Update, 10/24: Received a third pro-Obama Care email from Bill Ritter (and Mark Udall and Michael Bennet) today, still nothing on education reform …
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has a page set up where you can sign a petition to support the state’s effort to receive federal Race to the Top competitive grant dollars that support education reform. If you sign the petition, you end up on some sort of mailing list for Ritter’s re-election campaign. In the two weeks since I signed the petition I’ve received two mass emails urging me to back Obama Care!
Here’s the complete text of the online petition: (more…)
Last Thursday, in quickly responding to the release of fundraising numbers in Colorado’s state treasurer’s race I wrote:
Stapleton’s GOP primary rival J.J. Ament — who won out over Stapleton in our most recent survey of Colorado’s political temperature — brought in a very respectable $86,000. No cash-on-hand amount was reported, but clearly he is behind both his Republican rival and the incumbent Democrat.
Upon further review, there’s more to the story that could call into question my initial use of “very respectable” to describe Ament’s fundraising numbers. In that $86,000 total, about $9,300 came in the form of in-kind contributions (including about $7,300 contributed directly by the candidate). As a result, Ament was left with a little over $70,000 at the end of the third quarter — about half of incumbent Cary Kennedy’s cash on hand and about a third of Republican rival Walker Stapleton’s fundraising chest. (more…)
As the political stomach turns … My Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter wants to raise taxes (H/T Complete Colorado) on investments to pay for government health care. As if that will do anything but further slow down America’s economic engine and further erode your personal medical freedoms.
Don’t just get angry. Put your support behind one of our good Republican candidates running to oust Perlmutter: Ryan Frazier or Brian Campbell.
If there’s one 2010 race outside Colorado I’m following more closely than any other, it’s the Florida Republican Senate primary — a battle for the soul of the party between left-of-center governor Charlie Crist and conservative state legislative leader Marco Rubio. Despite being a huge underdog, Rubio has shown a lot of momentum. Red State’s Erick Erickson has posted the latest good news — check it out.
All politics is local, right? Mail ballot municipal elections already are underway, so late last week I decided it was finally time to ask the Arvada city council candidates on my ballot what they think of the idea of detailed financial transparency. Below I’ve pasted the message I emailed to the two at-large candidates and the two district candidates and what I learned: (more…)
The legend of gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis’ bizarre absences grow with a no-show at last Saturday’s North Suburban Republican Forum, reports the Colorado Statesman.
Okay, I know the absence itself isn’t really newsworthy. It’s the front-page photo taken by the Statesman‘s Jason Kosena of Republican House District 27 area coordinator Karen Morgan (and mother of my occasional guest-blogger Ryan Morgan) holding the “Where’s Scott?” sign.
She’s not a limelight kind of person, but — along with her husband and children — definitely one of the state’s hardest-working, most dedicated Republican grassroots activists. Just the reason to bring attention to 15 minutes (or so) of Colorado political fame: Way to go, Karen!
It’s Friday morning. I’m busy. No bizarro Balloon Boy coverage here. You’ll have to look somewhere else (H/T Complete Colorado).
As Rocky Mountain Right already has reported, Republican Walker Stapleton for the second straight quarter outraised incumbent Democrat state treasurer Cary Kennedy — narrowly this time, by a margin of $106,000 to $103,000.
Stapleton points out in his press release that he is “the first candidate for Colorado State Treasurer ever to raise more than $100,000 in each of two consecutive fundraising quarters.” Clearly impressive. The Republican hopeful has a roughly 3-to-2 cash-on-hand advantage over Kennedy, too: $215,000 to $141,000.
Stapleton’s GOP primary rival J.J. Ament — who won out over Stapleton in our most recent survey of Colorado’s political temperature — brought in a very respectable $86,000. No cash-on-hand amount was reported, but clearly he is behind both his Republican rival and the incumbent Democrat.
There’s still a long ways to go in this race, but each of the Republican candidates is proving their bona fides and capability to win back the state treasurer’s office into fiscally conservative hands. It will be interesting to see how the race shapes up.
Update II, 2:45 PM: I’ve seen it written that blogs are the first draft of history. First drafts often need revision. I strive to note where I am writing conjecture as opposed to hard fact. But I prefer to be open about the process, because I recognize that I am prone to make mistakes from time to time — particularly when I wander into conjecture.
After talking to several sources following up this announcement, it has become apparent to me there is no deal with the NRCC on the table. It was poorly worded at best. Clearly the Frazier team sized up their prospects and decided it made more sense all around to move to the 7th Congressional race — to increase fundraising opportunities and make for a stronger Republican field across the board in Colorado.
Again, my regrets on the rush to judgment. Hopefully my mistakes become fewer and fewer as I continue practicing this avocation. Thank you for your indulgence.
Update, Noon: More coverage and analysis of the Ryan Frazier campaign switch announcement from People’s Press Collective, Night Twister, and Rocky Mountain Right.
So Ryan Frazier is announcing right now that he will be a candidate for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District rather than for the United States Senate. A stunning surprise? Not by a longshot. An initial disappointment for the activists who have poured out so much on his behalf? Much more true.
