Renee Scher
For a Change of Name to: For a Change of Name to: Suzi Scher
T. Weidner, Jr., requests this Court enter a 6. North Huron was created as a Iimited
decree of dissolution of North Huron as it partnership by Newcomb Weidner and
Gale T. Weidner, Jr., and James R. Cannon.
Ann Marie Hermansen
21. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-62-803, Paula
Weidner, on behalf of her husband, Gale T.
Weidner, Jr., requests this Court appoint her as
the representative of North Huron to wind up
unknown.
Gale T. Weidner, Jr., does not possess the
North Huron limited partnership agreement,
the business affairs of North Huron.
Respectfully submitted this 7th day of May,
and reasonable efforts to locate the limited
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR
2018.
North Huron have been unavailing.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR
7. Accordingly, the Court finds that it is not
In the District Court of Shawnee County,
In the Matter of the Marriage of Laura CHANGE OF NAME
Marie King, Petitioner, and Jeffrey Scott
CHANGE OF NAME
in conformity with the limited partnership
agreement. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-62-802,
it is therefore ORDERED that North Huron,
King, Respondent.
Case No. 2018-DM-00127
Division 1
Public notice is given on September 11,
Ltd., a Colorado limited partnership, be The State of Kansas To: Jeffrey Scott
King:
Order.
8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant
You are hereby notified that a Petition for
Public notice is given on September 22, 2020 that a Petition for a Change of Name
Divorce was filed in the District Court of
In the Matter of North Huron, Ltd., a to C.R.S. § 7-62-803, that Paula Weidner, Shawnee County, Kansas, asking that above
Petitioner be granted a divorce, and asking
of Gale T. Weidner, Jr., a limited partner
Applicant: Paula Weidner, as legal
Weidner, Jr.
2020 that a Petition for a Change of Name
representative and/or assignee of Gale T.
District Court, City and County of Denver,
of North Huron, is hereby appointed as
representative of North Huron to wind up
the business affairs of North Huron. Any
that the Court make other orders, including
You must file an answer to the Petition
for Divorce with the Court and provide a of an Adult has been filed with the Denver
remaining assets of North Huron shall
of an Adult has been filed with the Denver County Court.
copy to the filing spouse’s attorney (whose
Case Number: 18CV31686
Division: CV
Courtroom: 203
be distributed as provided in C.R.S. §
7-62-804.
9. Ms. Weidner shall provide status reports
address is below) by August 21, 2018, or
the Court will enter judgment against you
County Court. The Petition requests that The Petition requests that the name of:
THIS MATTER comes before the Court to this Court every 30 days until winding up Mack & Associates
on an Application for Judicial Dissolution
of a Limited Partnership and Appointment until filing of a motion to dismiss upon
Bethany Crosland #27026
2850 SW Mission Woods Drive
the name of: Ann M Stilgebauer Suzanne Renee Scher
of Paula Weid.ner to Wind Up the Limited completion of the winding up. Topeka, Kansas 66614
Partnership’s Affairs, filed May 7, 2018. The SO ORDERED this 15th day of May, 2018. Tel: (785) 274-9040
Court has reviewed the Application, the case Fax: (888) 506-7021
file, and applicable law. Being so advised, the
Court enters the following Order:
The Application is GRANTED.
Be changed to: Ann Marie Hermansen
Applicant seeks an order pursuant to C.R.S.
Email: beth@kansasjustice.com
Be changed to: Suzi Scher
S 7-62-802 for judicial dissolution of North
Huron, Ltd, a Colorado limited partnership
Applicant further seeks appointment as
representative to wind up the affairs of North
In the Matter of the Petition of: Parent/
Petitioner: Nicole M. Lopez, Minor child:
Diana Mendoza, Clerk of Court Courtney Lofland
Isaiah J. Gallegos to Change the Child’s
Huron pursuant to C.R.S. S Z-62-808. The
Name to: Isaiah J. Lopez.
Court finds as follows:
1. This Court has jurisdiction because North Notice to: Zachariah Gallegos, non-
Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk
Huron’s principal offices were located within custodial parent. Notice is given that a
the City and County of Denver. hearing is scheduled as follows:
2. The general partner of North Huron was Case Number: 07JR1920
Newcomb Weidner. Inc.
Published in Colorado Politics:
Petitioner: Nicole M. Lopez
October 2 and 9, 2020 Published in Colorado Politics:
September 18, 25 and October 2, 2020
COUNTY COURT COUNTY COURT
DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO
1437 Bannock St, Room 135 1437 Bannock St, Room 256
Denver, CO 80202 Denver, CO 80202
720-865-7840
CASE NUMBER: 20C00514
CASE NUMBER: 20C00637 COURTROOM: 170 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
DIVISION: Traffic and Civil In the Matter of the Petition of Parent/
COURTROOM: 170
In the Matter of the Petition of Adult:
Petitioner: Shanell Scott and Paul Jones Smoke from the wildfires burning in western Canada as well as the American
For Minor Child: Antwon Lanell Van
Mathue Anthony Moore For a Change of Name to: West has forced the issuance of air quality alerts across the region.
For a Change of Name to: Josiah Je’cion Jones
Mathue Anthony Romero
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Polis drafts ‘roadmap’
CHANGE OF NAME
Public notice is given that a Petition for a
Public notice is given on September 25, Change of Name of a Minor Child has been
2020 that a Petition for a Change of Name filed with the Denver County Court on
of an Adult has been filed with the Denver September 4, 2020. The Petition requests
County Court. The Petition requests that that the name of: Antwon Lanell Van
to reduce pollution
the name of: Mathue Anthony Moore Be changed to: Josiah Je’cion Jones
Be changed to: Mathue Anthony Romero
Gail Reynolds, Clerk of Court
K Levchuk, Deputy Clerk
Published in Colorado Politics:
Published in Colorado Politics: September 25, October 2 and 9, 2020
October 2, 9 and 16, 2020 BY MARIANNE GOODLAND
Colorado Politics
tional input at 5:30 on Oct. 20.
CONSOLIDATED NOTICE
DENVER PROBATE COURT An executive summary provided to
Denver County, Colorado
TO ALL RESPONDENTS 1437 Bannock St #230 A draft plan for how to achieve major Colorado Politics says that each agency
In the District Court in and for the Denver, CO 80202
City and County of Denver reductions in greenhouses gases was re- was required to come up with a short
Diligent efforts having been made to
Case Number: 2020PR31065
In the Matter of the Estate of: Klaus
leased Sept. 30 by Gov. Jared Polis that term (one to two years) action plan, as
obtain personal service on the following
named respondents without avail,
Dieter Gerken, also known as Klaus D. includes a goal of close to 100% electric well as what might be needed in the way
Gerken, and also known as Klaus Gerken,
the Court has ordered publication of the
following actions under
Deceased cars, zero-emissions trucks and buses of additional policies and legislation to
14-10-107, C.R.S., as amended.
Respondents are hereby advised that a
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY on the roads by 2050. meet the 2030 and 2050 goals.
PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO
copy of the petition and summons may § 15-12-801, C.R.S. The release comes on a day when the The draft roadmap sets forth goals
be obtained from the Clerk of the Court
during regular business hours and that All persons having claims against the
Front Range is experiencing haze from for a variety of industries: agriculture,
default judgment may be entered against
the party upon whom service is made by
above named estate are required to present
them to the personal representative or
wildfires in Colorado, Wyoming and oil and gas, utilities, transportation
such notice if he fails to appear or file a to Denver Probate Court of the City and California, which has led to smoky air and buildings. The roadmap also looks
response within thirty days after date of County of Denver, Colorado, on or before
publication. February 2, 2021 or the claims may be and ash falling from the skies. at how the solutions will help grow
forever barred.
DENVER DISTRICT COURT In a statement, Polis said, “Colorado Colorado’s economy as well as reduce
PUBLICATION LIST POSTED FROM Duane Bailey, Personal Representative
OCT 1st THRU NOV 5th, 2020 Attorney for Personal Representative:
is experiencing two of the three largest pollution, “with an understanding that
David A. Simmental, Esq., wildfires in the history of our state, and climate change affects communities dif-
CASE NUMBER|NAME|TYPE OF CASE Atty. Reg. #: 32361
• 19DR750, KARIN CATHARINA
Simmental Law, LLC that’s just one of countless indicators that ferently and can have a disproportion-
9085 East Mineral Circle, Suite 190
CORCORAN and KEVIN DONALD
CORCORAN, DISSOLUTION OF
Centennial, CO 80112 climate change presents an increasing ate social, economic, and health impacts
Phone Number: 303-771-5158
MARRIAGE FAX Number: 866-607-8513 threat to our economy and our way of on communities of color and historical-
• 19DR3547, EMMA HERMOSILLO- E-mail: DAS@Simmental-Law.com
PEREZ a/k/a EMMA life. From day one, my administration has ly disadvantaged communities.”
HERMOSILLOPEREZ a/k/a EMMA
HERMOSILLO a/k/a EMMA PEREZ
Published in Colorado Politics
October 2, 9 and 16, 2020
prioritized a swift transition to renewable The roadmap identifies transportation
and HECTOR G HERMOSILLO
MEDINA a/k/a HECTOR G energy and bold climate action, and this as the biggest generator of greenhouse
HERMOSILLOMEDINA a/k/a HECTOR
G HERMOSILLO a/k/a HECTOR
DENVER PROBATE COURT
Denver County, Colorado
Roadmap is a significant step forward to gas emissions, followed by electricity
G MEDINA, DISSOLUTION OF
MARRIAGE
1437 Bannock St #230 continue to reduce pollution for the ben- generation, building energy use and
Denver, CO 80202
• 20DR1616, ANGELICA SAUCEDO and efit of the health and well-being of our the oil and gas sector. Within trans-
MOISES LUNA PONCE a/k/a MOISES Case Number: 2020PR31099
LUNA a/k/a MOISES PONCE a/k/a In the Matter of the Estate of: Socorro communities and our economy. portation, passenger vehicles made the
MOISES LUNAPONCE, DISSOLUTION
OF MARRIAGE
Munoz Ruiz, also known as Socorro M.
Ruiz, and also known as Socorro Ruiz,
“We have taken historic steps towards largest contribution to GHG emissions,
• 20DR2064, BERHE BITSEAMLAK and
ASMERET ADIMASSU, DISSOLUTION
Deceased our goals, and this Roadmap will help followed by large trucks and air travel.
OF MARRIAGE
• 20DR2080, TANIA LISSET
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY guide the critical efforts necessary to John Putnam, director of environmen-
PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO
CASTANEDA NAVARRO a/k/a/ TANIA § 15-12-801, C.R.S. reap the full benefits of boldly and eq- tal programs at CDPHE, told Colorado
LISSET CASTANEDANAVARRO
a/k/a/ TANIA LISSET CASTANEDA All persons having claims against the uitably transitioning to a clean energy Politics Sept. 30 that the approach is
a/k/a/TANIA LISSET NAVARRO and above named estate are required to present
RODOLFO MILLAN MORALES, them to the personal representative or
economy. We look forward to acting not just regulatory. The roadmap re-
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
• 20DR2112, JOANTOINETTE R
to Denver Probate Court of the City and
County of Denver, Colorado, on or before
boldly to protect our way of life, today flects voluntary agreements with utili-
MORENO and JUNIPER RAINE January 25, 2021 or the claims may be and for generations to come.” ties, some which he said led the efforts.
MOSS, ALLOCATION OF PARENTAL forever barred.
RESPONSIBILITIES The draft plan, known as the Colora- “They see the low-cost way of providing
• 20DR30143, SILVIA AGUILAR and Maria Martha Alamillo,
ANDRES MEJIA HERRERA, a/k/a Personal Representative do Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction electricity” that fits in with the state’s
ANDRES MEJIA, a/k/a ANDRES Attorney for Personal Representative:
HERRERA, a/k/a/ ANDRES David A. Simmental, Esq., Roadmap, was required by House Bill goals. For example, Tri-State Generation
MEJIAHERRERA, DISSOLUTION OF Atty. Reg. #: 32361 19-1261, with a tie-in to other legislation, & Transmission, the state’s largest rural
MARRIAGE Simmental Law, LLC
• 20DR30430, YOSELIN DEL CARMEN 9085 East Mineral Circle, Suite 190 such as Senate Bill 19-236, which required electricity provider, announced it would
SARCENO DE HERNANDEZ Centennial, CO 80112
a/k/a/ YOSELIN DEL CARMEN Phone Number: 303-771-5158 Xcel Energy to come up with a plan to re- retire the Craig generation plan, which
SARCENODEHERNANDEZ a/k/a/ FAX Number: 866-607-8513
YOSELIN DEL CARMEN SARCENO E-mail: DAS@Simmental-Law.com duce their emissions by 80% by 2030. will produce a 90% reduction in emis-
a/k/a/ YOSELIN DEL CARMEN
DE HERNANDEZ a/k/a/ YOSELIN Published in Colorado Politics HB 1261 requires a series of reductions sions instate, Putnam said.
DEL CARMEN DEHERNANDEZ September 25, October 2 and 9, 2020 in emissions of greenhouses gases, with The pro-oil and gas industry group
a/k/a/ YOSELIN DEL CARMEN
HERNANDEZ and RUDY ALBERTO
HERNANDEZ AGUILAR a/k/a/ RUDY
DENVER PROBATE COURT a beginning baseline from 2005: Coloradans for Responsible Energy De-
CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER,
ALBERTO HERNANDEZAGUILAR
a/k/a/ RUDY ALBERTO HERNANDEZ
COLORADO • 26% reduction by 2025 velopment said in a statement following
1437 Bannock St #230
a/k/a/ RUDY ALBERTO AGUILAR, Denver, CO 80202 • 50% reduction by 2030 the roadmap’s release that “natural gas
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
• 20DR30638, SANDRA ELIZABETH Case Number: 20PR0272
• 90% reduction by 2050 is a leading driver of CO2 emission re-
SUNUN PIXTUN a/k/a/ SANDRA
ELIZABETH SUNUN a/k/a/ SANDRA
In the Matter of the Estate of: Sonja L.
Christian, aka Sonja L. Childs, Deceased
How to get there was the big question, duction and will play a key role in help-
ELIZABETH PIXTUN a/k/a/ SANDRA and that’s what the Colorado Depart- ing Colorado achieve its efficiency goals
ELIZABETH SUNUNPIXTUN and LUIS NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY
MIGUEL BALTAZAR, ALLOCATION
OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO ment of Public Health and Environ- without sacrificing energy reliability.
§ 15-12-801, C.R.S.
• 20DR30673, ANA KAREN DE JESUS ment, the lead agency, set to work on af- Natural gas and renewables work to-
MARQUEZ a/k/a/ ANA KAREN All persons having claims against the
DEJESUSMARQUEZ a/k/a/ ANA above named estate are required to present ter the bill’s passage last year. The other gether to provide consumers with the
KAREN DE JESUS a/k/a/ ANA
KAREN MARQUEZ and ANA BERTHA
them to the personal representative or
to Denver Probate Court of the City and
agencies are the departments of agricul- most diverse and best forms of responsi-
MARQUEZ GUERRERO a/k/a/ ANA
BERTHA MARQUEZGUERRERO
County of Denver, Colorado, on or before ture and transportation, the Colorado ble energy available. Colorado’s oil and
October 18, 2020 or the claims may be
a/k/a/ ANA BERTHA MARQUEZ a/k/a/
ANA BERTHA GUERRERO and ALEX
forever barred. Energy Office and the Department of natural gas industry has been working
CASARRUBIAS DE JAIMES a/k/a/ Personal Representative: Natural Resources. Comments on the with the State of Colorado to reduce
ALEX CASARRUBIASDEJAIMES Charles A. Christian, Jr.
a/k/a/ ALEX CASARRUBIAS a/k/a/ 7003 E. 17th Ave. draft plan are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 methane emissions. Today, many of Col-
ALEX DE JAIMES, ALLOCATION OF
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Denver, CO 80220
Phone Number: 303-961-4636
and can be emailed to climatechange@ orado’s oil and gas production facilities
Published in Colorado Politics:
E-mail: charlesandleesly@gmail.com state.co.us. The state will host a public are achieving methane emissions levels
October 2, 2020 Published in Colorado Politics listening session via Zoom to take addi- near zero.”
September 18, 25 and October 2, 2020

