May 30, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourarvadanews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 9, Issue 1
Second recall effort fizzles Democratic lawmakers targeted for ouster By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com It looks like another effort to recall a Democratic state lawmaker could end up failing. Organizers who were seeking to recall state Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, are suspending their signature-gathering efforts, according to an email obtained by Colorado Community Media on May 22.
Organizers told recall volunteers in the email that they are making a “strategic decision” to suspend their efforts to recall Hudak, so they could focus on the ongoing recall efforts aimed at state Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs, and Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo, both of whom are Hudak Democrats. The organizers said in the email that they intend to “restart” their petition efforts against Hudak after they are successful in their recall attempts against Morse
and Giron. However, the clock is ticking on that effort. Organizers only have until June 10 to submit more than 18,000 recall petition signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. “The problem is, they pretty much have poisoned the well at this point,” said Arvada resident Dave Palm, who supports the recall effort against Hudak. Palm said it would be difficult to match the effort’s early energy and then come back to it again, after efforts have been suspended. Votes on gun-control bills are the primary motivation behind the recall ef-
forts focused on four Democratic legislators: Hudak, Morse, Giron and Rep. Mike McLachlan of Durango. A recall effort against McLachlan died on May 21, after organizers failed to submit enough signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office by that day’s deadline. Hudak was the sponsor of Senate Bill 197, which places gun restrictions on domestic violence offenders. The bill passed the General Assembly without any Republican support, and is awaiting Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature. Hudak also voted for House Bill 1224, Hudak continues on Page 23
County to limit open carry
Teamwork
Ordinance passed to limit display of guns in some locations By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
Jeff Gage, center, with the Arvada Community Food Bank, builds a pallet of frozen food for the organization. All the food was donated by Elephant Talk. See story on Page 3. Photo by Clarke Reader
School-finance overhaul signed by governor Fate of measure will be in hands of voters By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews. com Colorado public schools are a step closer to a major funding overhaul after Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a new school finance act that proponents say would provide a long-overdue modernization of an antiquated school funding formula for classrooms across the state. But the governor’s signature May 21 doesn’t make the reform measure a done deal. Voters must give the goahead to the legislation’s price tag of about $1 billion in new taxes, something Republican lawmakers are sure to rally against in the fall. If a vote falls short this November, the
‘This bill really positions Colorado to be the national leader in terms of school reform, in terms of school effectiveness.’ Gov. John Hickenlooper proposal could come back for funding votes through 2017. Hickenlooper, who was flanked at the Capitol billsigning by legislative co-sponsors of Senate Bill 213, dubbed the “Future School Finance Act,” hailed the legislation as a way to “allow Colorado to vault to the top of every state” when it comes to school financing and transparency. “This bill really positions
Colorado to be the national leader in terms of school reform, in terms of school effectiveness,” Hickenlooper said. The legislation would mark the most sweeping change to the state’s school finance formula that’s been seen in decades. The act would fund full-day kindergarten, provide preschool for at-risk children and would increase needs-based
programs for special education students and children who are learning English. The legislation also would provide more funding for students who are involved in gifted and talented school programs. The bill would give school districts greater flexibility in being allowed the opportunity to have longer school years and school days, if they choose to do so. The bill also is expected to increase per-pupil funding for most school districts across the state by way of a funding system that supporters say is a more equitable way of divvying up money. Under the new formula, the state would determine how much revenue individual school districts are able to raise, with the state backfilling Funding continues on Page 23
The open carrying of a gun into some Jefferson County facilities may soon be prohibited, after the Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 at the May 21 public hearing to approve an ordinance to ban “open carry” firearms in certain locations. District 3 Commissioner Donald Rosier cast the opposing vote, citing support for the second amendment. “This (ordinance) would allow the sheriff to conduct annual vulnerability assessments to determine which buildings it would be appropriate to have this ban in effect,” county attorney Writer Mott said during the hearing. Jeffco Sheriff Ted Mink also helped present the ordinance, that his department helped propose after a couple of recent incidents involving people bringing weapons in to county office space, causing a disruption. Mink said the ban was intended to be implemented only in offices where county department heads had requested it. These offices are places where “a high level of anxiety, and anger, or frustration” may occur. He said so far, the District Attorney’s office, a couple human services locations and the sheriff’s department building were on the initial list to consider a ban. “Obviously, open carry does create a disruption for county staff in some of those buildings,” Mink said. Open carry-banned areas would have to be well marked, to comply with state law which allows for open carry in public places. The open carry ban would not prohibit those with a concealed carry permit from bringing in a firearm. “Until this item showed up I did not realize it was lawful for anyone to openly carry a firearm in county buildings,” Jeffco resident Jim Engelking said during the public hearing. He added that he would like to see the ban extended to all county buildings. Lakewood resident and firearms instructor Aaron James Brown took a different view, expressing concern that the Ban continues on Page 23
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