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Voter Services and Election Reform 2010
VS_2010
Enabling and educating the La Plata County voter to make informed decisions regarding their voting choices
To reference the 2007-2009 LWV-LPC Voter Services activities, click the Voter Services Archive page to the left.
Upcoming Events.
Local Election Results.
Upcoming Elections.
CO Ballot Initiatives.
Candidate Forums.
CO Judges Info.
La Plata County Election News.
Voter Registration.
Where to Vote.
Colorado Election News.
Census 2010.
US Voting News.
Electronic Voting News.
Correspondence.
refs & links.
Past Events.
Upcoming Events
Local Election Results
* 8/10/10 Durago Herald:A look at statewide elections
Upcoming Elections
*It is not too early to start thinking about the 2010 elections for Colorado State and Federal public offices.
CO Ballot Initiatives
*6/30/10 Fiscal Responsibility Information Committee of La Plata County: Impact Assessment of 3 Fiscal Policy Ballot Initiatives
We hope these questions will help you begin to assess the impact of Proposition 101, Amendment 60 & Amendment 61 on your district or agency. We would appreciate hearing about the specific impacts so we can educate voters about how they will be impacted by these 3 ballot initiatives. Please contact Dawn Haney at 970-903-8611 or dawn.m.haney@gmail.com for more information and to share the specific impacts to your district or agency.
*6/2/10 Durango Herald:Ballot-box budgeting stresses group
Think tank says voter measures may gut school, county finances
by Katie Burford
Herald Staff Writer
La Plata County government and Durango School District 9-R will lose millions of dollars if some tax-related measures on November's ballot pass, according to a recent analysis by The Bell Policy Center.
If Proposition 101 passes, the school district would see its revenue from vehicle-registration fees and the like fall from $2.1 million in 2009 to $30,254 when the measure is fully implemented.
The county, meanwhile, would see its share from the taxes go from $1.79 million in 2009 to $26,104, according to the report, which is posted on the county's home page...
*Are you interested in following the status of Colorado ballot initiatives that will be voted on Nov 2.
You may now track them by clicking CO initiatives. Choose Initiatives Filed from the lefthand menu and choose 2009-2010. The status of each initiative is given in the righthand column.
Initiatives must be submitted with petitions/signatures to the CO SOS no later than July 12. Verification should take 2 weeks so early August will produce the final list of CO ballot initiatives.
* CO ballot initiative analysis Bell Policy Center
* CO Ballot initiative analysis: Election November 2010: Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61 a presentation given 5/17/10 by Dee Wiser of Sherman and Howard, as organized by the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners
Candidate Forums
CO Judges Info
*8/3/10: The State Commission on Judicial Performance and local judicial district performance commissions have completed their evaluations of 134 justices and judges who are scheduled to stand for retention in the November 2010 election. The commissions are charged with providing voters with fair, responsible, and constructive evaluations of individual judges seeking retention, and providing judges with useful information concerning their performance.
*You my now read the Aug 3 Press Release related to the 2010 Judge evalution by clicking CO Judge evaluation for 2010
La Plata County Election News
*The following information is supplied by the La Plata County Elections Office and relates to 2010 county-wide elections:
Voter Registration
*4/23/10 Volunteers Needed
The League of Women Voters of La Plata County needs a few good people to help as registration circulators in the Voter Registration Drives between now and October 4. There will be training provided on how to complete a Voter Registration Form and basics of voter registration rules. We hope to have a booth at the Durango Farmers Market for registration this summer, and several other opportunities for registration circulators to help. Contact Trish Pegram (trishpegram @bresnan.net) if you're interested and get all the information.
*Are you registered to vote? Do you want to change your party, your address, your name? You may register or change your registration at the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder's office at 98 Everett St. Suite C (behind the Comfort Inn in Bodo Park, Durango, Colorado
*You may now register online directly with the Secretary of State of Colorado. Just click CO Secretary of State registration and click on register online.
