November 28, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourarvadanews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 9, Issue 27
Hudak in a crunch Lawmaker weighing options in recall effort By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
Action Center executive director Mag Strittmatter talks with supporters after a meeting Nov. 19. The Action Center is moving forward on a capital campaign to expand its effectiveness and reach. Photos by Clarke Reader
Action Center targets funds Funding sought to purchase office By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com The Action Center’s capital campaign to expand its services and space is more than halfway through its first phase. During a meeting on Nov. 19, Joe Haines, Action Center director of development announced phase one of the center’s capital campaign raised $2,414,456 — 57.5 percent of its $4.2 million goal. The $4.2 million will go to the purchase of the Cottonwood office complex, which is next to the center’s current location, and renovation of the new space. “The planning for the capital campaign began in 2007, and we’ve been discussing how to help people more effectively and help them on the way to selfsufficiency,” Shermita West, a member of the capital campaign committee said. “In July of 2011 we purchased the Cottonwood property, and that’s when the campaign really began.” Phase one, which West said aims to provide more effective services for clients, involves the costs of renovating the new space and paying back the loans necessary to purchase the property. The aim is to get the final design work done for the new space in the new several months, and start construction in late winter-early spring of 2014. “We want to have it built and ready for the next peak season, which is October through December,” Roger Mattson, a past Action Center board president said. Jefferson County commissioner Don Rosier was on hand at the meeting, and spoke about how many people in the community the Action Center benefits. “We have seen the needs for this increase in Jeffco, and I want to thank you very much for the work you do,” he said. “It’s heartening to see so many people working on this.” Ward 4 councilman Adam Paul spoke about how excited he and the city of Lakewood was that this project is going to help residents not only of Lakewood, but all over the county. “The people who are benefitting from this working two, three, four jobs, and they’re the kids in our schools,” he said. “It’s wonderful that the Action Center can provide this service to people, and do it with dignity.” Mag Strittmatter, the center’s executive director, closed out the evening speaking about how excited she was that the eight year process was moving forward. “We had to be brave and we had to be bold to get this going,” she said. “This process is not about the
Lakewood Ward 4 councilman Adam Paul speaks to supporters about the status of the Action Center’s capital campaign.
Action Center executive director Mag Strittmatter outlines progress the center is making on its capital campaign.
State Sen. Evie Hudak could be in a lose-lose situation, and she knows it. The Westminster Democrat acknowledges that if organizers behind a recall effort collect enough signatures to force a special election, there is only one sure-fire way that she will remain a senator. “The way I win is if they don’t get enough signatures,” she said during a recent interview with Colorado Community Media. “Other than that, I think you’re right, that I’m in a lose-lose situation if they get enough signatures. People will be angry if I were to resign. People would be angry if I were to be recalled.” Hudak refused to answer affirmatively if she will run in a recall election, if things go that far. “Obviously, people like you have forced me to contemplate,” she said. “The reason I can’t make a decision is because I don’t know if they’re going to have enough signatures. There are a lot of things in play. “Right now, I want to remain a senator. I think I’ve done a good job.” Hudak was asked whether it would send a bad message if a lawmaker steps aside from office, through the mere threat of a recall — without even fighting back in an election to keep his or her seat. “You’re expressing why it’s so difficult, and why I can’t give you an answer right now,” she said. Organizers have until Dec. 3 to submit 18,962 valid signatures of District 19 voters to the secretary of state’s office. Hudak’s district includes Westminster and Arvada. Hudak has run in tough elections before. She initially won her Senate seat in 2008 with 51 percent of the vote. Last year, Hudak was re-elected by a slim margin of 342 votes over her Republican opponent, and one where a Libertarian candidate received 6.5 percent support. Hudak is the third Democratic lawmaker to be targeted for recall. The other two, former Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo, lost their races. The group that is behind the recall effort, which calls itself Recall Hudak Too, has a laundry list of reasons why she should be recalled. Clearly, though, Hudak is being targeted over her support of gun legislation that was signed into law this year, and because she is a vulnerable Democrat whose loss in a special election could flip control in the General Assembly’s upper chamber to the Republicans. That’s why there has been chatter among state politicos that Hudak could end up resigning from office, a move that would allow another Democrat to hold that important seat. “At this time, I have no intention of resigning,” she said. “I hope I won’t have to make that decision.” Mike McAlpine, who is organizing the recall effort, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story. Learning from recent recall efforts Hudak and her campaign manager Chris Kennedy say they learned from what happened in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. “I don’t think we knew how serious it was and how capable these guys were,” Kennedy said. He said because of that, the Hudak campaign has sent volunteers door-todoor, as well as positioning volunteers in areas where petition gatherers are attempting to collect signatures. The actions of volunteers on both sides of the recall attempt have been the story within the recall story, as efforts on the part of some groups have stirred controversy. Hudak continues on Page 8
buildings — it’s about doing things better, and getting at these core issues. It shows what we can accomplish together.” For more information on the campaign, visit www. theactioncenterco.org/capital-campaign.
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