Sights and Sounds of the DNC

by Josh Stephenson/Herald

  

Local Scouts learn power, grace
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
DENVER - Several Girl Scouts from the Four Corners wanted to learn about strong women in leadership roles.

They came to the right place.

Six area girls joined a larger Scouting group from across the state to be part of the Democratic National Convention this week in Denver. The week saw the formal end of Hillary Clinton's campaign, the most successful presidential run ever made by an American woman.

Click here for full story

Speech inspires Democrats, attacks John McCain on economy, security
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - Sen. Barack Obama used his Thursday speech to simultaneously try to inspire his fans and attack Republican candidate John McCain.

"If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament, and judgment, to serve as the next commander in chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have," Obama said. "John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the gates of hell, but he won't even go to the cave where he lives."

Obama also challenged the McCain campaign for questioning his patriotism.

"I've got news for you, John McCain: We all put our country first," Obama said.

"Country First" is the theme of the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in St. Paul, Minn.

When it comes to the struggles of the middle class, McCain "doesn't get it," Obama said.

Obama also pledged that his policies would wean the country off Middle Eastern oil within 10 years.

McCain's spokesman, Tucker Bounds, replied to the speech in an e-mail.

"Tonight, Americans witnessed a misleading speech that was so fundamentally at odds with the meager record of Barack Obama. When the temple comes down, the fireworks end and the words are over, the facts remain: Senator Obama still has no record of bipartisanship, still opposes offshore drilling, still voted to raise taxes on those making just $42,000 per year and still voted against funds for American troops in harm's way," Bounds said.

Obama makes history in Colorado
First black man to accept the nomination

by Joe Hanel

Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - There has never been a moment like this.

Sen. Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan father and white Kansan mother, broke the ultimate racial barrier by accepting the Democratic nomination for president at a nearly full Invesco Field at Mile High.

In a state when not even four out of every 100 people are black, thousands of Coloradans waved American flags and sang along to a hip-hop tune called "Yes We Can." The song, performed by a musical artist named will.i.am, set one of Obama's speeches to music.

Ordinary Coloradans were allowed to attend the final night of the Democratic National Convention, a rarity for either party.

But, Obama's speech barely referred to the historic nature of the moment and focused instead on the country's direction.

Click here for full story

Sen. Salazar part of historic nomination

By Steve Grazier
Cortez Journal

DENVER - A formal push for Barack Obama's presidential bid began Wednesday afternoon at the Democratic National Convention with a nominating speech by a U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar.

Salazar, D-Colo., helped start the party's nomination process for Obama with an address aimed to motivate the delegation inside the Pepsi Center. Salazar was No. 2 in line to second the presidential nomination for the Illinois senator.

"Barack Obama has followed the dream of America and opportunity," said Salazar. "It's a dream that has been slipping away under eight years of President Bush."

Click here to read full story

Durango Herald election endorsements

President - Barack Obama
The country needs to take a new direction.

read full endorsement

U.S. Senator - Mark Udall
An energetic advocate for the environment and education.

read full endorsement

U.S. Congress - John Salazar
Hard-working representative deserves a third term.

read full endorsement

State Board of Education - Jill Brake

Experience, knowledge, energy and a focus on early childhood.

read full endorsement

State Representative - Ellen Roberts
Unopposed but deserving of the recognition nonetheless.

read full endorsement

District Attorney - Todd Risberg
The approach to criminal justice the times require.
read full endorsement

Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Court judges - Retain all
A special nod to fairness and respect shown by David Dickinson.
read full endorsement

County Commissioner, District 2 - Kellie Hotter
Approachable and articulate with a business perspective.
read full endorsement

County Commissioner, District 3 - Wally White
A demonstrated commitment to serving county residents.
read full endorsement

Amendment 46 - No
Unnecessary ban on affirmative action does not belong in state Constitution.
read full endorsement

Amendment 47 - No
So-called right-to-work law is one of three anti-union measures that have threatened to set off a labor-management conflict Colorado does not need. In response, union activists put four deliberately provocative amendments on the ballot that business found objectionable. After negotiating with business leaders for help in defeating Amendments 47, 49 and 54, the unions withdrew their ballot measures.
read full endorsement

Amendment 48 - No
Defining a fertilized egg as a "person" would be a legal nightmare.
read full endorsement

Amendment 49 - No
See Amendment 47. Anti-union constitutional change would solve nothing, save nothing.
read full endorsement

Amendment 50 - No
Casino table stakes have no place in the Constitution.

