I'm at the Colorado Republican Rumble this after at Grizzly Rose where *most* candidates for statewide and CD8 will debate. I'm dealing with some phone difficulties, but will do my best to give a play-by-play. #copolitics
The first race is Secretary of State. Tina Peters vs. Mike O'Donnell. (Pam Anderson RSVP'd to be here, but is attending her daughter's college graduation at out state).
Moderators for this one are George Brauchler and Kelly Maher. #copolitics
Question to Tina Peters and Mike O'Donnell. Name one thing current Secretary of State Jena Griswold has done well.
Brauchler, as moderator, takes a jab at SoS Jena Griswold by asking both Peters and O'Donnell if either will let Planned Parenthood edit a news release.
Peters: No, except for military and overseas voters and those who are disabled.
O'Donnell: It's a legislative question, he'll stick with it unless it's changed, though wouldn't necessarily advocate to change it. #copolitics
Both Peters & O'Donnell would push to get rid of automatic voter registration.
Colorado has a motor voter law, where you're automatically registered when you get/renew your driver's license.
You're registered as unaffiliated, unless you actively make a party choice. #copolitics
That's it for the GOP Secretary of State debate between Tina Peters and Mike O'Donnnell. Again, Pam Anderson was at her daughter's out-of-state college graduation. #copolitics
There are more than “dozens of us” in the crowd. Here are pictures from around the Grizzly Rose Colorado Republican Rumble. #copolitics
GOP debate for CD8.
Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann, former Army Forces Green Beret Tyler Allcorn and State Senator Barb Kirkmeyer.
*Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine did not RSVP. She tried to walk up to stage, but MC Steve Reams (Weld Co. Sheriff) stopped that.
Brauchler again asks who won the 2020 Presidential Election?
Kulmann: "Unfortunately, Joe Biden won."
Allcorn: "Whether you like it or not, Joe Biden is currently sitting in the Oval Office...because he was elected."
Kirkmeyer: "Joe Biden won the election."
First Q from Kelly Maher, what abortion restrictions do you want in place/how would you do that?
Ganahl: Wants to roll back new state law. Will look at legislation put on her desk.
Lopez: Would repeal the law (he can't without legislature passing a bill or voters) #copolitics
Ganahl says she is pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and health of mother.
When asked what they want in a Lieutenant Governor running mate, Greg Lopez said he wants someone who believes in his values and believes in his Lord and Savior.
Apparently, that means people are automatically excluded based on their religious beliefs.
Greg Lopez: "Don't you dare ever trust anyone in government, and that includes me." #copolitics
Q: What would you tell a voter one-on-one about you.
Ganahl gives her biography of starting Camp Bow Wow, going through brain surgery and ends with "I want to raise my hand and be the change I want to see in politics and leadership." #copolitics
Q from Kelly Maher: How would you, GOP Gov, work with a Democratic legislature?
Lopez: Sit down with legislature, tell them I think they're going down the wrong path. Will go to their communities and share with them what is actually happening underneath the dome. #copolitics
Q from Kelly Maher: How would you, GOP Gov, work with a Democratic legislature?
Ganahl: Starts with bio again, then says it's important to get to know people and bring people together.
Ron Hanks introduces himself and starts by saying Donald Trump won the 2020 election. #copolitics
Joe O'Dea says that Hanks is a one-issue candidate who just wants to blow up voting machines. #copolitics
First Q about abortion.
O'Dea: No "late term" abortion. No state funding. Believes decision should be up to a woman/doctor "early on in pregnancy in cases of rape, incest or medical reasons."
Hanks: Roe v. Wade ought to be overturned. No abortions, no exceptions.
Q from Brauchler to O'Dea: Republicans have not sent a GOP Senator to DC with no government experience in almost 70 years. Why are you starting at the penthouse?
A: O'Dea - It's broken. It's not working. It's time for business people to be out there.
Q from Hanks to O'Dea: Long-winded, but it's about his position on abortion and Catholism.
