U.S. Senate: Mark Udall
Colorado’ senior United States senator, Democrat Mark Udall, brings a centrist voice well-suited to a purple state. Far better than his challenger, U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, he represents Colorado as a whole.
Gardner remains a sponsor of the federal Life Begins at Conception Act, “personhood” legislation – similar to Amendment 67 – which would give 14th Amendment rights to each “preborn human person” and, in the process, ban all abortions and some forms of birth control. His insistence that “there is no federal personhood bill” earned him FactCheck.org’s “Whopper of the Week” award. Either his position on women’s rights is far out of the Colorado mainstream or the congressman will say anything for a vote. What Colorado needs, and historically has produced, is consistent, middle-of-the-road representation from people unafraid of reaching across the aisle when common ground can be found.
Vote for Mark Udall.
Attorney general: Don Quick
In Cynthia Coffman and Don Quick, the voters of Colorado face a difficult, but happy decision. Both are experienced, qualified, remarkably intelligent and highly personable. This state would be well-served with either as attorney general. The choice then comes down to policy and philosophy, and with that, Quick has the edge. His vision for the office is the more active and engaged. Attorney general is a powerful position and more expansively using that influence on behalf of the people of Colorado is a worthy aspiration.
Not that Coffman is a slouch. Like Quick, she is a defender of classroom safety and supports the existing Safe2Tell program that encourages children to report threats, bullying or incidents of violence. She also correctly backs the protection of homeowners against mortgage abuses and the aggressive prosecution of cyber crimes. Still, Quick has better priorities. He lists four areas to target: safe communities and schools, protecting natural resources, fighting corruption and promoting equality and civil rights.That thinking deserves to be tried.
Vote for Don Quick for attorney general.
Colorado Board of Education: Henry Roman
The race between Republican incumbent Marcia Neal and her Democratic challenger Henry Roman is a contest between two longtime educators for a seat on the Colorado Board of Education. Roman is the better choice.
Roman, from Pueblo, has spent 45 years in education as a teacher, principal, superintendent and consultant. He would engage the board more closely with the Legislature while bills are still being crafted.
He also wants a greater emphasis on early-childhood education, especially for children from lower socioeconomic levels.
Marcia Neal, from Grand Junction, is running for her second term and appears eminently qualified. Unfortunately, she seems to see the main issue as a contest between federal and local control and has unnecessarily politicized Common Core.
Roman’s focus is better. Vote for Henry Roman for the Colorado Board of Education.
Secretary of state: Walker Stapleton
The office of Colorado state treasurer is best known for its involvement with the state’s Public Employee Retirement Association and as a stepping stone to higher office. To Walker Stapleton’s credit, he has (so far at least) focused on the former. He deserves to be re-elected.
Stapleton, a Republican, is opposed by Democrat Betsy Markey, a smart, educated woman with top-notch experience in both business and government who would doubtless be a good treasurer. Her problem is she cannot point to what is wrong with the one we have.
Stapleton has overseen positive gains in Colorado’s investment portfolio every quarter he has served. He saved money by consolidating the state’s debt, advocated a fiscally conservative approach to managing PERA and pushed for greater transparency.
Vote for Walker Stapleton.
