Election 2008

2008-11-05T23:58:00.003-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:55:00.001-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:53:00.002-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:52:00.000-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:51:00.001-07:00

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."

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:49:00.001-07:00

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."

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:47:00.001-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:46:00.001-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-05T23:45:00.001-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-04T22:06:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-11-04T21:22:00.000-07:00

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."

2008-11-04T21:05:00.004-07:00

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

2008-11-04T20:07:00.001-07:00

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

2008-11-04T19:31:00.001-07:00

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

2008-11-04T19:03:00.001-07:00

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

2008-11-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

2008-11-04T17:46:00.001-07:00

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

2008-11-04T17:21:00.001-07:00

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

2008-11-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-11-04T00:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-03T11:19:00.001-07:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-01T23:25:00.001-06:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-01T23:22:00.001-06:00

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."

2008-11-01T23:20:00.000-06:00

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.

click here for full story

2008-11-01T23:14:00.000-06:00

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."

click here for full story

2008-11-01T23:12:00.000-06:00

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."

click here for full story

2008-10-29T09:10:00.000-06:00

Racism saddens residents
Vandals spray paint a swastika on Barack Obama campaign sign
by Karen Boush
Herald Staff Writer

A large Barack Obama campaign sign erected east of Durango on Monday sparked two immediate, racist reactions.

The first occurred Monday morning, as Jeff Widen, a La Plata County Democratic Party volunteer, was installing the 8-foot by 4-foot sign near County Road 222 and U.S. Highway 160.
custom residential construction

On Tuesday, Jeff Widen, a volunteer with the La Plata County Democrats, looks at a Barack Obama campaign sign he put up the previous day near U.S. Highway 160 and County Road 222 east of Durango. It was vandalized overnight.

"A car drove by and (someone) yelled out the window 'No (racial epithet)!'" Widen said in a phone interview Tuesday. "I stopped, and I said, 'Did I hear what I think I just heard, in Durango, in 2008?' And yes, I did. I was shocked and, frankly, very saddened."

The second occurred sometime Monday night, when vandals used spray paint to draw a swastika on the sign and cover its lettering.

"I was angry and sad that something like this would happen in Durango, because we all want to believe it's a little fantasy land," Jill Somrak said of waking up and seeing the defaced sign the next morning.

Mrs. Somrak and her husband, Mike Somrak, asked to have the sign supporting the Democratic Party presidential candidate placed in their yard, where it would be highly visible to passing motorists.

Disheartened by the negative reactions, Mrs. Somrak said she thought, "'Come on guys, respect my opinion and I'll respect yours,'" she said in a phone interview Tuesday.

Ron Tate, La Plata County Republican chairman, also strongly condemned the actions.

"There's all sorts of extreme elements in society, in any group. This kind of behavior is unpardonable. This kind of behavior we don't condone at all," he said, also in a phone interview Tuesday.

Tate said he had to wonder if juveniles looking for attention carried out the vandalism.

Widen, however, questioned whether ongoing attacks made on Obama's character by Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and his running mate Gov. Sarah Palin indirectly prompted the racist actions.

"I think some of the stuff coming out of the other side is really just fueling the fire for people doing stuff that is over the top," he said.

Mrs. Somrak said she hopes the Democratic Party will either replace or restore the sign, but she said she expects a positive outcome nonetheless.

"I can't help but feel there's going to be something good coming out of this negative thing. There are a lot of human beings who are intelligent and do respect each other's opinions, even if (they) don't agree," she said.

One neighbor has already offered to repaint the sign, and people have stopped to tape small Obama campaign signs to the larger, defaced sign.

As the parents of three young children, Mrs. Somrak said she and her husband are careful not to use the word "hate" around their children and simply explained the incident by telling them, "Somebody doesn't like Obama."

Widen said the acts left him more committed than ever to an Obama presidency.

"It just makes you want to work for Obama that much more, frankly," he said.

