Hickenlooper for Colorado

Partners for Colorado

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Over the next few months, the Partners for Colorado team will engage a diverse group of people to recruit and evaluate candidates to run each major department in state government.

The transition team will lead the effort to make state government more efficient by reviewing current performance, challenges and opportunities in each department. Working with a group of 14 statewide co-chairs, Partners for Colorado will develop recommendations for improving practices within these areas.

To Learn more about the transition process or to volunteer for a committee, visit PartnersforColorado.com

I have always placed a high value on public input in the process of governing. During the campaign, we built an economic development plan from the ground up by visiting every county in Colorado and discussing their specific economic needs.

Partners for Colorado will use that same collaborative approach to build the new administration by actively engaging the public and hearing from Coloradans from across the state. We will hold eight public transition meetings on Nov. 13th and 20th in Greeley, Lamar, Pueblo, Alamosa, Durango, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and Breckenridge.

I also encourage you to submit your comments and ideas on the transition website: PartnersforColorado.com. There is also information about how to apply for cabinet-level positions in the Governor's Office, and how to volunteer for the Hickenlooper-Garcia transition team.

To learn more about the transition process as well as opportunities in the new administration, visit PartnersforColorado.com

The problems we face are too big for partisan politics. Partners for Colorado is committed to transparency and building a diverse administration by hiring the best-qualified and talented people lead our state agencies.

Together, we will bring a business perspective to state government, creating jobs and finding efficiencies that save the taxpayers money.

Thanks,

John Hickenlooper

Thank you Colorado!

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

This is not the end of our journey. This is the beginning. And it starts with bringing people together.

To Dan Maes and Tom Tancredo -- I have learned how much you love Colorado and I admire the tenacity of your supporters.

Starting tonight, we set aside our differences and work together to rebuild hope in our state and get our economy back on track. That's what our friends and neighbors want.

That's what Colorado needs.

To my supporters, I want to thank all of you who have knocked on doors, who have made phone calls and who have been part of our campaign.

I especially appreciate your commitment to keeping this a clean campaign. You have made history tonight by showing you can win with a message of what you are for, not who you're against.

I had to take a few showers with my clothes on -- but I'm proud to say that we won the support of Colorado voters without running a single attack ad.

I want to acknowledge and thank Governor Bill Ritter. He leaves a legacy for which we should all be grateful.

I want to thank my partner in this race, my running mate, Joe Garcia, who will be a great lieutenant governor.

And I want to thank my wife Helen and our son Teddy for their support and encouragement.

We began this journey back in January. For 10 months we traveled Colorado, from one state line to the next. Spending this time with the people of Colorado has been a tremendous inspiration.

What stands out for me is the pioneer spirit -- a certain Western pride -- that you find in every community and every corner of Colorado.

It's a "can-do" way of life. Perseverance. Faith. Optimism.

In the midst of hard times -- the toughest we have seen in our country since the Great Depression – Coloradans still look up.

I'm thinking of the dairyman in Logan County -- of the toy makers in Fort Collins -- of the farmers and small business owners I met all over Colorado.

And I'm thinking of young entrepreneurs like the ones in Steamboat Springs who took their Colorado outdoor gear called Smart Wool and figured out how to market it to the world.

I heard stories from Coloradans of all walks of life, reflecting the rich diversity of our state, They have one thing in common: They care about moving Colorado forward and getting our economy back on track, educating our kids and solving the big problems we face in ways that bring people together.

Because the problems we face are too big for partisan politics.

Too many in Colorado are out of work or at risk of losing their job, and struggling to care for their families.

So tonight, the political campaign is over and the business of putting Colorado back to work begins.

We will implement a jobs plan that starts with economic development at the grass roots level, empowering local communities by starting with their vision of what works best and building on that vision to make Colorado a national center for innovation in every field from agriculture to energy and technology.

We want every talented person who wants to open a business to think: "Colorado -- that's where the innovative talent is. That's where I want to live. That's where I want to grow my business."

Now, I know from running restaurants that sometimes the best thing government can do for business is get out of the way.

Let's cut the red tape and make government more efficient. We have no choice but to do more, and perform better with less.

We can make Colorado a place that is pro-business, but still maintain the highest standards to protect the health of our citizens and preserve the land and water, and the quality of life that makes Colorado special.

