Early voting backs streamlining of ballot initiatives
Daniel Chaconand John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 13, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
A Denver ballot measure that would require police to seize cars from unlicensed drivers appeared to be passing, according to late returns.
Another ballot measure that would streamline ballot initiatives passed.
Initiative 100, which would force the owner of the vehicle to post a $2,500 bond to get a vehicle back, was leading by a 5-to-4 ratio with about 21 percent of the vote counted.
"I'm shocked, what with the mayor, the City Council and the council of churches against it," said Daniel Hayes, a Jefferson County resident who led the initiative. "I'm elated."
The ballot measure singled out illegal immigrants and drew the opposition of Mayor John Hickenlooper, who said it would be a drain on city resources.
"This misguided, impractical and legally questionable measure would divert precious safety resources - both in terms of personnel and funding - from critical public safety efforts," Hickenlooper said recently in a statement.
"We cannot afford to sacrifice public safety or common sense by burdening our safety personnel with additional requirements already covered by existing law," he said.
A majority of City Council members, religious leaders and the downtown business community also opposed it.
Hayes said he hopes the initiative will serve as a "springboard" for a statewide ballot measure. He maintained that it didn't target illegal immigrants.
"It's targeting people driving without a driver's license," he said.
"But I think there's a lot of illegals driving without a license."
Ballot totals also showed voters approved Question 1A, a charter amendment that eliminates the City Council's procedural duty of dealing with citizen initiatives.
Under the City Charter, the council had only two options when it received a citizen initiative or referendum: approve it as is or place it on the ballot.
The council's ministerial duty has created political angst.
Examples of ballot measures that the council has had to refer to voters include a 2004 ballot initiative aimed at banning circuses from exhibiting exotic animals and a successful measure last year to make adult possession of less than an ounce of marijuana Denver's "lowest law enforcement priority."
chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Legislature Blog
Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.
-
Rocky multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Who's next?
Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.
-
Rocky year in photos
View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs
-
Shanahan's career
See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.
-
12 days of Drew
Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
August 13, 2008
10:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hambone writes:
If this passes this means the people have spoken. Illegal immigrants are not wanted.