(Updated Oct. 23) Coloradans are voting by mail in important local elections from now to November 7. Read this for my recommendations if you live here -- and scroll down for my thoughts on partisan politics wherever you live.
I always vote Republican, based on the GOP’s vastly superior (though far from perfect) record of upholding the constitutional government that has made America the beacon of liberty and opportunity for all mankind.
Municipal offices and school boards in our state, unfortunately, don’t list partisan affiliations for the candidates. Here are the Republican (pro-freedom, pro-America) contenders in several metro-Denver communities close to my home. Exception: My DPS Board endorsees aren't R's but deserve your vote.
DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
“Elevate” slate favors choice, charters, academic excellence
Deb Scheffel
Randy Mills
Grant Nelson
Ryan Abresch
JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
GOP challengers to CEA union-backed incumbents
Erica Shields
Matt Van GiesonDENVER SCHOOL BOARD
These are not Republicans but all favor charter schoolsBarbara O'Brien (at-large)
Mike Johnson (district 3)
Rachele Espiritu (district 4)
Angela Cobian (district 2)
CENTENNIAL
Piko for Mayor
Turley for Council
Truhlar for Council
Sutherland for Council
Miquel for CouncilWESTMINSTER
Baker for Mayor (I prefer him to two other R's)
Clark for Council
DeMott for Council
Smith for CouncilCASTLE PINES
Blue for Mayor
AURORA CITY COUNCIL
Arnold
Gruber
Huffman
Mounier
O’Riley
Berzins
GREENWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL
Miklin
Bullock
Ingebretson
Moran
Lantz
LITTLETON CITY COUNCIL
Elrod
Clark
Brzeczek
Driscoll
Cernanec
Esses
ENGLEWOOD
Yates for Council
Gillit for Council
Hypsher for Judge
Jefferson for Judge
Montegna for School Board
SHERIDAN
Pishna for Mayor
Hartness for Council
BENNETT SCHOOL BOARD 28J
Meyer
Petre
Mark your ballot thoughtfully and return it early. And remember, political parties are the best idea our Founders never had.
Why? Parties help all of us by branding the candidates according to philosophy of government, by sharpening competition and contrast in the contest for political power, and by facilitating accountability while officials are serving and when they seek reelection.
Democrats and the media, with their “progressive” preference for government by expertise, elitism, and emotionalism, find parties inconvenient for all the same reasons that conservatives find them valuable.
The left prefers the murky shadows of nonpartisanship to the sharp clarity of R versus D, brakes versus accelerator. Don’t be fooled. They want you off guard for easier access to your wallet.
Years ago while serving in the Colorado Senate, I ran a bill to improve municipal government, school boards, and the vast RTD empire by making those elections partisan. By logic it should have passed, since Republicans then held both houses of the legislature and the governorship.
But the bill died in committee because some of my fellow R’s did the bidding of the very entities we were trying to reform — entrenched powers that feared an informed, aroused electorate.
Tell your state rep or senator to try it again in 2018. Eventually this good idea will prevail.
For more about how political parties help keep us free, check out my citizen's handbook, Backbone Colorado USA.