O'Dea: "My Catholic faith is my Catholic faith. And I choose to be Catholic, the way I'm going to be Catholic. I'm personally pro-life, but I also know we need balance." #copolitics
Q from O'Dea to Hanks about missing committee votes at #coleg: "If you worked for me, I'd fire your ass."
Hanks says he missed 7 days.
2-car broken into, medical, constituent/travel
1-"gut ache or whatever."
Says many of the votes were decided before cmte hearing. #copolitics
Q to both: Would you vote to legalize recreational marijuana?
O'Dea: Not federally.
Hanks: States rights issue.
Q: Would you repeal federal ban?
Hanks: No, more important issues.
O'Dea: No, but need to work on banks issue.
Mesa County DA Dan Rubenstein is giving a briefing to County Commissioners about his criminal investigation into the claims by GOP Clerk Tina Peters that she discovered criminal acts in her review of the county's voting server. I'll do my best to thread the details. #copolitics
This criminal investigation being briefed is whether or not the DA found proof to support Peters claims of criminal election acts.
This is different from the criminal investigation that has led to felony charges for Peters for tampering with the election equipment. #copolitics
NEW: Let me cut to the chase.
"No finding of probable cause that a crime was committed by any person."
You see the name Sandra Brown referenced. She is a fired Elections Division manager who is accused of helping with the election equipment security breach. #copolitics
At DIA for the ribbon cutting of Phase 1 of the “on time and millions under budget” Great Hall Project.
Yes, the same Great Hall Project that was originally supposed to be completed by the end of this year. It’s on time and under budget because the timeline and budget changed.
The Great Hall Project started in 2018. Yes, that’s Magic Johnson. He was involved in the funding. The project was supposed to cost $770M, be complete by end of 2021 and the key piece was to move security from Level 5 to Level 6. There isn’t enough project money for that.
TL/DR, DIA fired the construction partners and paid almost $200M in the divorce. The airport has a new design and budget, hence “on time and millions under budget.”
Here is the release from @COSecofState, which says the security of Mesa County’s voting systems cannot be verified. Video surveillance was turned off before May 25 and not turned on again until August. Mesa County is banned from using 41 pieces of voting equipment. #copolitics
Per Colorado politics standard, the 11a news conference is running late. We will hear from:
-Secretary of State Jena Griswold
-Deputy SoS Chris Beall
-Elections Director Judd Choate
-Colorado County Clerks Association Director Matt Crane #copolitics
I’ve been at the Denver City Council committee considering whether or not to advance a proposal to change Denver’s 2 at-large council seats into district-bounded seats for 13 total district-bounded seats.
The idea is proposed by @CandiCdeBacaD9@LuckyDistrict7@kflynncolo and has multiple reasons, among them: shrink the size of citizens represented by one councilperson and prevent discrimination (2 of 15 at-large have been persons of color)
Both Denver at-large seats are up and term-limited. @KniechAtLarge and @OrtegaAtLarge represent all of Denver in those at-large seats through mid-2023.
BREAKING: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and First Gentleman Marlon Reis test positive for COVID-19. #9NEWS#copolitics
Gov. Jared Polis and First Gentleman Marlon Reis are asymptomatic, according to Gov's office news release. They will isolate at home. #9NEWS#copolitics
Gov. Jared Polis announced he began quarantine on Wednesday night after being exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Polis tested negative on Wednesday night. #9NEWS#copolitics
NEW VIDEO: When @MayorHancock went to DIA yesterday to fly out for Thanksgiving, he wasn't hiding out. Security video shows him sitting in Concourse C for 16 minutes before boarding his flight. He was also sitting at 8:43a, when his account tweeted to "Avoid travel, if you can."
NEW SATURDAY: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock returned home from his Thanksgiving trip last night. The top question we've heard since Wednesday is summed up this way: "Will you resign?"
"I don't want to be hypocritical, but I made the unwise, hypocritical decision to go, and that's why we are here today." -@MayorHancock on his Thanksgiving travel out-of-state.