U.S. Senate
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(D) J. Hickenlooper*
(R) Somebody
80%
20%
Governor
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(D) Joe Neguse
(D) Phil Weiser
(D) Jena Griswold
60%
60%
40%↓
Att. General
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(D) M. Dougherty
(D) Alexis King
(D) Brian Mason
40%
40%
30%
Sec. of State
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(D) George Stern
(D) A. Gonzalez
(R) Sheri Davis
40%
40%
30%
State Treasurer
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(D) Brianna Titone
(R) Kevin Grantham
(D) Jerry DiTullio
60%
30%
20%
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(R) Jeff Hurd*
(D) Somebody
80%
40%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert*
(D) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Jeff Crank*
(D) Somebody
80%
20%
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) B. Pettersen*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(R) Gabe Evans*
(D) Yadira Caraveo
(D) Joe Salazar
50%
40%
40%
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
July 21, 2021 11:30 AM UTC
21 Comments
Someone needs to explain this to me:
– If a person is being recalled, they are in office and were elected by the majority of voters.
– If a recall election occurs, all taxpayers (I realize many taxpayers do not vote) are held responsible for the costs of the recall election. That said, the majority of voting taxpayers are being required to pay for a recall election that they may not agree with.
What I need to have explained is why are recall elections not required to fund the entire process themselves?
I don't know the answer PMan,but that is a very good question. Lately recalls are nothing more than silly grandstanding exercises in futility. Why should tax dollars be wasted on them ?
Recall elections were a Progressive Movement innovation … "Progressives wanted to strengthen the control of the people over the levers of government, while reducing the influence of the special interests, and the recall power was one way of accomplishing this goal." Constitutions allow for impeachment for crimes or corruption; the recall was an equivalent power for the people — some thought the legislatures would be incapable of rendering nonpartisan verdicts (imagine!). .
The question of gauging when there is "enough" of a reason for recall is inherently political. If the system required putting up money for the cost of the election, only (relatively) affluent people or organizations would be able to afford the efforts.
Reforms I've seen mentioned are
* increasing the number of signatures needed to a substantial proportion of those voting to elect the official. Colorado currently says 25%, some have suggested pushing it up.
* having the vote limited to a "regularly scheduled" elections covering the district, thus avoiding "extra" expense and probably insuring a more extensive group of citizens voting.
I too have a question, maybe rhetorical. What kind of campaign spends most of its contributions on an attorney?
If memory serves, the city clerk in Westminster threw out about a third of the sigs on the proponents' petitions to get the recall on the ballot. The proponents sued, and the Adams County District Court ultimately decided that the clerk's reason for rejecting the signatures was illegitimate. I assume Money Badger was plaintiffs' counsel in that case. Still, the bill was pretty goddamn steep.
Money Badger – where have I heard that before? OK, that makes some sense. You've gotta get on the ballot in the first place.
Damned if I know.
Pman, I looked in the Colorado Constitution: Article 21, Section 4, page 202 of this pdf at this link, which gives you the US founding documents, as well.
The only notation under expenses of recalls is that, in the event of a failed recall, the officer not recalled can be reimbursed for their expenses by the taxpayers.
Other than that, the Colorado Constitution leaves it up to local governments and the state legislature regarding who pays for recalls. It looks like our state leg is on the case.
. One fun fact I didn’t know: if Jared Polis were ever actually recalled, his Lieutenant Governor, Diane Primavera, would assume his duties. So they’d swap a libertarian liberal for a public health care advocate!😆
In the Westminster case, it will probably be the Westminster city taxpayers who foot the bill. But you should look up your Westminster city council docs to be sure. The recalls of Giron and Morse in 2013 were paid for initially out of the City Election Clerk’s budget, which he was not happy about, but were ultimately reimbursed by the General Fund of Colorado,
The Green Mountain Water District has an upcoming recall of three board members, although not one successor candidate has stepped forward. That $80,000 bill will be borne ultimately by GMWD customers.
Thanks for the links, kwtree. I will look into them. Maybe recall efforts should be required to establish escrow accounts to cover the public costs? Win or lose, they pay up. Obviously, they can pay on their own dime whatever lawyer they choose.
I think escrow accounts for wannabe recallers is a great idea. Doesn’t have to be a ruinous amount. 10% of estimated costs required upfront should pop a lot of those recall bubbles. Pitch it to your state rep for the next session.
Recalls are clearly the Colorado GOP’s last stand. They can’t run electable candidates. They have no coherent message. All they have is a stream of Qanon crap, the Big Lie, and racial fear and division.
Make them put their money where their mouth is.
You people need to get a grip.
$20K+ for the Honey Badger is not real money.
It is peanuts.
To most folks, $20k is nothing to sneeze at.
Aren't you the guy, or gal, that posts the "Today is…..day", every day? Maybe tomorrow you can declare it "Get a Grip On It Day". Just don't post any pics of you "getting a grip" on it.
“Gessler’s treachery to society“
Exaggerate much? Give me a break.
"treachery to society……" I tend to ignore idiotic comments like that.
It's too bad that the writer chose to mix in such b.s. with actual facts.
He pocketed 40 grand and cost Westminster $250,000. That's treachery in my book.
If you don't like the florid language the Guvs use, you could always write your own blog.
Fladen has been white knighting for Gessler since he was SoS. They're fellow legal beagles.
https://www.coloradopols.com/diary/55423/breaking-iec-ruling-against-gessler-upheld
Scott Gessler, tireless champion of . . . ummm . . .
. . . Scott Gessler??
I’d call any public official who knew better and lied to the public (like Gessler did by promoting Trumpy election lies against the best voting system in the United States) a traitor, in that they have openly chosen treachery to their oath, and to their constituents.
In the immortal words of Peter Gibbons, "Fucking A."
Article III, Section 3, of the US Constitution has specific language regarding what constitutes treason. Suggest that you read it.
CHB if you read my reply nowhere did I say he should be brought up on Federal charges. You made that assumption. You do that a lot. I specifically said he was a traitor to his constituents and oath of office. Federal Treason is a whole other ballgame.