A coordinated assortment of outside groups has so far poured more than $6 million into winning key legislative seats across the state, swamping the spending on races that typically cost candidates a fraction of the sums being spent on their behalf, The Colorado Statesman reports.

Senate Majority Leader John Morse, a Democrat, has been the biggest beneficiary of so-called 527s associated with a registered agent named Julie Wells. The outside spending has dwarfed what the candidates themselves have raised and spent, The Statesman reports.

For his own re-election, Morse has raised $145,940 as of Oct. 18. His Republican challenger, Owen Hill, has raised $105,273. But the Wells 527s and IECs have spent $715,281 on TV ads, mailers and door-to-door canvassing, either supporting Morse or opposing Hill.

Noting how much he and Morse had raised on their campaigns, Hill told the Statesman, “we’re spending less than a quarter of the messaging in this campaign. It’s not good for the health of our political dialogue.”

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Todd Engdahl, EDUCATION NEWS COLORADO

With the 2010 election two weeks away, the peak of the campaign fund raising season has passed, but there still were some interesting developments in the latest contribution and spending filings.

Here are the highlights in races of interest to education:

State Board of Education

The biggest change from previous reports was in the 2nd District race for State Board of Education, where Democratic incumbent Angelika Schroeder reported raising $8,638.

Among contributors of note were Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Udall ($100), Aurora Superintendent John Barry ($100), Colorado Springs District 11 CFO Glenn Gustafson ($100), Pueblo County school board member Bill Bregar ($25) and CU regent candidate Melissa Hart ($75).

Schroeder gathered lots of contributions from her home base of Boulder County, including $100 from District Attorney Stan Garnett (the Democratic candidate for attorney general), $25 from county assessor Jerry Roberts and $100 from civic leader Josie Heath. (Heath’s husband, Rollie, is a Democratic state senator and member of the Senate Education Committee.)

The Boulder and Jefferson County Democratic Party organizations also contributed to Schroeder.

The campaign committee for Republican candidate Kaye Ferry of Vail reported raising $1,304, the bulk of it from the Eagle and Jefferson County Republican organizations. Ferry also reported spending $3,726 of her own money on the race.

The 2nd District stretches from western Adams County almost to Glenwood Springs and includes the resort towns of Summit and Eagle counties. Democrats have 136,637 active registered voters, followed by 125,695 unaffiliateds and 96,200 Republicans. Former SBE member Jared Polis now represents the district in the U.S. House.

There are two open SBE seats on the ballot this year. Republican Paul Lundeen has raised $8,340 in the 5th District, compared to $405 for Democrat Karl Beck. In the 6th District Democrat William Townend reports raising $63, while Republican Debora Scheffel hasn’t filed reports.

Republicans have strong registration edges in both districts, and outgoing incumbents Peggy Littleton (5th) and Randy DeHoff (6th) are members of the GOP.

Several observers expect the SBE to maintain its 4-3 Republican edge, with Schroeder holding her seat and Republicans winning in the two open districts.

CU Board of Regents

Fund raising in the race for an at-large seat on the Board of Regents is approaching the $170,000 mark.

Hart, a professor at the CU law school, reported raising $101,172, with $41,032 of that still on hand. Interesting names among her recent contributors include Bruce Caughey, deputy executive director of the Colorado Association of School Executives ($20); former congressman and state higher ed chief David Skaggs ($50); socialites Marvin and Judi Wolf ($250 each), and former CU-Denver Chancellor M. Roy Wilson ($250). She also received $800 from the Colorado WINS Small Donor Committee (a public employee group), and $400 from the District 12 Educators Association Political Action Committee.

Republican incumbent Steve Bosley reported $66,703 raised, with $16,361 still on hand. The most recent report lists contributions of $200 from GOP regent Jim Geddes, $250 from former National Western Stock Show head Pat Grant, $50 from former regent Peter Dietze and $200 from Bill Hybl of the El Pomar Foundation. (Hybl’s son Kyle is chair of the regents and is an El Pomar vice president.)

In the 1st District, incumbent Democratic regent Michael Carrigan reported raising $2,323 on top of the $17,882 he had on hand at the beginning of the election cycle, Republican Alexander Maller reports raising $280.

