Denver 2004 November Election
The League of Women Voters and Colorado Common Cause think that it's a good idea to take congressional redistricting out of the hands of state legislators, according to the Rocky Mountain News [December 24, 2003, "Papers filed for commission initiative"]. The groups have filed the paperwork for a citizen initiative. They don't think that the state legislature will pass the amendment since it'll require a two thirds vote. From the article, " The plan calls for creation of a Fair Redistricting Commission, which would include two people from each of the major political parties and three unaffiliated or minor party voters. Elected officials or registered paid lobbyists could not serve on the commission. The commission would be charged with creating competitive districts to the greatest extent possible. It also would be 'incumbent blind' - it couldn't take into account where existing congress members lived. It also would take over the task of legislative reapportionment, a job now carried out by an 11-member commission made up of four lawmakers, three appointees of the governor and four members appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court chief justice. It just made sense for one commission to do both jobs, Mayfield said."
Columnist Peter Blake has some advice for Common Cause and the League in his column in today's Rocky [December 24, 2003, "Blake: Lobbyists used, abused"].
The State Democratic party is scrambling to find a strong candidate to run agains Ben Nighthorse Campbell now that Mark Udall has dropped out, according to the Denver Post [December 24, 2003, "Udall decision restarts Dems' Senate search"]. From the article, "'We've got a bunch of people looking at it, from former presidential candidates like Gary Hart to grassroots activists like Mike Miles,' said Colorado Democratic Party chairman Christopher Gates. 'This race is still in play and we shouldn't declare it over 11 months early.'"
6:29:25 AM 
|
|