a look back
Former Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm
Two years out, Lamm
challenger emerges
BY RACHAEL WRIGHT
Special to Colorado Politics
Forty years ago: Amid numerous
general election races, thoughts were
already fast forwarding ahead to the
1982 gubernatorial race – over two full
years down the road, and the talk was
coming from a political neophyte who
said he’d already picked up some sup-
port in a bar.
Democrat Gov. Dick Lamm hadn’t an-
nounced whether he’d seek re-election,
but a 30-year-old newspaperman from
Salida, Edward Kenneth Quillen III,
said he was strongly considering a run
for the Republican nomination.
“Lamm ran as a Republican the last
time around,” Quillen said. “He kept
campaigning that Colorado had more
jobs, more prosperity, more people …
than ever before, all this under his ad-
ministration. I could have sworn that I
was reading Love propaganda. I believe
Lamm’s success in that election indicat-
ed the people of Colorado actually want
a Republican governor, no matter what
his party affiliation.”
Quillen had never held elected office
but touted that his strong views on
Colorado industry made up for the lack
of a voting record.
Quillen argued that it was inconceiv-
able that Amax, the world’s largest
mining industry, had to bow to the
demands of Colorado politicians, like
Crested Butte Mayor William Mitchell
who successfully stopped a billion-dol-
lar molybdenum mine on Mount
Emmons.
“We have to remove the restraints on
mining. If the environmentalists feel
like the mountains are being destroyed,
I sympathize with them,” Quillen said,
“but they should turn their attention to
the real monster, the skiing industry.”
Quillen alleged that since 1960 the ski
industry had destroyed more of Colora-
do’s mountains than any mine, clogging
the winter highways, and destroying
habitat for wildlife.
“I will campaign to eliminate the ski
industry on environmental grounds,
although there are sound political rea-
sons too,” Quillen argued. “Look at how
many back-packing, granola chomp-
ing, trendy liberals the ski areas have
brought to the state.”
Quillen also proposed eliminating
the state income tax, applying a 95%
tax on real-estate speculation instead,
and turning water control over to local
districts.
He also advocated for uranium mining
October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 57
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
and milling, nuclear weapon produc-
tion, atomic tests and nerve gas experi-
mental and storage stations.
“If having dangerous facilities caus-
es the population to drop 85% as the
turkeys chicken out and go back to
Connecticut, Illinois, Texas and New
Jersey, we shall solve many problems,”
Quillen said.
Admittedly, Quillen said, he didn’t
have much support, “only some people I
met in a bar” but was optimistic that as
the word got out about his policies, Col-
oradans would flock to his campaign.
“All true Coloradans will be on my
side, just like all true Americans were
on Sam Zakhem’s side,” Quillen con-
cluded.
In other news of the week, the second
highest ranking member on the House
Interior Committee, U.S. Rep. Phil Bur-
ton, D-CA, praised his Colorado Repub-
lican colleague, Jim Johnson, CD-4, for
pushing through legislation designating
four historic western trails as part of
the National Historic Trails System.
Johnson said the truth was he’d
always been fascinated with trails and
American frontier history and wanted
to be a cowboy when he was young.
Johnson decided not to run for anoth-
Need to post your
er congressional term and had toyed
with the idea of running for president
of Colorado State University, but his
name was absent from the list of six
Legal Notice?
finalists who were considered for the
position
We can cut your advertising bills
Thirty years ago: State Senator Terry
Considine, R-Englewood, the mind and save you time!
behind Amendment 5, which sought to
limit the terms of political officehold-
ers on the state and federal levels, was For information regarding the publication
featured in the Wall Street Journal and of legal notices, please contact Colorado Politics:
several other national publications as
CALL: 303.837.8600 ext. 3
interest in the cause grew.
Considine travelled to California to EMAIL: legals@coloradopolitics.com
take part in a seminar with Ralph Nad-
er on limiting terms, and Colorado gos- To review published legal notices,
sip had it that Considine was posturing
himself as the national spokesman for go to our classified section.
the cause with his eye on higher office The deadline for legal notices is Wednesday 5 p.m.
down the road. prior to publication date.
Considine demurred. “I’m just one
person and my focus is on Colorado,” he
said to Colorado Statesman reporters. “I
just want to be a good rancher, a good
citizen and stay in Colorado.”
Rachael Wright is the author of the Cap-
tain Savva Mystery series, with degrees
from Colorado Mesa University, and is
a contributing writer to Colorado Poli-
tics and The Colorado Springs Gazette.
58 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

