Saturday, October 8, 2005

Changes in Presidential Primary? Democrats have agreed to recommend adding two more states to the primary process in addition to Iowa and New Hampshire, according to the Washington Post. From the article, "That expansion, debated before a commission considering changes in the primary calendar, is intended to provide more racial and geographic diversity to an opening process now dominated by Iowa and New Hampshire. Those states, representing about 1.5 percent of the country's population, have residents who are mostly white. The additional states, expected to be named later, were likely to include a smaller state from the South and a smaller state from the Southwest or West." Thanks to Oval Office 2008 for the link. The Moderate Voice: "If you look at the present scene, you have to think: both political parties have seen better days." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 8:19:01 AM

Donor List Shenanigans? Bob Beauprez is taking shots from Ben Nighthorse Campbell around the former U.S. Senator's donor list, according to the Rocky Mountain News [October 9, 2005, "Donor list flare-up"]. From the article, "Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell said this week he believes GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez is using his donor list to solicit campaign contributions. And Campbell, a Republican from Ignacio, is unhappy about it. 'I think it's unethical," he said. "My list is being used without my permission.'" Category: Denver November 2006 Election 7:55:20 AM

Water Partnerships with Farmers Here's an article from the Rocky Mountain News about Front Range cities partnering with farmers to solve long-term water supply problems [October 8, 2005, "Tapping the plains"]. From the article, "Parker and other thirsty Douglas County cities are taking the first steps to build, in partnership with northeastern Colorado farm communities, what could become the state's longest water pipeline. The project - if it can overcome political and legal hurdles - could cost more than $1 billion to bring water roughly 140 miles, from just outside Sterling to as far south as Castle Rock. Frank Jaeger, manager of the Parker Water and Sanitation District, would like to see the project up and running within 10 years. He believes the undertaking can be accomplished without crippling farm economies in places such as Iliff and Proctor. If he's right, it would mark a new era in water-sharing between urbanites and farmers, and could serve as a model for other fast-growing regions in the West...As the fall harvest begins in Logan County, locals are wary, in part because Parker initially entered their world on the sly. When it first started buying farms in 2000, it did so anonymously, letting county commissioners and the sellers know only afterward." Coyote Gulch recommends the article, read the whole thing before it scrolls behind the Rocky's paywall. Here's the Coyote Gulch coverage of Part II of the series Wringing Water from the Rocks, the night Frank Jaeger spoke. One of the cool ideas that came out of Frank Jaeger's partnering with Logan County is Parker's donation of 35 acres of farmland for the Caliche Elementary and High School Future Farmers of America. Here's another article from today's Rocky detailing how that is working [October 8, 2005, "Todd Thomas seems to treasure everything about his quiet life as a teacher at the Caliche Elementary and High School, where 275 students ages 4 to 18 attend classes. Among his favorite things, though, is teaching agriculture to 50 teenagers in a brick building that sits high on a hill above the South Platte River. Two years ago, when the Parker Water and Sanitation District offered to donate 35 acres of nearby farmland for the school's agriculture classes, Thomas welcomed the opportunity." Category: Colorado Water 7:26:11 AM

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