In the open 4th District regent seat, Republican Suzanne Sharkey has raised $18,224 while Democrat Robert Bishop-Cotner reported $3,300. Bishop-Cotner, a Brighton High School teacher, received a $1,000 contribution from the Public Education Committee, a small donor committee affiliated with the Colorado Education Association.

Republicans currently have a 5-4 edge on the board, so Democrats will gain the majority if Hart succeeds in her well-funded challenge, and if Carrigan and Sharkey win, as is expected.

Legislative races

The Public Education Committee reported a cumulative total of $765,367 raised and $161,459 on hand as of the most recent report. The committee has spent $914,300 – it had $320,392 in the bank when the campaign season started.

The committee has donated significant amounts to Democratic legislative candidates and to gubernatorial hopeful John Hickenlooper, Treasurer Cary Kennedy and Secretary of State Bernie Buescher. All, of course, are Democrats. It’s also contributed to various 527 committees that are affiliated with the coordinated campaign efforts of wealthy donors and labor unions that have aided many successful Democratic campaigns in recent Colorado elections. In the latest reporting period the committee gave $60,000 to 21st Century Colorado, one of those groups.

The bulk of the committee’s legislative contributions were made earlier (see this Education News Colorado story for details on union contributions.) But, in the latest period the committee gave $2,125 each to Rep. Debbie Benefield, D-Arvada, and to Pete Lee, Democratic candidate in Colorado Springs’ House District 18.

Stand for Children, the education reform group, gave $600 in the current cycle to Rep. Jeanne Labuda, D-Denver. (Read this story about prior Stand contributions.)

No new contributions were reported by committees associated with the American Federation of Teachers-Colorado or the CEA-affiliated Jefferson County Education Association. (See this earlier story for an analysis of giving by various education interest groups to legislative candidates.)

In one of this year’s most hotly contested legislative races, total contributions now exceed $180,000. In House District 47, Democrat Carole Partin, former president of the Pueblo Education Association, has raised $70,784, while Republican Keith Swerdfeger has raised $110,707. Various education groups are on opposite sides in this battle.

The seat, which covers parts of Pueblo and Fremont counties, has been held by Democrat Buffie McFayden, who’s leaving the legislature because of term limits.

Union and reform groups also are opposite sides of these races:

• House District 3 (Denver and Arapahoe County): Democratic Rep. Daniel Kagan, $54,975; Republican Christine Mastin, $53,386.
• House District 30 (Adams County): Republican Rep. Kevin Priola, $99,078; Democrat and retired teacher Laura Huerta, $21,841.

Education groups all have lined up behind the Democratic candidates in these races:

• Senate District 6 (Colorado Springs): Democratic Sen. John Morse, $145,940; Republican Owen Hill $105,273. Morse is Senate majority leader and was the prime architect of the higher education flexibility law passed by the 2010 legislature.
• Senate District 20 (Jefferson County): Democrat Cheri Jahn, $107,484; Republican John Odom $26,518.

Budget busting amendments

The piles of cash raised to oppose amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101 continued to grow, according to the most recent reports.

Coloradans for Responsible Reform, the business/labor/education/civic coalition opposing the three budget-slashing proposals, has raised $6.7 million total and has $102,418 on hand. It raised $376,749 in the latest reporting period.

Recent contributions of interest include $1,000 from Jim Giesemer, director of the University of Denver’s Strategic issues program; $25,000 from the Benson Mineral Group, founded by CU President Bruce Benson; $100,000 from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association of New York and $150,000 from the Colorado Association of Realtors.

The CEA and the National Education Association have contributed heavily in past cycles to the opposition effort but weren’t among recent contributors. AFT-Colorado contributed $4,810 to another opposition group, the Colorado League of Responsible Voters, in the most recent cycle. That group has raised a total of $520,600.

CO Tax Reforms, the group of anti-tax activists supporting 60. 61 and 101, reports raising a total of $17,463 and has $11,394 on hand.

But, there’s another, more shadowy group pushing the three amendments, a non-profit named Active Citizens Together.