GOP attorney warns of replay of Bush v. Gore

BY KATHERINE DOYLE
Washington Examiner

An attorney who testified be-

fore the Supreme Court in the
Bush v. Gore Florida recount
in 2000 is predicting litigation
ahead in a 2020 election bat-
tle that could stretch well past
Election Day in battleground
states or those states with divid-
ed government.
“Every day, we seem to have
another federal judge that
changes the election laws at the
last minute in a way in which
the guardrails are taken down
on the vote-by-mail ballot,” said
Tom Spencer, a Republican elec-
tions attorney, speaking to the
Washington Examiner.
Spencer, who served as
co-counsel for George W. Bush
and Dick Cheney’s presidential
ticket in the Florida recount of
2000, pointed to Pennsylvania
and North Carolina as two states
to watch as ballots are counted.
“You have sort of a perfect
storm,” Spencer said. “For exam- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
ple, in Pennsylvania, you’ve got a A woman reads a Los Angeles Daily News front page headline on Nov. 8, 2000, declaring Republican Texas Gov. George W.
Democratic governor, a Republi- Bush the victor over Vice President Al Gore in the presidential election at a newsstand in Hollywood. Newspapers across the
can legislature. North Carolina, country prematurely declared Bush the winner, even as Florida’s crucial votes were still being counted.
same thing. When you look at
the polling and the statistics, would allow ballots that lack in- for Iowa and Ohio voters,” said with, calling it a “huge problem” ballots to determine the elec-
you have that very, very close di- formation to be amended sole- Trump 2020 general counsel and noting that the issue oc- tion results. “Look at Minneso-
vide of votes. Both those states ly by affidavit and without the Matthew Morgan, accusing curred more frequently among ta, where 235 votes determined
look very close to a Bush v. Gore need for the voter to complete Democrats of “constant at- black voters than in either His- who the senator from Minneso-
situation.” He added, “Could be an entirely new ballot. tempts to tear down election panic or white communities. ta was going to be.” Former Sen.
Michigan, Minnesota.” An Iowa district court ruling safeguards and steal this elec- Of about 1 million ballots re- Al Franken won his 2008 Senate
Bush v. Gore was the Supreme published on Sunday denied tion for Joe Biden.” quested in the state, 250,000 race recount by a final tally of
Court decision that halted a request to stop legislative Spencer pointed to an election have been returned thus far, 312 votes.
vote-counting in Florida during enforcement that bars Iowa in Fort Lauderdale in South “and 1.8% of the returned bal- While there are systems in
the 2000 election, which Bush county election auditors from Florida, “in which the Supervi- lots have already been rejected place to address the usual ballot
won narrowly. But this year, the guessing and completing incor- sor of Elections was completely for reasons such as witness re- errors, Spencer told the Wash-
election could be contested in rect details on absentee ballot unglued, and there were thou- quirement, or the voter didn’t ington Examiner that officials
multiple states. request forms. sands of ballots that came in, sign the envelope, addresses are should be prepared to process a
Cases are currently being de- In Ohio, a federal judge on Fri- and some of them were never left off,” and other voter errors, “fire hose of ballots.”
cided across the country. day denied a challenge to a sig- counted.” he said. “That doesn’t happen “It’s going to take a tremen-
On Sept. 26, President Trump’s nature-matching requirement “They came in two months lat- when you go to the polls.” dous amount of time and effort
reelection campaign and the on absentee ballots that would er because they were lost some- He pointed to Democrats’ ef- to make sure that those bal-
Republican National Committee have suspended it. where. Those are the kinds of forts to broaden the date range lots cast are properly analyzed,
sued to stop election officials in In a statement, RNC Chair- things that would cause a lot of for acceptance of ballots after looked at, and then voted,” he
North Carolina from enacting woman Ronna McDaniel called concern when somebody is run- Election Day, including in North said.
rule changes that could increase the rulings “a win for voters, a ning for president of the United Carolina, which pushed back As for a recount, Spencer said
the number of ballots counted win for election security, and a States,” he said. the date nine days from Nov. 3, that both sides were prepared.
in the key state. The lawsuit says win for maintaining confidence In Pennsylvania, Spencer said, provided they were postmarked “Biden has got an army of law-
that a new State Board of Elec- in the electoral process” and “tremendous numbers” of bal- by that date. Spencer said that yers ready, and I know that the
tions system would allow absen- charged that Democrats’ efforts lots are rejected and thrown out the Postal Service does not post- Republican side has an army
tee ballots to be cast late and to alter election procedures because voters fail to put the mark all ballots, however. of lawyers. I’m one of them,”
without adequate witness ver- ahead of Nov. 3 was “opening ballot in the secrecy envelope. “In Bush v. Gore, it was 537 he said. “And so, you know, we
ification, “which invites fraud, the door to chaos and confu- In North Carolina, there’s a votes that determined the presi- have to do what we have to do.
coercion, theft, and otherwise il- sion.” witness requirement, which, he dency,” he said, stressing the im- If there’s a recount, then we
legitimate voting.” The new rule “These rulings are victories said, many voters fail to comply portance of just a few hundred have to do it.”