Matt Chandler, press secretary for the Obama campaign in Colorado, declined to comment on the actions and whether similar acts have occurred in other parts of the state.

kboush@durangoherald.com

2008-10-29T08:15:00.000-06:00

Despite ballot battle, Gov. Ritter promotes natural gas
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - Even though Gov. Bill Ritter wants to raise taxes on the natural-gas industry, he drove around Tuesday in a car powered by Colorado's most plentiful fossil fuel.

Gov. Bill Ritter leaves a renewable-energy conference in a Mercury Grand Marquis powered by natural gas. A company called Clean Energy loaned him the car for the day to promote natural gas as an alternative fuel in vehicles.

"You don't have to have a petroleum-based vehicle to get around. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning non-renewable resource. It emits fewer hydrocarbons," Ritter said.

The photo-op was a slight change in tone for the governor, who is quick to promote wind and solar power - he even wore a silver tie Tuesday that he had custom printed with a windmill design. But he often says Coloradans are "doing our part" in supplying natural gas to the nation.

Ritter is locked in a multimillion-dollar battle with the gas industry over his Amendment 58, which would eliminate a tax credit for gas and oil companies.

click here for full story

2008-10-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

Dems take lead in early voting
Herald Staff Report

DENVER - A quarter of Southwest Colorado's voters have cast their ballots already, according to the Secretary of State's office.
Democrats are getting to the polls slightly faster in all area counties, notably in La Plata, where 32 percent of the county's 12,249 registered Democrats have voted already, either by mail or in person. About 25 percent of the county's Republicans have voted early. Only 18 percent of the county's unaffiliated voters have voted so far.

click here for full story

2008-10-28T10:36:00.000-06:00

Massive crowd greets Obama
Estimated 100,000 attend rally near Colorado capitol
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - One of the largest crowds of the 2008 campaign greeted Barack Obama at Denver's Civic Center Park on a cold, sunny Sunday morning.

Police estimated the crowd at 100,000. People packed into the block-sized park, into side streets and up the steps of the state Capitol.

"Do you ever have small crowds in Denver? Goodness gracious," Obama said as he took the stage.

Obama accepted the Democratic nomination in Denver two months ago before a crowd of about 85,000.

On Sunday, Obama responded to Republican John McCain's criticism of his economic philosophy. Earlier Sunday on "Meet the Press," McCain said Obama's response to a tax question from an Ohio plumber revealed the Democrat's very liberal ideas.

"We just figured it out with 'Joe the Plumber.' Americans just figured it out. He wants to spread the wealth around," McCain said. "He wants to raise taxes in a time of economic difficulties."

Obama defended his tax plan, saying he would not raise taxes on people who make less than $250,000 a year.

"If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year - which includes 98 percent of small business owners and 99.9 percent of all plumbers - you won't see your taxes increase one single dime," Obama said.

Then he repeated one of his campaign's main strategies - trying to tie McCain to President Bush.

click here for full story

2008-10-27T10:41:00.000-06:00

John McCain's Durango rally peaceful
by Ted Holteen
Herald Staff Writer

Bringing Republican presidential candidate John McCain to Durango was a challenge, but Durango Police on Saturday credited the local community and regional law-enforcement agencies for an incident-free event despite a politically divided crowd of nearly 8,000.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and his wife, Cindy, walk out of their airplane Friday evening at the Durango-La Plata Airport. McCain was in Durango to give a campaign speech. His appearance generated a lot of buzz among supporters and drew his opponent's supporters out as well. The Durango Police Department said several law-enforcement agencies worked to oversee what was a peaceful event.

The police department estimated 6,000 people attended the speech at DHS, with an additional 1,000 to 2,000 left outside.

"There were no arrests - that is an amazing statistic for something like this," Capt. Micki Browning said.

McCain's visit placed him in three separate jurisdictions Friday night. The La Plata County Sheriff's Office was in charge when McCain's plane touched down and took off at the Durango-La Plata Airport; the Colorado State Patrol took over for the candidate's ride into and out of town; and the Durango Police Department oversaw his speech at Durango High School.

