Early voting continues Monday in Denver .
Matt Webster, candidate for the Denver School Board District 3, sends in the URL for his website and writes, "Hey, folks. Come check out my ideas. I really need the support of the well-informed block of voters in this election." He's right about that, that is, Coyote Gulch readers are the best informed voters. 
Here's an article about the DPS School Board election from today's Denver Post [October 23, 2005, "Board candidates list DPS's top woes"]. They write, "Four seats on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education will be decided on Nov. 1, including an at-large, citywide seat. Two candidates, Kevin Patterson, who represents northeast Denver, and Michelle Moss, who represents southwest, are incumbents. All candidates endorse ProComp, the district's proposed pay-for-performance plan that will cost an extra $25 million a year in property taxes. ProComp, or Issue 3A, is on the ballot."
Proponents of ProComp (Referred School District 1 Ballot Question - Denver Public Schools Teacher Compensation Plan) are worried that they have not done well enough at getting the word out, according to the Denver Post [October 23, 2005, "A steep learning curve for ProComp"]. From the article, "The pay program, called ProComp, would sever the district from the traditional, union-negotiated salary system. Supporters say it will align teacher pay with accountability. If passed, ProComp will give teachers raises based on performance, including where they teach, what they teach and whether they further their education. Teachers would be hired at a salary based on their experience and rewarded for teaching in one of the 30 'hard to serve' schools, such as North High, or teaching a 'hard to staff' subject, such as middle-school math. Teachers also will get more money for boosting student achievement - including increasing their students' Colorado Student Assessment Program scores - and for having satisfactory evaluations."
Coyote Gulch asks that ProComp supporters stop mentioning his alma mater, North High, when talking about "hard to serve" schools.
Jim Spencer writes, "This election is about credibility. It's about cynicism," in his column in today's Denver Post [October 23, 2005, "Referendums about trust, cynicism"].
Here's an analysis of the donors hoping that voters pass Referendums C and D on November 1st from the Denver Post [October 23, 2005, "C, D donors have much to gain"]. From the article, "Businesses and organizations that could benefit financially from November's ballot measures to suspend the state's revenue limits contributed $3.5 million - or more than three- fourths of the total $4.4 million given to the proponents' campaign - between early July and mid-October. Those groups include road builders, health care providers, engineering firms, bankers and lawyers that could benefit directly through state contracts or more government funding. The measures could also be an indirect boon for organizations such as homebuilders and local chambers of commerce that believe increased government spending on education, roads and health care drives economic development. For many organizations, political giving is a routine part of doing business. In this campaign, some contributors acknowledge that the passage of Referendums C and D could benefit their organizations. But most emphasize their support is about bettering Colorado."
Here's an article making the argument that suburbanites should support Referendum C from the Denver Post editorial staff [October 23, 2005, "Benefits of C and D hit home in suburbs"]. They write, "Much of Colorado's recent population growth has occurred along Front Range, outside of city centers. By no coincidence these fast-growing areas have been squeezed hard by the state's fiscal problems. While all Coloradans have reasons to vote yes on Referendums C and D, suburbanites struggling with jammed highways and inadequate schools have as much at stake as anyone."
Sam Mamet, executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, is urging voters to approve Referendums C and D in an opinion piece in today's Denver Post [October 23, 2005, "All politics is local"]. He writes, "Local government needs a strong partnership with the state. Towns and cities and their residents depend on state grants that support everything from libraries to affordable housing, and they can ill afford additional fees imposed by the state or the cost of meeting state requirements without financial help. By passing Referendums C and D, Colorado voters have the opportunity to help restore the strong partnership between the state and its local governments that has been weakened by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights and the recession."
Dan Haley looks Referendum C and education issues in his column in today's Denver Post [October 23, 2005, "Educators' eyes on C and D"]. Mr. Haley writes, "For educators accustomed to thinking in letter grades, this fall's election comes down to two letters: C and D. And for Denver teachers, toss in an A, as in, 3A. Even though there are few school-related issues on ballots across Colorado - schools are asking for $273 million in bonds compared to $1 billion last November, for example - education officials say the stakes are still very high. It's all about Referendums C and D, they say. If they pass, schools continue to tread water. If not, they fear, state lawmakers will find ways to trim around the edges and cut K-12 spending - even though the constitution mandates at least nominal spending increases."
The Denver Post Perspective section is running opinion pieces from the three active candidates pursuing Governor Owens job.
Here's Bob Beauprez's article, We need long-term fix.
Marc Holtzman pens Change our priorities.
and Bill Ritter advises voters to Invest in our future.
Here's an article from the Cortez Journal lamenting the possible closure of Mancos State Park if Referendum C does not pass.
Stygius: "ProgressNow has posted the text of former CSU President Al Yates' speech at yesterday's Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations rally."
Category: Denver November 2005 Election
7:07:33 AM 
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