FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
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ISSUE 11
WEEK OF MARCH 10, 2022
GOP candidates agree 2020 vote fair THE SEASON FOR SHARING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020
VOLUME 117
Biden is president, but candidates agree that’s an ‘unfortunate’ truth BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Colorado’s 2020 election, or at least the vote tally in Weld County, accurately reflects voter intent, according to the Republican candidates for Colorado’s new 8th Congressional District. “The Weld County election was not stolen. We have a Republican county clerk that has been running the elections in this country for over 17 years, and she’s doing a great job,” said state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer at the Republican Women of Weld County candidate forum. Kirkmeyer was joined by candidates Tyler Allcorn, Jewels Gray and Jan Kulmann March 3 at Fort Lupton’s recreation center. Dick Wadhams, veteran political strategist and former Colorado State Republican Chairman, was the moderator, and Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams was the time-keeper. Wadhams asked the group if the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump and Weld County. They agreed that it was not, but agreed that the result was unfortunate. Kirkmeyer represents Colorado’s District 23 and serves on the education, health and human services, and
local government committees. Kirkmeyer said she noted many people said they disliked then-President Donald Trump while campaigning around Broomfield before the 2020 vote. “They didn’t like Trump or his personality. It had nothing to do with his policies. They were suburban moms,” said Kirkmeyer. “Over the last few years, 45% of the people in this state are registered to vote as unaffiliated. It has changed dramatically. We need reform and get rid of same-day registration with ballot policy. We need to purge our voter rolls, and no way should we ever federalize our elections.” Kulmann, the mayor of Thornton and an oil industry engineer, said she believes that Biden is the worst president ever, but unfortunately for Kulmann, Biden is our president. “I love this question because as Republicans, we are constantly asking each other this question over and over again because the left wants us to focus on that,” said Kulmann. “We need to look forward to 2022 and take back the House. It does not matter if we ask questions on election integrity. I’m tired of being called a conspiracy theorist just because I want to make sure our elections are fair. It’s not a dumb question.” Former Army Special Forces Green Beret Allcorn agreed that the presidential election was not stolen. “As a veteran overseas and fighting for democracy, liberating the oppressed, coming home with the idea the election could be stolen?
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The candidates running for the 8th Congressional seat. Left, Colorado Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer District 23, Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann, Tyler Allcorn and Jewels PHOTO BY BELEN WARD Gray.
It hurts,” said Allcorn. “President Biden, unfortunately, is our president -- nothing that we can do to change it.” That said, Allcorn said Coloradoans must pursue voting reform. “Americans should never need to question our elections. We need voter ID, and we need to do away with mail-in ballots, he said. “We shouldn’t be trying to federalize it like Joe Biden wants to do. It’s unacceptable,” Allcorn said. “Biden is saying he’s not sure about the legitimacy of the next election. The law is anyone can vote, not people that are actually allowed to vote. “ Jewels Gray, an award-winning photographer, business owner and educator, agreed that it’s a horrible
idea to let the federal government take over our elections. Gray said, “We should have faith that every single legal vote counted. We need to understand that people believe it was a fraud and people who do not. There are too many irregularities to ignore -- suitcases pulled out from under tables -- windows covered,” she said. She, too, said voting must be an inperson matter. “We do need to end mail-in ballot and absentee voting,” Gray said. “We need to go back to in-person voting.” She did have some reforms in mind to boost voting. “It would help to have Election SEE FORUM, P5
Denver wants to open the marijuana industry to those most impacted by the drug war others with fewer resources have not up a new shop or a grow site. would-be entrepreneurs of color been able to break into the industry. and favored the wealthy and wellThe biggest hurdle, they say, is the Denver leaders said they’re workconnected. Now there’s an effort to proximity rule that prohibits one open access to all, but some are ques- ing to create a more equitable marcannabis business from existing After marijuana was legalized in ketplace, including by limiting new tioning whether the Denver Social 2012, Colorado leaders began creatwithin 1,000 feet of another, or closer licenses for the next five years to Equity Program is too little, too late, ing rules and regulations for scores than 1,000 feet to schools, daycare only social equity applicants, such as centers, recreation centers or drug and emerging when space to open a of people who were already lining those who have lived in low-income up to take part in what has become a pot shop is challenging, at best. treament centers. neighborhoods and who were most State leaders’ idea, lobbyist $2.2 billion retail cannabis industry. Applicants who have spent thounegatively impacted by the war on Samantha Walsh said, was to keep sands of dollars to participate in the State leaders took a hardline drugs. But social equity applicants an “undesirable element” out of city’s social equity program but hit stance while creating cannabis inEvery year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton attempting and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothingthe Bank provide community to navigate the complex 1,000-foot wall say city leaders dustry rules, initially barring people the industry. But the unintended members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with Change Change, consequence was that while wealthy process of identifying a location for must make changes before4particiwith drug convictions from owning their businesses, and getting it liand well-connected people pants can be successful. dispensaries or marijuana grow with the another organization that helps food drive. See more onthrived Page 2. censed, say the city’s super-saturated at growing and selling recreational houses, for example. market is making it impossible to set cannabis, many people of color and Those early rules edged out many SEE MARIJUANA, P13 BY TATIANA FLOWERS THE COLORADO SUN
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