Hotter keeps seat
Bests Tregillus 58 percent to 42 percent
by Karen Boush
Herald Staff Writer

Incumbent Republican La Plata County Commissioner Kellie Hotter succeeded in her first run for public office Tuesday, defeating Democrat Peter Tregillus in the race for the District 2 seat.
Of the 25,647 votes cast, Hotter won 58 percent, with 14,887 votes, while Tregillus received 42 percent, with 10,760 votes.

"Thank you, La Plata County," said Hotter in a phone interview after learning of her victory. "I am so relieved to see the number of people who appreciate and support a balanced, objective approach to the issues facing us."
A Republican committee had appointed Hotter as county commissioner in early 2007 to replace Bob Leib, who retired.
While campaigning, both Hotter and Tregillus pledged to make controlled growth, affordable housing and economic diversification among their highest priorities.

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White defends his post
Overcomes Baxstrom 53 percent to 47 percent
by Ted Holteen
Herald Staff Writer

Brushing aside a trail of vandalized yard signs and a bitter personal-attack campaign, incumbent Democrat Wally White won a convincing victory Tuesday night over Republican Harry Baxstrom and will keep his seat on the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners for another four years.
"I'm going back to work," White said of the result.

White received 13,498 votes for 53 percent of the total and Baxstrom received 11,971 votes, or 47 percent.
White will be resworn into office Jan. 13 alongside incumbent Republican Kellie Hotter, who defeated Peter Tregillus by a margin of 58 percent to 42 percent.
La Plata County commissioners earn an annual salary of $72,500 and serve a term of four years.

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Risberg outdoes Wasley in DA race
by Shane Benjamin
Herald Staff Writer

In the race for district attorney, where campaigns were defined by an alternative-justice approach versus traditional law-and-order, Todd Risberg soundly defeated Russell Wasley.

Risberg, a Durango attorney, won 61 percent of the 24,179 votes cast in La Plata County, compared with his Republican challenger Wasley's 39 percent. In San Juan County, Risberg won 70 percent of the votes. In Archuleta County, Wasley had a slight lead with 792 votes to Risberg's 714 votes. The Archuleta County totals were as of 10:25 p.m. and represented unofficial early votes only.
"It's a great day for this county, this district and this country," Risberg said. "It's bigger than me."
The 6th Judicial District Attorney earns about $90,000 and manages a $1.8 million budget and 25 employees. Beginning next year, the minimum pay for district attorneys statewide will increase to $100,000, and the salary will increase by $10,000 each year for three years thereafter.
Risberg, 44, plans to rely on programs that rehabilitate alcohol and drug offenders rather than insist on jail or prison sentences. He also plans to use restorative-justice programs that allow offenders and victims to resolve their conflicts in a mediated session rather than in a courtroom.

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Florida Road to get its $17 million fix
by Ted Holteen
Herald Staff Writer

Durango voters overwhelmingly approved a bond issue Tuesday that will allow the city to bond $17.5 million for the reconstruction of Florida Road.

The vote was one of the more decisive results from the La Plata County ballot, with 5,607 votes, or 76.26 percent in favor and 1,745 against for 23.74 percent. Only Durango city residents could vote on the bond issue.

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Democrats celebrate Obama's victory
'Nightmare' ends for party faithful
by Chuck Slothower
Herald Staff Writer

Local Democrats, for whom the last eight years was a long, dark time, rejoiced in Barack Obama's victory Tuesday night.

The Abbey Theatre, where Democrats gathered to watch election results roll in, erupted in cheers as CNN called the presidency for Obama at 8:59 p.m.
"The national nightmare will be over," said Britt Bassett, a member of the La Plata County Democratic Party Executive Committee. "That's a little crude, but it's how a lot of people feel."

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Election Day voter freebies a no-no
Starbucks, others open up Tuesday to everyone
by Dale Rodebaugh
Herald Staff Writer

Coffee, beer or cupcakes; if it's a bribe, it's unlawful. If it's a reward for voting, it's OK.

The foregoing pretty well sums up the legal consideration for Durango businesses that offered freebies on Election Day.
A Starbucks promotion on TV over the weekend that offered a free 12-ounce coffee to people who voted quickly raised the specter of a bribe - an election impropriety. The chain changed the offer to free coffee for anyone Tuesday.
In Durango, the Starbucks outlet was handing out free 12-ounce coffees almost from the get-go, shift supervisor Amy Miller said.
"We've given a whole lot of free coffee," Miller said. "I know they were telling people who voted at Needham Elementary School precinct about us."
Other Durango businesses were following suit.
In fact, Carver Brewing Co. has been giving free beer on Election Day probably since 1996, manager Zac Warman said.
"We give a 10-ounce draw-size beer," Warman said. "Both our bars have been pretty full all day."
El Rancho Tavern gave away cupcakes.
"We ask if they voted," bartender Sarah, who declined to give her last name, said. "But it doesn't matter."