COMMENTARY

Unfortunate events, social media drive engagement

BY KAYLEE MCGHEE
Washington Examiner
People are highly engaged with
the 2020 presidential election —
so much so that a record num-
ber of respondents told a recent
survey that this year’s results
“really matter” to them.
There are a few reasons why
voters might care more about
the 2020 election than past elec-
tions. Social media has made
American politics much more
accessible and, therefore, more
interesting.
This year has been a long se-
ries of unfortunate events that
has forced the public to pay at-
tention. And efforts to bolster
mail-in voting have successfully
increased voter turnout among
people who would not normally
vote.
This last factor has had an in-
teresting effect on the elector-
ate. Multiple studies have shown
that the states that moved rap-
idly to expand mail-in balloting
amid the coronavirus pandemic
are seeing some of the highest
levels of voter turnout in years.
In Iowa, for example, total
turnout reached 24% during
this year’s June primaries for
Congress, which is the state’s
highest-ever turnout for a pri-
mary, according to The Hill. In
2016, Iowa only experienced a
turnout of 15%.
But many people are worried
that the increase in mail-in
voting will lead to unnecessary
complications on Election Day.
Nearly half of the respondents
said in a recent survey that they
expect to have difficulties cast-
ing a ballot, and even more ex-
pect this year’s election to be the
most contentious they’ve ever
seen. There is very little confi-
dence in the system, even as it
becomes more convenient.
Unfortunately, there is little
chance this will change any time
soon. Both political parties seem
set on exacerbating current
tensions. Indeed, the one thing
both Democrats and Republi-
cans can agree on is that if their
team loses, it will be because the
other side cheated.
This kind of thinking has be-
come so commonplace that 75%
of President Trump’s supporters
and 60% of Joe Biden’s support-
ers both agreed that election
officials will probably cheat this
year, according to the American
Social Survey.
In short, the public cares a lot
about what happens in Novem-
ber, but many have preemptively
lost faith in the election process
and its results. That raises the
question: Is this sustainable?
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60 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

opinion
THE PODIUM
COLORADO’S THOUGHT LEADERS ADDRESS KEY COLORADO ISSUES

After getting past hard time, I value my vote

As the summer draws to
an end, voting has been the
topic of conversation across
the United States, and Colo-
rado is no exception. In 2019,
Colorado passed a law to
re-enfranchise
OPINION people convict-
ed of felonies
who are out
on parole,
giving more
than 11,500
Coloradans
their right to
JEFF vote back. Yet,
JOHNSON many people
on parole and
re-enfranchised individuals
across the country don’t know
they can register to vote, aren’t
interested in engaging with
politics, or both.
This November, at 43 years
old, I will vote for the first
time, and I hope many others
join me.
In 1994, I was 17 years old
when I was living in a group
home. One day, I was running
errands with a man I barely
knew, when he fatally stabbed
a 55-year-old insurance broker
in a parking garage during an
attempted carjacking. Despite
being too young to even buy
cigarettes, I was charged and
convicted of first-degree mur-
der and sentenced to life with-
out the possibility of parole.
During my sentence, I often
spoke with my grandmother
and she used to tell me, “Ev-
erybody got a life sentence,
we’re just going to do it in
different places.” In my deep-
est despair serving my time, I
decided to use it for the better.
I completed my GED, became
involved in programs that
helped other inmates prepare
for release, and participated
in SHAPEUP, an initiative that
sought to keep young offend-
ers out of prison.
Then, in 2018, nearly 25
years after my conviction, I
was released from prison after
my co-defendant confessed
to the murder and physical
evidence came to light, which
led to the lessening of my
charges. Shortly thereafter, the
Supreme Court ruled that sen-
tences of life without parole
for juveniles constitutes cruel
and unusual punishment.
Since my release, I have
looked to continue to turn my
life around. I’ve been fortunate
enough to start a family and
find success in business. I now
speak at pre-release classes,
helping run restorative-justice
programs and hiring programs
for parolees, and I work with
legislators on how to stop the
“revolving door” of released
ex-offenders ending up right
back in prison. Simply put, it
takes a community effort to
help our returning citizens,
and we all have a part to play.
The same can be said for fixing
our government.
After spending the majority
of my life in prison, I finally
get to vote in what happens
to be one of the most pivotal
elections of our lifetimes. And
I intend to use my vote to
support people and reforms
that make our communities
stronger and more just. It did
not take serving nearly 25
years in prison to realize that
our votes matter. Every step
of our criminal justice system
can be reformed by exercising
our civic duty.
This fall, Coloradans will
make many difficult decisions
on nearly a dozen proposed
changes to state laws and its
constitution. On everything
from the state income tax rate
to employer requirements for
paid family and medical leave,
we have an opportunity to vote
for the changes we want to
see, but none of these changes
are realized if we don’t vote.
For those like me who have
been incarcerated, this is
our chance to help shape the
criminal justice system and
our systems of government for
those who come after us. But,
our complaints, protests, and
praises mean nothing if we do
not express them at the ballot
box.
When I speak to those
preparing to re-enter society,
I often share those words my
grandma shared with me. I
stress to them the importance
of living their life sentence to
the fullest, wherever they may
be. During all of our life sen-
tences, it is crucial we use our
voices to hold people account-
able. By holding those elected
officials in power accountable,
we can build better commu-
nities for all of us. So on Nov.
3, I’m voting for the years lost
while I was incarcerated. I’m
voting for those still in the
system who are unable to. I’m
voting to support criminal jus-
tice reform, like the legislation
introduced by Colorado state
Sen. Pete Lee, and I’m voting
for my family’s future. The
voices of Coloradans, no mat-
ter their past, should not and
cannot be silenced, especially
come November.
Jeff Johnson works as a sales
consultant in Aurora and lives
in Colorado Springs with his
11-month-old twins and wife,
Jenny. After serving time in
prison, Jeff is now an advocate
for helping Colorado’s return-
ing citizens get back on their
feet and find employment upon
release.

Has the left silenced business community?

