Rifle – Colorado’s gubernatorial candidates were scheduled to debate energy policy on the Western Slope on Wednesday night, but Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez couldn’t help getting in a jab about his opponent’s record as Denver district attorney.
In his closing remarks, Beauprez again questioned why Democrat Bill Ritter as Denver district attorney pleaded down cases against immigrants instead of having them deported.
“I don’t want that kind of thing in my neighborhood,” he said, repeating an attack used in a debate Tuesday.
Ritter, who had already given his closing statement, could not reply.
“Most people I talked to after the debate said the congressman’s jab appeared desperate and looked like he was flailing for an issue to exploit at a debate he clearly lost,” Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said.
When the candidates concentrated on energy issues key to the Western Slope residents, the exchanges were just as contentious.
Ritter brought up Beauprez’s inclusion last week on the League of Conservation Voters “Dirty Dozen” list, which highlights legislators the league views as having the worst environmental records.
He challenged voters to check out Beauprez’s record of votes on energy and other issues that affect western Colorado.
He also referred to Beauprez’s oil-patch wildlife mitigation plan that has drawn criticism from a number of wildlife officials and brought down the derisive nickname of “the Elk Whisperer” on Beauprez.
“You can’t change migration patterns just because you tell elk to go to a different place,” Ritter said.
Beauprez pointed out that Rifle native and director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Russ George helped craft that plan.
Beauprez promised to keep on George, who is popular in the area and graduated from high school here.
“He will have a job in my administration,” Beauprez said.
Ritter said he also would consider keeping George, a Republican, on if he is elected.
“I wouldn’t foreclose on hiring a person from another party,” Ritter said.
Ritter, in a tie and dress shirt, and Beauprez, sans tie, sweated under the hot lights. Only about 260 people turned out instead of an expected overflow crowd at Rifle High School.
Spectators stayed politely silent during the debate, fanning themselves with campaign literature.
The local hot-button issue of severance taxes on oil producers revealed a split between the candidates.
Beauprez, in the strongest terms possible, said he would not raise taxes that oil and gas companies pay.
Ritter said he would like to listen to opposing points of view on the issue but did not reject a tax hike.
“I’m not going to foreclose on something like increasing the severance tax,” Ritter said.
But the candidates did not draw as clear a distinction between themselves on the controversial issue of compensating landowners affected by oil and gas drilling on their property.
“The current system, by and large, has served pretty well,” Beauprez said.
Ritter said that the state needs to take another look at the complicated way compensation packages are negotiated.
Staff writer Nancy Lofholm can be reached at 303-954-1201 or nlofholm@denverpost.com.