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Udall joins Dems in victory
Leads opponent with a third of precincts counted
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - Mark Udall cemented Democrats' hold on Colorado's congressional delegation Tuesday night with a convincing win over Republican Bob Schaffer in the U.S. Senate race.

Although less than a third of precincts were reporting, Udall was leading Schaffer by double-digits when he took the stage at 8:30 p.m. at a downtown Denver hotel.
"Can you feel the winds of change blowing here?" Udall said, flanked by his wife, Maggie Fox, and college-aged children, Jed and Tess.
In La Plata County with all 30 precincts reporting, Udall claimed 57.6 percent of the vote and Shaffer took 39.5 percent.

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Parties a contrast in emotions
Isgar upstaged by CNN saying Obama wins
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - State Sen. Jim Isgar was standing on stage at the Sheraton Hotel in Denver, and he had just tipped his white cowboy hat to a crowd of more than a thousand Democrats.

Senate President Peter Groff was introducing Isgar and other state senators when a deafening yell cut him off in mid-sentence. The TV screens flanking him flashed the news: CNN was projecting Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.
Couples embraced and kissed as the packed ballroom sent up cheers.

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Districts nix taxing, spending limits
Durango West 2, Los Pinos Fire de-Bruce
by Kathrine Warren
Herald Staff Writer

As voters made their way through the ballot this year, some La Plata County residents were asked on Ballot Issues 5B and 5E if their special taxing districts should remove the limits of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

All voted yes.
The Los Pinos Fire Protection District and the Durango West Metropolitan District No. 2 (Durango West 2) voted overwhelmingly to stop limitations on the amount of revenue the districts take and spend.
The vote is known as "de-Brucing," a term that refers to State Rep. Douglas Bruce, who wrote the Taxpayer's Bill of Right. The bill, known as TABOR, limits the amount of revenue a district can collect and spend.
Durango West 2 district manager Jenna Hutt said de-Brucing in her district has nothing to do with taxes.
"TABOR restrictions limit the amount of revenue you get to pay your debt services for districts bonds," Hutt said.
The district will now have no limit to the amount of revenue in user fees or grants that go to maintaining its water, sewer, roads and greenbelt space.
"It's basically not restricting us to keep the roads well-maintained and water systems running well," Hutt said.

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Udall claims victory
Democrat Mark Udall has just taken the stage at the main Democratic party in Denver to claim victory in the U.S. Senate race.
Udall thanked his opponent, Bob Schaffer, and said he's ready to get top work on some of the biggest challenges the country has ever faced. he said he will be working on health care, renewable energy and ending the war in Iraq.
"As your senator, I will stand up for every Colorado family," Udall said.

McCain concedes

Obama triumphs, will be first black US president
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Barack Obama was elected the nation's first black president Tuesday night in a historic triumph that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself.

The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his victory by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states — Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Iowa.

A huge crowd in Grant Park in Chicago erupted in jubilation at the news of Obama's victory. Some wept.

McCain called his former rival to concede defeat — and the end of his own 10-year quest for the White House. "The American people have spoken, and spoken clearly," McCain told disappointed supporters in Arizona.

Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, will take their oaths of office as president and vice president on Jan. 20, 2009.

As the 44th president, Obama will move into the Oval Office as leader of a country that is almost certainly in recession, and fighting two long wars, one in Iraq, the other in Afghanistan.

The popular vote was close, but not the count in the Electoral College, where it mattered most.

There, Obama's audacious decision to contest McCain in states that hadn't gone Democratic in years paid rich dividends.

Obama has said his first order of presidential business will be to tackle the economy. He has also pledged to withdraw most U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months.

Fellow Democrats rode his coattails to larger majorities in both houses of Congress. They defeated incumbent Republicans and won open seats by turn.

The 47-year-old Illinois senator was little known just four years ago. A widely praised speech at the Democratic National Convention, delivered when he was merely a candidate for the Senate, changed that.

Overnight he became a sought-after surrogate campaigner, and he had scarcely settled into his Senate seat when he began preparing for his run for the White House.

A survey of voters leaving polling places on Tuesday showed the economy was by far the top Election Day issue. Six in 10 voters said so, and none of the other top issues — energy, Iraq, terrorism and health care — was picked by more than one in 10.

"May God bless whoever wins tonight," President Bush told dinner guests at the White House, where his tenure runs out on Jan. 20.

The Democratic leaders of Congress celebrated in Washington.

"It is not a mandate for a party or ideology but a mandate for change," said Senate Majority leader Harry reid of Nevada.

Said Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, "Tonight the American people have called for a new direction. They have called for change in America."

