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Saturday, August 19, 2006
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Colorado Confidential: "...there is one group Ritter won't be reaching out to this November, and that group consists of those who want marijuana possession legalized. 'When he was a teenager he did experiment a few times,' said Evan Dreyer, a Ritter spokesman. 'This is something that was reported ten years ago when Bill was running for re-election for [Denver] District Attorney.' Dreyer confirmed that Ritter used marijuana when he was young, even though he is now against legalizing small amounts of the drug, as a ballot initiative will seek to do this November. 'He spent many many years as a prosecutor, and has seen the harm that drugs can do to people's lives,' said Dreyer.
"The group campaigning to legalize the procession of up to an ounce of marijuana however, doesn't see it the same way. 'Clearly we think it's hypocritical that Bill Ritter has used marijuana on multiple occasions, yet he's come out opposed to making it legal ,' said Mason Tvert, a spokesman with Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), the group who put the measure on the ballot. 'There's no doubt that he wouldn't be where he was today if he had been arrested and prosecuted for it.' According to federals laws, marijuana convictions can inhibit eligibility for college financial aid or job prospects in government."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
10:11:57 AM 
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Bob Beauprez is hoping to use his views on illegal immigration to appeal to voters this fall. Here's an article from the Rocky Mountain News about his attempt.
From the article, "U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez denounced the Bush administration's approach to what he called an 'invasion' by illegal immigrants, saying Thursday he is fed up with inaction in Washington. 'I'm frustrated with the administration and I'm extremely frustrated with Congress,' said Beauprez, who is running for governor. Beauprez's comments came during a hearing on illegal immigration at the Aurora Municipal Center. About 60 people turned out for the afternoon event, which followed a similar hearing in the morning in Lakewood. Both the Senate and Bush administration support a plan establishing a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Beauprez supports a rival plan approved by the House that would force illegal immigrants to return to their home countries."
Meanwhile Congressman Beauprez was caught being honest about potential military service during Viet Nam, according to the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "In an interview with KCFR radio Monday, Beauprez discussed the terms of his deferment. He was asked, "Did you want to serve?"
"No, I don't know that there were a great many people who wanted to serve then," answered Beauprez. "Claudia and I had just gotten married. I actually got the notice before our wedding and the physical was the week after we got back from our four-day honeymoon. And I very much wanted to get on with my life. So no, I wasn't crushed that I wasn't called up.'
"Beauprez's comment that he 'wanted to get on with my life' was offensive to some vets. 'There were approximately three million Americans who did serve in Vietnam, and I'm sure most of them did want to get on with their lives as well,' said Jim Hudson, vice president of Colorado Veterans for America. 'I'm surprised to hear him say something like that.' Hudson served in the Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. His group has endorsed Democrat Bill Ritter, Beauprez's opponent in the race for governor. Ritter, 49, was too young to serve in Vietnam."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
9:34:13 AM
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Here's a report about this week's gubernatorial forum between Bob Beauprez and Bill Ritter, from the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "The forum was at a breakfast meeting sponsored by the Jefferson and Aurora Economic Development Councils, the Denver Regional Council of Governments and the West Chamber and attended by some 375 business and civic leaders. Among the topics covered were how the candidates would make Colorado more competitive, toll roads, traffic solutions along west Interstate 70, education and infrastructure funding, health care, and water...
"Water is the lifeblood of Colorado. What would you do to ensure we have enough water for our needs?
"Ritter: There needs to be more reuse of water, more conservation, and water can't be taken from one community at the expense of another. In wet years, aquifers should be recharged with water. There probably also is a need for a limited number of small water-storage facilities.
"Beauprez: Colorado's water strategy has been, 'we hope it doesn't get dry again...That is not a very good bet to take.' Conservation is important, but not enough. The state is letting a million-acre feet of water-the equivalent of four Dillon reservoirs-leave the state when it could legally stay in Colorado. Keeping it here is 'not stealing it from anyone.'"
Read the whole article for more detailed answers from candidates.
Here's an article about the governors race from the Denver Post. They write, "Colorado's gubernatorial candidates attacked each other over illegal immigration on Wednesday - stoking an issue that has burned in state politics all year. The sparring between Republican Bob Beauprez and Democrat Bill Ritter, however, takes place as Colorado has adopted the most laws to restrict illegal immigrants of any state...
"Still, Beauprez and Ritter battle on. Beauprez's campaign alleged that while Ritter was Denver district attorney, he was soft on illegal immigrants by plea bargaining with them. 'The question is why would you not pursue them to the fullest extent of the law and keep them in custody?' said Beauprez spokesman John Marshall. During his 12-year tenure, Ritter's office took plea bargains in 97 percent of the cases it handled. Specific details for cases involving illegal immigrants are not available. Prosecutors in the nation's largest counties took plea bargains 95 percent of the time, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The Ritter campaign fired back that Beauprez was 'doing nothing' on the issue in Congress, and he is now misusing taxpayers' money to promote two congressional town hall meetings on the topic today."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
9:12:38 AM
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© Copyright 2006 John Orr.
Last update: 9/1/06; 7:23:36 AM.
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