Amendment 51 - No
Helping disabled kids is a worthy goal. An earmarked sales tax, however, is the wrong means.

Amendment 52 - No
Diverting gas severance tax revenue to I-70 ignores the rest of Colorado.
read full endorsement

Amendment 53 - Withdrawn
See Amendment 47. Would have held CEO's criminally liable for firms' actions.
read full endorsement

Amendment 54 - No
See Amendment 47. Touted as good government, it is an attack on unions' political activity.

Amendment 55 - Withdrawn
See Amendment 47. Would have required "just cause" to fire workers.
read full endorsement

Amendment 56 - Withdrawn
See Amendment 47. Would have required employers to provide health insurance.
read full endorsement

Amendment 57 - Withdrawn
See Amendment 47. Would have allowed injured workers to sue for more than what workman's comp provides.
read full endorsement

Amendment 58 - Yes
Effectively increases gas severance tax to fund college scholarships.
read full endorsement

Amendment 59 - Yes
Ends TABOR-required rebates and uses money to fund education, replacing Amendment 23.
read full endorsement

Referendum L - Yes
Lowers age requirement for Legislature to 21.
read full endorsement

Referendum M - Yes
Repeals obsolete constitutional provisions.
read full endorsement

Referendum N - Yes
More obsolete constitutional provisions ended.
read full endorsement

Referendum O - Yes
Reforms initiative process to make it easier to change state law and harder to amend the state's Constitution.
read full endorsement

City of Durango
Referred Measure 2A - Yes
Bond issue for much-needed fix for Florida Road would not raise taxes.
read full endorsement

Edgemont Ranch Metropolitan
District Ballot Issue 5A - Yes
Ends term limits for board members.
read full endorsement

Los Pinos Fire Protection District Ballot Issue 5B - Yes
"De-Brucing" measure lets district keep money existing tax generates.
read full endorsement

Durango West Metropolitan District No. 2 Ballot issues 5D and 5E -Yes
"De-Brucing" and ending term limits for board members.
read full endorsement

El Rancho Florida Metropolitan District Ballot Issue 5C - Yes
Needed infrastructure costs money.
read full endorsement

Election Calendar

Monday, October 6
Last day to register to vote for the general election.
(No later than 29 days before the general election.)

Monday, October 20
Early voting begins at either the La Plata County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or at the new Bayfield Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..
(15 days before the election.)

Tuesday, October 28
Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot for the general election if mailed.
(7th day preceding the election.)

Friday, October 31
Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot for the general election if not mailed.
(Friday preceding the election.)

Friday, October 31
Last day for early voting at the early voter's polling place for the general election.
(Close of business the Friday preceding the general election.)

Tuesday, November 4
GENERAL ELECTION
(Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, November 4
All mail-in ballots and emergency mail-in ballots shall be in the hands of the county clerk no later
than 7:00 p.m. on election day.

Source: Colorado Secretary of State

Precinct Map
Click on shaded outlines for precinct information and election results. Click on markers for polling places. 


View Larger Map

Commissioner Districts

Click on shaded areas for population information and candidates within each district.


View Larger Map

Election Q&A / La Plata County Commissioner

Should the county implement its draft land-use plan, only parts of it or start over?

Harry
Baxtrom
Age: 60
Occupation: Veterinarian.
Party: Republican.

Every county needs a land-use plan. The draft we are currently dealing with in La Plata County is not acceptable. There are some parts of the plan which have not been addressed adequately and there are others which need to be deleted. The current plan needs significant work to become an effective instrument. We need to make changes which will make the code implementable, enforceable, and fair.

Peter Tregillus
Age: 58.
Occupation: Grant writer, programs developer for Southern Ute Community Action Programs.
Party: Democrat.