La Plata County Results
100% reporting
27,621 votes cast
74.16% voter turnout


Presidential Race

- 15,760 / 57.33%
Obama/Biden DEM

- 11,318 / 41.17%
McCain/Palin REP

Senate Race

- 15,292 / 57.80%
Udall DEM

- 10,393 / 39.28%
Schaffer REP

US Rep. - District 3

- 17,828 / 68.10%
Salazar DEM

- 8,373 / 31.90%
Wolf REP

Board of Education

Brake DEM - 13,200 / 55.07%
Neal REP - 10,768 / 44.93%

State Rep - District 59
- 20,009 / 100%
Roberts REP

District Attorney

- 15,038 / 61.15%
Risberg DEM

- 9,552 / 38.85%
Wasley REP

County Commissioner
District 2

- 11,007 / 42.17%

Tregillis DEM

- 15,097 / 57.83%
Hotter REP

County Commissioner

District 3

- 13,800 / 53.26%
White DEM

- 12,112 / 46.74%
Baxstrom REP

Florida Road
yes - 5,752 / 76.06%
no - 1,810 / 23.94%

Edgemont Ranch
yes - 204 / 58.79%
no - 143 / 41.21%

Los Pinos Fire Protection
yes - 1,142 / 62.10%
no - 697 / 37.90%

El Rancho Florida
yes - 159 / 85.95%
no - 26 / 14.05%

Durango West - De-Brucing
yes - 321 / 62.45%
no - 193 / 37.55%

Durango West - Term Limits
yes - 248 / 52.88%
no - 221 / 47.12%

Judges
All judges retained

Amendments

46 - Affirmative Action
no - 14,610 / 57.98%
yes - 10,589 / 42.02.96%

47 - Right to work and Union dues
no - 15,373 / 60.75%
yes - 9,932 / 39.25%

48 - Personhood
no - 19,980 / 75.61%
yes - 6,446 / 24.39%

49 - Paycheck deductions
no - 16,202 / 65.51%
yes - 8,529 / 34.49%

50 - Limited gambling
no - 13,302 / 53.31%
yes - 11,648 / 46.69%

51 - Sales tax
no- 16,912 / 66.46%
yes - 8,536 / 33.54%

52 - Severence tax - Highways
no - 18,684 / 76.32%
yes - 5,798 / 23.68%

54 - No-bid contracts
no - 12,852 / 52.88%
yes - 11,453 / 47.12%

58 - Severance tax - Energy
no - 12,629 / 50.79%
yes - 12,238 / 49.21%

59 - Taxpayer Bill of Rights
no - 11,419 / 46.97%
yes - 12,893 / 53.03%

Referendum L - Legislative Age
no - 11,490 / 47.46%
yes - 12,722 / 52.54%

Referendum M - Obsolete/Land Value
no - 8,313 / 35.67%
yes - 14,992 / 64.33%

Referendum N - Obsolete/Constitution
no - 6,697 / 28.52%
yes - 16,784 / 71.48%

Referendum O - Ballot Measures
no - 10,011 / 42.09%
yes -13,776 / 57.91%

Most of Colo. votes early; few glitches reported

By IVAN MORENO
Associated Press Writer

DENVER (AP) _ Few glitches were reported in Colorado voting Tuesday, thanks in large measure to a majority of registered voters who cast their ballots before Election Day

Election officials had expected one last rush of voters before the polls closed, but in the end it seems the longest waiting time for voters happened in the morning.

"Boy, the last hour of voting was very, very quiet. I was stunned," said Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Jack Arrowsmith.

"I think the overall impression we have of the voting experience in Colorado is very positive," said Jenny Flanagan, executive director of Colorado Common Cause, a voting rights group that monitored voting throughout the state.

Flanagan said Common Cause and another watchdog group, Election Protection, had received about 800 calls from Colorado voters, mostly about registration questions, but nothing major was reported.

"Of course there have been hiccups," Flanagan said.

One hiccup: Provisional ballots were being given out "wholesale" in some counties, including Denver and Arapahoe, at the first sign of trouble with a voter's registration, Flanagan said.

"We think that's problematic," she said. Provisional ballots are counted only after all other ballots are counted and only in instances where they can be verified as legitimate and would affect the outcome of a race.

In Denver, there was a rush of voters to the polls in the morning but wait times weren't a problem, said Richard Coolidge, spokesman for Colorado Secretary of State Mike Hoffman.

"I have heard of some waits in Douglas County, in Denver County and Arapahoe County, but nothing significant," Coolidge said, adding that the longest wait he heard about was 20 to 30 minutes.

Coolidge said they didn't hear of any big final waves last-minute voters or major problems. He said it's possible some counties won't have a final tally until late Tuesday or tomorrow because of the last mail-in ballots that were delivered.

Mail-in ballots typically take longer to process, he said.

While record turnout was expected in Colorado, most of the state had already voted by Tuesday. About 1.3 million people voted by mail and another 365,000 cast their votes at early vote locations, accounting for 53 percent of registered voters.

"It has gone much better than 2006," said Denver elections spokesman Alton Dillard, harkening back to a year when Denver used vote centers where anyone could go to cast a ballot, instead of to designated precincts. A malfunction with the electronic poll book triggered long wait times that year.

At one Denver location Tuesday, a portion of a poll book was not delivered. Voters had to wait for it or cast a provisional ballot, Dillard said. The missing list was delivered within 30 minutes, he said.

Few problems were reported in Douglas County, which along with Denver was put on a "watch list" by Coffman's office after their disastrous 2006 elections. Douglas County underestimated the number of voting machines it needed that year.

