Author: Vic Vela
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Backers of small business regulatory reform hope next session’s a charm
Perennially frustrated backers of an effort to reform small-business regulations in Colorado are hopeful that next year’s legislative session will finally produce results. For the last three years, Republican-led legislation to require the state to issue warnings rather than fines for some first-time small-business rule violations has failed. Small-business groups have long argued that regulatory…
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Dem presidential candidates gear up for nomination fight
Volunteers for Hillary Clinton’s Colorado campaign this week received an education in “how to win a caucus 101,” laying the team’s groundwork for winning votes that won’t be cast for another five months. “If we win Colorado, that puts Hillary in the best possible position to win the Democratic nomination,” Brad Komar, Clinton’s Colorado campaign…
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SD 12 GOP primary pits Gardner, Klingenschmitt
A Republican clash in Colorado Springs is shaping up to be the most intriguing race of the upcoming legislative primary slate. “It’s a classic standoff of the current split that’s going on in the Republican Party,” said Bob Loevy, a retired Colorado College political science professor and longtime Colorado Springs-based political analyst. Former state Rep.…
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Lawmakers aim to shed light on some judicial branch records
If the public wants to know how much the governor’s office or the Legislature spends on ink toner or Post-it notes, they can probably find that out. But good luck obtaining information on how much money the state spends on court cases. That’s because the state’s judicial branch is not subject to open records laws.…
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Democrats Herod, Goldhamer square off to represent Denver’s House District 8
If voters based their support on candidates’ last names (which they don’t – probably), Aaron Goldhamer would cruise to victory in next year’s state House District 8 race. “People say, with a name like Goldhamer, you either need to join ‘The Strong Arm’ or be his arch-nemesis,” Goldhamer, an attorney, said of the well-advertised Denver…
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Four candidates square off for open Jeffco schools seats
Four candidates square offfor open Jeffco schools seats By Vic Vela Regardless of what happens during an upcoming recall of the conservative Jefferson County school board majority, the board is certain to have new members. Four candidates are vying for two open board seats this fall in races that will have just as much of…
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State Fair finances, future up for grabs
For 11 days of the year, the Colorado State Fairgrounds is filled with music, livestock, thrill rides and fried things on a stick. But most other days, there’s little fun happening at the fair site in Pueblo, the city that has served as host to the event since 1872. And it’s the off-fair time that…
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Carroll blasts Coffman over contract signed with GOP campaign committee
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman is taking heat from his expected 2016 rival over his signed agreement on a Republican Party contract that requires political and legislative strategy disclosures in exchange for campaign cash. The Washington Post reported Thursday that Coffman was one of two dozen House Republicans who recently signed a National Republican Congressional Committee…
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Denver moves step closer to approving Chick-fil-A restaurant at airport
After an initial ruffling of feathers over a national chicken chain’s planned presence at the Denver International Airport, a Denver City Council committee on Tuesday gave the preliminary OK for its lease. The Business Development Committee’s unanimous approval for a Chick-fil-A franchise lease came two weeks after an initial approval attempt stalled following a discussion…
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Jeffco contract with teachers wins OK amid recall aimed at board majority
A short-term contract agreement between the Jefferson County school district and its teachers was met with mixed reviews last week, and it’s receiving plenty of attention amid a campaign to recall the school board majority. The board voted 5-0 to accept a 10-month deal with the Jefferson County Education Association on Thursday, a day after…