Let’s implement parts of it. To insist on perfection, or to start over, is to advocate for delay. Delay does not benefit residents in general, though it does benefit developers and land owners. How? By allowing land use applications (over 140 as of August) to be submitted under the old rules. I’m on the city-county Joint Planning Commission, and saw how this works. We have “Area Plans” like the Grandview Area Plan, but they have no teeth. County documents from 2002 identify this as a problem. It’s fixed in the draft code, but it’s not implemented. Let’s drop trivial regulations over the color of barns and focus on making the code easier to understand and use. Let’s implement it. Let’s include clearer standards, sections designed to create a more efficient development review process, and sections to encourage preservation of agricultural lands and open space.

Wally White
Age: 65.
Occupation: County commissioner.
Party: Democrat.


I would like to see us implement our new code with modifications from our old code. Once this is done, staff can begin working on revisions to our Comprehensive Plan which needs to be updated as well. Last year, staff brought forth some concerns about the new code relative to enforceability and implementation. We then adopted our strategic plan, the “Compass,” some of which is at odds with the new code. Consequently, the BOCC decided to delay implementation until we could work through some of these issues. In the meantime, staff began working on the oil and gas regulations, which are very important from a health and safety aspect. Once we complete revisions to the Comprehensive Plan, we can then revise the land use code to align with both our strategic plan and the Comp Plan.


Kellie
Hotter
Age: 45.
Occupation: County commissioner, appointed February 2007.
Party: Republican.

Kellie Hotter had a death in the
family and was unable to respond.


How will you help the county adjust to declining natural-gas revenue?

Harry
Baxtrom
Age: 60
Occupation: Veterinarian.
Party: Republican.

I want to see La Plata County develop a new diverse business base. Business investors and entrepreneurs need to come here and find the infrastructure and amenities necessary for their business to thrive. The process of getting through the planning and permitting needs to be user friendly and fair but not prohibitively restrictive. Establishing this type of business environment will allow potential businesses to view La Plata County favorably. We also need to support all of our existing business. It is the county’s role to assist business and developers to produce this atmosphere. The county needs to be aggressive in attracting new business. We need to begin now by promoting opportunity.
Increasing our business base and diversification are the answer to replacing gas revenues.

Peter Tregillus
Age: 58.
Occupation: Grant writer, programs developer for Southern Ute Community Action Programs.
Party: Democrat.

This is not something the county can do on its own. It requires partnership and teamwork with other key groups and stakeholders: Chambers of Commerce (Ignacio, Bayfield, Durango), Fort Lewis College, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Region 9 Economic Development District, banks, and even the three public school districts. Specifically, here’s how the county can do its part. 1) Pass the Land Use Code! Make county planning more business-friendly. 2) Nurture and grow existing and new local businesses (like Mercury Payment Systems) in partnership with other stakeholders. Support the talent coming out of Fort Lewis College; help them grow businesses and jobs. 3) Let’s get started on zoning. Zoning not only preserves property values, but also makes it easier and cheaper for a job-creating project to go through county planning. And finally, 4) preserve our natural beauty and quality of life. It’s our best asset.


Wally White
Age: 65.
Occupation: County commissioner.
Party: Democrat.


I have consistently advocated for plans to attract new businesses to the county. I am in support of a new business/industrial park as one method. I believe traditional zoning would help by providing clear direction to new businesses. I have been very proactive in directing the County to energy conservation practices in order to reduce our expenses. Given the developing economic situation, I believe we need to be very fiscally conservative in our budget process. I have lobbied on both State and Federal levels for programs (changes in severance tax allocations, PILT funding) that bring additional funds to the County and will continue to further efforts in this direction.


Kellie
Hotter
Age: 45.
Occupation: County commissioner, appointed February 2007.
Party: Republican.

Kellie Hotter had a death in the
family and was unable to respond.

Should the county go ahead with its proposed gas and oil regulations or wait for the COGCC?

Harry
Baxtrom
Age: 60
Occupation: Veterinarian.
Party: Republican.

