Endorsements

All three incumbent Boulder County Commissioners, Cindy Domenico, Ben Pearlman and Will Toor for their committed and courageous positions that affect the quality of life for all Boulder County residents.

Stan Garnett for Boulder County District Attorney because of his experience and long-term commitment to Boulder County.

Jerry Roberts for his successful management of the Assessor's office after Assessor Cindy Domenico was voted onto the Board of County Commissioners in the last election.

PLAN-Boulder County urges a YES vote on the two Boulder County ballot issues:Ê

• 1A, the .05 percent Worthy Cause sales tax and
• 1B, creating the Clean Energy Financing District.

And in Louisville, a YES vote for the 1/8 of 1 percent City of Louisville sales tax for historic preservation.

In the State of Colorado Senate races, Dan Gibbs for District 16, Brandon Shaffer for District 17 and Rollie Heath for District 18. In the State of Colorado House races: Dickey Lee Hullinghorst for District 10, Jack Pommer for District 11, Paul Weissmann for Distric 12, Claire Levy for District 13 and Dianne Primavera for District 33. For CU Regent in the 2nd Congressional District, Joe Neguse. For U.S. House of Representatives in the 2nd Congressional District, Jared Polis and in the 4th Congressional Distric, Betsy Markey. For the U. S Senate, Representative Mark Udall, a proven leader with a strong record on environmental protections, and non-partisan service to his constituents. Finally, in the City of Boulder, PLAN-Boulder County urges a YES vote on the proposed Charter Amendment to change the current City Council member recall provisions and that Charter Amendment allowing the City Council to place non-US citizens on city boards and commissions. PLAN-Boulder County strongly urges a NO vote to changing the Charter to occasionally allow the City Council to hold executive (non-public) sessions. The Charter currently states: "All meetings of the council or a committee thereof shall be public." The intent of the Charter here is clear; it should not be changed by or for a currently seated council.

Since 1959 PLAN-Boulder County, the Peoples League for Action Now, has been an organization of concerned citizens working for sustainable environmental policies, careful land use planning, and fair and open government that encourages and responds to public involvement.

One of our activities is to endorse candidates for public office and we have carefully studied the candidates in the current City Council special election using questionnaires, interviews, and a public forum with all candidates participating. As a result of this process, PLAN-Boulder County has endorsed Lisa Morzel for Boulder City Council.

We believe that all six candidates are concerned and caring Boulder citizens, and we commend them for taking the demanding step of running for council, but Lisa Morzel clearly stands out from the rest. Lisa Morzel has the necessary experience and knowledge, derived from many years as a Boulder activist and eight previous years on the Boulder City Council. Being an effective Boulder City Council member requires not only energy, intelligence, and a thorough understanding of all the issues the city faces, but also leadership that is fueled by courage and integrity. Lisa has demonstrated that she has all of these capabilities. The citizens of Boulder are fortunate that she is willing to serve again.

Lisa Morzel has particular strengths in land use and environmental issues, and has been a strong advocate for alternate mode transit, serving the underserved in Boulder and for fair and open government. She also is an outstanding research scientist and will add this important new dimension to the current City Council. In addition, she has repeatedly demonstrated a vision for the future, as indicated in this campaign with suggestions like a community charrette to resolve issues related to redevelopment of the Boulder Academy and involvement of student researchers to study our Open Space habitats. We urge the citizens of Boulder to join us in voting for Lisa Morzel for City Council by March 8 by mail-in ballot.

Board of County Commissioners: Ben Pearlman for his hands-on experience and detailed understanding of a wide range of County issues, his support for good environmental and growth policies, and for his commitment to improving relations between the County and its residents.

Board of County Commissioners: Will Toor for his in-depth understanding of a wide range of issues and ability to achieve results as demonstrated by his accomplishments as Boulder Mayor, including support of environmental issues, comprehensive planning, affordable housing, transit, and regional cooperation.

House District 12: Paul Weismann for his sound approach to water conservation, local planning issues and support for TABOR reform.

Senate District 17: Brandon Shaffer for working hard to learn the breadth of state issues, firm support for preserving open space, and approach to TABOR reform.

US House of Representatives District 2: Mark Udall, a proven leader with a strong record on environmental protection who listens to constituents.

For their excellent records of sensitivity to, and support of, environmental issues and commitment to addressing regional transportation and TABOR reform we support:

• House District 10: Alice Madden
• House District 11: Jack Pommer
• House District 13: Tom Plant
• Senate District 18: Ron Tupa

Ballot Issue 4A "FasTracks": YES, to provide the funding needed for additional rail and bus transit metro-wide to address growing congestion in the peak-hour work commute, and to spur smart growth in already urbanized areas.