In Greeley, community activists raised concerns about lack of Spanish-language translators at the polls and the use of English-only ballots, but that never became huge problem.

AP poll: Unaffiliated Colo voters lean to Obama

By CATHERINE TSAI
Associated Press Writer

DENVER (AP) _ In a state where a third of registered voters are listed as independent, unaffiliated Colorado voters leaned more toward Barack Obama than John McCain, according to an Associated Press poll of voters over the past week.

Obama also did well among women, moderates, Hispanics and people seeking change, but he wasn't necessarily a slam dunk among voters under the age of 30, according to the poll.

The poll showed McCain drew voters who described themselves as born-again or evangelical Christians. Voters who identified terrorism as the most important issue facing the country, those who said they want a candidate who shares their values, and those who want a candidate with the right experience also heavily favored McCain.

Dan Shipp, 43, of Lakewood, supported McCain. "I just like his values a little bit better than Obama, and I disagree with some of Obama's economic policies," Shipp said.

In the 2004 presidential election, about 36 percent of Colorado voters were registered as Republicans, 30 percent as Democrats and 33 percent as unaffiliated. The three groups are now about evenly split, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.

In the race for Colorado's open Senate seat, moderates were the strongest base of support for Democratic Rep. Mark Udall, according to the AP poll. Republican Bob Schaffer drew support from evangelical Christians. His strongest base of support was in eastern Colorado, an area he represented when he was in Congress.

According to the poll, most Colorado voters chose the economy as the most important issue facing the country, more than the war in Iraq, terrorism, health care and energy policy. Of those choosing the economy, more leaned toward Obama.

Denver resident Akinye Chatmon, 31, said the candidates' views on education and the middle class pushed him away from McCain.

"He flies private jets. He doesn't know what we do. He doesn't know how we live," said Chatmon, who works as a caregiver but is also taking college classes.

Chatmon said he hasn't voted since 1996 because he didn't like the candidates. This year, he voted for Obama and volunteered for the campaign.

"I felt like if I want to make my voice heard, instead of talking so much, I'd go vote. For the first time in 12 years," he said.

The poll also showed a majority of voters support offering most illegal immigrants working in the U.S. a chance to apply for legal status, rather than deporting them.

The survey of 1,254 Colorado voters was conducted for AP by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International by landline telephone statewide over the past week. Results are subject to sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points, higher for subgroups.

Democrats pick up 2 Senate seats in early counts

By EILEEN ALT POWELL
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) _ The Democratic Party picked up two new Senate seats, in North Carolina and Virginia, according to early election results Tuesday, as the party moved toward larger majorities in both houses of the U.S. Congress.

The Democrats were expected to profit from the popularity of presidential hopeful Barack Obama — and discontent with Republican President George W. Bush — to expand their influence in Washington.

In a major upset, a Democratic state legislator, Kay Hagan, unseated Sen. Elizabeth Dole, one of the biggest names Republican Party, in North Carolina, according to an Associated Press analysis of early returns.

Obama takes the lead, sweeping usually Dem states

By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Barack Obama opened a lead in his bid to become the first black president Tuesday night, moving ahead of Republican John McCain in a nation clamoring for change. Fellow Democrats picked up Senate seats in Virginia and North Carolina and elected a Missouri governor.

Obama swept to victories in traditionally Democratic states in the East and Midwest and jumped ahead in fragmentary returns from Pennsylvania, a state where his rival invested heavily in hopes of winning in traditionally inhospitable territory.

McCain countered in the safest of Republican states.

That left the battlegrounds to settle the race: Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, as well as Pennsylvania and more. Most were customarily Republican, but Obama spent millions hoping to peel away enough to make him the 44th president.

"May God bless whoever wins tonight," President Bush told dinner guests at the White House, according to spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Salazar visits downtown Denver

Update #4

By Joe Hanel

DENVER - The Udall-Obama offices are plowing through to 7 p.m., too.

Sen. Ken Salazar visited a downtown Denver office at 4 p.m. Several volunteers posed for pictures with him while coordinators in yellow T-shirts got ready for the final wave of door-to-door canvassing.

About 4:15, one of them put an end to the photos with loud, staccato hand claps.

"Canvass, canvass, canvass," he said. "Let's go. We gotta get outta here."

Salazar said Election Day seems to be going well in Colorado.

"I hear a lot of good things. Turnout is heavy. There are minimal problems around the state," Salazar said.

Bob Schaffer helps make final calls

By Joe Hanel

GREENWOOD VILLAGE - Less than two hours to go, and Bob Schaffer is on the phone to undecided voters.

He's not alone. About 70 Republican volunteers are making calls from one of the GOP's major call centers in a south Denver office park.

"You get one," a volunteer asks as Schaffer hangs up.

"He's out voting right now," Schaffer says.

Schaffer knew exactly who he needed to talk to when he dialed. The phones here are linked to the Internet, and during a conversation the volunteers can add information into the GOP's national voter database in Nashville with the touch of a button.