That group registered with the secretary of state as a non-profit corporation in 2001, with Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights author Doug Bruce listed as the registered agent. Bruce was listed as registered agent as recently as the group’s 2008 report. The current agent is Doug Campbell of Arvada, a longtime Bruce associate who served as Bruce’s aide during his short career in the legislature. The group is not registered with the secretary of state as an issue committee.

But, a glossy, two-sided, multi-colored flier supporting 60, 61 and 101 recently went to voters under the group’s name.

Coloradans for Responsible Reform this week filed a complaint with the secretary of state, arguing Active Citizens Together is legally required to register as an issue committee and report its contributors and spending.

Based on a court deposition Bruce gave on Oct. 5, the opposition group claims, “ACT apparently is the largest known donor to the effort paying, according to Bruce, $100,000 to $200,000 to a professional signature gathering firm for the petition drive that resulted in 60, 61 and 101 being placed on the ballot.”

The group also claims, “ACT continued to fund campaign activities as recently as the week of October 11, when a mailing from ACT in support of the measures arrived at an unknown number of homes.” (Read the news release from Coloradans for Responsible Reform.)

According to a Denver Post blog item, Bruce told The Associated Press Tuesday that the opposition group is trying to link him to the three proposals because he’s widely disliked by the public. But, according to Post reporter Tim Hoover, “Bruce dodged questions about the substance of the complaint filed by opponents: that he illegally used his charity, Active Citizens Together, to fund petition drives for the three initiatives.” (Read full blog post.)

The most recent fund raising and spending reports were due Monday and covered activity between Sept. 30 and Oct. 13. The next report deadlines are Nov. 1 and Dec. 2.

• Search campaign finance records on the secretary of state’s website.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Gene Davis, DENVER DAILY NEWS

A prominent conservative blogger and Tom Tancredo supporter yesterday denied that he attempted to break Colorado law by offering a monetary deal to Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes to drop out of the race.

Blogger Ross Kaminsky yesterday responded to a Facebook post by Joseph Harrington, a Colorado conservative activist and Maes supporter, in which Harrington claimed that he was approached by a “well-known blogger, two Metro-Denver area GOP county chairs, two senior operatives for Tom Tancredo” and others who presented a deal in which Maes would “be offered a bunch of money” by an anonymous wealthy donor via a non-profit in exchange for dropping out of the race. Harrington wrote that he believed the deals at their core were illegal.

However, Kaminsky fired back at Harrington yesterday and announced that he was the “well-known blogger” Harrington was referring to. But Kaminsky wrote on his blog that he didn’t present an illegal deal to Harrington, and wrote that the following is what happened:

» On Oct. 4, Kaminsky sent an e-mail to Harrington asking him “what would have to happen for you to vote for Tancredo?” Harrington responded with a short list of things, which Kaminsky said would never happen, such as Tancredo naming Maes as Lt. Governor and giving Maes two cabinet picks;

» Harrington added an e-mail p.s., asking: “do you think a deal could be made? Or are they both idealistic purists who will die on the field of battle.” Kaminsky responded, “The latter…Tom is idealistic and Maes is narcissistic.”

» Harrington then responded asking about a deal for Maes, writing in the e-mail: “I’ll bring Maes along and you bring (Tancredo) and let’s try…it has to happen before ballots drop on the 12th…”

Following the e-mail exchanges, Kaminsky spoke with a friend of Tancredo and told him that “one of Maes’ strongest supporters” wanted to know if any “deal” could be made. The friend, who said he wasn’t authorized to speak for Tancredo, said he had heard of an idea being floated of giving a non-state-funded job to Maes if he would drop out.

Kaminsky the next day called Harrington about the idea of the privately funded job. According to Kaminsky, he emphasized that he didn’t want to be a part of anything illegal and would consult with an election law attorney if they wanted to move forward.

When Harrington relayed the possible deal to Maes, he responded: “Tell that hypocritical, draft dodging, TARP voting, pot endorsing thug to get out of the race and let the people’s choice win this thing for real conservatives!”

Harrington yesterday wrote a follow-up on his Facebook post yesterday saying that he agrees with about 90 percent of Kaminsky’s account. He pointed out that Kaminsky’s blog post confirms that someone was floating the idea of offering Maes a job at a privately funded commission, his main original claim.