We can tackle the challenge of keeping our schools funded, including higher education, because the path to success goes through a classroom door. And we can ensure a safety net is in place for those most in need.

We will work with the new Legislature in a collaborative way, to balance the state's budget, keeping our priorities straight and focused on economic recovery.

In spite of the hard times we face, I can honestly say that in all 64 counties of this great state I met people who have what it takes to get us back on track.

They share in the belief that Colorado is still the best place in the world to live and work. The global recession didn't start here, but we mean to end it here.

But it's going to take all of us. It's going to take Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between. It's going to take people from the Eastern plains, Northern Colorado, the Western Slope, the San Luis Valley, and the Four Corners. It's going to take ranchers, farmers, artists, teachers, developers, seniors, environmentalists, and entrepreneurs.

It's time to set aside those labels. Everyone is needed at this table.

We are one Colorado, and our future begins right now.

Thank you,

John Hickenlooper

Full Responses to the Denver Post's Questionnaire

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Answer Yes or No:

Would you legalize marijuana?
No.

Do you support term limits?
Yes.

Should gays be allowed to marry?
I support civil unions.

Would you accept future federal stimulus money?
Yes.

Should the death penalty be repealed?
No, but it should be restricted.

Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Colorado high schools be
eligible for in-state tuition?
No. It is currently illegal.

Would you reverse the new limitations on payday loans?
No.

Would you support expansions in Colorado gambling (i.e., keno, more
casinos)?
No.

Is the state constitution too easy to amend?
Yes.

Pick one or the other:

Beer or wine?
Beer.

Beatles or Stones?
Stones.

Lady Gaga or Lady Antebellum (or Lady of Spain)?
Lady Day (Billie Holliday).

Nuggets or Avs?
Whoever is playing at home.

Whole Foods or Safeway?
Glad to have both companies employing Coloradans.

Downhill or cross country?
Both.

Coors or New Belgium?
Like and use both.

Hummer or Prius?
Prius.

Do it yourself or a housecleaning service?
Like and use both.

And for you Tea Partyers, Lipton or Celestial Seasonings?
Celestial Seasonings is a great Colorado company.

Hickenlooper Thanks More Than 14,300 Individual Contributors, Sets Fundraising Mark

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

More than 14,300 people have contributed to Hickenlooper's campaign since he entered the race as an underdog in January, according to reports filed with the Secretary of State's office. Contributors represent a cross-section of Colorado with wide-ranging, bi-partisan support.

"Nine month ago we stood in front of the Capitol and said we would run a different kind of campaign if people would support us," Hickenlooper said. "But even we could not have anticipated the momentum generated by our pledge to run a positive campaign focused on creating jobs and bringing a business sense to government."

With a month to go in the election, Hickenlooper has garnered support from more individual contributors than any candidate in the 2006 gubernatorial cycle or this year.

In September, those supporters gave just over $700,000 to bolster Hickenlooper's campaign. Though the month spans three reporting periods, it represents the most successful fundraising month so far for the campaign.

"I was told it would be impossible to run a positive campaign for governor when I started," Hickenlooper said, "but the challenges we face in Colorado are too important for petty political attacks. I said I would focus on finding solutions and turning our economy around, and it is clear now that people have responded. I can't say 'thank you' enough."

On Monday, Hickenlooper for Colorado reported total contributions of $361,200.11 in the latest reporting period. The campaign spent $146,972.44 and had $433,526.86 on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Hickenlooper and Garcia To Promote Health Care, Education for Colorado Veterans

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The candidates laid out a plan to promote better access to health care, useful training and education for returning veterans, and how they will work to end homelessness for veterans.

“Colorado’s veterans and their families pledged to serve our nation, and it is important to Joe and me that our state meets its obligations and shows our gratitude,” Hickenlooper said. “If we are elected, Joe and I will work hard to meet the growing health care needs of our veteran population and make sure our returning veterans get the training and education they need to successfully enter the workforce here at home.”

More than 420,000 veterans live in Colorado, making the state meet its obligations is critical. Veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq mean more service members are leaving military service and seeking care through the Veterans Administration system. Hickenlooper and Garcia said they will work to ensure the state has the resources necessary to meet the needs of our veterans.

“I grew up in a military family, and I understand how important it is that we honor the people who served our country,” Garcia said. “John and I want to make sure that our aging veterans and our returning veterans get the care they need.”