Republicans are counting on this high-tech blitz to hold Colorado. If they do, they will need to succeed right here in Arapahoe County. It encompasses the populous southern suburbs of Denver, and until just a few weeks ago, Republicans outnumbered Democrats. Traditionally, GOP candidates figure they will lose Denver and Boulder but run up big margins in Colorado Springs. That leaves Arapahoe County as one of the big swing counties where, in the past, they have been able to beat Democrats and sew up statewide victories.

Schaffer says he sees more enthusiasm and sense of purpose among GOP volunteers this year.

"These people are really driven by a concept of what single-party dominance of the political system would mean," Schaffer said.
In addition to emotion, the volunteers here are fueled by pizza and pasta.

Meanwhile, a dry-erase board keeps track of John McCain's electoral votes. So far, he has eight (from Kentucky). Two hundred sixty two to go.

La Plata County votes

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., laughs as he acknowledges the cheers of supporters at the last rally in his 2008 presidential campaign at Grand Junction, Colo., Tuesday afternoon. Nov. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Democrats snag Va. Senate seat, expect more gains

By TOM RAUM
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Democratic former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner breezed to victory in his bid for the Senate on Tuesday, snagging a southern seat long held by Republicans and fueling expectations that Democrats would solidify their now-thin leadership grip over the chamber.

Warner beat another former governor, Republican Jim Gilmore, in the race to replace retiring five-term Sen. John W. Warner. The two Warners are not related.

Denver Election Commission - Don't expect results Tuesday night

DENVER (AP) _ The polls are now open in Colorado for slightly more than one-half of the state's registered voters who didn't cast their ballots by mail or at an early-voting location.

Election officials say nearly 1.6 million out of 3.2 million Colorado voters have cast early ballots.

Still, don't expect final results Tuesday.

Denver Election Commission spokesman Alton Dillard says the "days of having your close to final results by 10 p.m. are over." He says officials have tried to make it clear from early on that workers will still be counting ballots into Wednesday, and that still holds true.

Elections from president on down the ticket

By The Associated Press

What's at stake in Tuesday's election:

PRESIDENT — Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are on the ballot in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Independent Ralph Nader is on 44 ballots, while Libertarian Bob Barr is on 43.

SENATE — Voters in 33 states will choose 35 senators, 33 for six-year terms. Special elections are being held in Mississippi and Wyoming, to fill the remaining four years in seats now held by gubernatorial appointees. At stake are 23 seats now held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats. Open Republican seats are in Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico and Virginia. There are no open Democratic seats. Currently Democrats have the majority, 51-49, with two Democratic-leaning independents.

HOUSE — All 435 House seats are up for election. Republicans hold 199 seats, Democrats 235, with one vacancy.

GOVERNORS: Voters in 11 states are electing governors, with tight races in Washington, North Carolina and Indiana. Republicans are trying to chip away at Democrats' 28-22 gubernatorial majority ahead of 2010, when 36 states elect governors. At stake is control of electoral redistricting and the support governors will lend the 2012 presidential candidates.

BALLOT MEASURES: There are 153 measures on ballots in 36 states, including divisive proposals to ban abortion in South Dakota, outlaw affirmative action in Colorado and Nebraska, and ban same-sex marriage in three states, including California — where thousands of gays and lesbians have wed since a court ruling in May.

STATE LEGISLATURES: Political control of several key state legislatures could change hands, raising the chance for one-party domination of swing states such as Pennsylvania, Nevada and New York. The party that controls the legislatures helps craft domestic policy and draw congressional districts.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

Dem update in Lakewood

By Joe Hanel

LAKEWOOD - Here's what's going on right now in campaign offices across the country.

In the Democratic field office in Lakewood - one of more than 40 across Colorado - a map marks the 19 precincts that this office covers. Each precinct will be canvassed three times today by volunteers. Their job is to get friendly voters to the polls.

The office supervisors already know exactly which voters in their precincts have voted early, and they're getting live updates throughout the day from their local polling places on which voters have cast ballots.

They have divided each precinct into 'turfs' for canvass teams. At 11 a.m., volunteers were just leaving on their second canvass shift. In an adjacent room, another set of volunteers is making phone calls to voters.

Still more volunteers are assembling sack lunches for the crew. Volunteers returning from the morning shift take a seat on the floor to fill out their reports.

As the noon hour approaches, organizers are assembling 'comfort teams' to take water and other necessities to voters stuck in long lines.

Republicans are doing this, too. In fact, the GOP ground operation in Ohio in 2004 is widely credited for swinging that state to President Bush.

The McCain-Palin campaign has 12 such offices open around Colorado. Still, it's a far cry from Obama's 40-plus.

Senate candidate Mark Udall visited the Lakewood office this morning. He's seen his share of Colorado campaigns, but never anything quite like this.

Udall compared the Obama organization to a large, decentralized computer network like the Internet. "In that, I think it really mirrors our times," he said.

With so many offices, local volunteers find it easier to get involved, he said. In the Lakewood office, many volunteers were college-aged, but many others were taking the day off work or were retired.