An important voice in Colo-
rado politics has been muzzled
this election season and I’m
having trouble understanding
if it’s because of their lack of
optimism, lack of resources
due to the COVID recession or
if the left’s can-
OPINION cel culture has
just beat them
into silence.
Colorado’s
“business
communi-
ty” has gone
AWOL this
JON election. Have
CALDARA they deserted
Colorado? If
so, it’s kinda hard to blame
them. They’ve been beat to
hell during this progressive
occupancy of Colorado.
Let’s take the most econom-
ically devastating question
on the ballot, Prop 118, which
creates a payroll tax to make
a mandatory family leave
insurance system run by the
government, which of course
always runs things better than
the private market.
Prop 118 would create the
most generous paid leave man-
date in the country, and there-
fore the most expensive one,
costing us a brand new 0.9%
payroll tax which is allowed
to grow to 1.2%, spilt between
employer and employee.
According to analysis by the
non-partisan Common Sense
Institute this new state-run
insurance plan could quickly
become insolvent, requiring
the tax to grow to 1.7%. In
other words, this is going to be
devastating for any business
surviving on tight marginal
profits.
Virtually none of the money
to run this admittedly feel-
good, but economically ruin-
ous campaign is coming from
Coloradans. It’s being paid for
by out-of-state, “dark money,”
progressive funders.
According to the latest
campaign fillings with the
Secretary of State’s Office, the
“yes” campaign has amassed
$3.4 million, of which $2.8
million has come from the pro-
gressive Sixteen Thirty Fund.
Working Families Party, the
Fairness Project, and the ACLU
combined have put in nearly
all the rest, about another
$500,000. (BTW, anyone else
remember when the ACLU was
about protecting free speech,
not raising taxes?)
This is the chilling effect passes. This is the one ballot years ago, oil and gas spent
measure that all Colorado some $50 million, including
of the cancel culture at its businesses should rally to stop. running other initiatives, to
worst. People are afraid to Where are they? stop Prop 112, which would
First, they’re freaked out have required well sites to be
engage in the political sys- about making payroll this at least 2,500 feet from any
tem for fear of retaliation. week. They are so busy dealing buildings.
with the COVID lockdown re- Prop 112 was defeated handi-
cession they can’t think, much ly. And what did it matter? Col-
The “no” campaign has less invest, in what’s going orado’s progressive legislature
raised a mere fraction of the to bring their business to its and governor just did it any-
out-of-state leftist’s dowry knees in a year or so. way with Senate Bill 181, which
because Colorado business But it’s the other factor is going to require a 2,000-foot
interests are missing from this I’m hearing about that is setback coming from a whole
fight. bone-chilling. Business owners new, much-more burdensome
A few years back, the all-pow- are worried about retribution regulatory structure.
erful Denver Chamber of Com- from a progressive state legis- Oil and gas would have been
merce raised about $8 million lature, regulators and gover- better off saving all their mon-
to push a failed roads and nor. They are worried winning ey and not fighting Prop 112 to
transit tax. But to fight this at the ballot box will only begin with. At least they would
threat to the very existence of mean getting beat up by the have had $50 million for their
businesses throughout Denver blue wave at the State Capitol. relocating expenses as they’re
and the state, they committed This is the chilling effect of driven out of the state.
an insulting $25,000. (BTW, the cancel culture at its worst. Has the business sector in
anyone else remember when People are afraid to engage in Colorado been so abused that
chambers of commerce were the political system for fear of their beleaguered attitude is
about creating a pro-business retaliation. now “why even bother?”
environment, not raising It’s not so different from
taxes?) some of the people you might Jon Caldara is president of
The folks I’ve talked to in know who’d like to put a the Independence Institute in
and around the anti-118 cam- Trump bumper sticker on their Denver and hosts “The Devil’s
paign are flabbergasted by the car but won’t because they Advocate with Jon Caldara”
lack of commitment from the don’t want it to get vandalized. on Colorado Public Televi-
Colorado business community, Just look what happened to sion Channel 12. His column
which will take it in the shorts the oil and gas industry for appears Sundays in Colorado
if this job-killing proposition taking a political stand. Two Politics.
 October 2, 2020 Colorado Politics 61

