Getting endorsements from elected officials is not something either supporters or opponents of Amendment 70, which would raise Colorado’s minimum wage, have been working to get, according to campaign organizers. Instead, both camps are 100 percent focused on gathering voters’ support for their side of the ballot question.

But that hasn’t stopped some elected officials from taking sides. With some reluctance, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper have announced support for Amendment 70 on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

The amendment would gradually raise the state’s minimum wage from $8.31 an hour to $9.30 per hour as of Jan. 1, then increase the wage $0.90 an hour until it reaches $12 an hour in 2020. After that, it would increase based on the local consumer price index.

Hancock, Hickenlooper support amendment

After several efforts by The Colorado Statesman to schedule an interview with Hancock on his stance and concerns about the amendment, his office emailed a statement attributable to Hancock about the minimum wage amendment:

“While our economy is strong, we are leaving too many people behind, as wages are not keeping pace,” the statement read. “… We must do better on behalf of the tens of thousands of working families in Denver and throughout the state living below the poverty line. I support Amendment 70 …. The proposal is not flawless, as it doesn’t address a decade-old provision on tipped wages that – in my opinion – should have been amended. But we must look to what will make the greatest impact on the future of our state and I believe Amendment 70 is the right move for Colorado.”

Hancock referred to the fact that tipped workers would see their hourly wage grow to $8.98 per hour, plus tips, by 2020. A 2006 state amendment set the state’s minimum wage for tipped workers at $3.02 an hour less than wage workers.

Meanwhile, in a Sept. 29 interview with Colorado Public Radio’s “Colorado Matters” host Ryan Warner, Hickenlooper said he is concerned people making minimum wage can’t afford to live in many parts of Colorado.

“I’m not sure there’s another way to help move more people out of poverty than to raise the minimum wage,” he was quoted on the station’s website. “… I think in this country, if you work 40 hours a week, and you work hard, you ought to be able to afford an apartment somewhere.”

The tip credit is important to Hickenlooper, a founder of the Wynkoop Brewing Co. and other restaurants, as he told Denver7 on Sept. 13.

“… I’ve talked to a bunch of restaurant people … You can’t find a dishwasher for even $11,” he told the TV station. “If you want to keep a good dishwasher, you give the, $11.50, $12. Well that’s what they’re talking about getting by 2020 … almost everyone in the restaurant business is already making a minimum wage.”

Hickenlooper told Denver 7 that he also had concerns about having a statewide minimum wage and how it could affect farmers and ranchers and would support a geographic exception to the requirement.

Other states that have raised their minimum wages in recent years, including Washington and California, have exempted certain areas of their state from the minimum wage hike based on cost-of-living and other economic factors. A Pew Research study released in April ranked Colorado 12th among the 50 states for highest costs of living.

Backers, opponents focus elsewhere

Patty Kupfer, campaign manager of the group supporting the measure, Colorado Families for a Fair Wage, said in an email statement that the group is not putting resources into obtaining endorsements from elected officials or candidates for office.

“Rather, they’re focusing on voter contact, media outreach and so on,” Kupfer said in the statement.

Tyler Sandberg, campaign manager for the group opposing Amendment 70, Keep Colorado Working, said endorsements from elected officials are not high on the campaign list.

“We’re focused on the people who will be affected by this, the small-business owners and rural communities,” he said. “We want to build a coalition of people who will be the most affected, not politicians.”

Ballotpedia listed Aurora mayor Steve Hogan as opposed. He is concerned that a higher minimum could push struggling small businesses over the edge and cut jobs. Also opposed is state Rep. Clarice Navarro-Ratzlaff, R-Pueblo.

Opponents have pointed out that if some supporters, such as Hancock and Hickenlooper, express concerns with the amendment despite voicing support, it’s not something that should be put in the constitution.

Sandberg said 78 small businesses and rural community organizations oppose the amendment, with concerns not only about the impacts of an increased minimum wage, but how the amendment is worded.

Few Denver council members comment

The Statesman emailed all 13 Denver City Council members Tuesday, Sept. 27, asking them their stances on Amendment 70 and to explain why they did or did not favor the measure. Only four responded, with Councilman Wayne New said to be out of town and not able to respond. Councilwoman Robin Kniech‘s office acknowledged receipt of the Statesman’s email and said staff would “pass it to her at the earliest opportunity.” Councilwoman Kendra Black said she supported raising the minimum wage statewide and nationally, but offered no further comment.

Councilman Rafael Espinoza gave his support to the amendment and offered the most comments, although they focused more on the fact that the measure would amend the state constitution instead of being pushed through the Legislature.

“Downstream problems are what are inherently wrong about addressing these matters through the amendment process, but when you have dysfunction or special interests steering the statehouse counter-productively, no one is surprised we end up here,” Espinoza wrote. “For the time being, I would hope Colorado voters would support Amendment 70, and turn down 71 (the Raise the Bar amendment that would make it harder to amend the constitution) so the people have a fighting chance at addressing things that clearly should be addressed and think about the consequences for all of Colorado when electing their representatives.