Denver Pols - Recent Comments

To Vandie, the conspiracy theorist nut (and anyone else who cares)

FLSooz — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:54:29 GMT

I know Corrie very well and can tell you that she is most definitely against vouchers. She does support some education reforms and as the parent of a child who was failed by the traditional DPS school in our neighborhood, I support anything that makes our education system better. And believe me,while DPS is getting better, they fail a lot of kids every day. But this election is not about ed reform vs. traditional schools. Your whole rant makes me believe that you are one of Andrea Mereida fans. This is not a school board race, so don't turn it into one.
There is absolutely no connection between Fran and Corrie beyond the fact that they barely know one another. Fran is in no way involved in Corrie's campaign.
A group of activists tried two years ago to find someone to primary Jeanne, we have now found a candidate who will and can. We can't take anymore of Jeanne, even if she is up for her last term.
Some of the things about Jeanne that bother us:
1. She has not offered a substantive legislative agenda her entire time at the Capitol. She recently passed out a list of her legislative accomplishments achieved during her tenure. Not one of the bills she listed was she a prime sponsor. All of them were bills she signed on to co-sponsor, which basically means she just voted for them. She had no hand in their development, or did any of the work required to get a bill passed other than just pushing a button.
2. While she will generally vote in support of democratic values (such as environment, labor, civil rights, ect...) she has consistently voted against some things that I at least support. Most notably, she has consistently voted against payday lending reform. She has not been supportive of in-state tuition In the past although she is not on the record for it because it has not made it the House floor yet. Several years ago, the Denver Democrats printed a door hanger for their gotv effort supporting Democratic candidates. It was in English and Spanish. When Jeanne realized her name would be on a document with Spanish, she got very upset and insisted her name be removed.
3. A few of the offensive things Jeanne has said, please understand these aren't exact quotes but they contain the overall intent.
A. The reason kids at Lincoln don't do very well is because they don't speak English.
B. We should let those people go. (this was a reference to cancer patients and a bill that would allow some drug regimines to be reclassified as chemotherapy for insurance purposes)
3. If she were so well respected by her colleagues at the Capitol, why have none come out in support of her in her hour of need? Makes you wonder.

As far as hiding behind my mysterious handle, I'll bet you anything Andrea can figure out who I am, so you should just ask her. I'll tell you my name when you tell me yours on this blog. In fact, I will not respond to any more ridiculous and wild accusations against Corrie. When you give your name and write a factual response, I will respond.

Echoing vandie's response...

Aristotle — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:54:03 GMT

I'd like to know more about you. But I'd also like to know more about Labuda, since she is my representative - maybe a quick few points, please, because I'm not likely to make it to your meeting.

Take care of your business?

vandie — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:41:11 GMT

Then field a candidate that isn't pro-voucher. Do you deny that she is pro-voucher?

No one is interfering, but her votes could interfere with a lot of different things.

You are right about Labuda. There are fewer legislators with as much cotton between the ears, but how many terms is she on? Her third? Why did you put up with it so long while her votes hurt so many working families?

And who are you? Why the anonymous handle if the precinct hostile takeover was completely your idea, as you put it?

And what's the connection with that other prime lobbyist, Fran Coleman? Why doesn't Coleman just run on her own instead of trying to find a puppet?

House District 1 Primary

FLSooz — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:29:09 GMT

Vandie's response is highly inaccurate and a deeply personal attack. As a contistuent and active Democrat in HD 1, I would like to respond to the points of this inflammatory letter.
1. Corrie was the Co-captain of 1A, never the Captain. She was encouraged to run for the spot by the leadership in the district at the time.
2. As the former Captain in HD1A, the redivision of precincts last year was completely my idea and the reasons are known to those involved and had nothing to do with race.
3. Corrie was asked to be involved with the education policy committee by the Captain At Large for Public Policy with in the Denver Democratic Party. While there have been disagreements with education policy, she has worked very hard to make sure that all voices are heard.
The rest of your comments are just plain mean spirited and do not deserve to be answered.
Corrie was encouraged to run against Jeanne Labuda because the activists in HD1 are deeply unhappy with Jeanne and believe that Corrie is smart, hardworking and willing to listen to our concerns.
We believe that because Jeanne ran such a bad campaign in the last election that HMP's diversion of resources to her cost the Dems the majority in the State House.
We do not feel listened to. We have been outraged by insensitive comments she frequently makes. She does not support issues we believe in. I could go on and on about our unhappiness with current representation but the bottom line is, we deserve better. And we see in Corrie a candidate that will work hard to win our respect and this election.
If you live in House District 1, I invite you to our next meeting and listen to us. We meet the second Saturday of every month from 9am - 11am, Sooper Credit Union, 5590 W. Evans.
If you don't live in House District 1, please let us take care of our own business.

