Traffic Jam Ahead
Ballots Are Loaded For The Nov. 6 Election. Colorado Voters Should Proceed With Care.
By Cara DeGette
Editor, GPHN
For the first time in eight years, Colorado’s governor will not be a resident of Park Hill. With Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper term limited from running again, Democrat Jared Polis and Republican Walker Stapleton, along with Libertarian Scott Helker and Unity Party candidate Bill Hammons, are vying to become the state’s 43rd governor.
While much of the focus has been on the gubernatorial race – with Polis and Stapleton as the main contenders – there are plenty of other candidates on the statewide ballot, including those running for Colorado Attorney General, Secretary of State and State Treasurer.
There are no contested state legislative races happening this year in Park Hill. However, the race for Regional Transportation District board District B has heated up, with Shontel Lewis, Chris Martinez and JoyAnn Ruscha vying to represent Park Hill and northeast Denver setting policy for public transit.
A whopping 13 initiatives and amendments to the constitution are on the Colorado ballot this year – that’s more than any other in the country. And, Denver voters will weigh in on several additional issues, including a Parks and Recreation tax and a proposal to raise money to bolster mental health services.
The following is a brief rundown of Colorado’s ballot proposals. For full text, and official arguments for and against each measure, check out the Blue Book, which is mailed to every voter in Colorado (Note: You can tell it is the Blue Book when it arrives in the mail because it is colored blue). The Blue Book is also available online at leg.colorado.gov/content/initiatives/initiatives-blue-book-overview/ballot-information-booklet-blue-book. It includes an analysis of the fiscal impact, if any, on taxpayers.
In brief, here are the amendments and initiatives that Colorado voters will decide on this year.
Amendment V: Would lower the age requirement for members of the Colorado State Legislature from age 25 to 21.
Amendment W: Election Ballot Format for Judicial Retention Elections – This would change the ballot format for judicial retention elections to remove the requirement that a retention question be asked for each justice and judge.
Amendment X: Industrial hemp definition – This would remove the definition of “industrial hemp” from the Colorado Constitution and instead require that industrial hemp have the same definition as in federal law.
Amendment Y: Congressional redistricting – This would create an Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission that would consist of an equal number of members from each of the state’s two largest political parties and unaffiliated voters, to amend and approve congressional district maps drawn by nonpartisan legislative staff, establishing a new process for congressional redistricting.
Amendment Z: Legislative redistricting – This would replace the Colorado Reapportionment Commission with the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission, consisting of an equal number of members from each of the state’s two largest political parties and unaffiliated voters, to amend and approve state legislative district maps drawn by nonpartisan legislative staff;
Amendment A: Prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances – This would remove all language from the Colorado Constitution that currently allows slavery and involuntary servitude to be used as punishment for the conviction of a crime.
Amendment 73: Funding for public schools – This would increase funding for preschool through twelfth grade (P-12) public education by raising the individual income tax rate for taxpayers with taxable income over $150,000.
Amendment 74: Compensation for reduction in fair market value by government law or regulation – This would require the state or a local government to compensate a property owner if a law or regulation reduces the fair market value of his or her property.
Amendment 75: Campaign contributions – This would increase campaign contribution limits when a candidate loans or contributes more than $1 million to his or her own campaign. It would allow all candidates in the same election to collect five times the level of individual contributions currently allowed in the state constitution.
Proposition 109: Authorizing bonds for highway projects – This would require the state to borrow up to $3.5 billion in 2019 to fund up to 66 specific highway projects
Proposition 110: This transportation funding measure would raise sales tax and bond rates for transportation projects, of which 45 percent would be for state projects, 40 percent would go to local governments and 15 percent would be for multimodal transportation projects.
Proposition 111: This measure would reduce the total cost for a payday loan to a 36 percent annual percentage rate; and expand what constitutes unfair or deceptive trade practices for payday lending.
Proposition 112: This would require that new oil and natural gas development be located at least 2,500 feet from occupied structures, water sources, and areas designated as vulnerable.
Note: All proposed amendments to the Colorado Constitution must receive at least 55 percent of the vote to pass. The propositions need only a simple 50 plus 1 majority to pass.
Handy Resources For Voters
The following are a few resources about upcoming voter forums, how to vote, and where to go to learn more about who is running.
• Ballots will be mailed the week of Oct. 15. Polling centers are open beginning Oct. 22.
• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Voter service and polling centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All ballots must be returned, in the hands of the election officials, by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
• Ballots are mailed to every active voter in Colorado – Update and verify your address at DenverVotes2016. While you are there, sign up for Ballot Trace to track your ballot like a package, from printing to acceptance for counting.
Remember: The sooner you return your completed ballot, the sooner you will stop being called by political canvassers asking you who you’re voting for!
Savvy Voters Make a Difference
The League of Women Voters of Denver is sponsoring a forum on Oct. 15 designed to help people understand the complexities of the 13 issues on the statewide ballot, as well as the issues that are on the Denver-only ballot. The forum is at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St. and is free and open to all. The event will begin with light refreshments at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation will begin at 6 p.m.
Candidate Websites
Governor
Bill Hammons (Unity): billisrunning.com
Scott Helker (L): lpcolorado.org
Jared Polis (D): polisforcolorado.com
Walker Stapleton (R): stapletonforcolorado.com
Colorado Attorney General
George Brauchler (R): george2018.com
William F. Robinson III (L): www.lpcolorado.org
Phil Weiser (D): philforcolorado.com
Colorado State Treasurer
Brian Watson (R): brianwatson.vote
Dave Young (D): daveyoungforcolorado.com
Secretary of State
Jena Griswold (D): jenaforcolorado.com
Wayne Williams (R): winwithwayne.org
RTD District B
Shontel Lewis: shontelforrtd.com
Chris Martinez: electchrismartinez.com
JoyAnn Ruscha: joyannforrtd.com
Denver Ballot Is Loaded - Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC), est. 1961
October 2, 2018 @ 11:08 pm
[…] In addition to the statewide ballot questions, Denver voters will be asked in November to increase the sales tax for four different programs, including for parks, a college scholarships program, for mental health services and a program to promote healthy eating. […]