Author: John Schroyer
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Barbs fly as Hill, Liston wrestle for state Senate seat
El Paso County has enough political campaigns this year to make anyone’s head swirl, including several high-profile clashes for local legislative seats and the area’s congressional seat. One race that has been largely overlooked thus far, however, is the heated Republican primary battle over Colorado Springs state Senate District 10.In the newly-drawn district, longtime state…
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Trio of too-tall townhomes will be moved by builder
The builder of several overly tall townhomes that recently set off a firestorm told the city on Tuesday that the houses will be moved to satiate furious neighbors who said it had broken the law. Todays Homes, the company that built the homes, had first sought to amend its original development plan to fit where…
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GOP works to bridge primary rifts at state gathering
DENVER • GOP bosses told Saturday’s Denver gathering of state Republican Assembly delegates that they’ve got two options in 2012 — unite or fail.The theme was aimed at the defiant Tea Party and liberty movement delegates, many of whom are openly disgusted with more mainstream candidates, arguably enough to sink the party by staying home…
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GOP assembly voters make 5th CD a two-man race
DENVER — The Republican race for Congressional District 5 is now officially a two-man race. At the 5th Congressional District assembly on Friday, incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn stomped challenger Doug Bergeron, a Colorado Springs insurance salesman, 532 to 84. His only primary opponent now is businessman Robert Blaha, who petitioned onto the primary ballot…
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Mayor Bach announces three city appointments
Mayor Steve Bach announced three city appointments Wednesday, including two new permanent positions and one six-month contract job. Helen Migchelbrink will serve as the city engineer and director of public works, two positions that were merged into one. She will be paid an annual salary of $125,000. She is currently the city manager of Fort…
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Council approves funding for downtown surveillance
Ten new surveillance cameras will be installed in downtown Colorado Springs by the end of the year. City Council on Tuesday approved an expenditure of $237,000 that includes monies to buy the cameras requested by Police Chief Peter Carey. The police department will begin installing the cameras in September or October, and nine of them…
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Bach: Too-tall townhomes ‘clearly violated the law’
A trio of controversial townhome buildings that have raised local hackles are absolutely illegal, Mayor Steve Bach said Monday.Local homebuilding company Todays Homes built the three overly tall buildings atop seven feet of unauthorized fill dirt, violating their city-approved development plan. The towering structures loom over neighbors and have become a source of ire for…
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Bill would change age for juveniles to be charged as adults
DENVER – The state Senate gave juvenile criminals something of a break on Thursday, despite an outcry from Republican legislators who said doing so would weaken the justice system. The Senate considered a measure that would increase the age of juveniles who can be charged as adults for certain violent crimes from 14 to 16.…
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Citizens won’t decide this year if voter ID should be required
DENVER — Citizens won’t get to vote this year on a proposed regulation that would require a photo ID to vote. A proposed ballot measure to create such a law was killed by a Senate committee Wednesday, on a 3-2 partisan vote. The Republican-sponsored House Bill 1111 would have asked Coloradans to insert in statute…
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School districts will retain right to keep negotiations with teachers private
DENVER — Despite the best attempts of Capitol Republicans, school districts will retain the right to keep collective bargaining negotiations under wraps. A bill to require negotiations between school districts and teachers be made public was killed on a party line vote Wednesday afternoon, despite the urging of several teachers to open such talks. A…