Denver November 2004 Election
Councilwoman, Marcia Johnson, is using an online survey to gauge support for Initative 100. I think this is a first in local government. I was notified in e-mail. She's asking, of course, for input from Council District 5. I've goofed up her results since I live in District 1. 
The last day to register to vote for the August 10th primary is Monday. The primary will be, in effect, the election for Denver District Attorney. There are no Republicans running so whoever wins the Democratic primary will get the job. One month to get out yard signs and get on TV. That should have the candidates worried. More election coverage here. Here are the links for John Walsh, Mitch Morrisey and Beth McCann.
The Rocky Mountain News has endorsed Mitch Morrisey for Denver District Attorney [July 6, 2004, "Mitch Morrissey best choice for DA"]. From the editorial, "Mitch Morrissey isn't as politically well connected as Beth McCann or as polished as John Walsh, but his dedication, experience and expertise make him more qualified than his rivals in the race for Denver district attorney. Morrissey is the only candidate currently prosecuting cases, having served in the Denver office 20 years. He's DA Bill Ritter's chief deputy, and has won his boss's endorsement."
Coyote Gulch apologizes for being so late with this news, I was on vacation.
Here's an article in opposition to Iniative 100, which would ban circus performances from the city [July 10, 2004, "Three-ring fracas: Measure would succeed only in stifling quality entertainment"]. From the opinion piece, "This ballot initiative, which would prohibit the display of wild or exotic animals for public entertainment, will do nothing to protect animals. Rather, it will prevent Denver residents from seeing some of the best cared-for animals in the world and eliminate one of the few wholesome activities that remain in family entertainment today - the circus."
The Rocky is also running an article in support of Initiative 100 [July 10, 2004, "Three-ring fracas: Denver's Initiative 100 lifts canvas on animal suffering under Big Top"]. From the article, "Denver's Initiative 100 does not ban circuses; it simply bans the use of wild animals in circus acts. The growing number of circuses that do not use animals - such as Cirque du Soleil and the Big Apple Circus - would be permitted to operate in Denver. The only economic losers will be the handful of circuses that cling to the archaic idea that majestic wild animals should perform silly stunts for spectators. Denver-area residents will spend their dollars at cruelty-free circuses and other forms of entertainment. The Humane Society of the United States, the Denver Dumb Friends League and other mainstream animal welfare groups urge Denver residents to vote yes on Initiative 100. While animal welfare groups have documented coercive training practices, regular chaining and caging, and transport in box cars without any climate control, circuses with wild animal acts will swear that they provide tremendous care. But proper animal care amounts to more than providing a sufficient quantity of food for the animals. If the Denver Zoo kept its elephants on chains for 22 hours a day or kept big cats in cages barely larger than the animals themselves, the public would demand change. Spectators at circuses get just a glimpse of their treatment - sanitized for public consumption during the performance - and they are shielded from the problems animal welfare groups have meticulously documented."
Supporters of a tax hike on cigarettes are rolling in dough, according to the Denver Post [July 6, 2004, "Tax-hike backers cite signatures, campaign coffers"]. From the article, "Proponents of a constitutional amendment to quadruple Colorado's cigarette tax say they have raised more than $1.6 million and will have enough signatures to put their proposition on the ballot."
9:35:35 AM 
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