Archive for April, 2008

Logan and Morgan Counties

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

We have gone from the County Assembly/Convention circuit to what I call the Luncheon/Dinner circuit. But before I mention that, the Larimer County Democratic Breakfast Forum was held on April 2, 2008 in Fort Collins. In addition to a room full of Democrats, Jeff Brady from National Public Radio was there to record my remarks on being a “superdelegate.” I just had a chance to listen to his remarks today. He didn’t use all my comments, but his story is one of many on the “superdelegate” process that is part of NPR’s coverage. Check out the website.

On Saturday, April 12, I went to Sterling for Logan County’s Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner. Sixty people attended a lovely dinner served by the local 4-H club. Delinda Korrey, a reporter with the South Platte Sentinel, covered the dinner and took photos. Delinda is also a delegate to the state convention this year.

Dorothy Davis was presented with the Service Award for all her efforts on behalf of the party. Jennifer Felzien, the great chair of Logan County Democrats, did a terrific job of presiding over the dinner. And Jack McLavey honored the Democrat of the Year while all of the past Democrats of the Year were honored as well.

I had a chance to talk about turn out in the state and the upcoming state convention. There were several new people in the room, as well as Democrats who are coming back into the party.

Betsy Markey gave a great speech about her run for the 4th Congressional District. She also announced that she would be back in Sterling to hold a town meeting with local voters in the coming week.

I enjoyed talking to Debi and Nita Wyatt who are doing the job of Co-Secretary. Nita has long been involved in Logan County politics. Now her daughter, Debi, is partnering with her in business and politics.

This past Saturday I attended Morgan County’s annual Big Ten Dinner. It was especially important because our friend Linda Iungerich attended and received the Democrat of the Year award. Linda has been ill over the past several months, and I had called to see if I could drop by on my way to the dinner. I was delighted to hear that Linda was coming to the dinner.

Tom Procter, chair of the Morgan County Democrats, emceed the evening. We heard from Bruce Bass, who received an award. Monisha Merchant spoke on behalf of Senator Hillary Clinton. Bill Winter spoke on behalf of Senator Barack Obama. And Adam Bowen, chair of the Larimer County Democrats, spoke on behalf of Rep. Mark Udall and his run for the U.S. Senate.

Betsy Markey had a chance to speak, as did I. However, the keynote speaker was state Senator Brandon Shaffer. He gave a great speech on the progress being made on behalf of Coloradans by the state Senate. “All politics is local” was reflected in his comments.
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Posted in CDP, Congressional Races, Counties, Presidential Campaign 2008, US Senate Race 2008 | Comments Off

Disabled Delegates to get First Class Transportation Services

Monday, April 21st, 2008

(Cross posted from Colorado Confidential.  Used with permission.)

http://www.coloradoconfidential.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=3693

by: Leslie Robinson
Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:41 PM MDT

Denver is home to the movement, spearheaded in 1983 by Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit, that pushed for wheelchair lifts on buses and other improvements so that public transportation would be available for people with disabilities. In 1990, lifts were required as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In recognition to the ADAPT movement, transportation plans are in the works to make the Democratic National Convention in Denver the most handicapped-accessible convention ever held.

David Kennedy, disability rights coordinator for the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, said he is finalizing his plans to transport delegates with disabilities to and from hotels and activities during the Democratic convention, Aug. 25-28. “Denver is the home of the movement championing the rights of the disabled, so we are setting high standards.”

Kennedy, who is also disabled, has been a long-time disability activist with more than 20 years of experience in project management for exhibitions, events, and building design projects, such as directing the ADA compliances for the new extension of The Denver Art Museum.

“First, we will find out in advance what special needs, such as mobility problems or hearing impairments, must be met,” Kennedy explained. “Then, we will design extensive day-to-day transportation plans to get those delegates with disabilities from the airport to hotels and to downtown for specific events, and then to the convention at the Pepsi Center.”

Joe Beaver, chair of the initiative Dems with Disabilities, a political arm of the Colorado Democratic Party, said he welcomed the efforts to accommodate delegates with disabilities.

“At the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston, our Colorado delegates in wheelchairs were often the last people placed on buses to the Fleet Convention Center and sometimes they had to wait a long time because there was no room for them on the first departing buses,” Beaver said.

“That will be totally unacceptable in Denver,” Kennedy said, reacting to Beaver’s story. “Boston couldn’t handle a sufficient flow of vehicles to their convention center, but that won’t happen in Denver,” Kennedy insisted.

