Sunday, April 15, 2007

2007 Denver Municipal Election Bob Ewegen comments on the changes coming after the inauguration this summer, in his column in the Denver Post. From the article, "The first change will bring Denver into line with the 62 other Colorado counties that have long elected their clerk and recorder, a post that combines routine record-keeping functions with supervising elections. Denver gave the recorder duties to an appointed clerk when it created its city and county structure in 1902. But it gave control over elections to a three-member commission, two members of which were elected by the people while the third was the appointed city clerk. When Broomfield became Colorado's second combined city/county in 2001, it opted for an appointed clerk and recorder who also oversees the election division. Thus, 63 Colorado counties put control of elections under a single clerk. Only Denver clung to its hybrid system of two part-time elected election commissioners joined by a full-time appointed clerk doubling in brass as the third part-time election commissioner... "As to the second historic change, most Denver residents were surprised to learn last year that their auditor did very little auditing. I was likewise astonished as a young Post reporter in 1973 when then-city auditor Chuck Byrne explained that the 1902 charter didn't specify auditing as one of his responsibilities. Instead, it saddled the auditor with payroll and accounting functions for a host of city agencies. The kind of routine auditing most citizens wrongly assumed the auditor was doing - reviewing the books with a gimlet eye to be sure nobody is double-billing the city - was actually contracted out to professional accounting firms. That changed last year after voters approved a charter amendment proposed by a study panel appointed by Mayor John Hickenlooper. The long-overdue reform gave the payroll and bookkeeping functions to an appointed chief financial officer, freeing resources in the auditor's office for contract reviews and the vital modern job of "performance auditing."" Category: Denver May 2007 Election 9:41:06 AM

2007 Denver Municipal Election Here are the Rocky Mountain News endorsements for the May 1st election. Denver Politics has the list, "Mayor - John Hickenlooper; Auditor - Dennis Gallagher; Clerk & Recorder - Stephanie O'Malley; District 3 - Paul Lopez; District 4 - Peggy Lehmann; District 5 - Marcia Johnson; District 7 - Chris Nevitt; District 8 - Sharon Bailey or Carla Madison; District 9 - Judy Montero; At-large - Doug Linkhart and Carol Boigon." Here are the Denver Post picks. From the article, "The Post has reviewed the records of the candidates and their agendas, and we have followed the various forums in order to reach our endorsements. Our piece on the Denver mayoral race will run on Monday. Today, we want to look at other city races and Denver's sole ballot initiative." "Thanks to a charter change approved last January, this will be the first time since Denver became a combined city and county in 1902 that voters will elect their clerk and recorder. Our choice is Stephanie O'Malley over Jacob Werther, a deputy public trustee... "We'll stick with incumbent auditor Dennis Gallagher over challenger Bill Wells despite Gallagher's desultory work habits. The auditor's office, which was formerly overburdened with payroll and accounting functions, was revamped by a 2006 charter change that transferred those chores to an appointed chief financial officer. Gallagher initially resisted that reform but ultimately benefitted because it freed up resources in the auditor's office to conduct the kind of financial and performance audits that Gallagher is familiar with after serving 16 years on the state Legislative Audit Committee. His opponent, Wells, is a professional auditor but has shown no grasp of the political side of what is, after all, an elected office... "Voters will fill two at-large seats on the City Council from just three candidates. We like incumbents Carol Boigon and Doug Linkhart... "District 3 has a seven-way melee to fill the seat vacated when Rosemary Rodriguez resigned to take a position on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission... Our choice is JoAnn Phillips, who has an intimate knowledge of the district gleaned from her service as an aide to former Councilwoman Ramona Martinez. Phillips has solid views on economic development, strengthening neighborhoods and public safety... "In District 4, incumbent Peggy Lehmann is a clear choice... "In District 5, incumbent Marcia Johnson has earned a second term... "District 7 has a spirited four-way race to replace term-limited Kathleen MacKenzie. We lean to Shelly Watters, a one-time aide to former Councilwoman Joyce Foster and later to Boigon. Watters also has a strong background in civic affairs... "District 8 has a talented four-way field vying to replace term-limited Elbra Wedgeworth. Our choice is Carla Madison... "In District 9, incumbent Judy Montero is a clear choice... "Voters will also face one ballot issue. Measure 1A would extend the term limits for Denver district attorney from the current two four-year terms, to the same three-term limit that covers other city offices. The Post recommends a 'yes' vote." Category: Denver May 2007 Election 8:44:45 AM

© Copyright 2007 John Orr. Last update: 5/1/07; 7:07:33 AM.