Hickenlooper has also worked hard to address the issue of homelessness among veterans in his time as Denver Mayor. Through the City’s 10-year plan to end homelessness, Denver’s Road Home program, chronic homelessness in Denver has declined 60 percent, and the city has set a goal of getting every chronically homeless veteran off the streets by the end of next year.

Hickenlooper and Garcia discussed several issues with veterans and laid out several priorities for helping veterans. The issues include:

• Aging Veterans: The State Board found that the segment of Colorado’s veteran population over 75 years of age and eligible for veteran nursing home beds will increase by nearly one-third between 2010 and 2025. This will require 786 beds in state veteran nursing homes compared to the 606 beds currently available. The state’s veteran’s nursing homes are currently operated by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). We will work to resolve the disconnect to ensure that veterans using the veterans nursing home system are receiving continuity of care and access to full benefits.

• Rural Veterans: A disproportionate number of Colorado’s veterans reside in rural communities with little or no veterans health care facilities. Colorado’s seven VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) provide some care to these veterans but many individuals have to make frequent trips to Denver to receive treatment at the Denver VA Medical Center. The construction of the new VA Hospital at Fitzsimons will not solve this problem. A critical issue for many of these veterans is transportation to Denver or to one of the regional CBOCs. We will work to respond to these transportation needs through mechanisms such as Veterans Trust Fund grant money to pay transportation expenses for these rural veterans.

• Job Training, Rehabilitation & Business Opportunities: The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Personnel and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation need to be fully equipped to provide a high level of job training, rehabilitation and business opportunities. As younger veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan, it is critical to provide resources to ensure a seamless transition for them back to civilian life. In addition, veteran-based job training programs such as Veterans Green Jobs and others provide specific job training and placement services that will continue to be critical in combating the high rates of homelessness among this population.

• Support for Guard and Reserve Personnel Returning from a War Zone: These personnel often do not have access to the same transition support provided to the active duty military, including mental health support to assist soldiers and their family members dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. They also need to be guaranteed their jobs on return. We will work closely with the State Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure that returning personnel will have their jobs back. In addition, we believe that the state’s National Guard forces must be adequately retrained and equipped to be capable of performing its their state disaster response mission.

• Support for the Development of Fitzsimmons Hospital: In the same spirit of cooperation that existed between Denver and Aurora to develop the world-class medical campus that now exists at Fitzsimmons, we will continue to work collaboratively to foster both cutting edge research and economic development opportunities afforded by this health care model. The Fitzsimons Life Science District is the center of Colorado’s bioscience community and is one of the largest bioscience developments in the country. The addition of a world class VA health care facility that will be conducting cutting edge research on PTSD and traumatic brain injury will greatly enhance the campus.

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Maes and Hickenlooper Commit To Running On The Issues; Announce Debate Schedule

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Dan Maes and John Hickenlooper agreed to 10 debates, including the Colorado Decides 2010 “Gubernatorial General Election Debate” that aired last week.

“Coloradans are sick and tired of the personal attacks that tend to typify election season,” Maes said. “John and I will engage each other on the issues on these 10 occasions and at numerous other forums and smaller events to let Colorado voters decide whose vision for the state they prefer.”

Hickenlooper said he appreciated the commitment to a substantive campaign from Maes.

“Dan and I have had healthy disagreements on various issues throughout the campaign so far, but I respect the way he has campaigned with class and respect,” Hickenlooper said. “I’m confident our joint commitment to discuss the issues facing our state will mean the rest of the country takes note of Colorado as a place that does things the right way.”

In addition to the agreed upon debates, both campaigns will participate in numerous forums on a range of issues before Election Day.

The debate schedule is based on invitations the campaigns received and joint availability of the candidates. Any decision on inviting third-party candidates is up to the individual event sponsors.

The Maes and Hickenlooper campaigns have formally agreed to the following debates:

Sept. 2:      Colorado Decides 2010 “Gubernatorial General Election Debate;” Denver
Sept. 11:     Club 20; Grand Junction
Sept. 17:     Progressive 15; Loveland
Sept. 25:     Action 22; Colorado Springs
Oct. 5:       Channel 7; Denver
Oct. 12      Pueblo Chieftain; Pueblo
Oct. 13:      The Denver Post/ 9news; Denver
Oct. 14      Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry; Denver
Oct. 22      Fox 31; Denver
Oct. 29      CBS 4; Denver

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