Author: Steven K. Paulson
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Hickenlooper says long road ahead to recovery
DENVER — Colorado’s next governor is warning there’s a long road ahead to economic recovery, and he’s urging people to work together to build the future. John Hickenlooper, who took advantage of a split in the state GOP to beat Republican Dan Maes and third-party candidate Tom Tancredo Tuesday, has been short on specifics on…
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Ritter’s final budget hits smokers, students, state employees and park users
DENVER — Smokers, students, state employees and people who use state parks will feel the pain of Colorado budget cuts next year. Gov. Bill Ritter laid out his plans Tuesday for a $19.1 billion budget to cover a projected $715 million revenue deficit. The current budget is $18.2 billion. The budget totals don’t count about $1.5…
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BREAKING NEWS: Associated Press declares Hickenlooper winner
DENVER — Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper won the Colorado governor’s race Tuesday after a campaign in which the GOP nominee imploded and a third-party candidate made a late surge. The Democrat is a former brew pub owner who benefited from the collapse of GOP nominee Dan Maes and a split in the state Republican Party.…
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More cuts coming to Colo. budget this year
DENVER — Gov. Bill Ritter plans to close a $262 million shortfall in this year’s state budget by using federal stimulus funds and severance taxes, telling lawmakers he is doing his best to preserve essential services and minimize pain. He also plans to provide a $35 million cushion in case the revenue picture gets worse.…
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Owens gets testy with Maes during debate
GLENDALE — Two former Colorado governors gave the state’s gubernatorial candidates a public job interview Monday, grilling the three hopefuls on their ability to lead the state before coming out with their picks for the position. Former Govs. Bill Owens and Dick Lamm quizzed Democrat John Hickenlooper, Republican candidate Dan Maes and American Constitution Party…
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Prop. 101 backer: Shut libraries, sell light rail
DENVER — A supporter of three tax measures on the Colorado ballot says state and local governments could close libraries and put their books online and sell off light rail to cut spending if the measures pass. Gregory Golyansky, vice president of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, told students and professors from the University of…
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Allegation of gubernatorial candidate: ‘I do not like working with women’
DENVER — Just when you thought the Colorado gubernatorial race couldn’t get any crazier, another candidate dispute has disrupted the November ballot. Victoria Adams has dropped out as the running mate for unaffiliated candidate Jason Clark, claiming Clark hates women and mistreated his campaign staff. Clark says he dropped her from his campaign on Tuesday…
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Colo. budget officials: $1.1 billion shortfall estimated
DENVER — Comparing Colorado’s economic recovery to a hangover, state budget officials warned lawmakers Monday that Gov. Bill Ritter may be forced to cut another $189 million from this year’s budget because of a sluggish economic recovery. Legislative economist Jason Schrock told lawmakers that Colorado’s economic recovery is like having a hangover: “You’re a little…
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Maes: Police comrades turned against him
DENVER — Colorado GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes says he felt like former New York cop Frank Serpico when he helped investigate an alleged gambling ring as a police officer in Kansas in the 1980s, only to have his comrades turn against him. Now he’s stunned that it’s being used against him by political opponents.…
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And still there are 3: Judge affirms Tancredo for gubernatorial ballot
DENVER — A Denver District Court judge ruled Tuesday that third-party gubernatorial candidate Tom Tancredo can stay on Colorado’s ballot in November, avoiding a possible federal takeover of Colorado’s November election for failure to comply with military voting rules. Denver District Court Judge William Hood ruled that the secretary of state was correct in certifying…