Taking aim at the issues

Guv candidates agree to disagree on variety of topics

Rocky Mountain News

Published June 23, 2006 at midnight

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Now that Marc Holtzman's bid for the Republican gubernatorial primary ballot has been given last rites by the Colorado Supreme Court, it's time to look ahead to the November election battle between the GOP's Bob Beauprez and Democrat Bill Ritter.

Here's how the two candidates are contrasted on the issues - at least as of today:

• Issue: Marriage

Beauprez: Supports a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

Ritter: Opposes proposals to ban gay marriage; supports domestic partner benefits and same-sex unions.

• Issue: Immigration.

Beauprez: Wants to implement a quick, affordable system to allow employers to verify that people they hire are not in the U.S. illegally. Opposes spending state money to provide services to illegal immigrants beyond those required by the federal government. Supports the Defend Colorado Now initiative and Gov. Bill Owens' call for a special session of the legislature to address it.

Ritter: Supports strengthening border security and more rigorous enforcement against employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. Would deny welfare and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Opposes the Defend Colorado Now initiative and the call of the legislature's Democratic leadership for a special session to address immigration questions.

• Issue: Abortion

Beauprez: Opposes abortion except in instances when it is required to save the life of the mother. Opposes what some groups call partial-birth abortions, favors notification of at least one parent or guardian before a minor receives an abortion, and opposes taxpayer funding of abortions.

Ritter: Personally opposes abortion but supports the availability of birth control and emergency contraception. Would restore the family planning funding that has been cut as part of an overall objective to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.

• Issue: Education

Beauprez: Supports the concept of vouchers in education; believes parents should have a choice of public, private, charter and home schools. Supports standards- based testing.

Ritter: Opposes vouchers; believes public education money should be spent improving public schools. Supports standards- based testing.

• Issue: Death penalty

Beauprez: Does not oppose the death penalty.

Ritter: Does not oppose the death penalty.

• Issue: Taxes

Beauprez: Supports Initiative 88, which would return excess Referendum C money to taxpayers. Opposed Referendum C.

Ritter: Opposes Initiative 88; supported Referendum C.

• Issue: Health care

Beauprez: Supports additional market-based reforms, including increases in health savings account use. Wants to prevent additional mandates on employers, such as requirements detailing the specific kind of coverage they must offer. Opposes any repeal of recent tort reforms.

Ritter: Supports establishing a plan to provide access to affordable health insurance for Coloradans who currently don't have coverage.

• Issue: Amendment 38

Beauprez: Supports Amendment 38, which would make numerous changes to the petition process.

Ritter: Opposes Amendment 38.

• Issue: Renewable energy

Beauprez: Supports coal liquefaction, wind technology and agricultural alternatives, such as ethanol and biodiesel.

Ritter: Supports efforts to find cleaner ways to maximize use of fossil fuels as well as increased use of solar and wind technology and agricultural alternatives.

Troubled campaign

Marc Holtzman announced his campaign for governor Dec. 22, 2004, becoming the first candidate to enter the race. The beginning of the end of his campaign began this spring.

• March 6: Lobbyist Steve Durham files a complaint with the secretary of state, alleging that Holtzman last year worked hand in hand with an issues committee fighting Referendum C, then was aided by the committee in his own campaign for governor. Durham argued that Holtzman's actions were illegal under Colorado law.

• April 20: Holtzman files paperwork with the state to petition his way onto the primary ballot.

• April 24: Holtzman's campaign begins printing petitions.

• April 28: Holtzman decides to attend the Republican Party's assembly May 20 in Colorado Springs.

• May 20: Congressman Bob Beauprez, who is challenging Holtzman for the GOP nomination, captures 72 percent of the vote among delegates at the state assembly. Holtzman receives 28 percent of the vote. Holtzman vows to petition his way onto the Aug. 8 ballot.

• May 22: Bob Martinez, the state's Republican Party chairman, asks Holtzman to get out of the governor's race, saying he fears a divisive primary could ruin the party's chances in the general election. Holtzman refuses.

• May 23: Holtzman promises to keep campaigning even though 33 GOP lawmakers asked him to stop.

• May 25: Holtzman turns in more than 21,000 signatures to the secretary of state's office.

• June 1: A Denver judge rules that Holtzman violated Colorado campaign finance law by illegally working hand in hand with a committee opposing Ref C last fall. Also, the secretary of state announces that Holtzman fell 743 signatures short of the number required to gain a spot on the primary ballot.

• June 2: Holtzman vows to fight his way onto the primary ballot, saying he has enough valid signatures to carry on his challenge to Beauprez for the party's nomination for governor.

• June 6: Holtzman says he will bypass filing an appeal with the secretary of state and instead will ask a Denver District Court judge to allow him back in the primary.

• June 8: Holtzman's attorneys file a lawsuit in Denver District Court with the aim of saving his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor.

• June 9: A Denver judge gives Holtzman a spot on the Aug. 8 Republican primary ballot, even though the courts have yet to determine if he has enough valid signatures to qualify for the primary. The ruling was in response to concerns that county clerks wouldn't have enough time to get ballots printed if Holtzman's name had to be added this summer.

• June 16: A judge rejects Holtzman's argument that signatures should not have to come from individual congressional districts because provisional balloting allows voters to cast ballots in any county. The judge also gives Holtzman 48 hours to appeal his case to the Colorado Supreme Court or his name will be removed from the ballot.

• Tuesday: Holtzman takes his case to the state high court. He wants the court to issue an emergency ruling keeping his name on the primary ballot until his appeal is resolved.

• Thursday: The state Supreme Court refuses to consider Holtzman's case. Holtzman drops out of the race and endorses Beauprez.

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