Claudette Konola
 
I spent some time reading the websites of the Republican candidates for House District 54 last evening. David Cox doesn’t seem to have one. Both Ray Scott and Bob Hislop have very professional looking websites, although none are hanging out the way I am by blogging every day. It is hard to see where they stand on issues, other than by linking to news articles written about them, blogs where they have responded to questionnaires, and/or personal observation.

Scott  clearly bought into Grover Norquist’s adage about drowning government in a bathtub. In his remarks at the forum-to-which-I-was-not-invited, he said that he would sell all land and equipment held by the state of Colorado, and put the money in a rainy day fund to help counties when they take over the functions of state government. Given the story in today’s Sentinel about reshuffling in the staff at the CBI, I’m wondering what Scott has planned for law enforcement in Colorado. I’m also wondering if he knows that some of the land owned by the state is leased, and the revenue from the leases goes to support schools.

Cox seems to know that state money goes to support schools, but he has a secret plan to stop state funding of education, but get more money into the hands of parents with kids in schools.  When asked about it, his only comment was, “It really can work.” So, Show me.

Hislop wants to repeal the mill levy freeze. It is an unpopular freeze, but nobody ever wants to talk about the other side of the budget equation—the money goes to schools. What I can’t figure out about Hislop is why he wants to represent us in Denver. His experience and his website speak to protecting us against terrorists, but I‘m not sure how repealing the mill levy freeze and starving schools is going to raise a standing army. I think he is confusing Denver with Washington D.C.

Homework:

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/cbi_to_solve_backlogged_forens/ß article about backlog at Colorado Bureau of Investigation

http://colorado.mediamatters.org/items/200712150001ß article about distortions in reporting about mill levy freeze

http://www.thebell.org/node/1198  ß Article about the impact of mill levy freeze on schools
 
 
The Washington Post has an analysis of yesterday's 5 to 4 Supreme Court Ruling: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/AR2010012200659.html

Hold on to your Stetsons and baseball caps, Grand Junction. If you think you were tired of campaign ads in the last election cycle, you "ain't seen nothin' yet." The little guy won't stand a chance of standing up to corporate interests. A few days ago I pointed out that when one party owns all the checks and balances in a political district, corruption and cronyism creeps into the system. In an economy that is not well diversified, one or two industries will be able to tell voters who to vote for, without any regard for what is best for the people of the district. The only concern will be what is good for the industry. Gas flavored water? Get used to the new exotic taste!

Speaking of taste, please join me tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at La Bamba Mexican Restaurant at  546 Main Street in Grand Junction. The restaurant will be open for business as I announce my candidacy to become the Representative for House District 54.
 
 
It took longer than we had expected to get this website up and running, in part because I got distracted by announcing my candidacy early. Those of you who know me well, know that I am an avid reader of blogs, one of my favorite is www.junctiondailyblog.com because the blogger frequently scoops the local media with juicy stories about local politicians. His blog this morning was breath-taking. By using campaign finance reports, he was able to figure out that the House District 54 incumbent appears to have been double dipping, charging some of his expenses to both his campaign committee and deducting them on his IRS filings. This blogger has made the appropriate referrals, and the matter is now under investigation. I almost wish I were running against Steve King, because he is certainly lame now. Unfortunately, no Democrat or Libertarian or Green Party member (Greenie?) has stepped in to the race to replace Josh Penry in the Senate.

Speaking of announcing my candidacy early, I have to thank the same blogger for lighting a fire under me! Last Sunday I opened his blog and found that he had searched the Secretary of State’s records and saw that I had filed to run. Since the Grand Junction newspaper has a new political reporter, he had a bit of fun at the expense of the reporter, reminding him how to do investigative reporting. The reporter’s response was a brief call to me from his assignment in Denver covering the opening of the Legislative session. http://www.gjsentinel.com/search/content/news/stories/2010/01/11/011210_3a_HD_54_candidate.html

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I tried to hire this wonderful blogger as a consultant to my campaign, but he declined. He said that he couldn’t report objectively if he were paid. Imagine that! Ethics too! I am very disappointed, but I applaud his journalistic integrity.

This has been like one big snow ball rolling down hill, picking up speed and people along the way. The Sentinel story resulted in a call from KREX, where I was interviewed yesterday, and which aired reports at 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. yesterday and at noon today.

Now that I’ve informally announced my candidacy, I’ve got to get back to planning a formal announcement. I’m still working on January 23, but I plan on making a few comments at the Mesa County Democratic Party’s Executive Committee meeting Monday, and at the Delta County’s Central Committee meeting on January 21.

I’m trying to get signed up with ActBlue to accept online donations. Speaking of donations, please do what you can to support the people of Haiti.