Handicapped accessible vans will supplement bus routes to avoid bottlenecks and some taxis will be modified to transport wheelchairs, Kennedy noted. Special-needs designed three-wheel bicycles will be brought in, too “I’m working with a medical supplier now to have wheelchairs available with the free bicycles so delegates can freely move about downtown to events,” Kennedy added.

Beaver said his group is also going to work with the DNC, the Denver Host Committee and other organizations to help delegates with disabilities navigate Denver during the convention. “We want to sponsor a downtown information booth and a website that disabled delegates can refer to,” Beaver said. “Plus, we will put together a special transportation-access guide that will last long after the convention and could be a useful tourist tool to attract future visitors with disabilities to Denver.”

“Because of the ADAPT movement, it’s only fitting that Denver hosts the most handicapped-accessible convention ever,” Kennedy said, “And I hope we surpass expectations.”

Posted in CDP, National Convention 2008 | 4 Comments »

Fremont County's FDR Dinner and Mark Udall

Monday, April 21st, 2008

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

Saturday night, I was honored to co-emcee the annual F.D.R. Dinner for the Fremont County Democrats. My co-host was our great candidate for Fremont County Commissioner, Gloria Stultz (who just finished a very successful stint as the President of the Canon City Chamber of Commerce). Gloria is a great example of the wonderful successes we are seeing across Colorado in recruiting some of the best candidates for 2008 that the Democratic Party has ever seen.

The F.D.R. Dinner is certainly very meaningful to me. When I first moved back to Colorado after law school, the first event I attended for the local Dems was the F.D.R. Dinner. I met a lot of people who have done much since then. That’s where I met Tim Knaus and Chris Gates, who were running against each other (and the incumbent, Phil Perrington) for State Party Chair. In the end, both served terms as State Chair. I sat next to Margaret Atencio, who is now the Second Vice Chair of the State Party, and who was exceedingly nice to me. I also saw this energetic young Democrat who I’d met a couple of weeks earlier in Pueblo at a Young Democrats of Southern Colorado meeting — someone named “Buffie” McFadyen. Looking back, I’m amazed at the potential that existed in that room in February 1999.

During that dinner, the county chair, the late Beatrice Kauffman, announced that the local party needed people to volunteer to run for county party officer positions. Afterward, I went up to Beatrice and introduced myself (I’d just moved to Canon City about two months prior as a new attorney at a local law firm). I told her that I’d been heavily involved in politics at my college, and had worked on a number of campaigns, so I’d be happy to help out as, say, the county party secretary or treasurer. Beatrice responded, “You know, I really don’t want to be the county chair any more. I’ve been doing this for too long. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to be the county chair, would you?” And the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast-forward to 2008. The crowd was easily more than twice the size of the 1999 crowd. The faces were different in many respect, but the energy level and potential were not. There were still candidates for Party office (Ray Plumery, who is running for the Democratic National Committee, along with three or four who are running for National Convention delegate slots). Buffie was still there — but this time, she’s a senior-level State Representative.

And so was our next United States Senator. Mark Udall came down to Canon City with his campaign manager, Mike Melanson (who served, by the way, as the State Party’s Executive Director under the aforementioned Tim Knaus). Congressman Udall did a great job talking about his positive vision for America’s future. He focused on the need for a better national security and foreign policy agenda, and he also spent a great deal of time talking about the need for a common-sense energy agenda that focuses on new technologies and renewable resources. Congressman Udall was a huge hit, exciting the crowd so much he received two rousing standing ovations.

We also heard from other candidates. Hal Bidlack (candidate for Congress in the 5th CD) spoke at the beginning of the agenda, and he was funny, heart-warming, and insightful as usual. He seems to be a natural candidate, and he’s doing a good job of getting all around the district and meeting folks. Anna Lord, who is one of the most tireless campaigners out there, was present to talk about her follow-up bid for HD21. Cal Cali, who is a candidate for HD60, was also there to explain his thoughts and his campaign. Finally, we heard from Buffie McFadyen, who is running for her final term as a Representative for HD47. So far, the Republicans have not been able to field a candidate to run against her — they’ve run heavily targeted campaigns the last two elections only to come up losing by larger and larger margins each time. She brought down the house in her usual style — and even brought a tear or two by remembering Beatrice Kauffman and that first FDR Dinner we both attended in 1999.