"I think it's one of the secrets of Barack Obama's success. He's run a 21st century campaign," Udall said.

Udall stops in Lakewood

Rep. Mark Udall and his daughter, Tess, greet volunteers outside the Campaign for Change office in Lakewood, Colo., on Eleection Day, Nov. 4, 2008.

By Joe Hanel

DENVER Just a few hours left in this long campaign for U.S. Senate.

Republican Bob Schaffer is on his way to Grand Junction, where he will participate in a very last-minute rally with John McCain. Schaffer will return to Denver this evening for the state GOP party.

Democrat Mark Udall spent the morning visiting his ground troops at several campaign offices around Denver.

His bus rolled up the Lakewood office around 11:15, where he found a full house of volunteers.

"Thanks for everything you're doing," Udall told volunteers. "We're going to win, but we have to count the votes."

Udall has no public events until tonight's party with other Colorado Democrats in downtown Denver.

Campaign signs still taking a beating
Clovis Drive signs still up ‘to show people what idiots there are out there’

By Kathrine Warren
Herald Staff Report

In the build up to today’s election, more political signs were reported damaged or vandalized during the Halloween weekend.

County Commissioner Wally White, up for re-election, reported finding a group of signs along U.S. Highway 160 near Farmington Hill torn down or damaged Saturday morning.

“I’m just disgusted with it,” White said.

Signs supporting White, John Salazar, Mark Udall, Todd Risberg and Barack Obama were cut off and thrown aside, broken in half or torn off their posts. The only sign left standing was for County Commissioner Kellie Hotter.

They were posted on property owned by Bruce Garlick on the north side of the highway just east of Dietz Market. According to White, Garlick always supports Democratic candidates, and had Hotter’s sign posted because he is friends with her.

Hotter said she had heard reports of vandalism throughout the county, but to her knowledge her signs had only been damaged by weather.

“I think (vandalism) is distasteful,” she said.

White said he experienced sign vandalism during his last campaign four years ago.

“I had quite a few yard signs stolen and a big one torn down and stolen,” he said. “It’s a fairly common thing, but it’s disappointing it goes on in any case.”

La Plata County Republican Party Chairman Ron Tate, said area Republicans have reported signs going missing more than anything else, specifically signs supporting McCain and Sarah Palin.

“People are coming in three and four times for more signs,” Tate said.

Tate said he had received reports of multiple signs being stolen off properties, but couldn’t say exactly how many.

“Everyone’s got a right to the First Amendment,” he said. “Passions are running high and it’s an important election, I recommend to people to let their neighbors express their opinions and ideas.”

Nancy and Dan Stilwell had their signs supporting Udall and Obama damaged on Friday night on Clovis Drive. Saturday morning they found their two Obama signs and a Udall sign spray-painted with an ‘x’.

“I decided to leave them as is to kind of make a statement back,” Nancy said. “At first I thought I’d take them down, but I wanted to show people what idiots there are out there.”

She said the incident may have been related to Halloween activities, but her decorations and pumpkin weren’t touched. She also noted that signs supporting John McCain down the street were untouched.

La Plata County Democratic party Chairwoman Jean Walter said she doesn’t think political sign damage is done by campaign supporters.

“Well they might be Democrats or Republicans, I have no idea, but I think they’re vandals, and I don’t want to claim them, and I know the Republicans don’t want to either,” she said.

“Ron and I are working hard to get our candidates elected, and then these vandals come along and make both campaigns look bad.”

kwarren@durangoherald.com

County Dems flush with cash
GOP collects less than a fifth of their opponents’ take

By Dale Rodebaugh
Herald Staff Writer

In the last year, the Democratic Party in La Plata County received five times as much in monetary contributions as its Republican counterpart.

Records with the Colorado secretary of state’s office also show individual contributions figured prominently in donations to both parties, but the Democrats received support from the state organizers while local Republicans received none.

“That’s been the trend in the last two election cycles, 2006 and 2008,” said Ron Tate, the chairman of the county Republican Party. “Money has been tight, and we’re a small area, so the money has been going to larger areas.”

From Oct. 28, 2007 to Oct. 26, 2008, the La Plata County Democratic Party Central Committee received $60,784, according to the secretary of state. In the same period, the La Plata County Republican Party Central Committee received $11,938.

Numerous small contributions characterized the Democratic effort, said Jean Walter, the chairwoman of the county Democratic Party.

“It was amazing how people chipped in,” Walter said. “We got a ton of small donations because people wanted to be part of the effort. That’s the way they want our government to look.”

All contributions to Republicans in La Plata County came from individuals, including a resident of Oklahoma City. Nothing was received from the state Republican organization. Donations ranged from $500 from a Durango couple to one period in which the party received no contributions. In one reporting period, donations of less than $20 totaled $5,375 of a total of $9,105; in another period, almost $1,400 was received in donations of fewer than $20 out of a total of $1,667.