*If you need to verify your current registration status, click CO Secretary of State verification and click on verify/update record
*If you prefer to register by mail in Colorado, click CO Secretary of State registration and click on register to vote. Print the form and submit it by mail to the County Clerk for the county of your residence.
*If you would like an application for a permanent mail-in ballot to be mailed directly to you for each election overseen by the La Plata County Election Recorder's Office click permanent mail-in ballot.
*If you need to register to vote by mail from outside the state or the US, you may access the National Voter Registration materials by clicking NVR and follow the directions
Where to Vote
*To vote in an election, you must be registered, know your precinct, and vote at the polling place assigned to your precinct.
*If you are not currently registered to vote in Colorado, see the register to vote link below.
*To find your precinct, click precinct and
answer the questions regarding name, address, and birthday. You will get your voter registration information returned. Note: The last two digits of the "Precinct Number" will be your precinct.
Colorado Election News
*3/16/10 Denver Post:Underdogs Buck, Romanoff make strong inroads at caucuses
By John Ingold and Jessica Fender
Colorado caucus-goers boosted the hopes of underdog candidates Tuesday night in the long-awaited first votes in a trio of high-profile races.
With vote totals from caucus straw polls still being tallied late Tuesday, former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff appeared poised to score a first-round win over incumbent U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the race for the Democratic Senate nomination.
Meanwhile, upstart Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck, the Weld County district attorney, was in a dead heat with former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, who had been viewed as the front-runner based on leads in fundraising, endorsements and polling.
*3/16/10 Mail Ballot Justification presented by Linda Daley, La Plata County Clerk to the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners.
US Census 2010
*1/4/10 Associated Press:Census Bureau kicks off once-a-decade head countBy STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
WASHINGTON + The Census Bureau kicks off its $300 million campaign Monday to prod, coax and cajole the nation's more than 300 million residents to fill out their once-a-decade census forms. The bureau will mail out the 10-question forms to about 120 million households in March.
On Monday, Census Director Robert Groves starts the nationwide campaign with an event in New York City where he is scheduled to unveil a 46-foot trailer called "Mail It Back." In all, 13 vehicles are to be present at about 800 events around the country, from small community happenings to the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four.
*9/16/09 US Census Bureau:About 2010 Census
What? Who? When? Why? Where? How?
*4/1/09 LWV-US: 2010 CENSUS A VITAL CIVIC COUNT OF ALL AMERICANS /League of Women Voters is 2010 Census National Partner
Washington, DC + The League of Women Voters today announced its role as a national partner in the 2010 U.S. Census. The decennial count takes place one year from today. We join with the U.S. Census Bureau and other organizations in emphasizing the importance of every single resident being counted in the community in which they live, Wilson stated.
Click LWVUS4/1 to read the full announcement.
US Voting News
*1/22/10 NY TImes: Executives Urge Public Financing for Campaigns By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) -- About 40 current and former corporate executives have a message for Congress: Quit hitting us up for campaign cash. In a letter to Congressional leaders on Friday, the executives urged Congress to approve public financing for House and Senate campaigns. They sent the letter a day after the Supreme Court struck down limits on corporate spending in elections...
*1/21/10 Wall Street Journal:Court Kills Limits On Corporate Politicking By JESS BRAVIN
WASHINGTON--A divided Supreme Court struck down decades-old limits on corporate political spending, potentially reshaping the 2010 election landscape by permitting businesses and unions to spend freely on commercials for or against candidates.
President Barack Obama attacked the ruling and said it gave 'a green light to a new stampede of special-interest money in our politics,' particularly 'big oil, Wall Street banks, health-insurance companies and the other powerful interests' that "drown out the voices of everyday Americans.' He pledged to work with lawmakers to craft a 'forceful response.'...