In the end, Fremont Dems raised a great deal of money, and will have a good treasury to go into 2008 with. When combined with a great ballot of candidates, the Fremont Dems are looking to continue the transformation of this Republican county just the same way we’ve transformed what used to be a Republican state!

Posted in Congressional Races, Counties, County Races, State Legislative Races, US Senate Race 2008 | Comments Off

DemNotes: MIA?

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

I haven’t posted to DemNotes since the end of the county assemblies and conventions. That’s been a few weeks now, so I’m sorry that I’ve not gotten any more posts out since then. In the interim, I have been busy on a number of things, including preparations for the State Convention and Assembly in Colorado Springs, working on delegate selection, the national convention, and a few other things.

I’ve also taken some time to get some work done at my “real” job that had been piling up.

The one thing I did that I really do want to write about was emceeing the announcement for Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack, who is our candidate for Congress in the 5th CD. There was a great turnout at the Penrose Library in Colorado Springs a couple of weeks ago — well over 100 people showed up in the middle of a weekday to witness a great American announce his candidacy for Congress. Hal is a wonderful candidate — smart, funny, personable — and he will really make a run at this seat, building on the foundation set by the great run of Jay Fawcett in 2006.

State Chair Pat Waak was there, as was Mark Udall’s niece, Taryn Udall (who announced Congressman Udall’s endorsement of Hal). There’s even already a “Veterans for Bidlack” group out there working to build up support for Hal throughout this military-minded district. Many Republicans are realizing their mistake in electing Doug Lamborn to Congress, and they’re coming over — most for the first times in their lives — to support Hal Bidlack in his bid for this seat.

Hal could use some help all across this state. Take a second to go over to his website, and if you can afford to, drop him a donation or two:
http://www.bidlack2008.com/

——————————-

On a completely other note, the Denver 2008 Host Committee announced tonight where the fun spots will be for the Sunday night immediately prior to the National Convention. The Host Committee is responsible for the delegation welcoming parties for each delegation. I’ll post the full list below, but here are some highlights:

– In one of the worst-kept secrets around, it was confirmed that Colorado’s delegation party will, appropriately, be at the Governor’s Mansion.
– If you’re interested in rubbing elbows with those closest to the nominee, you will need to find a spot near the Denver Art Museum (Illinois) or the Pinnacle Club (New York).
– Or how about a party at Red Rocks? If you’re in the delegations from North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia, you’ll get it!
– Gov. Dean is likely going to be at the Phipps Mansion, where the Vermont and New Hampshire delegation parties will be.
– Want a world-wise atmosphere? Check out the Blair Caldwell Library, where the Democrats Abroad (as well as the Virgin Islands) will be hanging out.
– The District of Columbia has a pretty large delegation due to all of the At-Large (and influential) superdelegates they have (think Donna Brazile); they’ll be at the Museo de las Americas.
– Only twelve states have their own welcoming party: The aforementioned Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, and New York, as well as South Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, Iowa, California, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas. The rest of the delegations share parties with other delegations.

Now here’s the full list from the Host Committee:

List of State Delegation Party Venues:
Belmar Center – Alaska, Indiana, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee
Blair Caldwell Library – Democrats Abroad, Virgin Islands
Botanic Gardens – South Carolina
Center for the Visual Arts – Georgia
Colorado History Museum – Arkansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin
Denver Art Museum – Illinois
Denver Chophouse – Kansas
Denver Public Library – Iowa
Denver Zoo – Alabama, North Dakota, South Dakota
Downtown Aquarium – Connecticut, Delaware, Missouri
Exdo Event Center – California
Grant Humphries – Minnesota
Governor’s Mansion – Colorado
Hudson’s Gardens – New Jersey
The Lab at Belmar – American Samoa, Guam, Idaho, Hawaii
Museo de las Americas – District of Columbia
Museum of Nature & Science – Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
Palazzo Verdi – Nebraska, Oklahoma
Phipps Mansion – New Hampshire, Vermont
Phipps Pavilion – Mississippi, Montana, Wyoming
Pinnacle Club – New York
Red Rocks – North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Wildlife Experience – Texas
Wings Over the Rockies – Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Oregon, Washington

Let me make one thing clear, though. While I joke about where “you” want to be that night, these will be open only to the delegations listed, and guests of those delegations. You can’t just walk up, say, to the Denver Art Museum and get in.

Anyway, I’ll try to write a little more frequently; see you all around!

Posted in CDP, Congressional Races, DNC, National Convention 2008 | Comments Off