The COGCC regulations are on track to be adopted soon. It seems to me we would be better responsible to allow the COGCC regulations to be adopted then meld the state and county regulations together.
By passing the county regulations now, we run the risk of several pre-emption issues as well as duplication of regulation. While it seems we can address this issue by the use of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) this only adds a layer of uncertainty. It is my belief the regulation should not have any duplication. All the issues should be dealt with clearly in set language so the boundaries are defined. The use of language changes and MOUs will only cloud the issue.


Peter Tregillus
Age: 58.
Occupation: Grant writer, programs developer for Southern Ute Community Action Programs.
Party: Democrat.

Yes. Let’s “go ahead” as opposed to, “sit back and wait for the state to act.” La Plata County has been the leader in pushing for oil and gas regulations that are friendlier to surface owners, wildlife, and, I hope, friendlier to people who might eventually drink water coming out of the ground – our children and grandchildren. The county has established the right to set stronger terms and require mitigation of impacts on surface owners. There have been over 114 gas well and pad permit applications since April 1, about the time when my opponent voted to delay a vote on new regulations. Now that vote was scheduled for Oct. 28, but has been postponed – again! I would have voted with Wally White to implement more protective rules last spring. Let’s get new regulations in place now and fix problems through text amendments. I support continuous progress, not a wait for perfection.

Wally White
Age: 65.
Occupation: County commissioner.
Party: Democrat.


I have been quoted by the Herald that I see no reason to wait for the COGCC rulemaking to be completed. I still believe this as we have no idea how long they will take in their approval process. The safety, health and welfare of our citizens are at risk here and I want to see our regulations in place as soon as possible. La Plata County has the best regulations in the State and I will continue to work for improvements that will protect the interests of surface owners. The health of our citizens and our groundwater supplies are also at risk and I will do everything I can to protect them through improved oil and gas regulations.

Kellie
Hotter
Age: 45.
Occupation: County commissioner, appointed February 2007.
Party: Republican.

Kellie Hotter had a death in the
family and was unable to respond.



What is the No. 1 issue you would focus on as commissioner?

Harry
Baxtrom
Age: 60
Occupation: Veterinarian.
Party: Republican.

The number one issue in La Plata County is growth. Growth can be either positive or negative. We need to direct growth so it is positive. This applies to business as well as residential growth.
A community with no growth will surely perish. I want to see growth controlled so we can preserve our history, culture, and environment while developing a healthy vibrant community.
We need to address issues such as density and regulation. Defining what we will accept in terms of growth as it pertains to these issues is our first step. Once we make the decisions we can begin to direct growth in the county for the benefit of all.


Peter Tregillus
Age: 58.
Occupation: Grant writer, programs developer for Southern Ute Community Action Programs.
Party: Democrat.

I would work to change how the county grows. Look at the kind of growth we’ve seen over the last 15 years. How well is this working in the county? Some do well: land owners in growth areas, developers, their attorneys. My opponent’s campaign has received major funding, $24,320 as of the last filing, from those who have an interest in business as usual: delayed adoption of the draft land use code (which I would implement). While she likes to talk about serving on the Governor’s Smart Growth Task Force, she has failed to advance the code. The consequences of this delay are more financial stress on working families, degraded views, degraded environmental quality, more energy-wasting and CO2-emitting sprawl, and congested roads. A new land use code would provide a fair and level playing field for development and puts us on the path to smart growth. Let’s get it done.


Wally White
Age: 65.
Occupation: County commissioner.
Party: Democrat.


We have enough challenges in front of us that I find it hard to prioritize in this fashion. I will work to support the repeal of the exemption of the use of toxic chemicals by the gas industry in the Safe Water Drinking Act. I am in support of the development of the two proposed rural water districts. I will be working to develop a regional transportation system to provide public transportation to our rural residents. I will be working to protect our air quality, to protect our agricultural heritage, to protect our roadless areas, and our water resources. Improvements in primary health care services, senior services, and programs for our children and youth are high priorities as well. Preparing La Plata County for the future is my highest priority, and there are many other areas to address to lay a firm foundation to meet the challenges ahead.

Kellie
Hotter
Age: 45.
Occupation: County commissioner, appointed February 2007.
Party: Republican.

Kellie Hotter had a death in the
family and was unable to respond.

Colorado polls
rollover dots to view specific poll information





provided by pollster.com