A little heralded decision by the Colorado Court of Appeals could cause headaches for politically active organizations involved in Colorado’s 2020 elections. In an unpublished opinion, the court of appeals affirmed that Colorado Pioneer Action – a nonprofit organization run by former congressman and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez – qualified as a “political committee” […]
elections
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns, Politics and Government
Carman: C’mon Denver voters, put down your leaf-blowers and finally imagine a great city
The election is over, and it’s abundantly clear that Denver voters are clueless. Traffic is their No. 1 problem, they say. Oh, how they hate to spend their mornings in traffic jams when they could be at the gym or sipping cold brew on the patio at Stella’s. And homelessness is so filthy, so disgusting. […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Jamie Giellis didn’t just lose the Denver mayoral race, Hancock’s team won it
Campaigns matter. More specifically, competent professional campaigns matter. The runoff election for Denver mayor put an exclamation point on that adage. The shortcomings of the Jamie Giellis campaign and her many unforced errors earned plenty of attention from mainstream and social media alike. But in hindsight, the quietly effective campaign for Michael Hancock made several […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns, Politics and Government
Nicolais: Giellis campaign for Denver mayor goes from incompetent to shameful
On Tuesday night, for the first time since I worked as a senior research analyst on a presidential campaign, I watched a political debate with a pad of paper and a pen. It turned out I couldn’t scribble fast enough to capture some of the most jaw-dropping moments during the Denver mayoral debate. In particular, […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Krieger: Time for a change at Denver City Hall, Part 2
A political activist in my Denver neighborhood was walking her dogs the other day and stopped to chat. “Who do you like in the runoff for mayor?” I asked. “I don’t know,” she grimaced. “Maybe I won’t vote for either of them.” I was feeling the same way at the time. My candidate, Penfield Tate, […]
Posted inNews, Opinion, Opinion Columns, Politics and Government
Wist: I disagree with Tom Sullivan on policy, but the effort to recall him is wrong
Why are people so cynical about politics? Every day, more and more of our citizens opt out of political parties to join the unaffiliated ranks. Who can blame them? Too many in politics are in it for their own personal gain, not any actual desire to affect policy or make life better for our communities […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Did Colorado Democrats overreach, or were they right on target?
After a legislative session that delivered full-day kindergarten, lower costs for early childhood education, new steps toward paid leave and retirement security and stronger consumer protections, there’s a campaign trying to tell you these priorities are somehow alien ambitions for our state — that these community achievements are a far cry from what Coloradans want […]
Posted inGrowth, Opinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: For voters in local Colorado elections, it’s the growth, stupid!
Last week’s somewhat stunning election results for mayor of Denver highlight that Colorado’s explosive population growth is consuming local election campaigns and outcomes. All three high-profile competitors against current Mayor Michael Hancock — Jamie Giellis, Penfield Tate and Lisa Calderon — focused on the negative impacts of growth on the city of Denver and the […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Krieger: It’s time for a change at Denver City Hall
Which candidate for Denver mayor said this? Lisa Calderón? Jamie Giellis? Penfield Tate III? Actually, no. It was Federico Peña. Thirty-seven years ago. Times have changed, but that observation from Denver’s 41st mayor — nearly a year before he was elected — is resonating again as we approach another mayoral election on Tuesday. Rapid, unrelenting […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, Growth, Politics and Government
Colorado’s oil and gas battlefield (and campaign cash) is shifting to local elections
Gov. Jared Polis suggested Colorado’s “oil and gas wars … are over” when he signed sweeping new industry regulations into law this month. But really, the battlefield just shifted. The new law empowers counties and municipalities to exert more authority over oil and gas development, reversing the prior approach that gave the state preemptive control […]