Fifteen Years Ago this week in The Colorado Statesman … Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, Democratic National Convention delegates and a bevy of volunteers were planning on wearing “Denver 2004” T-shirts to the DNC in Los Angeles, part of an effort to win the coveted national convention for the Mile High City four years hence. After being named a runner-up for the 2000 DNC, Webb and other convention backers believed Denver had a good shot at winning host city status the next time around. “My goal is to make Denver visible during the Los Angeles convention and remind folks of our strengths — not only in terms of our capacity to host this event but also as a model American city that has benefited from a strong economy and progressive Democratic polices,” said Webb, a vice chair of the 2000 convention. Since the bid for the 2000 convention, when Dem bigwigs were treated to a whirlwind tour of Denver’s attractions, voters had approved doubling the size of the Colorado Convention Center, including an adjacent hotel, the Pepsi Center had been up and running for nearly a year, and the new Mile High Stadium was set to open before long. “As a region, the Rocky Mountain West has led the nation in job growth, population growth and personal income gains,” said Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Tim Knaus. “This economic and demographic trend is leading to a powerful political influence with gains predicted to be made in both Electoral College votes and western congressional representation.” …

… Freshman U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo and the Democratic candidate hoping to unseat him in the 6th Congressional District, Ken Toltz, had only recently signed a “Code of Civility” put forth by the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, agreeing to keep their campaigns on the up-and-up, but already the Republican incumbent was crying foul and calling on his challenger to live up to the document. The agreement read, in part, that a candidate “will not condone third-party advertising that does not uphold the principles contained in this code, and will publicly denounce, in a timely fashion, such efforts instituted without my knowledge.” Toltz, Tancredo said, “can illustrate his courage by denouncing the negative, false and misleading radio advertisements of one of his supporters, the Sierra Club.” Tancredo was referring to $50,000 in radio advertising paid for by the Sierra Club — which had also contributed $1,000 to Toltz — that Tancredo said falsely claimed he supports higher levels of arsenic in water. The Sierra Club ads pointed to a vote Tancredo cast on an Appropriations bill that included a provision prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency from strengthening drinking water standards for arsenic. “Rep. Tancredo defied public opinion and common sense by voting against reducing the arsenic in our drinking water,” said a local Sierra Club spokeswoman. But the Tancredo campaign countered that the allegations had been called “misleading” by the American Water Works Association, and therefore were subject to the Code of Civility’s clause. Noting that unions had also painted a target on his back and that he expected a thoroughly “nasty and negative” campaign ahead, Tancredo said, “If my opponent has the courage to sign this, he will send the Sierra Club and the unions a loud message that in Colorado, we like our politics above board and on the issues.”

Fifty-five Years Ago this week in The Colorado Statesman … Officers of the Colorado Young Democrats were planning to make a case to bring the 1964 Democratic National Convention to Denver when they met with other Young Democrats at the DNC in Los Angeles in the next week. Anthony Vollack, president of the Colorado Young Dems, would be accompanied by Marvin Dansky, Wilson Huff and Betty Jean Meyers to the meeting. Signs were being prepared and pamphlets were being printed to tout Denver “as the most desirable spot to hold the National Convention.” Preparation for the DNC bid had been under way for two years, and Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Bob Crites “has given his approval,” while it was expected that Gov. Steve McNichols and Denver Mayor Richard Batterton would also get behind the effort, The Statesman reported. “All in all, it boils down to a busy and exciting time for everyone.” …

… U.S. Sen. John A. Carroll promised that the Senate Public Works subcommittee would give full consideration to his amendment to make sure the Denver-to-Utah Interstate Highway link was a part of the Interstate program. The Carroll amendment, the subcommittee had earlier ruled, had merit but would have to wait for studies about the over-all highway program and its funding. Under existing law, the first 40,000 miles of the Interstate Highway System would have to be funded before the final 1,000 miles could be built, and it turns out the 547-mile stretch from Denver to Cove Fort, Utah, fell in that final 1,000 mile allotment. Unless the law changed, the Interstate through Colorado’s mountains wouldn’t be built until the early 1970s, Carroll said. …

… The Democrats must adopt a “forthright and courageous” civil rights platform at the upcoming DNC in Los Angeles, even if it means risking defeat in the fall presidential election, said Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Butler. He said he was convinced that delegates would finally endorse the 1954 Supreme Court decision on racial integration in schools. “We cannot compromise principles in order to hold people in the party,” he said. “No political party should fix its principles on what’s the best vote-getting position. We’ve got to stand up for what’s best for all the people, win or lose.”

— ernest@coloradostatesman.com