The Democratic Party’s top contributors in La Plata County were individuals, but most gave more than $20 each. The other main contributors to the Democratic cause were the La Plata County and the state Democratic Party, but they provided less than $7,500 of the almost $61,000 the party received. The Montezuma County Democratic Party Central Committee, a Cortez woman, and a man from Glenwood Springs also donated to La Plata County Democrats.

Over all, 444 individuals or party organizations contributed $20 or more to the Democratic campaign. The Republican campaign received $20 or more from 57 individuals.

daler@durangoherald.com

Hotter tops in campaign dollar chase
Incumbent commissioner raises far more than challenger Tregillus
by Shane Benjamin
Herald Staff Writer

Fueled in part by large contributions from individual donors, La Plata County Commissioner Kellie Hotter has raised more than twice as much money as her Democratic challenger Peter Tregillus.

In the District 2 race, Tregillus has raised a total of $18,725 compared with Hotter's $41,689, according to the Colorado Secretary of State. The dollar amounts are from the beginning of their campaigns through Oct. 26 - the end of the most recent filing period - and include in-kind contributions.

About 32 percent of Hotter's 187 contributors gave $200 or more to her campaign, according to the filings. Three individuals gave more than $2,000 to Hotter: Former County Commissioner Bob Lieb, $5,250; Douglas Simonson $2,500; and Karen Langhart, $2,054.

By comparison, only about 9 percent of Tregillus' 130 donors gave $200 or more to his campaign. More than a third of his campaign chest came from the La Plata County Democratic Central Committee.

Hotter had spent about $23,712 as of Oct. 26, largely on radio, newspaper and printing costs.

"I plan on spending every dime; there won't be any leftovers, hopefully," she said.

Tregillus had spent about $13,479 on newspapers, mailings and volunteer events.

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Baxstrom leads fundraising
by Shane Benjamin
Herald Staff Writer

In the District 3 race for La Plata County commissioner, Republican Harry Baxstrom has raised about $5,500 more than his Democratic challenger Wally White, according to the most recent campaign reports.

White had raised $23,116 compared with Baxstrom's $28,625, according to the office of the Colorado Secretary of State. The dollar amounts are from the beginning of their campaigns through Oct. 26 - the end of the most recent filing period - and include in-kind contributions.

About 28 percent of Bax-strom's 160 supporters gave $200 or more. Three individuals gave more than $1,000: Roy Hocker gave $2,000, Jerry McCaw $1,500 and Ruth McCaw $1,500.

By comparison, only about 17 percent of White's 186 supporters gave $200 or more. The only contribution over $1,000 was from the La Plata County Democrats, which gave $6,000 to White's campaign.

At the end of the filing period, White had spent about $14,110 on advertising and printing costs. Baxstrom had spent about $18,278 on newspapers, printed materials and other advertising.

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Schaffer, Udall in a battle for every last vote
U.S. Senate candidates not taking anything for granted
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - With just hours left in their U.S. Senate race, Mark Udall and Bob Schaffer are relying on their base instincts.

Both candidates will maintain nonstop schedules on the vote-rich Front Range until Election Day. And they're concentrating especially hard on their power bases. Udall spent Thursday in Denver's black community, and Schaffer rallied Friday in Republican-heavy Colorado Springs.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer campaigns Friday in northeast Colorado Springs.

Schaffer seeks big El Paso win
The stars are still out when the Schaffer campaign gets going on Halloween.

At a busy intersection in northeast Colorado Springs, Peggy Littleton and Vickie Broerman have just unloaded Schaffer and McCain-Palin signs from their cars.

Broerman heads back to the car.

"Are you leaving?" Littleton asks.

"Oh no, I'm just putting more signs out. Are you kidding? This is what we live for," Broerman says.

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More Democrats vote early
Nearly 14,000 ballots already cast in county
by Chuck Slothower
Herald Staff Writer

Nearly 14,000 voters in La Plata County have cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, with Democrats turning out in greater numbers.

Statewide, 49 percent of voters have already turned in their ballots. The statistics from the Colorado Secretary of State's office are as of Friday morning.

In La Plata County, 5,652 Democrats have voted, compared with 4,479 Republicans. Across Colorado, 488,575 Democrats have voted, outpacing the 465,869 Republicans who have voted in an election highlighted by the race to capture the state's nine electoral votes for the presidency.

Totals include mail-in ballots that have been received as well as early voters. The figures count ballots submitted by party registration. They do not indicate which candidate voters chose.
Early voting ended Friday, but mail-in ballots will continue to flow in.
Jean Walter, chairwoman of the county Democratic Party, credited the Forward Colorado campaign for increasing turnout. Forward Colorado is a Colorado Democratic Party campaign working on behalf of the candidates for president, U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

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Florida Road plan presented
City engineer revises road design- Public will have chance to weigh in again
by Ann Butler
Herald Staff Writer

After a summer of public meetings and months of follow-up designing, the city engineer's office has created a revised plan for rebuilding Florida Road.

