Colorado candidates for governor and the U.S. Senate tried to sell themselves to the state’s ski industry Thursday, with some targeting the industry’s concerns and others sticking to their general campaign speeches.
Republican Senate candidate Jane Norton said she opposed current proposals, such as Hidden Gems, to designate hundreds of thousands of acres of state land as federal wilderness areas.
“The days of the federal government cramming wilderness or monument designations down the throats of local communities, recreation enthusiasts and businesses must end,” she said at Colorado Ski Country USA’s annual meeting in downtown Denver.
Her primary opponent, Ken Buck, when asked his position on the Hidden Gems proposal, said he was not familiar with it. Buck told the group that more efficiencies were needed in the worker visa program to secure seasonal employees.
Democratic Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff stuck to his stump speech, touching on a number of themes, including health care reform. Romanoff said it didn’t go far enough because it lacked a public option. He also said that global warming was a threat to future snowpack.
Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, who appeared by video link from Washington, D.C., said the possibility of losing snowpack was one reason he supports comprehensive energy legislation seeking alternative fuels and caps on carbon dioxide emissions.
The three gubernatorial candidates also appeared. GOP candidate Dan Maes, an Evergreen businessman, stuck to his campaign speech, saying he would be tough on illegal immigration and drastically cut the size of government.
His primary opponent, Scott McInnis, a former congressman and state lawmaker, reminded the attendees that he “never had a vote in opposition to your interests.” He also reiterated his support for Arizona’s tough immigration law.
John Hickenlooper, the Democratic candidate and Denver mayor, said the state needs to expand its marketing efforts for ski vacations, including smaller resorts.
Karen Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com
Days on the slopes
The Denver Post asked how many days they were able to ski last season, and if elected, what they would do about the traffic problems on Interstate 70.
Gubernatorial candidates
Scott McInnis (R)
Days skied: 0 (bad knees)
About I-70: The cash-strapped state can’t do much, but traffic management, especially on the weekends, can be continued. For instance, pre-positioned tow trucks along sections of the highway help cut down on the amount of time it takes an accident to clear.
Dan Maes (R)
Days skied: 0
About I-70: A monorail is a good idea, but the state doesn’t have the money right now. He is also “intrigued” by having a zipper lane, which would add an eastbound lane on weekend evenings and a westbound lane during mornings.
John Hickenlooper (D)
Days skied: 3
About I-70: Possible solutions might be found in northern Italy, where officials provide incentives to keep tractor-trailers off the road during peak times.
U.S. Senate candidates
Jane Norton (R)
Days skied: 0
About I-70: Colorado should seek more federal money but the final solution should be decided by state transportation officials.
Ken Buck (R)
Days skied: 0
About I-70: Colorado shouldn’t use federal money to solve the problem. In-state officials need to find a solution.
Andrew Romanoff (D)
Days skied: 0
About I-70: Colorado should pursue a greater share of federal transportation money. Also, there should be a study on a possible rail solution.
Michael Bennet (D)
Days skied: 5
About I-70: Ensuring efficient traffic patterns along the I-70 corridor is essential for maintaining a thriving economy in Colorado. Through working with groups like the I-70 Corridor Coalition and CDOT to get federal funding for improvements, we can make major progress toward achieving this goal. . . . It is imperative that we investigate alternatives to cars and look at the feasibility of mass- transit opportunities.