Browning said it will be a few days before she knows the exact number of law-enforcement personnel who worked the event. She said, though, that were at least 150 of them. In addition to local agencies, others that worked the event included the U.S. Secret Service, Federal and Colorado Bureaus of Investigation, Farmington and Ignacio police departments, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Mounted Rangers, Fort Lewis College, Transportation Security Administration and Durango School District 9-R.

click here for full story

2008-10-25T00:23:00.000-06:00

John McCain visits Durango

By Chuck Slothower

Herald Staff Writer

Republican presidential candidate John McCain, speaking Friday evening in Durango, sought to tie Democrat Barack Obama to higher taxes and a desire to “spread the wealth around.”

McCain’s speech, before an estimated 6,000 people at the Durango High School football field, repeatedly returned to the charge that Obama would raise taxes.

“Sen. Obama is more interested in controlling wealth than creating wealth,” McCain said.

Drawing perhaps the loudest applause of the night, McCain said he would cut capital gains and business taxes and “keep American jobs in America.” The line led the crowd to chant “U-S-A!”

McCain said he needed to win Colorado, a state with nine electoral votes that backed President Bush in 2004. Recent polls show Obama with an approximately five-point lead. Only 10 days remain until the Nov. 4 election, and early voting has been under way since Monday.

McCain has tried to close the gap with a populist economic message. He mentioned “Joe the Plumber,” an Ohio man who shot to fame when he confronted Obama about his tax plans. McCain exploited the theme in Durango, reading signs in the audience, “Joe the florist,” “Joe the carpenter,” “Lindsey the Realtor,” and “Darren the cabinet-maker.”

Matt Chandler, a Colorado spokesman for the Obama campaign, said the Democrat would cut taxes for 2.3 million middle-class taxpayers in Colorado.

“For the last eight years, we’ve tried it John McCain’s way,” Chandler said in an e-mail. “It hasn’t worked. It’s time to grow this economy from the bottom up. It’s time to invest in the middle class again.”

The crowd inside the rally was as enthusiastic as the protesters outside. McCain supporters waved dozens of signs with the campaign slogan “Country First,” and others thrust blue-and-red pompoms into the air.

But to get to Durango High, McCain’s motorcade drove by long stretches of Obama supporters on Main Avenue.

Cindy McCain, introducing her husband, said he had “served his country in many different ways.” She added that the McCain family and that of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin have three young men serving in the military.

Longtime McCain ally U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., addressed the crowd, saying, “John McCain does all the things that Barack Obama talks about.”

Most in the crowd seemed already sold on the McCain-Palin ticket. One was Robert Whitt, who lives east of Durango and wore a National Rifle Association jacket to the rally. “I don’t want communism,” he said. “If Obama wins this election, they’ve won a big victory.”

Whitt said McCain respected the flag. “He’s a godly man, he’s a patriot, he’s an American.”

About 6,000 attended the rally, with 1,000-2,000 more left outside, said Durango police Capt. Micki Browning, citing the Secret Service.

Reporters were not given the opportunity to ask McCain questions, and plans for local leaders to introduce him were nixed.

Some attendees wore Obama buttons and T-shirts. One, Delia Bolster, a Durango High senior, said it was important “to see both sides.”

The last major-party candidate to visit Durango was John F. Kennedy, who addressed the state Democratic assembly on June 18, 1960. Green Party candidate Ralph Nader spoke at Fort Lewis College in September 2000.

McCain campaigned in Denver and Colorado Springs on Friday before coming to Durango. He was scheduled to appear in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, N.M., today.

McCain this week cut back his spending on TV ads in Colorado to about $63,000 a day from about $83,000 a day last week. But the Republican National Committee stepped in with independent ads at a rate of about $36,000 a day, more than making up the difference, according to data from TNS/CMAG, a firm that tracks political advertising.

Obama is still outspending the combined McCain-RNC effort with a rate of about $120,000 a day in the state, according to TNS/CMAG.

chuck@durangoherald.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

2008-10-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

Obama supporters out in force

By Shane Benjamin

Herald Staff Writer

John McCain could have done more to win over Durango.

“If McCain came here riding a bike and wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt, I’m pretty sure he would win this town,” said Earl Middlebrook, a Barack Obama supporter.

But McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, did neither. Instead, he arrived at 5:12 p.m. in a black sport utility vehicle wearing a suit and tie.

He was greeted by hundreds, if not thousands, of Obama supporters who lined Main Avenue in front of Durango High School. They chanted slogans, like “yes we can,” and held signs, like “McCain in Durango? Republicans must be desperate.”

It was a peaceful counter-rally with no arrests. Two Obama supporters were hit by a car while crossing the road at 25th Street and Main Avenue. The driver was blinded by sunlight as she made a left-hand turn out of the La Plata County Fairgrounds, police said. One man who tumbled over the car was taken to the hospital; a woman declined medical attention.

For the most part, Obama supporters were happy to have McCain in town. They said his visit generated interest in the election and unified Democrats shortly before Election Day.

“Our message tonight for everybody is ‘be like Barack Obama,’” said Britt Bassett, with the La Plata County Democrats. “If you’re confronted, stay cool, unflappable, positive and friendly – no matter what.”

On the issues, Obama supporters said their candidate has a more-inclusive plan that will help the middle class and end the war in Iraq.

McCain spoke of Joe the Plumber at DHS, but outside, Tom Cramer of Durango held a sign: “Tom the carpenter voted Obama.”

Cramer, a carpenter for 25 years, said four out of five carpenters can’t afford to live in Durango. But with Obama’s health-care plan, Cramer said more could afford to live here.

McCain’s temperament and his choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate is worrisome, Cramer said.

“Obama is obviously very intelligent, and he has a calm, diplomatic, reserved approach to dealing with issues,” Cramer said. “To see McCain get in there and then see him kick the bucket and Palin get in there – the world is going to pounce on us so quickly if that happens.”

McCain carries an attitude that America is the best, but to Keta Seibel of Durango, that is an arrogant way of thinking. America is a “very good country,” she said, but lately it has adopted some “very bad” policies.

The group Veterans for Obama praised McCain for his military service, but they faulted him for being a professional soldier and living on the public payroll for so long.

Jim Callard, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, held a sign that read “I’m with Colin Powell and Obama.”

“Obama has the right judgment to be president of the United States,” Callard said. “John McCain talks about fighting for us, but he doesn’t talk about winning anything for us.”

Callard also expressed bewilderment over McCain’s visit to Durango – a city he called the most progressive on the Western Slope of Colorado. It is another example of the Arizona senator’s poor judgment, he said.

“I can’t figure out why he came here,” Callard said. “It’s kind of like (Vice President) Dick Cheney going to a Grateful Dead concert in Telluride.”

shane@durangoherald.com

2008-10-24T23:59:00.000-06:00

Republicans announce support for Udall

By Dale Rodebaugh

Herald Staff Writer

Three well-known Republicans in Southwest Colorado said Friday they are supporting Democrat Mark Udall’s bid to replace Sen. Wayne Allard in Washington, D.C., because they admire his bipartisan approach to issues and effective work on behalf of the region.

Linda Campbell, wife of retired U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, former state 59th District Rep. Mark Larson and Archuleta County Commissioner Bob Moomaw said Udall’s forthrightness and cooperative approach to issues are more important than hewing to party lines. Udall, who has represented the state’s 2nd District in Congress since 1998, is opposed by Republican Bob Schaffer, a former three-term representative in the nation’s capital. Allard is not seeking a third term.

“Mark is a long-time friend, and his bipartisan approach is the only way we’re going to bring government back to its senses,” Linda Campbell said in an interview Friday. “He has the same values for Colorado that I do.”

The cross-party endorsements were also evident Friday on the national level. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, a Republican, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president. Obama also picked up endorsements from former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson and Scott McClellan, former press secretary to President Bush.

In Durango, Campbell announced her endorsement of Udall at a get-out-the-vote rally Thursday. Udall visited the area accompanied by U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, who is seeking re-election.

Larson, a former Cortez resident who represented the 59th District for eight years in the Colorado Legislature, focused on Udall’s willingness to work with both parties and his willingness to change his opinion.