On Thursday, City Engineer Greg Boysen presented the design to a small group of seven people, many of whom were cyclists. In the plan, the street would be asphalt, and a 5-foot wide bike lane would be concrete, making for a safer ride.
"Asphalt always settles," Boysen said. "It takes a couple of years and then it should be a fairly tight seam with the concrete for 20 or 30 years."
City sweepers would clean the bike lane as well as the road, which they currently do not do.
A 10-foot wide sidewalk would run the length of the north side of Florida, where there is a southern exposure. The city's Parks and Recreation Department agreed to keep the sidewalk plowed if it was that wide.
"Probably the biggest thing I heard in the summer hearings was that people didn't want to have to walk around the block and shovel snow off the sidewalk in their backyard, too," Boysen said.
Because of limited rights-of-way, there isn't room for a 10-foot sidewalk on both sides of the road, he said.
The plan also includes closing Spruce Drive and Elm Place where they intersect with Florida, reorienting North College Drive to align it with Quasar Street and reorienting O'Brien Drive so it enters Florida at a 45-degree angle.
After requests for landscaping and landscaped medians, plans include a 5-foot wide strip on both sides of the road that will have trees every 40 feet and probably cedar mulch on the ground in between. Boysen thought the space could be used to feed people on the south side of the road to crosswalks where they could access the sidewalk on the northern side.
"People don't need to walk on sidewalks everywhere," Kirk Rawles, who owns a home just off Florida, said. "I think that area would be walkable and rideable."
Marv Dworkin suggested using crushed red rock instead of the cedar mulch for the strip surrounding the trees.
"That would be walkable, mountain-bikeable and even baby 'buggyable,'" he said.
Boysen said traffic signals might be proposed for the Riverview Drive and the North College Drive intersections.
"The signal at North College probably won't be an issue," he said. "A lot of traffic to and from the college turns there, there are two bus stops, and the northeast map shows Quasar connecting with Animas Village on 32nd Street."
The next step, hiring a design team and contractor, won't take place unless the $17.6 million bond issue for Florida Road passes on Tuesday.
The bond issue, which is not a new tax, would permit the city to use sales-tax revenues approved by voters in 2005. The same revenues were used to bond for the new Durango Public Library.
Further public meetings would be held before the design is finalized, with construction scheduled to take about two years beginning in the spring of 2009.
"Thank you, Greg, because you really listened," Jenny Wrenn, co-chairwoman of Healthy Lifestyle La Plata, said. "I can see you trying to do what people asked."

Udall, Schaffer meet in Denver one last debate
Candidates battle for the 15th time
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall stayed in each other's faces Thursday night during the 15th and final debate of their acrimonious campaign.
At the beginning, each candidate was asked to define the other's debating style in one word.

"Explaining. That is the word," said Schaffer, a retired Republican House member.
Schaffer said Rep. Udall had strained to explain his votes for his "Boulder" district, while his own Eastern Plains district better represents the values of Colorado.
Udall, the Democrat, called out Schaffer's combative style.
"The one word is 'tough.' But I would say at times Bob Schaffer's been rude. Bob Schaffer has been unwilling to listen during the debates we've had at times. I think we have enough people in the United States Senate that filibuster, that don't listen," Udall said.
Schaffer mocked Udall for having "hurt feelings."
"If simple questions in the context of a debate are ones that offend one's sensibilities and harm one's opinion, maybe the United States Senate is probably too harsh a place to be," Schaffer said.

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Joe-the-Homebuilders tout McCain
Small-business owners worry Obama win would harm U.S. economy
by Karen Boush
Herald Staff Writer
Six local small-business owners gathered Thursday afternoon to hold a Joe-the-Plumber news conference in support of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.

Although homebuilders rather than plumbers, the men met at the request of the McCain-Palin presidential campaign at Trimble Crossing, a development north of Durango off U.S. Highway 550.

Joe Wurzelbacher of Holland, Ohio - better known to national audiences as Joe the Plumber - became part of Senator McCain's campaign rhetoric after he questioned Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama about his tax plan.

Wurzelbacher told Obama that he aspired to buy his own plumbing business, but was concerned that if he drew an income of $250,000 or more a year he would, under Obama's plan, be subject to higher taxes.

Obama responded that it is good to "spread the wealth around."

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Denver operation targets White
Conservative Web site publishes story about commissioner's past
by Chuck Slothower
Herald Staff Writer
Opponents of La Plata County Commissioner Wally White have launched an online campaign to tarnish the Democrat, who is running for re-election.

The campaign started with Face the State, a Denver-based political Web site that often publishes information damaging to Democrats.

Face the State used public court documents to write a report that it posted to its Web site that it says "detail an intriguing saga of soured divorce, bankruptcy and a new lover's betrayal fit for prime-time TV."

The online article specifies two court judgments, one in 1991 and another in 2000, ordering White to pay child support, his bankruptcy in 2000 and a property dispute involving an ex-fiancee.

White said the report was "disgusting" and merely drudged up old, settled issues.

"I paid all the child support, my bankruptcy is clear," he said. "All of these issues have been settled."

His divorce led to financial problems, White said. "I had some difficult times."

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