A prominent Colorado abortion doctor warned Democrats on Monday that choosing Bill Ritter as their candidate for governor would doom reproductive freedom for women in the state.
Dr. Warren Hern, director of the Boulder Abortion Clinic, a private practice, said Ritter, as governor, would sign a law that makes abortion illegal except in cases of rape or incest or to protect the life of the woman.
“We will have two Republican candidates for governor, but one of them will be posing as a Democrat,” Hern said during a news conference at the Capitol. “That’s no choice for choice, and that’s not good enough.”
Evan Dreyer, Ritter’s deputy campaign manager, declined to reply to Hern’s comments.
The Ritter campaign released a written statement that said: “As governor, I would enforce existing laws, including Roe vs. Wade. It’s not part of my agenda to change these laws.”
Hern dismissed Ritter’s selection of running mate Barbara O’Brien, a supporter of abortion rights, as “window dressing” that camouflages Ritter’s opposition to those rights.
“If she were running for governor, we wouldn’t be having this meeting,” Hern said.
Hern has been challenging Ritter to explain his position on abortion since May, when the former Denver district attorney announced his candidacy.
In a series of letters, Hern has asked Ritter to explain whether he would support efforts to overturn abortion rights. Hern said he has never received a written reply.
At the news conference, Hern handed out a four-page leaflet printing his letters to Ritter.
“If you were elected Governor of Colorado, it would be an historic step backwards for Colorado and for the nation in the area of women’s rights and reproductive freedom,” Hern wrote. “It would mean that we have reversed direction in progress for women.”
Leaders at NARAL Pro- Choice Colorado and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains said they have not endorsed a candidate.
“We’re a pro-choice organization still hoping that we’ll have a pro-choice candidate for governor,” said Kathryn Wittneben, executive director, NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado.
NARAL and Ritter share “common ground” by emphasizing pregnancy prevention programs, Wittneben said.
Kate Horle, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said her group has neither endorsed nor opposed any candidates for governor.
Still, Ritter’s opposition to abortion rights has roiled some party leaders, who have refused to endorse him.
Senate President Joan Fitz- Gerald, D-Jefferson County, declined to support him last fall when she announced she would not be running for the nomination.
And House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, has said she might run for the nomination if Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper does not get into the race. Hickenlooper has told his top staff that he is listening to political experts who are urging him to run.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