opinion
COLORADO EDITORIALS
THE GAZETTE
Reelecting Gardner
is easiest call on ballot
Colorado has the third-youngest sena-
tor in Congress who has proved himself
a workhorse who gets great results for
Colorado. With six years of gaining
trust and respect among his colleagues,
Pentagon brass and the White House
administration, he is well on his way to
becoming the most formidable member
of the Senate.
On a ballot full of difficult questions,
one decision is easy: Reelect Sen. Cory
Gardner.
A vote for Gardner’s opponent is one
that puts at risk the otherwise likely
decision to keep Space Command in
Colorado. Gardner, with the help of
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, has led the
charge on convincing President Donald
Trump and Department of Defense
officials that the agency belongs right
here in Colorado Springs. If voters
don’t keep him in the Senate, they will
send a clear message to Washington
they don’t appreciate Gardner’s fight
for Colorado as the best possible host
for Space Command.
A vote for Gardner’s opponent, former
Gov. John Hickenlooper, is a vote to
replace a young and highly productive
member of the Senate with a man who
will approach his 80s before serving ERNEST LUNING, COLORADO POLITICS FILE
out the first term needed to begin gain- U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner visits with a small-business owner in Littleton last year.
ing seniority. By no fault of his own,
Hickenlooper will never serve long notable accomplishments: icans they had little to worry about. THE GRAND JUNCTION DAILY SENTINEL
enough to become the master of a role • Securing funds to complete the Gardner, who did not trust the Chinese
he already told us he is not qualified Aurora VA hospital government, said the disease posed a No on Prop 118
to fill. • Protecting public lands with five major threat to the United States. He Nobody disputes that paid family and
“I’m not cut out to be a senator,” Colorado-specific bills signed into law demanded a subcommittee hearing in medical leave would provide important
Hickenlooper declared to the world, • Lowering health insurance costs January to prove it, even though he benefits to employees and employers in
reiterating in multiple variations when by passing the Health Insurance Tax was accused of overreacting. The sen- Colorado. The problem is that there’s no
he made a futile run for the White repeal and working with the Polis and ator requested billions in coronavirus consensus on how to implement it.
House last year. Trump administrations on Colorado’s funding before most Americans were The state Legislature has taken nu-
One can think of multiple reasons reinsurance program aware of the disease. merous runs at the issue, only to come
Hickenlooper would make a lousy • Securing more than $450 million Throughout the pandemic, Gardner up empty, prompting a citizen initiative
senator, including the problems he for Colorado infrastructure projects, worked side by side with Gov. Jared to get Proposition 118 on this year’s
left Colorado with after eight years as including widening “The Gap” on I-25 Polis and other Democrats to ensure ballot. If passed, 118 would create a
governor and eight as mayor of Denver. • Moving the Bureau of Land Manage- Colorado’s access to ventilators and state insurance program to provide paid
He tried to end homelessness and only ment’s headquarters to Grand Junction other critical supplies. His close rela- family and medical leave benefits in
made it worse, focusing on brick-and- • Advocating scientific research and tionship with Taiwanese President Tsai Colorado funded by premiums paid by
mortar solutions when the issue is entrepreneurship by sponsoring the Ing-wen, whom he hosted in Colorado employers and employees.
more related to addiction and mental American Innovation and Competitive- recently, netted 2 million masks when Proponents say the cost is reasonable
health disorders. ness Act health care workers needed them most. — about $4 a week for the average Colo-
Hickenlooper oversaw Colorado as • Introducing and passing legislation When Gardner received calls from rado employee. Employers and employ-
the teen and adult suicide rates soared. to create a nationwide 811 suicide and Coloradans needing cleaning supplies ees each pay a portion of the premium,
He oversaw Colorado as the state’s mental health crisis line that will save or other goods hoarded into scarcity, he equivalent to 0.45% of an employee’s
mental health services diminished just countless lives put his staff to work finding supplies wage. The eligibility threshold is similar
as demand for them grew. He oversaw Though the far left blasts Gardner and delivering them to those most in to unemployment benefits.
Colorado as it became the world’s mag- for a cordial relationship with Trump, need of assistance. So what’s not to like?
net for marijuana users and producers. that association has been productive Gardner’s accomplishments speak Local governments can’t be forced
He oversaw Colorado as infrastructure for Colorado. Knowing Gardner, we for themselves, making him Colorado’s to participate because it’s an unfund-
crumbled and endangered people’s are certain he would work closely with leading asset in Washington — by far. ed mandate, which creates an instant
lives. He oversaw Colorado as the state- any president and executive branch Another term for Gardner means the equity problem. If it’s so important to
wide crime rate soared to record highs. administration to get things done for likely designation of Colorado as the provide this benefit, especially with this
He tapped emergency recovery funds Colorado. permanent home of Space Command. approach — spreading the cost over the
for “personal services” and a failed le- Trump planned to slash funding for It means better pay and benefits for biggest pool possible — then it shouldn’t
gal defense against ethics charges and public lands and Gardner persuaded Colorado’s military personnel. It means put a greater burden on the private sec-
left the state with no reserve funds for him, by making rational arguments, better and safer transportation. It tor (and more specifically large employ-
COVID-19 or any other crisis. to do exactly the opposite. Score a means fewer people dying of suicide, ers, which we’ll address momentarily).
Hickenlooper even walked away from big one for Colorado. Gardner played addiction and mental health problems. But the larger point is that the ini-
a radio interview for his inability to a key role in persuading Trump to It means better access to health care. tiative process often sidesteps a more
say newborn infants unwanted by their appoint Boulder resident Neil Gorsuch Six years of Hickenlooper would collaborative approach. The analysis of
parents deserve life-saving health care. to the Supreme Court. Score a big one likely turn into six more years of ethics the legislative process is more suited
We could go on, but the best reason for Colorado. Gardner spent sever- lapses, mismanagement of funds, for something this complex. Granted,
to reelect Gardner is Gardner and all al occasions last week encouraging and well-intentioned outcomes that lawmakers haven’t figured it out yet, so
he has done. Indisputable facts tell us Trump to consider another Coloradan backfire. By stark contrast, another proponents have every right to go their
he ranks among the four or five most — Gardner’s former law professor and six years of Gardner means six more own way with a solution.
productive cross-partisan members of 10th Circuit Appellate Judge Allison years of efficient, energetic, ethical and Voters, too, have the right to reject this
Congress. With an 11th bill signed into Eid. Gardner distinguished himself as constructive work to improve Colorado measure and demand something a little
law last week, he by far has introduced one of two members of Congress who and the country. more polished with better assurances
and passed more legislation than the sounded alarms about COVID-19 as Gardner’s accomplishments speak that we aren’t creating a new bureau-
other eight members of the Colorado the World Health Organization and the for themselves, making him Colorado’s cracy and entitlement program with
delegation combined. Consider a few Centers for Disease Control told Amer- leading asset in Washington — by far. unforeseen consequences.
62 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020
opinion
Time limit on abortion
is overdue in Colorado
As a socially moderate voter driven more
by economic issues, something typical of my
millennial generation, I generally don’t talk
about “social issues” much. But Proposition
115, the late-term abortion ban, justifies a
column in full support. That’s because it is
the single best thing
OPINION Colorado’s pro-life
movement has ever
done to legally limit
abortion.
This year, the pro-
life movement isn’t
running a politically
untenable personhood
JIMMY amendment that, how-
SENGENBERGER ever well-intentioned,
would fail and do
more political harm than good. Instead, the
movement has taken a much more realis-
tic approach with Prop 115. Not only does
this initiative do what Coloradans should
have done years ago — finally put a time
limit on most abortions — but it does so in
an eminently reasonable fashion that falls
under Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned
Parenthood. You cannot legitimately call
this “extreme” with a straight face.
About a decade ago, I was shocked to learn
that Colorado has no substantive limits on
taking the life of an unborn child. We are
one among only seven states permitting
abortion up until birth, enabling par-
tial-birth abortion regardless of the circum-
stances.
The science is clear that an unborn baby is
fully formed and viable — that is, capable of
living outside of the womb — by 22 weeks.
The fetus can also feel pain while undergo-
ing an abortion procedure. While people can
certainly argue in a public policy context
that life does not begin at conception, they
can’t argue that, say, a fetus at 26 weeks is
not a human being.
With this in mind, Prop 115 prohibits abor-
tion after 22 weeks gestational age of the
fetus, or 22 weeks “from the first day of the
woman’s last menstrual period.” Opponents
have been both misleading and outright ly-
ing in advertisements against Prop 115. They
claim that there are no exceptions, especial-
ly for “the health of the woman,” which is
patently false. There are health exceptions:
If a physician determines that an abortion
is “immediately required to save the life of a
pregnant woman,” or her life is “threatened
GARY VARVEL, CREATORS SYNDICATE
by a physical disorder, physical illness, or
physical injury,” an abortion is allowed.
There are no legal penalties for a woman
who undergoes a late-term abortion. A phy-
sician who conducts an abortion violation of
Prop 115 would be guilty of a Class 1 misde-
meanor, but the provider will face a fine and
a suspension of their medical license for “at
least three years.” These are mild penalties
for destroying a viable human being.
In addition to the false claim that “the
life of the woman” is not an exception,
opponents complain that Prop 115 does not
feature exceptions for rape or incest. In
this assertion, they are accurate: There is
no such exception. Yet while most Amer-
icans tend to favor exceptions like this in
general, it is important to keep in mind
that 22 weeks into a pregnancy means over
five months have passed. That ought to be
more than enough time for a woman to
decide if she wants to take the life of a fetus
because she is the victim of a rape or incest.
Abortion advocates effectively want to add
superfluous words.
Even more, Prop 115 is expressly consti-
tutional. Under Supreme Court precedent,
women are permitted to abort a fetus pre-vi-
ability without undue burdens from the
government. The Personhood Amendment
previously advanced by pro-lifers would
have violated this while Prop 115 does not.
That’s because the court does allow the
state to restrict abortion post-viability, so
long as there are exceptions for the woman’s
health. Prop 115 protects the life of a viable
fetus while protecting the life of the mother,
meeting this requirement.
Prop 115 is anything but extreme. It is an
attempt at a reasonable compromise with
reasonable abortion proponents and aligns
with the three-quarters of Americans who
agree that a law restricting abortion after
a baby can both feel pain and live outside
of the womb is reasonable. It features no
penalties for a woman, mandates zero jail-
time for the abortion provider, and allows
the necessary exceptions for the life of the
mother.
Reasonable, moral and politically prag-
matic, Proposition 115 can and should pass
muster with the voters of Colorado.
Jimmy Sengenberger is host of “The Jim-
my Sengenberger Show” on News/Talk 710
KNUS.
Congress should extend
the census deadline
Every day, it seems like some-
thing new is dominating the
news cycle. Between COVID-19,
the presidential election,
wildfires spreading across the
western states and hurricanes
battering the coasts, it can be
difficult to keep
OPINION up.
For months
now, though,
relatively little
attention has
been paid to
the U.S. Census,
the count of
KEVIN our country’s
PRIOLA citizens con-
ducted every 10
years. While it may not be front
and center in our social media
feeds, it is no less important. In
fact, the results of the Census
will play a massive role in de-
fining how our state and coun-
try look for the next decade.
That is due in no small part
to the fact that the Census
helps to guide the allocation
of more than $1 trillion in
federal funding. Every person
under-counted in the Census
represents potentially thou-
sands of dollars lost for our
local communities and infra-
structure, critical government
programs, education funding,
health care initiatives and
much more. These are tax
dollars we pay to the federal
government every paycheck
that should be returning to and
invested in our communities.
Unfortunately, here in Colo-
rado, we have fallen behind in
finalizing our Census respons-
es. While it may seem on face
value that a relatively high
percentage of results have been
counted, it is important to
keep in mind that every single
person counted makes a sizable
difference in how the Census
results are interpreted.
Even under-counting by just
1% of a state’s population can
make the difference between
tens of millions dollars in
MIKE SMITH, KING FEATURES
government funding. Those are
tax dollars that we have paid to
improve our roads, better our
schools and job training pro-
grams, protect health care and
more that will help Coloradans
for the next 10 years. Howev-
er, if we are not able to fully
report our Census results, that
money will go to other states
and large cities with higher
response rates.
The Census also controls
how states are represented
in Congress. While the total
number of seats in the House
of Representatives is fixed, the
way they are divided between
the states is not. Instead, every
10 years, the Census is used
to examine how many people
are in each state, and how 435
seats in the House should be
divided among all 50 states. If
our state is under-counted in
the Census, we we will not be
fairly represented in Congress
for the next ten years
The repercussions of un-
der-counting in the Census are
very real and very serious, and
while a court recently ruled in
favor of extending the deadline,
the fate of the census is still
uncertain because this court
decision is likely to be ap-
pealed. Instead, Congress needs
to act. To meet the challenges
before us, we need all of our
lawmakers to recognize that
extraordinary times call for ex-
traordinary measures and vote
to allow for another month of
collection for the Census.
Luckily, there is a bipartisan
bill in the Senate that would do
just this. By joining his Senate
colleagues in this effort, Colora-
do U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner can
help to protect Colorado’s voice
in Congress and position our
state to succeed in the decade
to come.
Kevin Priola, a Republican
from Henderson, represents
District 25 in the Colorado
Senate.