Ballot Issue 37 Clean Renewable Energy: YES, to accelerate the development of affordable, clean, renewable energy production in Colorado.

Ballot Issue 1C TABOR Retention: YES, to allow voters to remove TABORÕs arbitrary spending limits and return control of revenues to the appropriate elected officials.

Ballot Issue 1A Boulder County Open Space Tax: YES, to continue support for the County open space program — a key tool for managing growth, maintaining our quality of life and preserving the environment here in Boulder County.

PLAN-Boulder County is proud of its years of vigilant support for governmental policies that are sensitive to all environmental issues. We endorse candidates who have a proven record on environmental preservation, a reasoned and thoughtful approach to resolving conflicts, and who will vote for the long-term good of the community. We also take positions on ballot issues that affect open space, growth, and transportation and the effectiveness and fairness of our government.

For further information and to comment, contact:: Pat Shanks, Chair - 303-473-9979, or Claire Levy, Vice-Chair - 303-494-2244
PLAN-Boulder County, Post Office Box 4682, Boulder, CO 80306

At two meetings in September, the board strongly endorsed Ballot Issue 201 (Open Space sales tax) and Ballot Issue 202 (public safety sales tax). The board came down equally emphatically against Ballot Question 2C (districting). The board also voted to support County Ballot Issue 1A (the "worthy cause tax" for non-profit capital improvements) because the recipients of these services are the most hard-hit during economic downturns.

Other positions taken were No on State of Colorado Amendment 33 (lottery terminals at racetracks) and , because they would help neither our environmental needs nor our economic situation.

A full six-person candidate slate for Boulder City Council was also approved. Those candidates are: Robin Bohannan, for the strong and experienced voice she brings to council on community social needs; Crystal Gray, for her 30-plus years of very active participation on many city issues affecting the fabric of our community; Shaun McGrath, for his quiet, well-reasoned insights and his ability to ask the right question for discussion and solutions; Mark Ruzzin, for his efforts to understand issues in depth of detail and work with diverse groups to benefit the larger community; Andy Schultheiss, for his knowledge of the broader, regional and interstate environmental concerns and his enthusiasm for intelligent analysis and decisive action; and Jack Stoakes, for his 30-plus years of caring service to the community, a strong personal commitment to alternative transportation modes, and for his immense personal integrity and practical business savvy.

Mark Udall
US House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District
"Proven leader ... aggressive environmental protection record ... listens to constituents"

Alice Madden
State House District 10
"Exceptional leadership in first term ... creative legislative consensus building ... true spokesperson for transit"

Jack Pommer
State House District 11
"Has specific positions on issues ... voice for growth management ... will represent Boulder and Longmont well on environmental issues"

Paul Weissmann
State House District 12
"Former state senator has experience ... will hit the ground running ... common sense approach ... good rapport with workers"

Tom Plant
State House District 13
"Leader in growth management ... sensitivity to environmental issues"

Tom Mayer
Boulder County Commissioner
"Experience to guide county in Open Space ... understands importance of comprehensive planning ... good listener"

Cindy Carlisle
CU Regent
"Openness ... responsible growth for university ... commitment to excellence for university ... experience in governance"

Dick McLean
RTD Director
"Bridge builder ... cost-effective transit options ... turned around dysfunctional RTD board"

City of Louisville Ballot Issue 2D - For Open Space
"City deserves to continue an effective program ... land will only be more expensive in the future"

Amendment 27 - Campaign Finance Reform
"Good government is the heart of democracy ... will help take special interests out of campaigns"

County Issue 1B - Regional Transportation and Transit Issue
"Opportunities for transit ... tax monies will help attract state and federal matching contributions"

These endorsements appeared as advertisements in the Daily Camera.

Boulder City Council

Don Mock, Mark Ruzzin, and Will Toor for their excellent records of service and accomplishment, including support of environmental issues, comprehensive planning, affordable housing, transit, and regional cooperation.

• YES on City of Boulder Question 2A, Adding Acquisition to the Functions of the Open Space Department. Land acquisition has been one of the Open Space departmentâs most essential duties since it was created. Clearly delegating this function ensures that acquisitions will be handled by those most sensitive to the values of the Open Space program.
• YES on Lafayette Questions 2A and 2B, Residential Growth Management. Although we prefer 2A, which allows 50 affordable units per year, we support both measures to help ensure the continuance of a reasonable and necessary residential growth rate limitation.
• YES on Boulder County Issue 1C, Removing Term Limits. Boulder County voters opposed statewide term limits in 1994, and we should now opt out of their artificial restrictions and give voters their full and democratic choice at each election.
• YES on Statewide Referendum A, GOCO Bonds for Open Space. Allowing Great Outdoors Colorado to borrow against its lottery proceeds will provide money now for the acquisition and preservation of our open spaces before it is too late.
• NO on Statewide Amendment 26, Funding for Testing an I-70 Fixed Guideway System. A multibillion dollar monorail along the I-70 mountain corridor would mainly serve relatively few patrons of one industry and is a much lower priority than transit in the metro area.