Houck is a climber

vandie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:39:18 GMT

She's been navigating her way through the political scene, first by getting herself voted in as the captain of HD1A, then trying a hostile takeover of the precincts in HD1B and nearly igniting a race war in the process.

Then, when her coup was soundly defeated by the Denver Dems central committee, she decided to step down as captain. That's stick-to-it-iveness for you.

She wiggled her way onto the Denver Dems education policy committee, where she showed no knowledge whatsoever about what actually happens in DPS beyond a few corporate reform talking points. While there, she tried to commandeer the Denver county platform and wrest it away from the people-led process by trying to change the plank on education. She did everything she could to force vouchers onto it.

She worked as an admin person for Gully Stanford over at College in Colorado. Now she works at DPS, doing some "marketing coordinator" flunky job at North High.

This is not a person with any significant policy expertise. She's not an "education activist." She's an education opportunist.

Parroting back exactly what corporate reformers say just to climb the ladder is really no better than being a paid, elected lobbyist for Stand for Children as Labuda is. Unless someone else jumps in, HD1 is screwed.

Maybe it's time for Jeanne Faatz to come back in. At least she's ethical.

You sound like you're in the tank for Houck.

Aristotle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:41:13 GMT

Houck is an "education reform" activist

Aristotle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:39:39 GMT

So this is going to be yet another battle over DPS. If you have chosen sides in this war, vote accordingly.

Labuda is nuts

juliea — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:31:19 GMT

I don't know who his Houck person is, but she has to be better than Labuda. Labuda is nuts.

Follow the Money

non-sequitur — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:01:29 GMT

It goes without saying that the key to winning this race is is who can mobilze the community. To this end, the financials are telling.

Looking over financials, Labuda has raised nearly every dollar either from a special interest PAC (three of which--firefighters, police, and hospitals--are the very subjects of her current legislation), or a special interest lobbyist. It is telling to me that Labuda cannot raise money from constituents in her own district, nor does it appear that she cares to as long as the PAC money keeps flowing in.

It appears Houck on the other hand, has raised all of her funds from community donors at $20 intervals; granted, $20 at a time will not generate a large campaign coffer, but this race may not be about how much each candidate raises, but where the support comes from.

Labuda has raised nearly every dollar from PACs or special interest lobbyists. It appears the only other source of Labuda's support comes from people with the last name "Labuda." There is no getting around the fact that Houck's financials, on the other hand, are telling that the HD1 community is supporting a coup d'etat against Labuda.

It is not that lobbyist money or PAC money in of itself is bad. However, from what I understand Houck was encouraged to run by her peers in the District because among other reasons, again and again Labuda accepts money from PACs and lobbyists to run their special interest legislation, while ignoring her own constituents' concerns and needs.

If this trend follows its logical conclusion, the community is clearly supporting Houck for HD1, and there will be a new, fresh face under the Dome next session.

He has an email address

Elijah Rock — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:15:33 GMT

According to the Democratic Party of Denver web-site McMullen hosted a campaign kick-off party last week on Fri, Jan. 27. See: http://www.denverdems.org/cont...

Really?

truth303 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:34:16 GMT

1.) Our district (HD 9) is heavily Democratic. A yellow dog beats a Republican in the general election.

2.) Rosenthal has knocked on my door. I have heard nothing from McMullen.

3.) Upon further review on the SOS website, McMullen is a joke. He has only raised $1,400.

4.) As of today, McMullen doesn't even have a functioning website.

5.) I have heard great things about McMullen during his tenure on the RTD board, and he seems like a nice guy, but it hasn't transferred over to winning an election.

HD9 RACE

denverdem56 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:56:20 GMT

This will be a hotly contested race, but Bill McMullen has the election experience to win a general election.