Every Coloradan is
a winner in BINGO
BINGO! That’s what you’ll hear when
you vote YES on Amendment C to
change some out-of-date rules related to
charitable BINGO.
The best part about Amendment C
is that a YES vote is not a POLITICAL
vote. You can encourage your neighbor
of opposite political party to vote YES on
Amendment C. You can
OPINION encourage your church
friends to vote YES on
Amendment C because
religious charitable
groups, along with Vet-
erans of Foreign Wars,
are some of the most
prominent beneficiaries
PAULA of Colorado BINGO.
NOONAN The only reason that
a vote on BINGO is
necessary is because BINGO is in our
state constitution. Constitutional BINGO
has a tradition that separates charitable
BINGO from gambling and includes
many other states such as New York,
California, Oregon, Alabama, Texas,
Kansas, and Nebraska.
For some of you Coloradans, BINGO
may not be your first entertainment of
choice. But for thousands of Coloradans,
not only is it entertainment, it’s a terrific
night out to support charitable organi-
zations such as youth sports, schools,
churches, and veterans’ groups. Prize
money for regular BINGO games can
run up to $2000/session. Progressive
games can cook up to $15,000.
Amendment C will change the Colora-
do Constitution. First, it will allow non-
profits to get a bingo license after three
years of operations. Currently, nonprof-
its have to operate for five years before
they’re eligible to run BINGO. Second,
the amendment will allow game runners
to receive up to minimum wage.
Under the current constitutional
rules, BINGO game runners must be
volunteers. Wrangling volunteers to run
Saturday night games, for example, is an
ongoing struggle. The minimum wage
option gives charities more flexibility
and, as Rich Lemon, president of the
Colorado Charitable Bingo Association
(CCBA), notes, no one will get rich run-
ning BINGO games.
Lemon provides the BINGO game
ED GAMBLE, KING FEATURES
cards and accessories to charities who
then lease sessions from the parlors
who advertise and provide seating and
refreshments for the games. Paul Vigil
owns Barrys Bingo. He loves what he
does because his parlor provides fun,
lively entertainment for families, often
including several generations.
Holly Wogoman, BINGO manager
for The Academy of Charter Schools
Community Relations Pre-K-12 school in
Westminster, lives and breathes BINGO.
She played BINGO with her grand-
mother as a kid when Bertha (Penny)
Butcher ran BINGO for the VFW. Butch-
er has passed away, but now Pam Mena,
grandmother, and Maxim Wogoman,
grandson, play together at Oasis BINGO.
“We’re in our sixth year of BINGO and
have built up our earnings to $100,000/
year,” Wogoman says. It took the Acade-
my some time, but now BINGO supports
school clubs including robotics, softball
and baseball, the school’s music pro-
gram, and scholarships for children to
attend Outdoor Ed.
“One great benefit,” says Wogoman, “is
what the kids learn when they volunteer
to help with the games.” Students gain
experience in how to manage money,
deliver customer service, and deal with
difficult issues.
BINGO has bumped up against the
limits of the current constitutional rules.
CCBA president Lemon says it’s time
for BINGO to change, to expand the
number of charities that can participate
and make it easier for nonprofits to run
the games.
BINGO, says Lemon, puts the fun in
fundraising. It’s not gambling. It’s a
game of chance that everyone in the
game agrees sends significant revenue
to nonprofits without the usual begging
and pleading.
Here are your chances. For every
person who votes YES for Amendment
C, you’ve already won. Amendment C
is the ultimate grassroots, low-impact,
great-benefit constitutional amendment.
For Amendment C, every square is a
YES vote, so that’s a BINGO.
Paula Noonan owns Colorado Capitol
Watch, the state’s premier legislature
tracking platform.
October 2, 2020
Gardner’s Supreme
Court stance is sound
The death last week of Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the
pending nomination of her replace-
ment on the Supreme Court has
thrown a hand grenade into the
2020 election. Focus quickly turned
to whether enough Republican sen-
ators would support a confirmation
vote to ensure a majority. Colora-
do U.S. Sen. Cory
OPINION Gardner provided
his answer on
Monday, signaling
that, yes, he would
indeed vote to
confirm a quali-
fied nominee who
meets essential cri-
KELLY teria for elevation
SLOAN to the high court.
Specifically, Gard-
ner’s statement on the matter said
the following: “When a president
exercises constitutional authority to
nominate a judge for the Supreme
Court vacancy, the Senate must
decide how to best fulfill its consti-
tutional duty of advice and consent.
I have and will continue to support
judicial nominees who will protect
our Constitution, not legislate from
the bench, and uphold the law.
Should a qualified nominee who
meets this criteria be put forward, I
will vote to confirm.”
To some, he might as well have
said he was supporting martial law,
cannibalism and nuclear testing in
Boulder.
The opprobrium leveled at the
president, for daring to submit a
nominee, and the Senate Repub-
licans, for daring to suggest they
would vote on a nominee, has come
to be expected whenever a seat
on the Supreme Court opens up.
The ostensible issue, Democrats
make pains to point out, is one of
propriety; back in 2016, President
Obama’s pick to replace Justice Sca-
lia, Merrick Garland, was denied
a hearing by the Republican-con-
trolled Senate, citing the nearness
of the election. The same standard,
they tell us, should apply now.
I will give them this: the proximi-
ty of the election ought not to have
been offered up as the principal
reason for denying Garland’s
confirmation. The reason was that
the Senate has a constitutional
prerogative to confirm SCOTUS
appointees, and Garland fell short
of the criteria the Senate majority
felt necessary to be elevated to the
bench. Everyone involved did their
part — the president put forth a
nominee, as was his right, and the
Senate, the majority of which was
in the party opposite the president,
elected to not confirm him, as was
their right.
Four years later, the circum-
stances have changed, though the
applicable rights and duties have
not. This time the president and
Senate majority are hitting for
the same team, and, presuming
the president nominates someone
qualified whose juridical philoso-
phy aligns with that of the Senate
majority, that person will likely be
Colorado Politics 63
opinion
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
confirmed.
This makes the Democrats very
unhappy, especially since they view
the Supreme Court not so much
as a judicial institution but as an
instrument for irreversible social
change. They juxtapose Gardner’s
opposition to Garland’s confirma-
tion under Obama to his support
for a potential confirmation now
and see hypocrisy.
This brings up a couple of obser-
vations. The first is that hypocrisy,
if that’s what it is, works both ways.
We have heard from disappointed
Democrats for four years about
how Garland’s nomination was
“stolen” insofar as his confirmation
ought to have proceeded, pending
election or no pending election.
Fair enough. But if fealty to consis-
tency is what they are proposing,
should they not hold to the same
standard now, and support the con-
firmation of whomever President
Trump puts forward? If it is hypo-
critical for Republicans to reverse
course, as the Democrats are telling
us they are doing, is it not equally
hypocritical for Democrats to do
the same?
Consistency of position is prob-
ably rarer in terms of Supreme
Court appointments than in any
other field of public endeavor, and
that’s saying something. The reason
for this is simple: the Supreme
Court has, over the past 50 years or
so, self-appointed itself as, to use
the words of Justice Learned Hand,
a third legislative chamber. This
makes appointment to the bench
a political act, subject to political
formulations.
The fact is that, politically, legally,
or historically, there is no incon-
sistency in Gardner’s position on
SCOTUS confirmation between
2016 and today. The Senate and the
president have the same constitu-
tionally assigned roles now as they
did then. Gardner’s decision to ex-
ercise that role has changed to the
extent that orbiting circumstances
have. In both cases, Gardner sup-
ports the confirmation of justices
to the Supreme Court who respect
the authorities of Congress and the
executive, and the limits of their
own. If President Trump nominates
a candidate who meets those stan-
dards — someone, for instance, like
Judge Amy Coney Barrett — Gard-
ner would be doing the right thing,
and the nation a great service, in
voting to confirming her.
Kelly Sloan is a political and public
affairs consultant and a recovering
journalist based in Denver.
64 Colorado Politics October 2, 2020

