Wheat Ridge Transcript 0918

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September 18, 2014 VOLU M E 31 | I SS UE 1 2 | 5 0 ¢

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Rivals differ on battle over gay marriage Coffman, Quick seek post of state attorney general By Vic Vela

vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Both Cynthia Coffman and Don Quick say their positions on how to handle gaymarriage court battles are in the best interest of same-sex couples who are seeking nuptials. The two candidates for attorney general discussed gay marriage and other topics during recent, separate sit-down interviews with Colorado Community Media. Coffman, a Republican deputy attorney general, and Quick, a Democrat and former Adams County district attorney, are locked in a key down-ticket race. Coffman, who is married to U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, touts her experience in state government and knowledge of office operations as reasons for voters to support her candidacy. Quick, a Wheat Ridge native, notes his record as Adams County DA, including his prosecution of government corruption among officials there. And he served as chief deputy for attorney general Ken Salazar from 2002 to 2005. The race is one of the most closely watched attorney general’s races in the country, with significant campaign dollars come in from outside donors. But, all of that aside, the race could come down to gay marriage.

“There is no constitutional defense for treating gay and lesbian couples differently,” Quick said. “There are no second-class citizens.” But Coffman said Quick’s personal views about gay marriage have nothing to do with the role the attorney general plays in this issue. “I have a personal opinion about the issue, which I’m not going to share because to me, my personal opinion doesn’t matter,” she said. Current Attorney General John Suthers, a Republican who is term-limited, has defended the state’s 2006 gay marriage ban in court battles that reached new heights over the summer. In June, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals — which has jurisdiction over Colorado cases — ruled Utah’s gay marriage ban to be unconstitutional. However, the court stayed its decision, knowing that the case would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. The court’s stay didn’t stop the county clerk in Boulder from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Shortly thereafter, a state district court judge in Adams County ruled in a separate case that Colorado’s gay marriage ban is also unconstitutional. That judge also issued a stay in the decision. Despite calls from gay lawmakers and Gov. John Hickenlooper not to appeal the Adams County ruling, Suthers has taken the case to the Colorado Supreme Court. And, along the way, Suthers has waged a court battle with the Boulder County

Coffman

Quick

Clerk’s Office in an effort to stop it from issuing more same-sex marriage licenses. Most recently, Suthers led a group of 17 attorneys general asking the Supreme Court to take up arguments on same-sex marriage bans in Utah and Oklahoma.

Suthers’ approach scrutinized Critics have said Suthers is delaying the inevitability of gay marriage. But Coffman believes her boss is doing the right thing — and that she would follow his path on his handling of this issue. Coffman said Suthers’ recent filing with the Supreme Court will end up fast-tracking the case toward a quicker resolution. When asked if one could make the argument that Suthers’ handling of the case is actually in the best interest of gay couples, because it could get the issue to the Supreme Court more quickly, Coffman said, “Yes, absolutely. I believe that.” But Quick doesn’t see how continu-

(ISSN 1089-9197)

OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Wheat Ridge Transcript 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SOCIAL WITH US

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Gay continues on Page 19

City seeks savings with solar plan

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WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT

ing to fight against gay marriage in court is helping same-sex couples realize their dreams of marriage equality. “I think for a large segment of society, not just gay and lesbian couples, but for people who have family members that are gay and lesbian couples,” it means they have to wait even longer, he said. Quick dismisses arguments against gay marriage that have nothing to do with the Constitution, especially those that cite procreation as a reason to prevent gays from getting married. “John Suthers hasn’t procreated in 30 years, and I haven’t in over 20 years, but somehow I think our wives both think our marriages have value and they’re important,” Quick said. But Coffman said that perhaps Quick doesn’t understand that the role of the Attorney General’s Office is to defend the state’s laws, regardless of whether he likes them. “(U.S. Attorney General) Eric Holder has been the poster child of picking and choosing what laws to defend,” she said. “I think he has violated his oath to defend the Constitution of the United States by picking and choosing. And to me, what Don is suggesting is the same thing: ‘I’m going to decide what is constitutional or not.’” Coffman said Quick forgets that Suthers took heat from conservative groups when his office filed a discrimination complaint against a Lakewood baker who refused to

By Hugh Johnson

Contributing writer

The Lutheran Medical Center is offering free men’s health screenings to test for some of the top diseases that affect them. The free screenings will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the hospital’s cancer center, 8300 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge. Photo by Clarke Reader

One stop health shop Lutheran hosts free men’s health screening By Clarke Reader

creader@colorado communitymedia.com The Lutheran Medical Center works hard year-round to find ways to provide health outreach to the community with preventive and wellness care, and the hospital will be offering free men’s health screenings to test for some of the top disease that affect them. The free screenings will be 9-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the hospital’s cancer center, 8300 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge. “We hold a free men’s health screening every September and it is unique because it offers several screenings in one

event, not just a PSA test,” said Sarah Ellis, a spokesperson for the hospital. “It includes a prostate and/or testicular exam as well as blood tests for glucose, cholesterol, nutrition counseling and PSA. Each participant has their vital signs and oxygen level checked as well as their height and weight. At the end, each participant is counseled to identify future health care needs.” The testicular cancer screening is for ages 15 to 35 and to qualify for the prostate cancer screening, men must be ages 40 to 75, with no previous prostate cancer diagnosis, no prostate cancer screening within the last year, and not under a urologist’s care.

Men who are Hispanic or African American, 35 years or older, and with a family history of prostate cancer also qualify. Lutheran’s services include a Heart and Neurovascular Center, robotic surgery, Primary Stroke Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orthopedics, a Level III Trauma Center and emergency services including the first Senior Emergency Room in Colorado. Ellis said that around 100 men participate in the screenings each year — several of them repeat visitors — so making an appointment in advance is very important. To make an appointment visit AnswerLine at 303-6894595.

Wheat Ridge City Council considered a few proposals to participate in a solar garden agreement at the Sept. 8 meeting. After the hearing the pros and cons council decided to discuss the matter further at a future study session. Both Clean Energy Collective and SunShare would like the city to utilize the Jefferson County Solar Panel Garden as an energy source in an effort to cut down on energy costs. The Clean Energy Collective’s (CEC) proposal recommends the city purchase 972 panels from the Jefferson County Garden for $776,628, the panels would generate 228.42 Kilowatts of electricity. As a reward for using a renewable energy source, the city would receive bill credits and Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) payments from Xcel Energy for each billing cycle. For a best case scenario, the city would save nearly $1.6 million over 20 years. If the city went with Sun Share’s proposal, Wheat Ridge would purchase up to 308 kilowatts from the solar garden instead of actually purchasing the panels. Under this proposal the city would pay a Solar Service Agreement Payment at 12 cents per kilowatt hour, which is cheaper than the city’s current assumed rate at 17 cents per kilowatt hour. That number is estimated to increase at a rate of 2.9 percent per year. The bill credits could be used to pay the fee but the city would see no money from REC payments. Best case scenario for this proposal saves Wheat Ridge $627,147 during a twenty-year contract

City continues on Page 19


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