DENVER – Colorado voters will have a tough decision this November over qualified candidates running to become the next attorney general.

Both Democrat Don Quick and Republican Cynthia Coffman have a wealth of experience to represent and defend the people and government of Colorado.

The election will come down to a matter of policy preferences, as the candidates split on a few key issues, including gay marriage.

Quick, a former district attorney for Adams County, is passionate about the gay-marriage subject, suggesting that based on federal court guidance, it’s clear that the state’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.

“To me it is black and white that it’s unconstitutional,” Quick said. “I don’t think you stand up and argue for it.”

Whoever wins the election will replace Republican Attorney General John Suthers, a conservative who has been at odds with gay-rights groups over his support for the state’s ban on gay marriage.

Coffman, a chief deputy attorney for Suthers who has extensive experience in the public law sector, said the duty of the attorney general is simply to defend the laws of the state.

Voters most recently in 2006 amended the state constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Coffman, who is married to U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, pointed out that the U.S. Supreme Court still has not weighed in on whether a state has the right to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

“As hard as it is sometimes when you disagree with a law, or when the people put something in the constitution, if the attorney general doesn’t do his or her job and argue on behalf of a law, then you can never get a change in the judicial system, and that’s what we’re doing now,” Coffman said.

Balancing energy, water policy

Whoever wins the attorney general’s race will certainly have to address environmental law, especially as it pertains to gas, oil and water.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, has assembled a task force to investigate a change in energy laws. The next meeting will be held in Durango on Thursday.

The state sued the city of Longmont for overstepping its authority by enacting rules and regulations more stringent than that of the state.

“You can bring people together because everyone is your client. The Department of Natural Resources is my client,” Quick said. “Locals should have a voice in it, but not a veto.”

Coffman said much of her direction will be shaped by the work of the task force, but she hopes for more certainty.

“The need for continuity is in regard to our economic development in the state,” she said. “Local governments need to represent their people, and I think there probably is some ground to be struck.”

On water issues, both candidates are eagerly awaiting the Colorado Water Plan, a statewide initiative to prepare for long-term water use in Colorado. A final draft of the plan is due to Hickenlooper by December.

“This is one of the most difficult but most important questions, how we’re going to do our best to meet our water supplies,” Quick said, adding that he would default to experts for guidance.

“Right now, everybody is watching and waiting to see what the state water plan will be,” Coffman said. “There’s not much that’s more important than making sure Colorado has its water.”

Focusing on public safety

Both candidates have a laser-like focus on public safety. They would like to move past the controversial gun-control debate to focus on other public safety issues.

Quick served as chief deputy for Ken Salazar when he was attorney general from 1999 to 2005. He also played a key role in creating the Adams County Youth Initiative, which launched in 2005.

“We should try to do our best to work with the community for better public safety, for more consumer protections, and it doesn’t matter whether the consumers are Republicans or Democrats. Fraud is fraud,” Quick said.

Both Quick and Coffman have proposed creating a public corruption prosecution unit within the attorney general’s office.

But Coffman is really focused on overall public safety.

“We have to look deeper,” she said. “I don’t think that what they did in those (gun control) bills is going to reach that. We have to be willing to delve deeper into the issues.”

Not so high on marijuana

Whether the candidates like it or not, another public-safety issue they will have to deal with is marijuana. Both Coffman and Quick are cautiously optimistic about the regulatory rollout.

“We’re getting there,” Coffman said. “It will continue to require some legislative and regulatory work to get it right.”

Quick said, “I didn’t support it because of the impact on the kids. I will support those marijuana prevention programs that have shown to be effective.”

pmarcus@durangoherald.com

Cynthia Coffman

Political affiliation: Republican

Three key issues: Water policy; neutrality and ability to advocate for what the people have said; making the AG’s office more accessible

Occupation: Deputy Attorney General Family: Husband, U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora. No children.

Residence: Denver and Aurora

Favorite U.S. President: Harry Truman

Don Quick

Political affiliation: Democrat

Three key issues: Protecting the most vulnerable; protecting Colorado’s environment and natural resources; ensuring the attorney general’s office is nonpartisan

Occupation: Former prosecutor

Family: Wife, Kerrie; two sons

Residence: Westminster

Favorite U.S. president: Abraham Lincoln