When it comes to administering elections, there seem to be two philosophies. One would put hurdles in voters’ way in the name of preventing fraud. The other would make voting easier, more convenient and open. The name for that is democracy. Joe Neguse is in the second camp. His priorities are exactly what is needed in the office of secretary of state.
Neguse will face off against Republican Wayne Williams, who on paper has better qualifications. As El Paso County clerk, Williams has run elections. He also served for eight years as county commissioner. Williams proudly points to his successful oversight of the 2013 election that recalled former state Senate President John Morse. Perhaps what Williams means by success was the ouster of a top Democrat. If so, it would fit in with his critics’ fears.
He strongly opposed last year’s election reform bill, which simplified and clarified the state’s election process and improved voter access. Williams was also criticized during last year’s recall election when his office restricted early voting locations and hours. Turnout was significantly lower than in another recall vote in Pueblo where voter accessibility was better.
Neguse vows to do the opposite. The son of African immigrants, he is a lawyer focusing on employment, commercial and election law. In 2008, he was elected to the University of Colorado Board of Regents from the 2nd Congressional District. As a regent, he authored a resolution to make voter registration more accessible to students.
He would use technology to expand voter access, streamline the process for active military and work with county clerks to offer better access in rural areas. Every college campus would have a voting center. Participating in elections should be easy and welcoming. Vote for Joe Neguse.
The office of Colorado state treasurer is best known for two things: its involvement with the state’s Public Employee Retirement Association and as a stepping stone to higher office. To Walker Stapleton’s credit he has (so far at least) focused on the former. He deserves to be re-elected.
Walker Stapleton has overseen positive gains in Colorado’s investment portfolio every quarter he has served. He saved money by consolidating the state’s debt issuing process in the Treasurer’s office. He has consistently advocated a fiscally conservative approach to managing PERA, helping to ensure the plan’s viability.
Stapleton has also pushed for greater transparency from PERA, which has denied him data he says will help him in his job. That PERA would refuse him data about the pension plan reinforces the idea that he is on the right track. Vote for Walker Stapleton.
In Cynthia Coffman and Don Quick, the voters of Colorado face a difficult, but happy decision for attorney general. Both are experienced, qualified, remarkably intelligent and highly personable. This state would be well-served with either.
The choice then comes down to policy and philosophy, and with that Quick has the edge. His vision for the office is the more active and engaged. He lists four areas to target: safe communities and schools, protecting natural resources, fighting corruption and promoting equality and civil rights.
Quick points out that when young people graduate from high school, their chances of entering the criminal justice system drop by half. As an example of how that is done, Quick points to the Adams County Youth Initiative, a program he was involved with as district attorney. It brought together schools, law enforcement, nonprofits, mental-health providers and religious organizations to foster parental involvement, after-school programs, early-childhood education, bullying and substance-abuse prevention. After eight years, Quick says, graduation rates increased while overall juvenile crime dropped by 44 percent – 92 percent for the most violent crimes.
Whether Quick can replicate those results statewide remains to be seen. But that thinking deserves to be tried.