ENDORSEMENT WATCH

Tea Party PAC, clean energy group back Gardner

BY ERNEST LUNING
Colorado Politics
Tea Party Express, the na-
tion’s largest tea party political
action committee, endorsed Re-
publican U.S. Sen. Cory Gard-
ner’s bid for a second term on
Sept. 28.
In a statement, the group’s
co-founder and chief strategist
Sal Russo said, “Sen. Cory Gard-
ner is a commonsense conser-
vative with a record of reach-
ing across the aisle to develop
solutions to some of Colorado’s
most pressing problems. Amer-
ica’s future is at stake in this
crucial election year, and we
need more leaders like him in
Washington fighting to recharge
our economy and clean up the
dysfunction and corruption that
permeates our nation’s capital
today. Cory has been one of the
most effective legislators in D.C.
and has earned the respect and
admiration of people across the
political spectrum. Colorado
needs this outstanding legisla-
tor to stay on the job.”
Russo went on to praise Gard-
ner’s “bold leadership” and the
fifth-generation Coloradan’s
familiarity with ranching and
small businesses, citing his
family’s farm implement com-
pany on the Eastern Plains.
“In both Washington and Den-
ver, he has fought to grow the
state’s economy through lower
taxes, government reforms and
infrastructure improvements
that allow businesses to thrive
and workers to keep more of
their hard-earned dollars,” Rus-
so said. “He also led the effort
to relocate the Bureau of Land
Management to Colorado so it
could be closer to the people it
regulates and issues it handles
instead of being chummy with
Washington insiders and bu-
reaucrats.”
Gardner also won support from
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., speaks during a news con-
ference in July at the Bright Beginnings Learning Center in
Greenwood Village.
the Republican Citizens for
Responsible Energy Solutions
organization, which bestowed its
formal endorsement Sept. 30.
The group requires that candi-
dates acknowledge a federal role
in reducing carbon emissions
and support developing a strong
clean energy industry, as well as
take the lead on chime change
and emissions reduction policy.
“Senator Cory Gardner has
a long record of leadership in
furthering advanced renewable
energy technologies, protecting
Colorado’s environment, and
fighting to protect the state’s
over 62,000 clean energy jobs,”
said CRES Executive Director
Heather Reams. “As a state leg-
islator, congressman, and now
as a senator, Gardner has advo-
cated for harnessing the power
of domestically-sourced clean
energy, he’s worked to secure
our electric grid, grow clean en-
ergy, and lower energy costs for
his constituents while serving
in the United States Senate.”
Gardner said he was honored
to receive the group’s support.
“We must continue to em-
brace commonsense policies
that reduce emissions, combat
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
climate change, and grow the
economy simultaneously in an
all-of-the-above approach,” he
said in a statement.
The Candidate Fund PAC for
the anti-abortion group Susan
B. Anthony List announced its
endorsement of Republican Lau-
ren Boebert to represent Colora-
do’s 3rd Congressional District.
“Lauren is strong, fearless and
unapologetically pro-life — the
embodiment of the pro-wom-
an leadership our organization
exists to promote,” said former
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave,
SBA List’s vice president of gov-
ernment affairs, in a statement.
“A business owner who has
worked hard and overcome ad-
versity, Lauren will bring the
same grit and determination to
the battle for life in Congress,
where fresh voices like hers
are needed more than ever to
stand up to Pelosi Democrats’
expansive abortion agenda.
Lauren has experience leading
the charge to end extreme late-
term abortion and will stand
firm against taxpayer funding
of abortion.”
Musgrave, who represented
Colorado’s 4th Congressional
District for three terms in the
last decade, noted that Boebert,
a first-time candidate and own-
er of Rifle’s Shooters Grill, is a
veteran grassroots volunteer,
including working on a ballot
initiative to end late-term abor-
tion while she was pregnant.
Dedicated to ending abor-
tion by supporting candidates
who oppose it, SBA List counts
900,000 members nationwide.
The United Steelworkers
of Colorado endorsed Demo-
crat Diane Mitsch Bush, who is
running against Boebert to rep-
resent the open 3rd CD, which
covers western and parts of
southern Colorado, saying the
former state lawmaker will be
a strong voice for workers and
their families.
“It has been a long time since
we could sit down with our elect-
ed representative and have con-
fidence that our needs are being
heard,” said USW Local 3267
President Charles Perko, in a
statement. “The USW is blessed
to have a number of steel-strong
allies in Washington D.C., who
always join our rallies, fight for
our rights, and work to ensure
that we can all have safe, pros-
perous jobs. We can’t wait to be
able to count her among them.”
The union has thousands of
members in Colorado, includ-
ing in Pueblo, nicknamed the
City of Steel and the largest
municipality in the 3rd CD. It
has endorsed Republicans and
Democrats in past elections, a
spokesman said.
“Pueblo steel built the West,”
Mitsch Bush said in a state-
ment. “It wasn’t until my moth-
er joined a union that my family
experienced financial stability
for the first time. I’m running for
Congress to create good-paying
jobs for Coloradans, and I will
work closely with steelworkers
and all unions to do just that.”
Democratic district attorney
candidate Amy Padden, run-
ning for an open seat in the
18th Judicial District, has won
endorsements from Gov. Jar-
ed Polis, Attorney General
Phil Weiser and State Trea-
surer Dave Young.
The judicial district is the
largest in the state, covering
Arapahoe, Douglas, Lincoln and
Elbert counties. Its current top
prosecutor, Republican George
Brauchler, is facing term limits.
Padden is facing Republican
John Kellner, the 18th JD’s chief
deputy district attorney. She
is currently a deputy district
attorney in the 11th Judicial
District, which includes Fre-
mont, Chaffee, Park and Custer
counties, and has experience as
a state and federal prosecutor.
“The 18th Judicial District is
in need of true criminal justice
reform and new leadership,
and Amy is the right woman
to lead that office in a new di-
rection,” said Polis. “I’ve seen
Amy’s passion for addressing
inequities and injustices over
the past several years, and now
is the time to elect her as dis-
trict attorney.”
Calling her “a fighter,” Weiser
said: “Amy Padden’s life work
reflects a deep commitment to
public service and justice. As
the next district attorney for the
18th Judicial District, she will
spur innovative reforms and
improvements to our criminal
justice system and advocate for
victims. She’s a fighter and will
work tirelessly to engage and
support all communities.”
“I am confident that Amy will
be responsible with the public’s
tax dollars for Arapahoe, Doug-
las, Lincoln, and Elbert counties,
finding innovative and cost-ef-
fective ways to fight crime, en-
sure justice, and make our com-
munities safer,” Young said.

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