Denver November 2004 Election
Diane Carman writes about the Democratic party successes in getting majorities in both houses of the Colorado legislature in her column in today's Denver Post [November 4, 2004, "Democrats' brilliant strategy turns tables at statehouse"]. She writes, "The political strategy was so brilliant, it's hard to believe it was conceived by Democrats. Over the past year, they amassed an enormous war chest, did extensive polling, honed messages for each state House or Senate district, blasted voters with direct mail aimed at the heart of each specific demographic, and flooded the neighborhoods with field workers who never rested until they had every Democratic and unaffiliated voter with a pulse safely at the polls. At the same time, Democrats floated Amendment 36, an initiative to split the electoral vote, knowing that it was the longest of long shots but that Republicans nervous about the close presidential race would divert scarce funds to defeating it instead of toward electing Republican candidates in key local races. And they did it all so quietly, so unobtrusively and with such Republican discipline that when they seized the majority in both the state House and Senate on Tuesday night - for the first time in 44 years - revelers celebrating President Bush's re-election were utterly flabbergasted. It was like having their pockets picked at the inaugural ball. The lead organization was Forward Colorado, a 527 group established with backing from four millionaire Democratic activists: Jared Polis, Rutt Bridges, Tim Gill and Pat Stryker...In the legislature, wounds from the bitter Republican redistricting battles of 2003 are not healed, and any Democrat who attempted to accomplish anything in the past two sessions will remember that frustration when it comes time to consider a Republican-sponsored bill." Mis-direction 
What do the Democrats hope to accomplish with their majorities? The Denver Post has a story [November 4, 2004, "Dems' agenda: fiscal crisis, schools"]. From the article, "Coloradans were the only voters in the nation to give majorities in both chambers to the minority party. Plans to remedy the state's budget problems are the top priority, Democratic leaders said Wednesday. Also on the list are education, health care coverage, responsibly sharing water and creating jobs."
The Denver Post editorial staff is calling the election a Seismic political shift in state. From the editorial, "A political earthquake shook Colorado on Tuesday when voters gave more legislative responsibility to Democrats at the statehouse and in Washington. Republican losses weren't just psychological, they were tangible. Two Salazars entered the picture when Ken Salazar took the U.S. Senate seat that fell to the GOP after Ben Nighthorse Campbell switched parties. John Salazar will succeed Rep. Scott McInnis in the 3rd Congressional District. The result shifts the state's party balance in Washington from 7-2 Republican to 5-4 Republican. Republicans enjoy a large advantage among registered voters in Colorado, but the electorate was clearly sending the GOP a message. We are likely to see a gradual shift away from the conservative agenda focused on tax cuts and spending cuts to one that accommodates funding for education, health care and a clean environment...In addition, social conservatives have dominated the legislative agenda in recent years, alienating moderate Republicans with highly divisive measures that targeted activist judges, liberal college professors, gay couples and even bookstore owners. Veteran Republican lawmaker Sen. Norma Anderson warned her GOP colleagues during the last legislative session that their arch-conservative agenda and inability to show leadership on critical issues would create a backlash and propel the Democrats to power. She wasn't happy about it, but she was right."
Here's the Post article from yesterday about the State Senate [November 3, 2004, "Democrats capture Senate from GOP"]. Here's their article about the State House [November 3, 2004, "Dems headed for first majority since 1976"].
Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News [November 4, 2004, "Big money turned tables in legislature"]. From the article, "Four wealthy activists quietly financed Tuesday's stunning switch of the Colorado legislature to a Democratic majority, pouring an unprecedented $1.6 million into traditionally low-budget races. The stealth campaign (ed. emphasis mine) to upend Colorado politics began a year ago. Retired Colorado State University President Al Yates was the visionary behind it, said organizer Michael Huttner."
Ahhh ... Colorado politics you gotta love it! The Rocky reports that Coloradans are not schizophrenic, rather we are traditionalists [November 4, 2004, "Ticket-splitting a Colorado tradition"]. From the article, "In short, a conservative Republican for president but a wave of success for Democrats in other races. What gives? Nothing, the pundits agree. That's just what Colorado does. Unique in the nation for the fact that one-third of its electorate is unaffiliated with either major party, Colorado has a proud tradition of ticket-splitting. Don't be fooled by recent years, the political junkies say, when voters consistently cast their ballots to the right, electing a GOP governor, Republicans to both houses of the General Assembly and delivered Republican domination of Senate and congressional seats. That's the exception, not the norm...(Mark) Larson said, Tuesday's vote was an effort to yank Colorado closer to the political center - a message seen in legislative and U.S. House races, such as incumbent social conservative Marilyn Musgrave's closer-than-expected win against Democratic challenger Stan Matsunaka and Democrat John Salazar's victory against conservative Republican Greg Walcher."
Colorado is down one Attorney General after Ken Salazar's U.S. Senate win. The Rocky reports that Govenor Owens will pick the next Attorney General [November 4, 2004, "It's Owens' call on who succeeds AG Salazar"]. Bill, Coyote Gulch suggests that you pick a centrist with deep Colorado roots. Perhaps someone that will take on the legislature when needed, say over a midnight gerrymander.
My boss, Mayor Hickenlooper, is moving full-speed ahead to use the authority established by Referred question 1A, according to the Rocky Mountain News [November 4, 2004, "Police plan on fast track"]. From the article, "By a 2-to-1 ratio, residents voted Tuesday in favor of two significant changes to the City Charter that will lay the foundation for the mayor's plan to form an Office of Independent Monitor, at a cost of nearly $500,000. The monitor will have unbridled access to police investigations and information surrounding police misconduct and excessive-force complaints. The plan also calls for appointing a civilian oversight board and a citizen pool, whose members would serve on different police review boards. (Happy) Haynes wouldn't commit to an exact time frame for when changes will happen, but she said city officials hope to have the office in place within six months."
Update: Colorado Luis "We won practically everything else, and what we've got going here in Colorado should be a model for progressive organizing in other swingy parts of the country. We've got an impressive organization in the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network that other states should imitate. Yeah, I disagreed with RMPN over Amendment 36, but we all should support them because they provide a necessary infrastructure for getting out a progressive message on all of the issues facing us as a state."
Update: The new Colorado Senate President will be Joan Fitz-Gerald, according to the Rocky Mountain News [November 4, 2004, "Dems name first female Senate president"].
Update: From email from Senator Ken Gordon: "Today we had leadership elections. In the Senate I was elected to be the Majority Leader. Joan Fitzgerald was elected to be President and Peter Groff was elected to be President Pro Tem. Mark Hillman was elected to be the Minority Leader. Andrew Romanoff was elected to be Speaker of the House and Alice Madden was elected to be Majority Leader. Joe Stengel was elected to be the Minority Leader."
Update: From email from the Aaron Harber Show: "Bob Schaffer, Mike Miles, and professors Diane Alters & Jim Rettew dissect the local and national election results on KBDI-TV channel 12 this friday, november 5th, at 9:30 pm and this sunday, november 7th, at 2:00 pm."
6:09:08 AM 
|
|
