September 11, 2014 VOLU M E 31 | I SS UE 1 1 | 5 0 ¢
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Reasons DRIVING AMBITION to feel crowded Metro-area population at 3 million By Vic Vela
vvela@colorado communitymedia.com The population of the Denver metro area was expected to exceed 3 million last month, according to state estimates. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs uses the month of July to forecast population numbers annually. The department estimated that the Denver metro area’s population on July 1 would have been 2,994,534 and would have passed the 3 million mark in August. Elizabeth Garner, a state demographer, said the average monthly increase in population in the Denver metro area is 3,551,
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Billy Horschel hits his drive off the No. 17 tee en route to a victory at Cherry Hills Country Club in the BMW Championship on Sept. 7. See story on Page 20. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
Rivals for governor trade jabs in debate WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (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
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Hickenlooper, Beauprez meet on Western Slope By Vic Vela
vvela@colorado communitymedia.com Gov. John Hickenlooper and former Congressman Bob Beauprez swapped barbs during a lively debate in Grand Junction on Aug. 6, marking the first time the two gubernatorial
rivals squared off this fall. On almost every debate topic — ranging from hydraulic fracturing to the death penalty and the state of the economy — the two traded jabs over who would be the better man to lead the state over the next four years. The debate’s energy was aided by a lively audience that often interrupted the candidates with cheers and boos. That was especially the case toward the end of the debate, when Hickenlooper and Beauprez were given the opportunity to ask each other a series of direct ques-
tions. Beauprez used his first question to attack the governor over his evolving position on the death penalty, focusing on the governor’s decision last year to grant a temporary reprieve to Nathan Dunlap, the death row inmate who killed four people at an Aurora Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurant in 1993. “Yes or no, will you assure the people here Debate continues on Page 5
Senate candidates go head-to-head Grand Junction debate features Udall, Gardner By Vic Vela
vvela@colorado communitymedia.com Although President Barack Obama isn’t on the November ballot this year, he was very much a part of a U.S. Senate race debate that was held in Grand Junction on Sept. 6. The president’s name dominated much of the fall’s first debate between Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and Congressman
Cory Gardner, his Republican opponent in a race that is of pivotal political importance nationally. Gardner spent the early part of the debate hammering away at Udall for a voting record that is closely linked to the agenda of the Obama administration, which has long been mired in low approval ratings. Those attacks included Udall’s support for the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature piece of legislation and a law that Gardner focused on much of the debate. “Barack Obama and Mark Udall have put tremendous stress on our country,” Gardner said.
But Udall defended his support of Obamacare and said that putting millions more people on health insurance rolls and doing away with insurance companies’ restrictions on pre-existing conditions has been a good thing for the country. The senator also said Obamacare is better than the Republican alternative. “We had a system of health care in this country that discriminated against women and your party has refused to take action,” Udall said. While Gardner tried to tie Obama to Udall throughout the debate, Udall responded toward
the end of the debate with an assault on Gardner’s record on women’s issues — something the Udall campaign has been doing since the start of the campaign. Udall blasted Gardner over a congressional record that the senator said has fallen short on issues of importance to women. Udall highlighted Gardner’s previous votes to de-fund Planned Parenthood and Gardner’s prior support for the so-called “personhood” amendment, which would have resulted in an essential ban Senate continues on Page 5