Electronic Voting News
Correspondence from our Members
*2/6/10 to Durango Telegraph: Democratic and Republican party caucuses posted by Trish Pegram, Vice President - LWV of La Plata County
The Democratic and Republican party caucuses will be held March 16, 2010. Each major party will caucus within La Plata County to start choosing candidates for the November elections. The results of each caucus will then be consolidated at county level and then at state...
Useful References & Links
*To search by state for specific voter information such as the facts about:
Absentee Voting, Ballot Measures,
Candidate Information, Early Voting,
Election Dates, Eligibility Requirements,
ID Requirements, Polling Place Details,
Provisional Voting, Resources and Links,
State Contact Info, Voter Registration,
Voting Machines
click VOTE411 sponsored by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
*For 8 steps on how to pick a candidate and vote, click pick and vote (courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Newton, Mass)
*To view all Elected Offices that are filled by La Plata County residents, click elected offices updated 1/20/09
Past Events
- Click SAMPLE BALLOT - AUG 10 ELECTION to view sample ballots for the Aug 10 primary election in La Plata County.
*Durango Herald:Candidates express views during forum
Primary election ends Aug. 10
by Ann Butler
Candidates for La Plata County Commissioner District 1 and Colorado Senate District 6 answered voters' questions at a League of Women Voters forum Thursday in the Durango City Council Chambers. A full house of more than 50 people kept volunteers shuffling chairs and questions.
Mail-in ballots should all be sent to registered voters by close of business today. They must be returned to either the Bayfield Town Hall, La Plata County Courthouse or La Plata County Clerk's Office in Bodo Park by 7 p.m. Aug. 10 or mailed back early enough to arrive by that time.
The League of Women Voters' Candidate Forum will be televised for about a week beginning today or Saturday on cable City Span 10. For more information about the primary election, visit http://www.lwvlaplata.org...
*The League of Women Voters of La Plata County invites you to attend a Candidate Forum for the August 10 mail-in ballot election. The forum will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the Ignacio Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave., Ignacio, CO. Come and bring your questions and meet the candidates. To view a flier for this forum, click Ignacio candidate forum
*The League of Women Voters of La Plata County invites you to attend a Candidate Forum for the August 10 mail-in ballot election. The forum will be held on Thursday, July 22, 2010 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm in the Durango City Council Chambers, 949 E. 2nd. Ave. Durango, CO. Come and bring your questions and meet the candidates. To view a flier for this forum, click Ignacio candidate forum
*The Fiscal Responsibility Information Committee, the 9-R School Board, and the League of Women Voters of La Plata County cordially invite you to attend an informational presentation on three of the ballot initiatives which will be on the November 2010 ballot: Amendments 60 & 61, and Proposition 101.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 10, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the 9-R Board Room at the 9-R Administrative Building, 201 East 12th Street, Durango.
Carol Hedges, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, will be the featured speaker. Ms. Hedges is a recognized expert on the effects of Colorado's TABOR amendment. Her current research explores spending and taxation in Colorado in light of fairness, efficiency and adequacy. She most recently was a senior policy advisor for The Bell Policy Center.
The potential impact of these three issues on publicly-funded education entities such as K-12 schools and colleges makes it important that we well understand the implications of the proposed changes to the Colorado Constitution and to state law. Descriptions and analyses of these initiatives can be found on The Bell Policy Center web site, at the Bell
*4/13/10 Duango Herald:Bayfield town election results change
Tiebreaker puts Morlan on board
by Patrick Young
Herald Staff Writer
Ed Morlan has won a seat on Bayfield's Town Board after election judges found an error in the vote tally from the April 6 election. Initially, Monty McMinn received 71 votes, resulting in a tie with incumbent Debbi Renfro. A recount showed McMinn received 66 votes, putting him in a tie with Ed Morlan.
To break the tie, the names of the two candidates were printed, folded and placed in a bag. Both candidates were present Friday as Morlan's name was drawn, awarding him a seat...
