October 14, 2014 05:44 PM UTC

Breaking Down The Vote For The Environment

• 2 Comments
• by: ConservationColorado

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

(From our Executive Director, Pete Maysmith) 

Why Do Politics?

Fifteen year ago Colorado Conservation Voters (CCV) started running smart, targeted electoral campaigns to elect pro-conservation candidates to Colorado’s legislature. The reason? Who we elect matters. Fast forward to present day and that fact forms the core of Conservation Colorado’s political work.

Really, it’s simple: the job of protecting our state’s clean air, water, and public lands gets a lot harder when we don’t have conservation champions voting to protect our environment under the Capitol’s gold dome.

Ask almost anyone and they’ll say that they don’t like politics and that they don’t trust politicians; given the deadlock in Washington DC, that’s an understandable position. But that’s not how we do things in Colorado’s state legislature. In just the last two years we have succeeded in passing legislation to increase Colorado’s renewable energy standard, place higher fines on oil and gas companies when they violate the law, create a paint recycling program, and promote innovative water conservation efforts. Without our state conservation champions, none of that would have been accomplished. 

That’s why we support pro-environment candidates. We endorse them and then work like crazy to make sure they win. We educate and turn out voters. When we do that, the environment wins.

Elections Come and Go

Here is what we know: Coloradans support candidates who protect our outdoor heritage and stand up for our unique quality of life. This year was have endorsed 48 candidates for the state legislature who reflect Coloradans’ environmental values.

We look for candidates who will stand up for a clean renewable energy economy, conserving our water resources, and protecting our public lands. When organizing a political program we look at the battleground races that could go either way. We look at what areas have the most at stake: mountain communities who value long traditions of hunting, fishing, hiking and camping on nearby public lands; urban areas with higher rates of childhood asthma; rafting hotspots that rely on others to use water wisely so they have flows to enhance Colorado’s tremendous outdoor recreation economy.

That’s why our radio ads, mail pieces, and digital ads are tailored to each key district — we don’t want to add to the noise, we want to cut through it by talking about what you care about.

What’s Happening Right Now?

Check out our just released 2014 Electoral memo for more details on our elections work. As you’ll see, it’s our biggest electoral campaign ever — much larger than the first one 15 years ago. We have an ambitious electoral plan to re-elect more pro-conservation state Senators while maintaining our majority in the state House. If successful, these gains could translate to significant legislative progress for conservation issues next year.

Two examples of our program are Senate District 5, where we are working to elect Kerry Donovan, and House District 59, where we are working to defend Representative Mike McLachlan. Both candidates reflect their districts. Donovan, an educator, angler, and rancher, knows that every conversation about water in Colorado has to begin with conservation. She’s also leading the charge for investing in sustainable, renewable energy. Meanwhile McLachlan has a proven record of being a conservation champ, he was a key vote on that renewable energy standard I mentioned earlier. His opponent on the other hand was named to the League of Conservation Voters’ “Dirty Dozen” list in 2012.

We are proud to be fighting for Colorado’s future. Ultimately, that’s why all of this elections work matters: pro-conservation priorities now mean our kids and Colorado’s future generations can breathe clean air, drink clean water, and enjoy the public lands that we enjoy today.

Thanks for all you do. 

Pete