Meanwhile, Colorado Ethics Watch (CEW) — a watchdog agency — yesterday called on Maes to disclose any documents and details about the alleged deal. Colorado law states: “No person shall offer or give any candidate or candidate committee any money or any other thing of value for the purpose of encouraging the withdrawal of the candidate’s candidacy, nor shall any candidate offer to withdraw a candidacy in return for money or any other thing of value.”  Under this law, a person who made a financial offer to Maes or his campaign in order to encourage him to withdraw would violate Colorado campaign finance law even if the offer were rejected, according to CEW.

“If, as it appears, Dan Maes has evidence that someone offered him money to drop out of the election, he should reveal it,” said a statement from Luis Toro, director of CEW.  “Because even making an offer is illegal, it is incumbent on Maes and his campaign to disclose everything they know about any alleged offers to get him to drop out of the governor’s race.”

Former Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff, a Democrat, was blasted by Republicans this summer after it was revealed that he was offered a job by President Barack Obama’s administration if he would drop out of the Senate primary race against Michael Bennet. Colorado Republican Party chair Richard Wadhams said at the time that backroom deals are especially rare in Colorado.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Gene Davis, DENVER DAILY NEWS

Despite heavy media coverage, one political pundit doesn’t think Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Buck’s saying that being gay is partially a choice, like being an alcoholic, will have a significant impact on the election.

However, Colorado gay rights groups continued to hammer on Buck for saying on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” that being gay is partially a choice and “birth has an influence, like alcoholism and some other things.”

Aaron Harber, a political pundit and columnist for the Denver Daily News, doesn’t think Buck’s comment on gays will significantly hurt him on Election Day because most gay rights groups likely weren’t backing him to begin with. However, Harber doesn’t think the comment will help Buck, either.

“This likely is not a major issue but Buck’s appearing to be confused on the issue may have hurt him more than the issue itself,” he said. “He would have been smarter to say ‘I don’t know,’ if that truly were the case.’”

Meanwhile, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado (The Center) yesterday sent out a press release saying that Buck’s comments don’t reflect the views of the majority of Coloradans.

“It is unfortunate that an individual seeking an elected position that would represent the people of Colorado would choose to say such things, a nervous mistake or not,” said a statement from Carlos Martinez, executive director of The Center  “What is clear is that such comments are not reflective of the truly inclusive nature of this state.”

Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, one of four openly gay or lesbian Colorado state legislators, added that “it is frightening that such dangerous and blatantly incorrect rhetoric is coming from a candidate so detached from the majority of Coloradans.”

Bennet battered, too

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Buck’s opponent in the general election, also took some hits during “Meet the Press.” Bennet was asked during the TV news show about the stimulus package and health care reform, two controversial measures that he voted for.

The fact that President Barack Obama and Democrats have not highlighted key principles in health care reform with which most Americans agree — elimination of denial of coverage, wider coverage, lifting lifetime coverage caps etc — while leaving themselves open to attacks for the legislation’s failures — such as insufficient medical cost controls, no caps on health insurance premium increases, forced policy-buying, etc. — spells trouble for the appointed senator, according to Harber.

“It is likely Bennet’s vote will be characterized by his opponents in Colorado as the vote which got the health care bill approved,” he said. “Of course, that could be said about each senator who voted for the legislation.”

Poll

A Rasmussen Reports poll released Sunday showed that the race between Buck and Bennet is now a virtual tie. The poll of likely Colorado voters shows Buck with 47 percent support to Bennet’s 45 percent, with 4 percent preferring another candidate and another 4 percent undecided. The race has been closely watched throughout the country and has brought in the second highest amount of outside spending, according to The Sunlight Foundation, a campaign finance watchdog agency.

“People already are voting because mail ballots were received beginning October 14th so the key will be who can do the best job of turning out his supporters,” said Harber. “ In 2008, Colorado Democrats did a far superior job than Republicans and surprisingly won races across the state.  In 2010, Republicans have the edge in enthusiasm.  If the Buck campaign and the Republican Party can do a better Get-Out-The-Vote effort, Buck will win the race.”

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Gene Davis, DENVER DAILY NEWS

The three main gubernatorial candidates got down to business yesterday during a debate sponsored by the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, the state chamber of commerce.