*4/7/10 Durango Herald:Bayfield election seats new board
Three of 4 open spots won by incumbents
by Patrick Young
Herald Staff Writer
Bayfield Town Board, three of the seats were won by incumbents. Trustees Tom Au, Gabe Candelaria and Debbi Renfro were each re-elected to serve another term. The fourth seat was won by Monty McMinn. McMinn will replace Brandon Luter, who was not seeking re-election.
Ignacio results from Tuesday's municipal election:
Mayor
- *George Whitt: 86 votes
- Ena Millich: 49 votes
Town Board
- * Lawrence Bartley: 89 votes
- * Ray Larson: 85 votes
- * Brad Egger: 77 votes
- Tom Atencio: 62 votes
- Tony (Mark) Blevins: 46 votes
- * indicates winners
*3/23/10 Durango Herald:9-R board fills Lynch's seat
Bruce Anderson was appointed also in 2006
by Garrett Andrews
Durango School District 9-R board members voted Monday to appoint radio broadcaster and one-time board member Bruce Anderson to fill a seat vacated by Paddy Lynch, whose tumultuous run on the board ended in February.
The board voted 4-2 to appoint Anderson at a special meeting. Floyd Patterson, Julie Levy, Wendy Rice and Andy Burns voted in favor of approval, and Jeff Schell and Joe Colgan voted against.
*4/13/10 Durango Herald:Water district holds mill levy election
For $200,000 home, tax would be $7 a month
by Dale Rodebaugh
Herald Staff Writer
Ballots will be mailed Thursday to voters in southeast La Plata County asking if they're willing to pay for a potable-water district they approved 20 months ago.
Votes must be cast by May 4. Voters may mail their Issue A ballot or hand-carry it to the office of Harris Engineering, the district's consulting engineer.
Voters are asked to approve a 5 mill (half a penny) property-tax increase to raise $5.1 million in 2011, and future mill levy increases cannot exceed 5 mills annually. Approval of Issue A also would remove the La Plata Archuleta Water District's revenue limit set by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights Amendment - allowing it to spend such proceeds and any other revenue such as from grants...
*4/11/10 Durango Herald:Baizel, Graham head to commissioner primary
Sen. Bennet wins majority of delegates
by Chuck Slothower
Herald Staff Writer
La Plata County Democrats sent Bruce Baizel and Scott Graham to the primary ballot for county commissioner Saturday, while awarding a majority of delegates to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in his race against former state Rep. Andrew Romanoff. Baizel won 49 delegates to 47½ for Graham. They both will appear on the Aug. 10 primary ballot...
*3/30/10 DuangoHerald:Republicans hold county assembly
Brown, Kennedy to face off in primary
by Garrett Andrews
La Plata County GOP Candidates
- Assessor: Tom Au
- Coroner: Carol Huser
- Treasurer: Ed Murray
- Sheriff: Duke Schirard
- Clerk and recorder: Tiffany Lee
- Commissioner for District 1: Bobby Lieb
Upcoming GOP assemblies
- 6th Senate District: 9:30 a.m. April 17 in Ridgway
- 59th Congressional District: 2 p.m. April 17 at the Durango Community Recreation Center
- 3rd Congressional District: May 21 at Loveland Budweiser Events Center
- Colorado State Assembly: May 22 at Loveland Budweiser Events Center
* 2/28/10 Durago Herald:Four seats on LPEA set for election
by Herald Staff Report
Election packets for people interested in running for a seat on the La Plata Electric Association board of directors will be available Monday at LPEA offices in Durango and Pagosa Springs. To be on the ballot, candidates must return completed petitions to the Durango office by 10 a.m. March 24.
One-third of the LPEA's director's seats are up for election annually, one in each of LPEA's four districts. Incumbent directors are Terry Alley, District 1, Archuleta County; Tom Compton, District 2, south and west La Plata County; Harry Goff, District 3, Durango proper; and Pam Patton, District 4, north and east La Plata County.