“I like the way he reaches across the aisle the way I did,” Larson said by telephone from Denver where he is executive director of the Colorado/Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association. “He also came out and admitted that he made a mistake in opposing drilling in the offshore coastal shelf and that he now supports the proposal.”

Larson said his endorsement of Udall is personal. The petroleum marketers association is supporting Schaffer.

Moomaw announced his support for Udall and Salazar after discussing a local issue with Salazar on Friday in Pagosa Springs.

Salazar has won 100 percent of Payment in Lieu of Taxes compensation for Archuleta County, whereas prior payments averaged 50 to 60 percent, Moomaw said. The PILT program compensates counties with extensive federal land for lost property taxes.

“Salazar also supported us on opposing the Village at Wolf Creek and he supported the 1.5-mile buffer against drilling near the outcrop,” Moomaw said. “I endorsed Udall because he has supported Salazar’s efforts.”

daler@durangoherald.com

2008-10-24T23:58:00.000-06:00

McCain opens Friday in Denver

By Joe Hanel

Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER – Republican presidential candidate John McCain spent Thursday night at Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel and began Friday with a rally at the National Western Stock Show arena.

Retired Broncos stars John Elway and John Lynch introduced McCain.

“Senator, it’s the fourth quarter,” Elway said. “Some pundits I watch on TV are already counting you out, but I know a thing or two about comebacks, and I cannot wait until Nov. 4 when you once again prove those pundits wrong.”

McCain began with a joke on water he has used in previous stops in Colorado.

“My friends, as a resident of the state of Arizona, thank you for the water. Please keep sending it,” he said.

Then he got serious on the topic.

“I will not renegotiate the Colorado River Compact. Colorado will keep its water, and that will not change,” McCain said.

The Arizona senator told the Pueblo Chieftain in August that the compact “needs to be renegotiated over time.” The compact protects Colorado from California and Arizona by reserving about half the Colorado River for the smaller upstream states.

McCain used most of his 25-minute speech in Denver to rip into Obama on taxes, slamming the Democrat for saying he would “spread the wealth around.”

Police ejected four protesters – two of them in wheelchairs – after the group chanted for the first five minutes of McCain’s speech.

2008-10-24T08:29:00.000-06:00

Obama to make appearances in Denver and CSU this weekend
John Elway to join McCain in Denver
DENVER - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans to visit Denver and Fort Collins on Sunday in his latest trip to Colorado.

The Illinois senator will hold rallies for early voting in Civic Center Park in Denver and at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

The Denver rally will begin at 11:30 a.m. The rally at CSU is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Both campaigns have been picking up appearances in Colorado with early voting under way.

Republican candidate John McCain is holding rallies today in Durango and Denver. In Denver, he will be joined by former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway.

click here for full story

2008-10-24T08:28:00.001-06:00

Dems prepare for McCain's arrival
Obama supporters planning to assemble along Main Avenue
by Shane Benjamin
Herald Staff Writer
Barack Obama supporters plan to line Main Avenue for as many blocks as possible today to confront presidential candidate John McCain on his way to speak at Durango High School.

The demonstration is being organized by the La Plata County Democrats and other groups, including the Southwest Colorado Peace and Justice Coalition, Veterans for Obama, and Students for a Democratic Society.

"Show up whenever you can, and we will direct you to a position," a news release said. "We will rally until McCain heads out of town!"

Obama supporters will gather at 3 p.m. at Fassbinder Park, west of Main Avenue and 17th Street, and walk north to the high school at 2390 Main Ave.

click here for full story

2008-10-24T08:26:00.000-06:00

John Salazar and Mark Udall speak at Early Vote Rally

2008-10-23T08:15:00.000-06:00

DA candidate refutes rumor
Risberg ally says Wasley demoted
by Shane Benjamin
Herald Staff Writer
Some Durango defense lawyers say that district attorney candidate Russell Wasley was demoted earlier this year - a rumor that Wasley denies.

If Wasley was demoted, voters in the 6th Judicial District deserve to know, said Eric Sanford, a former prosecutor and defense lawyer in Durango.

If Wasley couldn't perform his duties as a deputy district attorney, then voters have reason to question his ability to manage the entire office, Sanford said.

click here for full story

2008-10-23T08:10:00.000-06:00

As electoral passion builds, lawn signs take a drubbing
by Kathrine Warren
Herald Staff Writer
With election season in full swing, people are displaying political views on their front lawns and cars, but some have become the targets of vandalism.

On Saturday, a resident in the 2900 block of East Fourth Avenue reported to police that her sign supporting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and vice-presidential running mate Joe Biden had been removed, burned and defecated on. Signs in front of a Durango church supporting Amendment 48 - which would define a person at the moment of conception - have been stolen and destroyed.

Velbeth Jones, the president of Southwest Republican Women and a volunteer with the La Plata County Republicans, said area Republicans have reported sign damage and bumper stickers being removed from cars.

click here for full story

2008-10-22T08:29:00.000-06:00

John McCain plans to visit Durango
GOP candidate's rally slated for Friday at DHS football field

Republican presidential candidate John McCain plans to visit Durango on Friday as he fights for Colorado's nine electoral votes.

The program begins at 5 p.m. at Durango High School's football field, 11 days before Election Day, according to McCain's campaign Web site. Doors open at 3:00 p.m. A campaign spokesman said the time and location are subject to change.

Reservations
Residents can register to attend a campaign rally for presidential candidate John McCain by visiting Colorado.johnmccain.com. Tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Times and locations are subject to change.

2008-10-22T08:25:00.000-06:00

Biden in Adams County: Kerry and Gore both had poll leads, too
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
COMMERCE CITY - Adams County stands out in Colorado for two reasons: it has lots of Democrats and lots of home foreclosures.

Both reasons drew Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden here Tuesday. Biden first urged Democrats to vote early and deliver the must-win Denver suburbs for Barack Obama. Then he launched into an attack on John McCain, saying the Republican candidate has had "one bad idea right after another" on the economy.

Obama and Biden are calling for Congress to return after the election and pass a new economic stimulus package, including a three-month moratorium on home foreclosures.

McCain said Tuesday that the crisis shouldn't be used as an excuse for Congress to wastefully spend more money.

Biden jumped on the comment.

"We need a package. It's no longer a partisan issue, except when it comes to John McCain. He's the only odd man out," Biden said. "How many more economic casualties do we need to wait and see before he's ready to act?"

Click here for full story

2008-10-21T12:11:00.000-06:00

Joe Biden speaks in Greeley

Video by the Rocky Mountian News

2008-10-21T09:57:00.000-06:00

Early voting begins in La Plata County
Colorado one of 31 states to offer it
by Karen Boush
Herald Staff Writer
Early voting opened in Colorado on Monday, attracting a steady stream of people to the La Plata County Courthouse.
"It's been busy all day long," La Plata County Clerk and Recor-der Linda Daley said in an interview at the courthouse Monday afternoon.

Early voting in Colorado will continue today through Oct. 31. Eligible voters can vote at either the La Plata County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at the new Bayfield Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Election Day, Nov. 4, voters must go to their assigned precinct polling places, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Both paper and electronic ballots will be available at all polling places on Election Day.

For more information about the Nov. 4 general election in La Plata County, call the county clerk's election department at 382-6280. To download a mail-in ballot application, visit
http://www.co.laplata.co.us/clerk/documents/CombinationVoterRegMailBallot_040708.pdf

Click here for full story

2008-10-21T09:50:00.000-06:00

Downtown debate
Neighbors argue politics by planting lawn signs
by Chuck Slothower
Herald Staff Writer

The election is hotly debated everywhere, but in few places do neighbors battle it out with more fervor than at Eighth Street and East Sixth Avenue. All four corners of the busy intersection sport an array of lawn signs, each pointed to catch drivers' eyes.
Obama-Biden signs compete for attention with a McCain-Palin sign. Mark Udall for Senate signs oppose a Bob Schaffer sign. No on 48 signs argue with a yes on 48 sign.

"We're still friendly. He's wrong, but he's a friend."
- Talford Davis, Durango resident

Click here for full story

2008-10-21T09:10:00.000-06:00

Debate draws sharp contrasts
Schaffer, Udall know how to flatter each other
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
GREELEY - In their second-to-last debate in the race for the U.S. Senate, Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall got a new challenge: say something nice about each other.
The debate format also was new, featuring videotaped question from citizens. The content of the questions, though, was familiar. Questioners asked about the war, health care, energy and political partisanship.

In perhaps the most collegial moment of the campaign, moderator Troy Coverdale of radio station KFKA asked the two to say something nice about each other.

Schaffer, a Republican who served al-ongside Udall for in Congress until 2002, got the question first.

"Without a doubt, the most accomplished thing the Congressman (Udall) has ever done is marry Maggie," Schaffer said.

Schaffer also praised Udall for supporting him on agricultural issues.

Udall, in turn, said he and Schaffer had worked well together on funding for Colorado's universities. Colorado's nine members of Congress usually work well together, he said.

Click here for full story

2008-10-21T09:07:00.000-06:00

Sarah Palin hits Obama on taxes
Characterizes his plan as 'socialism'
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
LOVELAND - If there's an "enthusiasm gap" between Democrats and Republicans, it was nowhere to be seen when Sarah Palin rallied her party's faithful Monday.
People waited in line for hours in the chilly morning to see the GOP vice presidential nominee.

Hank Williams Jr., clad in an orange John Elway jersey, warmed up the crowd with "McCain Palin Tradition," a rewrite of his country hit "Family Tradition."

Palin went after Democratic nominee Barack Obama on taxes, calling his plan "socialism."

Click here for full story

2008-10-21T09:04:00.000-06:00

Colorado back in national spotlight
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
LOVELAND - Both presidential campaigns are flooding Colorado with high-level appearances this week.
Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden will make a two-day swing through Northern Colorado and the Western Slope starting today.
And Palin's husband, Todd, will campaign in Glenwood Springs, Eagle and metro Denver today.

Click here for full story

2008-10-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

Democracy in action
Leigh Meigs, a Durango city councilor, speaks against amendments 46 and 48 to a crowd of about 20 people gathered in front of the La Plata County Courthouse on Monday. The rally was put on by the Latina Initiative to sway early voters to defeat the two measures.

Photo by JERRY McBRIDE/Herald

2008-10-20T12:15:00.000-06:00

Palin speaks in Loveland

Video by the Rocky Mountain News

2008-10-19T17:30:00.000-06:00

More to election than McCain or Obama
Ballot boasts 16 presidential contenders

by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
DENVER - Although two candidates have all the money and attention, Colorado voters will have their choice of 16 tickets in the Nov. 4 presidential election.

They include household names like Ralph Nader, century-old parties like the Prohibitionists and brand-new groups like Heartquake.

Click here to read full story

2008-10-19T17:12:00.000-06:00

Monday marks start of early voting
by Ted Holteen
Herald Staff Writer

With the Nov. 4 general election just more than two weeks away, La Plata County election officials hope voters will take advantage of early and mail-in voting to avoid a logjam at local precincts on Election Day.
Early voting will begin Monday and continues through Oct. 31. Eligible voters may vote 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.

Click here to read full story

2008-10-17T17:37:00.000-06:00

Debate looks at loans
Schaffer, Udall duke it out in Denver
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
DENVER - Senate candidate Bob Schaffer raised a new financial fear Thursday - defaults on student loans.

Schaffer, a Republican, said the federal student loan program is "doomed to collapse" during a debate with Democrat Mark Udall at Denver television station KMGH. He compared student loans made by the federal government to the subprime home loans - many backed by the congressionally charted companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - that caused the current financial crisis.

"It's important to note that we have a very similar precarious situation occurring in the country with respect to college loans," Schaffer said.

Click here to read full story

Click here to watch debate at KMGH

2008-10-17T17:35:00.000-06:00

Nonpartisan forum takes a look at ballot issues
Event looked to clear up questions about voting issues
by Karen Boush
Herald Staff Writer
More than 50 people attended the first of three Colorado ballot issues forums planned by the League of Women Voters of La Plata County on Thursday night.

The nonpartisan event was held in the Durango City Council Chambers, where a panel of five league members reviewed each of the 14 state and five local issues that will be on the ballot in November's general election.

Additional forums
The League of Women Voters of La Plata County will hold two more Colorado ballot issues forums next week in Ignacio and Bayfield: b From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ignacio Library, 470 Goddard Avenue. b From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bayfield Town Hall, 1199 U.S. Highway 160B (at the corner of 160B and Mill St.). For more information, visit the league's Web site at www.lwvlaplata. org/calendar.html

Click here to read full story

2008-10-17T12:42:00.000-06:00

Big hitters stump for Barack Obama
by Kathrine Warren
Herald Staff Report

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar on Thursday visited Carver Brewing Co. to pump up the local Democrats.

Neither Ritter nor Salazar is up for re-election this year, but they took time to stump for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to a crowd of about 50 on the restaurant's patio. After the Carver stop, both headed for a ceremony commemorating the Animas-La Plata Project's near completion.

"The time has come for the people of this country to take America back," Salazar said. "Barack Obama is going to do that."

click here for full story

2008-09-30T18:15:00.000-06:00

Durango delegate a McCain fan
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Today's mystery guest is ?
When Colorado Republican delegates boarded the bus Tuesday morning for their breakfast date with the Idaho delegation, they were told only to expect a special guest.
At the Minneapolis restaurant, delegates looked up from their bacon and eggs and then rushed to the front of the room as first lady Laura Bush strode through the door.
Bush spoke for about five minutes, mostly on the importance of Colorado to GOP candidate John McCain.
"I think John McCain can win Colorado. He's a Westerner," Bush said. "But I do think you're going to have to work very hard. You can't take Colorado for granted."
Wendell Coats of Durango was in the room for the surprise appearance. For Coats, it was just one more experience he could have only at the Republican National Convention - the first national convention of his life.

Click here for full story

2008-09-29T23:50:00.000-06:00

Durango supporters join in the fun at the Abbey
By Karen Boush | Herald Staff Writer

The energy inside Invesco Field on Thursday night was felt 300 miles away in Durango's Abbey Theatre, where a standing-room-only crowd joined in the Democratic National Convention fervor.

Watching Illinois Sen. Barack Obama accept the Democratic presidential nomination on the theater's movie screen, the crowd cheered, clapped and laughed right along with the thousands at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Click here to read full story

2008-09-18T23:46:00.000-06:00

Vote early, say governor, county clerks
by Joe Hanel

Herald Denver Bureau
DENVER - Here's Colorado's November nightmare.
States around the country vote the same way they did in the 2004 presidential election, with two plausible exceptions: Iowa and New Mexico switch their votes to Democrat Barack Obama.
In Colorado, meanwhile, voters are waiting in line long into the night, and county clerks are feverishly trying to count a record number of ballots so the world can know who the next president will be. It's 3 a.m., and Katie Couric and Brian Williams are still on the air, twiddling their thumbs and saying, "We're still waiting on Colorado."
Thanks to the Democratic National Convention, this state has already seen the international spotlight once this year. And once is enough for Gov. Bill Ritter.

Click here to read full story

2008-08-31T00:40:00.000-06:00

Sights and Sounds of the DNC

by Josh Stephenson/Herald

2008-08-29T23:33:00.000-06:00

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

2008-08-29T23:30:00.000-06:00

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.

2008-08-29T23:20:00.000-06:00

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

2008-08-28T23:53:00.000-06:00

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

2008-08-22T23:42:00.000-06:00

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

2008-08-20T00:54:00.000-06:00

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

2008-08-17T12:25:00.008-06:00

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

View Larger Map

2008-08-16T16:36:00.000-06:00

Commissioner Districts

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

View Larger Map

2008-08-09T12:27:00.000-06:00

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.

2008-08-02T11:32:00.000-06:00

Colorado polls
rollover dots to view specific poll information

provided by pollster.com