The Denver debate focused on business issues and started with American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo slamming Democrat John Hickenlooper for increasing fees and taxes as Denver mayor. Tancredo said the key to getting a state out of a recession is cutting taxes and not raising fees, and positioned Hickenlooper as an anti-business candidate who would do the opposite of what is needed if elected governor.

Hickenlooper, however, pointed out the ways he “cut red tape” for the business community while mayor. Hickenlooper reduced the time it takes to get a building permit by about 30 percent and said as mayor he “increased fees very modestly.” Additionally, Denver voters approved the measures in 2004 and 2006 that raised taxes by about $290 million by a wide margin.

Hickenlooper pointed to his experience opening the Wynkoop Brewing Company, which revitalized lower downtown, as proof that he knows how to help the business community. He said raising taxes is off the table during a recession.

“We’ve got to define Colorado as a pro-business state,” said Hickenlooper.

For his part, Republican candidate Dan Maes said the state must reduce government regulations and taxes to help the business community.

‘Dirty dozen’

The debate then turned to the so-called “dirty dozen,” a series of bills passed last legislative session that eliminated or suspended numerous tax credits and exemptions for the business community.

Maes said if elected governor he would immediately repeal the bills, while Hickenlooper said he would repeal the measures as quickly as possible. Hickenlooper said the reality of the budget would make it hard to repeal the exemptions within the first year, but promised if elected to work with the business community to see what to repeal first.

Tancredo followed up by saying that he doubted Hickenlooper would look to repeal the “dirty dozen,” and said cutting taxes would be his first action if elected.

Union issues

Tancredo and Maes both came out strong against unionization in Colorado. Tancredo promised to confront the public employee and teacher unions “head on” because he believes they are hurting Colorado’s business community recover from the recession.

“Do you know of anyone who pays union dues so they can work more or get paid less?” said Tancredo. “Of course not, that’s now what a union is all about.”

Hickenlooper said as mayor he resisted a push for an increase of unionization. But Hickenlooper added that it’s important to “try to get everybody working together” and that it’s important, for instance, to have “teachers at the table” in some way.

Maes pointed to his campaign history as proof that he isn’t afraid to take on the big names, in this case unions, to get them to focus on what’s important.

Throughout the debate Tancredo attacked Hickenlooper, Hickenlooper cited his business background, and Maes positioned himself as the people’s choice.

Awkward moment

Tancredo started the debate on an awkward note with a joke that was greeted with noticeable shock and silence. After being introduced as “everyone’s favorite border patrol guard,” Tancredo quipped that he is usually introduced with the following line: “If your dinner arrives late or cold, you can blame the next person I’m bringing up here because when he walked into the room, we lost all the wait staff and all the kitchen help.”

However, illegal immigration was not discussed at yesterday’s debate.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Peter Marcus, DENVER DAILY NEWS

First Lady Michelle Obama at a fundraiser in Englewood yesterday for Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Michael Bennet said she is a supporter of Bennet because as a mother she believes Bennet is working for a positive future for her children.

The fundraiser, held at an upscale private residence in Cherry Hills, raised about $270,000 for the Bennet campaign, according to a campaign spokesman.

About 300 people attended the $250-and-up luncheon — an event attended by such local Democrat heavyweights as Gov. Bill Ritter — who appointed Bennet to the Senate in January 2009 — and Secretary of State Bernie Buescher.

Obama spoke for about 35 minutes, discussing how she views herself as the “mom-in-chief,” arguing that the focus for lawmakers should be on creating a better future for the nation’s children. She said Bennet is working for that future.

“My children are at the center of my world,” said Obama. “My hopes for their future is really at the heart of every single thing that I do, and that’s really why I wanted to be here for this. I wanted to be here for Michael because I come at this really more as a mother than anything else.”

Michelle Obama, whose approval rating trumps that of her president husband, has been called upon by Democrats to hit the campaign trail for them. The First Lady is making campaign stops in seven states, including Colorado yesterday.

While she spent some of her speech discussing Bennet’s accomplishments, Obama spent a significant amount of time highlighting the work her husband has done as president. She pointed to health reform and the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as shining examples.

In introducing Obama, Bennet spoke of his commitment to his children and the future for the nation’s children.

