Amending Colorado’s Constitution

by Shiloh Tillemann-Dick

COLORADO – Register to vote by October 6. If you want one, ask for a mail-in ballot by October 28. Or go to the polls on November 4. Hopefully, somewhere between registering to vote and voting, you will pull up a chair and start reading. This year’s ballot, in addition to presidential options, is full of amendments to Colorado’s constitution. As a helpful guide for our readers, we have put together this short cheat sheet about the amendments. In addition to this guide, readers should go to  http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/bluebook/2008EnglishVersionforInternet.pdf to download a copy of the Blue Book to read the exact language of the ballot as well as short arguments for and against these proposed amendments. Read more

How to: Mail in ballot from Senator Ken Gordon

You Can Vote Naked! (but not on Election Day)

Governor Ritter and Metro Denver County Clerks and Commissioners this week urged people to vote early or by mail. They did this because the expected high turnout coupled with the long ballot may lead to long lines on election day. Since we all feel that voting is important and since most people don’t like waiting in long lines, voters can avoid this by either requesting a mailed ballot by clicking here, or by voting early at an early voting location. Click here for information about how to vote early in your county. I commend Governor Ritter and the local government officials. I support their efforts to encourage people to vote early.

There is, as always, another side.

Top Ten Reasons to Wait Until Election Day to Vote

10. Maybe I’ll run into that nice guy Dan, who I stood next to for three hours when I tried to vote in 2006.
9. My babysitter said she needs more hours or she is going to quit.

8. I like to experience different kinds of weather, such as, snow and sleet while waiting in line. It reminds me of Valley Forge.

7. I like to be at the mercy of electronic technology glitches. It makes me feel like I am in Las Vegas.

6. I can be on television when the camera crew comes by to show how long the lines still are for the 10:00 PM news.

5. This campaign season hasn’t been long enough, so anything to make it last.

4. Standing in line gives me an opportunity to count the number of bricks on the south side of the fire station.

3. If I multiply the number by four, I have a pretty good idea how many bricks are on all four sides, and I only needed to count one side.

2. If the computers go down and the line stops moving, maybe a volunteer will buy me pizza.

1. If I have to wait for hours to vote, maybe I could be the last person in the nation to vote and cast the deciding ballot.

The above is, of course, humor and if you feel that voting at a polling place on election day is the only way to really have the experience, please do that. If, however, you are able and willing to vote early, it may save you some time. Voting by mail can allow you to sit at your dining room table with the Blue Book and any other materials you may want to use, and you will reduce the lines for other people that choose to vote on election day.

Here is a link to the Blue Book (the state’s summary of state-wide ballot issues) that is available on line now and will be delivered to your home soon.

Hope you are well. Please feel free to forward this email to others or republish it in full or in part. As always do not hesitate to write back with comments or questions.

Sincerely,

Ken Gordon
Colorado Senate
Majority Leader

Senator Ken Gordon, District 35-Denver

Political Clarification

On Obama, McCain, and Palin from an email:

I’m a little confused.

Let me see if I have this straight… (I hope I’m not offending
anyone)

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re ‘exotic,
different.’

Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, you’re a quintessential
American story.

If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

But if you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you’re well
grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the
first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter
registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as
a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator
representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the
state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the
United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while
sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and
Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real
leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city
council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with fewer than 7,000 people,
20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then
you’re qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking
executive (and according to the actuarial tables, you have a greater
than 30% chance of succeeding the president during your first term).

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2
beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real
Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your
disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a
Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the
proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no
other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your
un-wed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a
prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city
community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values
don’t represent America’s.

If your husband is nicknamed ‘First Dude’, with at least one DWI
conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until
age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of
Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now! Whew!!! Boy…I was worried there for a minute.

Teachers deserve solid pensions for public work

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) and Denver Public Schools (DPS) are currently negotiating salaries. DPS claims the raises they propose are the best in history offering up to $7,500 raises, on average, through the use of ProComp. DCTA members allege the raises come out of the future earning of experienced teachers. Regardless of which side is correct in this debate, teachers are the lowest paid professional class of workers as a simple analysis of other professions requiring at least an Associates or Bachelors degree proves. Every other profession rewards workers financially as they progress in knowledge and ability to produce. Most industries promote and provide increased wages based on demonstrated skills. Read more

DPS Board approves Envision Charter School

by Elisa Cohen

First published in the North Denver Tribune

NORTH DENVER – In a effort to bring innovation to Denver Public Schools, the district put out a call for alternative schools to add to the educational mix available to Denver students. On June 26, the DPS School Board voted to approve two such schools with a stated desire to serve students in Northwest and Northeast Denver.  Although by the time the plan reached the vote, the charter application had eliminated the location as part of its application, several board members spoke of the need for such a middle school to serve students in Northwest and Near-Northeast Denver. The Envision Schools Colorado will be 6th-12th grade. This board approval means the new 6th-12th grade school will be up and running by 2009 with 6th and 7th grade students. The school will add grades each year until the school reaches its 705 enrollment goal. Read more

DATA wins a two year reprieve

by Elisa Cohen | First Published in the North Denver Tribune |

WEST HIGHLANDS – Denver Arts and Technology Academy, a charter school located at 38th and Tennyson Street fought the recent school board decision to shut it down due to the board’s view that the school did not achieve at a sufficient level. By entering into negotiations with the school board, DATA agreed to oversight to ensure the reforms they have set in motion will translate into higher achievement. Read more

Tennyson Artwalk celebrates 10 years of open houses

by Elisa Cohen |

First Published in the North Denver Tribune |

BERKELEY – 10 years ago, a trio of business owners on Tennyson Street decided to open their galleries and host a strolling party from one opening to another. Lapis Gallery, Leaping Lizard, and now gone Heart Studio sent their press release to the North Denver Tribune inviting the community to enjoy the art, the street and their neighbors in this open air celebration of culture in North Denver. During the past 119 monthly parties on Tennyson Street, flame twirling dancers, Scottish bag pipers, Democratic politicians, and Art Bus revellers have joined North Denver families in this monthly first Friday event. On April 4, the galleries open their doors for the 120th time to showcase the art and welcome the community. Read more