*The La Plata County Clerk and Recorder's office is moving in April to 98 Everett St. Suite C (behind the Comfort Inn in Bodo Park
*4/7/10 Durango Herald:Bayfield election seats new board
Three of 4 open spots won by incumbents
by Patrick Young
Herald Staff Writer
Bayfield Town Board, three of the seats were won by incumbents. Trustees Tom Au, Gabe Candelaria and Debbi Renfro were each re-elected to serve another term. The fourth seat was won by Monty McMinn. McMinn will replace Brandon Luter, who was not seeking re-election.
Ignacio results from Tuesday's municipal election:
Mayor
- *George Whitt: 86 votes
- Ena Millich: 49 votes
Town Board
- * Lawrence Bartley: 89 votes
- * Ray Larson: 85 votes
- * Brad Egger: 77 votes
- Tom Atencio: 62 votes
- Tony (Mark) Blevins: 46 votes
- * indicates winners
*The League of Women Voters of La Plata County will hold a Candidate Forum for all Trustee candidates on Thursday, April 1 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Bayfield Town Hall, 1199 U.S. Hwy 160B in Bayfield CO. Click Bayfield Candidate Forum for Trustees to view a flier on the Candidate Forum and plan to attend.
*The League of Women Voters of La Plata County will hold a Candidate Forum for all Trustee candidates on Tuesday, March 23 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Ignacio Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave. Ignacio, CO. Click Ignacio Candidate Forum for Trustees for a flier on the Candidate Forum and plan to attend.
* La Plata County Republican and Democratic Party Caucuses will be held starting at 7PM on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 in the following locations:
- Republican Party caucus locations
- Democratic Party caucus locations
Anyone can attend a caucus, but to participate and vote in the caucus you must be registered to vote with your party and attend the caucus in your precinct.
* La Plata County Republican and Democratic Party Caucuses will be held starting at 7PM on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 in the following locations:
- Republican Party caucus locations
- Democratic Party caucus locations
Anyone can attend a caucus, but to participate and vote in the caucus you must be registered to vote with your party and attend the caucus in your precinct.
* 9R School Board Durango, Colorado: 9-R PRESS RELEASE - BOARD MEMBER PADRAIG LYNCH RESIGNS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9-R SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER PADRAIG LYNCH RESIGNS
Board of Education To Seek Replacement
The Durango School District 9-R Board of Education will meet at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, and is expected to formally declare a vacancy in Director District A after receiving Board Member Padraig Lynch's resignation on Friday evening.
Board Clerk Kristy Rodri indicated that on Friday, February 12, Lynch submitted his resignation to the 9-R School Board effective immediately. Lynch is currently serving a four-year term as representative of District A. Mr. Lynch was well known for his strong advocacy toward the Career and Technical programs in the school district, and his dedication to doing what is best for kids. No reason was given for his resignation.
According to state law, the board must formally declare the vacancy at the next board of education meeting immediately following a member's resignation. The board has sixty days from the date the vacancy occurs, in which to appoint a successor. The appointee will serve until the next school board election, which is November 2011. If the board fails to exercise its appointment power within sixty days, the power passes to the Board President, who then has the unilateral authority to make the appointment, and must do so "forthwith."
For more information regarding the school board vacancy, please contact the Board Clerk Kristy Rodri, 247-5411, ext. 1448.
If you'd like more information about this topic, please contact Marty Kay Hutton in the 9-R Communications Office at mhutton@durango.k12.co.us or at 970-247-5411, ext. 1400.
*The League of Women Voters of La Plata County invites you to our annual "Legislative Lowdown" on Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM in the Peaks at the Durango Recreational Center. Hear Colorado State Senator Bruce Whitehead and Colorado State Representative Ellen Roberts discuss current legislative issues and the potential impacts on you as residents of Senate District 6 and House District 59. Remember to bring your questions and also join us for cake and coffee in celebration of the 90th year of the League of Women Voters. Click Legislative Lowdown 2010 to view a flier. sponsored by the League of Women Voters of La Plata County
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Last revised: August 15, 2010 11:02 PDT.
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