There’s not a lot more to be said at this point. The campaign is excited about rolling out a list of big-named endorsements and heavy-hitting funders early next week. Read: The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) offered some sort of a deal. Yet what the NRCC (I believe) has helped guide Frazier is getting into is the daunting chore — albeit certainly not impossible — of taking down Congressman Ed Perlmutter and his $900,000 war chest. Even so, the campaign is talking a good game. (more…)
Update, 10/29: Rumors have spread, including in my own comment section, that candidate Laura Boggs has plans to close down Green Mountain and Wheat Ridge high schools. There is no truth to these rumors, and the candidate herself has debunked them. Furthermore, in today’s Denver Post story about Jeffco Schools considering closures, it reads: “Closing an elementary school building saves about $300,000 a year on fixed costs; closing a middle school saves $800,000 to $1 million; and shutting down a high school — which is not one of the district’s 45 options — saves $3 million a year.” [emphasis added]
Several people this week have asked for my insights on whom to support for school board here in Jefferson County — Colorado’s largest school district based in Denver’s western suburbs. So I decided to post my answer in public for many more to see.
The one candidate I can unequivocally urge you to vote for is Laura Boggs. I have spoken with her by phone on a couple occasions and am confident in her strong credentials in favor of parental choice and district financial accountability and transparency.
On the other hand, JCEA (the local teachers union) is backing Robin Johnson, Sue Marinelli, and Paula Noonan. The union has have plenty of money to spend on behalf of its chosen candidates. All I can afford to do is use this tiny bit of cyberspace to give my personal endorsement to Laura Boggs.
Speculation started flowing fast and furious on Monday about U.S. Senate candidate Ryan Frazier’s “big announcement”. Now we have official word from the campaign when and where that announcement will be made:
Aurora, CO – Ryan Frazier, candidate for U.S. Senate, will provide critical details about the future of his campaign during an announcement to supporters. Frazier, who has been described as an atypical Republican candidate and a rising star in the party, has attracted significant grassroots support. Speculations have surfaced that Frazier may move his race to run for Lt. Governor or for the U.S. House of Representatives in District 7.
WHO: Ryan Frazier, U.S. Senate Candidate
The Honorable Mike May, Colorado House Minority Leader – Opening Remarks
WHAT: Critical campaign announcement to supporters and members of the media
WHEN: Thursday, October 15th, 2009
10:00 am – 10:30 am
WHERE: Brighton Ford
190 W. Bromley Ln.
Brighton, CO 80601
I’m not able to make it myself, but go if you can. If Frazier isn’t announcing a switch to run for the 7th Congressional District, then it could be one of the biggest and most clever misdirections in modern political campaign lore.
A quick walk down Detroit Tigers memory lane: Today is the 3rd anniversary of Magglio Ordonez’ walk-off 3-run homer that won the ALCS and launched the Tigers into the World Series (also the first epic late-inning playoff loss for Huston Street, then of the Oakland A’s).
Which also means it was exactly 25 years ago today that the Detroit Tigers last celebrated World Series triumph, with an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 5 down at the Corner (and my childhood hero Alan Trammell named Series MVP). Sadly, the stadium is gone now. But the memory lives on.
Here’s hoping that Detroit repeats the feat sometime before that anniversary turns golden and my hair turns (completely) gray.
Reason #2,637 why Democrat one-party rule in Washington has proven itself a travesty: sneaking an unconstitutional, politically-correct hate crimes legislation into the military appropriations bill.
Opposition to the hate-crimes bill is by no means a socially conservative preoccupation — it’s common sense and good policy all around. Tim Lynch from the libertarian Cato Institute explains the problems with it.
Republicans may be doing well now at starting to make the case why they would be less of a travesty in Congress, but many of us out here long for something better — and are willing to work and sacrifice to make it happen. I’m talking about a large cadre of truly fiscally responsible reformers, devotees of liberty and limited government, principled leaders to guide a governing majority.
Hey … I can dream, can’t I?
In the world of K-12 education politics, when you are trying to do something right and shake up the status quo a little bit, it’s very hard to avoid flak. And anyone running for local school board deserves careful scrutiny. But when silly rumors start flying and supposedly serious news agencies report them, I suppose it’s time for someone else to step up and take on the challenge. Hey, no problem: I’m used to being called silly names by teachers unions.
In case you’re not aware, I’m talking about the upcoming elections for Douglas County Board of Education, an area south of metro Denver for the uninitiated. The story begins last December when the local teachers union — affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers — endorsed and gave money to four Board candidates (including two incumbents), one in each of the competing districts. (See the document at the bottom for screenshots of campaign finance reports.)
Then the local Republican Party endorsed four other Board candidates (including one incumbent) to challenge them. So why do we act shocked that Republicans representing parents and taxpayers in conservative Douglas County opt to back candidates other than the ones financed by the teachers union?
Maybe because it’s not terribly common to see those bound together by their support for parental choice, charter schools, high academic standards, financial transparency, and accountability — agenda items to which union leaders generally are not favorable — try to get a little organized.
But just exactly why did the highly-respected Ed News Colorado team report the story so breathlessly yesterday? (more…)
Yes, rumors are running rampant about an impending big announcement from Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ryan Frazier.
My guess? Fundraising numbers for the third quarter were less than stellar, and higher-ups in the party finally had the leverage to persuade Frazier to take a stab at the 7th Congressional District instead. Challenging Ed Perlmutter will be a taller task than taking on Michael Bennet in some ways, but Frazier must have garnered some concessions to take on the two-term incumbent Democrat.
At least that theory comports with the rumblings I’m hearing. We should know more soon.