“What we share, what we hold in common is aspirations that we have for our kids and our grandkids for this state and for our country that are so much more important and so much more durable and so much more relevant whether we are Republicans or Democrats or unaffiliated voters than the politics that you’re seeing play out on your TV,” said Bennet. “And it’s up to us to lift up those aspirations …”

The First Lady also pushed Democrats at the fundraiser to think back to the excitement and energy they shared during Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, and encouraged them to “have his back.”

“One thing I said out on the campaign trail, I said to you that if I put Barack out there with my family, you all would have to have his back … and you told me you would,” Obama told the audience. “And in order to have his back, we’re gonna need people like Michael … we need all of you to help. We need you all to be pumped up, fired up and ready to go.”

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Debi Brazzale, COLORADO NEWS AGENCY

Legislative Republicans are touting a pending proposal they say will ensure only citizens vote–following a news report Thursday that some 12,000 registered Colorado voters are listed as non-U.S. citizens because they failed to check a box affirming citizenship when they registered to vote.

“Today’s Denver Post story about 12,000 registered Colorado voters who may not be citizens puts a spotlight on a long-standing problem,” Sen. Ted Harvey R-Highlands Ranch, who will introduce the GOP measure, said in a statement issued by Senate Republicans.

Secretary of State Bernie Buescher’s office has acknowledged that 8,763 individuals apparently have voted despite having failed to check a box on their registration form that says they are a citizen. The other 3,106 voters who also failed to indicate their citizen status did not vote in a recent election.

The first question on a voter’s registration form asks about citizenship, with a yes or no check-off box followed by another yes or no check-off box verifying that the applicant is at least 18 years of age. The 12,000 applicants in question left the boxes about citizenship blank.

Harvey says that 12,000 voters listed as non-citizens are too many to ignore.

“12,000 cases is a clear matter of system failure and it calls out for new safeguards,” said Harvey.

The measure now being drafted by Harvey for the 2011 legislature, which convenes in January, revisits legislation that GOP lawmakers have offered in recent years requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Each time, said Harvey, their efforts have been blocked by the Democrat majority.

However, Democratic Senate Majority Leader John Morse, of Colorado Springs, says the GOP push misses its mark. Rather than rooting out non-citizens who aren’t eligible to vote, Morse said, the Republican proposal would disfranchise voters who unintentionally left the check-off box blank.

“If you forget to check a box, (the proposal would) deem you a non-citizen and strip you of your right to vote? The fact that your eyesight is bad, that your arthritis is bad, those things are going to strip you of your right to vote?” asked Morse. “The standard should be probable cause, not forgetting to check a box on a form.”

Yet, Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, said he is sending a letter to Buescher asking for assurances that steps are being taken to remove the non-citizens from the voting rolls, or, require further evidence of citizenship prior to the November election.

Kopp says the time has come for action.

“We can’t continue the policy of casual indifference that we’ve had here in this state. It’s time to address and fix this problem and ensure that elections are being conducted with the utmost integrity,” he said. “Republicans have been trying for years to address this issue, and we have been rebuffed at every turn.”

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

STATE BILL COLORADO

The Denver Post today endorsed candidates in 10 House races. If voters take the newspaper’s advice, Colorado’s House would move to within just one seat of a Republican takeover.

There are 65 seats in the Colorado House, but the majority of the districts are strongly Republican or Democratic. The current composition is 37-27-1.

The Post liked Republicans in five of the contested races: Mark Barker in HD-17 (over incumbent Dennis Apuan), Karen Cullen over HD-18 (over challenger Pete Lee), Libby Szabo in HD-27 (over incumbent Sara Gagliardi), Robert Ramirez in HD-29 (over incumbent Debbie Benefield), Keith Swerdferger in HD-39 (over challenger Carole Partin).

The Post favored Democrats in four races: Max Tyler in HD-23 (over Edgar Johannson), incumbent Debbie Primavera in HD-33 (over challenger Donald Beezley, incumbent Joe Rice in HD-38 (over challenger Kathleen Conti), Jim Riesberg in HD-50 over (Bob Boswell).