City of Boulder ballot issues

YES on Issue 201, Affordable Housing Excise and Sales Taxes Ñ This tax is a key component of a comprehensive and equitable plan that will help maintain our socioeconomic diversity, allow more Boulder workers to live here and help house those in need.

NO on Question 2A, Traffic Devices Ñ Both unwise and expensive, this heavy-handed proposal would micro-manage city transportation policy, requiring removal of not just traffic circles but also all traffic calming speed bumps and raised pedestrian crossings.

YES on Question 2B, Blue Line Amendment Ñ Providing water from our Lakewood pipeline only for fire-fighting would provide limited, but significant, protection against wildfires, while being sufficiently restrictive to allay our fears that new mountain development might be encouraged.

County and Longmont ballot issues

YES on Issue 1B, Extension of Sales Tax for Open Space Ñ By extending this existing tax for eight years, the county can float new bonds and buy additional Open Space NOW before it is gone!

YES on Issue 1C, Retention of Revenues Ñ PLAN-Boulder opposed the TABOR amendment and strongly supports ballot issues that remove arbitrary spending limits and return control of revenues to the appropriate elected officials.

YES on Longmont Open Space Ñ With Longmont growing faster than the rest of the county, we applaud this citizen effort to preserve LongmontÕs remaining open spaces.

Statewide ballot issues

NO on Amendment 21, Tax Cuts Ñ Sequels are usually bad, and this offspring of TABOR is a real horror that would insidiously gut local governments and the provision of vital community services.

YES on Amendment 24, Voter Approval of Growth Ñ After decades of legislative inaction and lack of local and regional planning that has led to unsustainable growth and sprawl, this measure will finally require effective, regionally-coordinated, voter-approved plans that consider the costs, infrastructure needs, and environmental impacts of growth.

County Commissioners

Paul Danish: His first term has built upon and strengthened his long record of support for sound, rational, and comprehensive planning that protects our quality of life and environment.

Ron Stewart: With energy and an innovative approach, he has given us enlightened leadership on environmental protection, transportation, and a spectacular set of open space purchases.

State Legislature and U.S. Congress

For their excellent records of sensitivity to, and support of, environmental issues, we support:

• HD 11: Todd Saliman
• HD 13: Tom Plant
• HD 14: Alice Madden
• HD 31: Paul Zimmerman
• SD 13: Joan Fitz-Gerald
• SD 17: Terry Phillips
• SD 18: Ron Tupa

U.S. Congress, 2nd District: Mark Udall

Boulder City Council

City of Boulder ballot issues

YES on 2A: Growth Management Ordinance
We believe this to be a reasonable holding action to slow down non residential as well as residential development while the city strives to mitigate the negative impacts of growth.

Issue 201: a sales tax increase for park land acquisition and development
Question 2C: to extend smoking restrictions in the city of Boulder

NO on 2B: Charter Amendment to Extend Referendum Powers on Major Land Use Decisions
This amendment would allow a very small number of people to force an election on major land use decisions, thereby striking at the root of representative government.

Regional ballot issues

YES on 4A: for the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District
YES on 4B: for the Regional Transportation District

Boulder county ballot issues

YES on 1A: to fund an Affordable Housing Trust
YES on 1B: to increase the bonding capacity for Open Space

State, regional and local ballot issues

We oppose State Issue 12, Douglas Bruce's multi-faceted effort to bring government to a standstill, because it strikes at the very heart of representative government. It would make the petition process subject to blatant abuse, even by interests from outside the state; and by making judges subject to recall it threatens the independence of the judiciary.

• YES on A: Single Subject, Initiatives & Referenda
• YES on B: Ballot Information Booklet
• YES on 1: Tobacco Tax
• NO on 12: Doug Bruce's "Election Reform"
• NO on 13: Gaming in Manitou Springs
• YES on 15: Campaign Finance Limits
• NO on 17: Term Limits
• YES on County Issue 1A: Recycling
• YES on City of Boulder Issue 2B: Recycling
• NO on 2C: Boulder Theatre/Convention Center
• (NO also on ancillary Parking Garage)
• YES on 2D: School Impact Fees

U.S., state and county candidates

• David Skaggs U. S. Congress
• Todd Saliman House District 11
• Mary Blue House District 12
• Peggy Lamm House District 13
• Dorothy Rupert House District 14
• Jana Mendez County Commissioner