Adams County Commissioner shenanigans lead to deceptive ballot issue
October 18th, 2009
Vote NO on Adams County Ballot Question 1A.
Ah, the drama of local politics – a topic which I usually shy away from. However, for issues that truly matter I feel obligated to delve in and have my voice heard and that is the case with Adams County Ballot Question 1A.
In what was a contentious fight that ended up in Federal Court, the county commissioners have put an issue on the ballot that would do away with term limits for themselves as well as the sheriff, assessor, clerk and recorder, coroner, surveyor and treasurer. Commissioners Larry Pace (D) and Alice Nichol (D) led the way to the ballot issue, obviously not understanding that Colorado and Adams County voters have said two terms is enough for the professional politicians.
The issue originally included the district attorney as well but DA Don Quick pointed out to the commissioners that since his district included Broomfield County as well, the district attorney could not be included. Pace and Nichol chose to ignore the county’s top lawyer as well as their own legal counsel and decided to proceed anyway. It took Federal Judge Philip Brimmer to settle the issue and say that the DA’s position could not be on the ballot.
There are a lot of objections to the ballot issue as it includes the career politician positions like the commissioners in with the professional ones such as the sheriff. Most reasonable folks could understand a desire to keep professionals on board for longer as their experience can lend itself to longer terms. It is hard, if not impossible, to make the same case for the politicians.
To top it off, the ballot question is phrased very deceitfully. It says:
Shall your rights, as an Adams County voter, be restored to elect candidates of your choice….
Wow! Sounds pretty good and we of course want to restore our rights. WRONG. Voting ‘yes’ on this measure would give the politicians the third term they covet and obviously do not deserve.
The way Pace and Nichol pursued this issue has been heavy-handed and sloppy – the story told above is but a fraction of the shenanigans that went on. Ironically, the actions of the commissioners throughout this affair probably did more to make the case to keep the two term limit than anything. The politicians NEED a shelf life and two terms should be it as this episode demonstrates.
When you fill out your ballot, be sure to say NO on Ballot Question 1A!
I just looked at my ballot and the language was surprising. Your site was the first to come up in my Google search. I think that your comments are insightful.
Thanks,
Andrew
Glad to help, Andrew!
It is bad enough that the commissioners would go for this power grab but then to use the language they did on the ballot is just wrong. I guess they were worried if they played it straight they would lose. Hopefully the voters will give them the results they deserve.
Absolutely criminal. How this ballot language can even be legal is beyond me and those sitting up in Brighton should be ashamed of themselves.
I was doing an internet search on the City of Brighton’s upcoming election. I was not familiar with the listed candidates who are running for this election. Funny, the mail-in ballot did not list the political affiliations for the candidates. I guess it will be a big suprise to us in the end. I had already mark no on the ballot prior to finding your website. Yes the wording is deceitful, but since Clinton lied about Monica, I guess truth in advertising does not matter anymore. Hell, look at the current national situations. I gave up on the election process years ago. Common sense, what’s that. As long as the public schools and colleges continue to brain wash the future voters and the media continues the dumb down the masses, this country needs a miracle to pull us out of this sinking ship. Keep up the good fight and thanks for this website.
Thank you so much for your website.
While filling out the ballot tonight, I wanted more info on Ballot Question 1A, I looked in the handy, dandy voter information booklet that was mailed to me and it contained not one word about Ballot question 1A. Maybe an oversight…you think? (just a little sarcasm. sorry.)
Thank you for shedding light on this friend.
I’m voting “no”. The author is right. This is an example of an entrenched power (the county commissioners) attempted to manipulate the system in such a way that they stay in power. That is reason alone to vote against the ballot question.
I really don’t understand why people support term limits. You still need to be re-elected by your constituents. Isn’t an election the only indicator of whether a 3rd term is “deserved”? To suggest that experience is a bad thing for politicians is silly. You don’t get to start off being the Governor.
I can understand having a power check in place, but I agree, it is ultimately the choice of the people (as it is supposed to be, theoretically). Term limits need to be broadened, if not removed entirely.
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I’d like to suggest we have a ballot initiative in 2012 worded somewhat like the following:
Shall your rights, as an Adams County voter, be restored, shall Adams county repeal initiative 1A from 2009?
Yes
No
I think with a high turnout for the presidential election, we would see if what passed in 2009 was really the will of the people.
Thanks,
Andrew