In the final race, the newspaper gave the nod to Democrat-turned-Independent Kathleen Curry in HD-61 over Democrat Roger Wilson and Republican Luke Korkowski.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Gene Davis, DENVER DAILY NEWS

More than 20 candidates running for office in Colorado are in favor of legalizing marijuana for adults, according to a report released yesterday.

Meanwhile, nearly 10 candidates oppose legalization, and the majority didn’t respond to a survey issued by the social welfare lobbying arm of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), a pro-marijuana legalization group.

Mason Tvert’s SAFER asked every Colorado candidate up for election next month whether they agree with the following policy statement: “Marijuana should be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol, and adults twenty-one (21) years of age and older should NOT be subject to criminal penalties for private use and possession of up to one (1) ounce of marijuana.” SAFER is planning on putting a pro-legalization measure on the 2012 ballot.

The majority of candidates — including most incumbents — failed or refused to respond to the one-question survey despite having more than a month to do so, according to Tvert.

“They think that they don’t need to explain where they stand on the issue, and that’s unfortunate because voters deserve to know,” said Tvert.

Tvert was equally upset yesterday with Democrat Denver Mayor and Colorado gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper for helping open a brewpub but not supporting the legalization of marijuana, which Tvert believes is safer than alcohol. Tvert is angry that Hickenlooper hasn’t discussed why he opposes the legalization of marijuana. Hickenlooper’s campaign declined comment to the Denver Daily News.

“I think that he’s a coward,” Tvert said of Hickenlooper. “Quite frankly, I think he is scared to elaborate on his position because he has become a career politician.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes is also against legalizing marijuana. When asked about the possibility of generating tax revenue through the regulated sale of marijuana, Maes compared it to prostituting one’s daughter to generate revenue, according to SAFER.

However, Hickenlooper’s main opponent in the gubernatorial race, third-party candidate Tom Tancredo, is in favor of legalization. Tvert thinks Tancredo’s pro-legalization stance could help him on Election Day.

“He’s set himself aside by being a major candidate who is vocal about his support for this, and I think that could result in a lot of younger voters and non-traditional voters heading to the polls to vote in support of a candidate who shares their view on the issue,” said Tvert.

The candidates who responded to SAFER’s survey and said they are in favor, and against, legalizing marijuana came from all of the major political parties. The survey found:

State Senate candidates in favor of legalization:

» Gloria Stultz, Democrat running in District 2;

» Claudette Konola, Democrat running in District 7;

» Gary Storck, Democrat running in District 13;

» Jeanne Nicholson, Democrat running in District 16;

» Doug Smith, Republican running in District 31;

» Pat Steadman, Democrat running District 31;

» Derec Shuler, Republican running in District 34.

State Senate candidates not in favor of legalization;

» Katherine Facchiniello, Democrat running in District 30;

» Chris Romer, Democrat running in District 32;

State House candidates in favor of legalization:

» Jeanne Labuda, Democrat running in District 1;

» Mark Ferrandino, Democrat running in District 2;

» Marc Goddard, Libertarian running in District 4;

» Rick Nevin, Republican running in District 4;

» Therese-Marie O’Sullivan, Republican running in District 8;

» Joe Miklosi, Democrat running in District 9;

» Bo Shaffer, Libertarian running in District 12;

» Larry Liston, Republican running in District 17;

» Pete Lee, Democrat running in District 18;

» Jonathan Dooley, Democrat running in District 21;

» G.T. “Bud” Martin, Libertarian running in District 27;

» Debbie Benefield, Democrat running in District 29;

» Tom Janich, Republican running in District 31;

» Carol Levine, Democrat running in District 39;

» Carole Partin, Democrat running in District 47;

» Mike Kien, Libertarian running in District 57;

» Luke Korkowski, Republican running in District 61;

State House candidates not in favor of legalization:

» Robert Houdeshell, Republican running in District 13;

» Robert Ramirez, Republican running in District 29;

» Rhonda Fields, Democrat running in District 42;

» Sally Mounier, Republican running in District 42;

» Gary Semro, Democrat running in District 43;

» Steve Ivanice, Democrat running in District 57;

» J. Paul Brown, Republican running in District 59.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

STATE BILL COLORADO

9News has provided video of last night’s debate between Republican Ken Buck and Democrat Michael Bennet. The debate is split into five video files, embedded below.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >