Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 09:52:32 AM MST
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I have begun a new page on my website where I will track what is going on in Denver elections, starting with the special election to replace Rick Garcia.
My Home Page
Click here to go straight to the Denver Page
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Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 19:56:58 PM MST
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Below is a link to the Denver caucus locations for the Democrats. I would welcome having similar information posted here for the Republicans.
Denver Democrats
Click on "2010 Caucus Sites"
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Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 09:10:10 AM MST
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Denver Post is reporting City Councilman Rick Garcia has been appointed the local Regional Director for HUD.
The special election and vancancy committee jitterbug to follow
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Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 13:31:53 PM MST
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As of this writing, it is starting to look like a real possibility that Mayor Hickenlooper will run for Governor this fall.
That starts a cascade of succession questions I will attempt to answer here.
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Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 11:16:24 AM MST
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The Denver Line has been updated, finally. Included is Crisanta Duran's name on the HD-5 Line after she officially filed paperwork on Nov. 30.
More commentary on Denver races from Dan Willis.
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Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 10:31:54 AM MST
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Great way to introduce yourself to your fellow board members. As The Denver Post reports:
Newly elected board member Andrea Merida caused immediate controversy when she refused to wait until after the reform vote to be sworn in with two others.
Instead, Merida went to a district court judge hours before the board meeting, armed with certified results from the Nov. 3 election, and took her oath.
"I hated to do this," Merida said. "But the people have spoken very clearly. I wanted to make sure they had a voice."
Minutes before the board meeting began at 4:30 p.m., Merida showed an affidavit signed by a judge and demanded to take her seat.
"We have had a really disappointing situation transpiring today," board President Theresa Peña said in the boardroom that was filled to capacity. "One of our new colleagues was sworn in today at noon. She is now a sitting board member. Michelle Moss will not be able to finish out her term. Michelle, I am incredibly sorry."
Moss tearfully left the dais.
"I find it to be one of the most disrespectful, underhanded political maneuvers that I have ever seen in my life," Moss said in the hallway as Merida voted. "Denver is in serious trouble. It's a clear indication that they will stop reform and do whatever it takes. It's a sad day in Denver."
John Kechriotis, a DPS attorney, said Merida was acting in accordance with the law.
"Certainly, it was not a professional move to make, but it was within her rights," he said.
Merida's "no" votes didn't halt the reforms, which went through with minor changes.
Getting a court order to be seated early and not even allowing your predecessor to finish out her final day on the board, as tradition has long held? Andrea Merida couldn't have been more inappropriate and disrespectful if she had showed up in a "Fuck Denver" t-shirt. And all of this was for what? At the end of the night, her vote didn't even make a difference.
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Fri Nov 27, 2009 at 08:12:21 AM MST
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The dynamics of many of these races have changed since the last time the Denver Line was updated.
Below the fold is my take on where these races are going.
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Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 14:12:29 PM MST
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Word is that Crisanta Duran is planning to run for the vacant seat in HD-5. Duran had been talking about the possibility for years.
We'll update the Denver Line soon - it is sadly out of date, we know.
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Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 15:01:47 PM MDT
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In statehouse news, there are now three Democratic candidates vying to replace term-limited House Speaker Terrance Carroll in east Denver's HD-7. Angela Williams, a Stapleton business owner and community activist, was in the race early with Carroll's endorsement. Mark Mehringer, a Party member and volunteer, has raised a fair amount of early coin. Last week, former Colorado Common Cause director Jon Goldin-Dubois--probably the best-known of the three among the politically astute--filed to run for this seat. All three are energetically campaigning, though many people we've talked to expect the race for this safe Democratic district to narrow to Williams vs. Goldin-Dubois relatively quickly. Beyond which it's anybody's guess, both candidates seem to have quite a bit of support to lean on.
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 at 12:22:50 PM MDT
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As the Denver Post reports:
A initiative on the November ballot aims to toughen Denver's impound ordinance, guaranteeing that people caught driving without a license will end up paying a $2,500 bond to get the car out of the impound lot, even if a valid license is sitting at home on the counter...
The Denver vehicle impound law that voters passed last year was designed to keep unlicensed drivers off the road. It gives police officers the ability to use their discretion about whether to impound a car.
If this new initiative passes in November, police officers will be required to impound the car of every driver without a license.
City Council member Doug Linkhart said that city impound lots are overflowing with vehicles of people who cannot afford to get them out...
Linkhart said that Denver police officers are opposed to the law and the initiative.
"Their job, by definition, is discretion," Linkhart said.
What this really comes back to is illegal immigrant hysterics, of course, but it's still unusual to see this plainly counterproductive a measure make the ballot. Peter Boyles and half a dozen Minuteman crackpots may think this is a good idea, the rest of us have left our wallet on the counter enough times to know better. A measure drafted totally ignorant of its effects--the way only real crazies can draft them. Doug Bruce, call him what you will, knew what he was doing.
Between this overkill nonsense and Craig Silverman calling for people who "look like a Muslim" to have their "puchases tracked," we think some serious getting of a grip is in order, folks.
Posted from Colorado Pols.
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Wed Sep 02, 2009 at 17:07:18 PM MDT
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The ballot for Denver County has been set. This year's election will be all-mail and ballots cannot be mailed out until 22 days prior to the election (happens to fall on Columbus Day). There will be 2 service centers to assist voters who do not receive their ballots. These will be at the Election Division (3888 E. Mexico Ave.) and the Webb Bldg (15th St. & Court Pl.) For info on those locations or any other questions about Denver Elections, see: DenverVotes.org
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Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 17:02:04 PM MDT
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In his monthly e-mail to constituents, Councilman at-large Doug Linkhart proposes that the city and county of Denver find a way to nickel and dime its way out of the current budget shortfall--in a good way.
How can a bunch of quarters help fill our $120 million budget gap? By doing what Chicago recently did, and letting someone else manage our parking meter collections.
Earlier this year the city of Chicago sold the management and revenue stream for its parking meters to a private business for $1.2 billion. The city is using about half of this income for budget relief and investing the other half to generate interest to replace the annual revenues from parking meters. The city still issues parking tickets and retains those revenues and any meter rate increases are capped.
Denver's meter revenues are somewhat smaller than Chicago's, at about $9 million per year, roughly 40% of Chicago's. If we could find a similar buyer, for even $300 million, we could also invest part of the money, use some to cover our deficit and perhaps set part of it aside in an innovation fund for employee ideas for saving money in the future.
Considering other city government officials are proposing massive budget cuts, or tax increases, to cover the current $120 million budget gap, this idea couldn't come at a better time. If the city can find an interested contractor, this could go a long way towards balancing the budget.
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Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 15:02:53 PM MDT
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House District 2 Democrats are hosting their annual yardsale this Saturday from 8 am - 3pm.
The level of donations of items to sell is far exceeding he number the quality of any prevous year. So please stop by to check it out. Surely there is something that you would love to have at yardsale prices. Now you can get it and support the Dems at the same time.
There will be several pieces of furniture as well as the standard yardsale fare.
The sale is being held at Rep. Ferrandino's house, 217 W. 2nd Ave.
Where else can you do your thingamajig shopping and talk politics at the same time?
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Tue May 19, 2009 at 09:57:09 AM MDT
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UPDATE: Pat Steadman wins the vacancy committee.
Another vacancy committee will spring into action on Wednesday in SD-31 to determine the replacement for Sen. Jennifer Veiga, who has resigned her seat. Pat Steadman is the presumptive favorite, but that doesn't mean much -- in a vacancy committee, anything can happen.
Over at Colorado Pols, one vacancy committee member runs down his thoughts as the vote draws near.
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Fri May 15, 2009 at 08:09:54 AM MDT
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Hi ho there.
As most of you know I have mostly retired from politics but I still have a day job in the Denver Election Division.
There are going to likely be two ballot issues on the Novemeber ballot which will also include school board races.
The first is the long-anticipated (ho-hum) "Extra-Terriestial Welcome Center" issue. The proponent is circulating petitions for it as you are reading this.
The second is a potentially more controversial measure. You may recall in the 2008 primary a measure was passed regarding the impounding of cars of people caught driving without a license. The city's legal eagles have found loopholes to resist total enforcement of the measure and the proponents are not happy about this. In defense of the city, we simply do not have resources to enforce such legislation.
If this second one passes, it will mean you will loose your car even if you forgot your license in your other pants (I'm bad about that one myself). You could get it back but you would still have to pay the towing fees and probably a court fee as well.
I know there has not been much response here to posts, but I am posting this on the Denver board because it is Denver specific as both of these are proposed Denver Ordinance changes.
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