Citizen-led ballot initiatives and state and city-led ballot referenda are still being negotiated for the November ballot. The deadline for ballot questions to be finalized varies between county, municipality and state, but ranges from July to September. Adams and Arapahoe counties do not yet have any ballot questions finalized.
Below is a breakdown of the proposals that will certainly be on the ballot, and a few that are currently still in limbo.
State of Colorado:
Marijuana will undoubtedly be on the ballot again this year.
As of now, the only initiative certified by the Colorado Secretary of State’s office for the November ballot is Amendment 64, which would legalize marijuana for all people regardless of whether they’re using it for medical or recreational purposes, and it would regulate marijuana like alcohol.
The amendment is also being called the “Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act.” According to the campaign’s website, the initiative would make personal adult use of marijuana legal, establish a system that regulates and taxes marijuana like alcohol and allow for the cultivation of industrial hemp.
Proponents of the initiative succeeded in getting more than 86,100 valid voter signatures to get the proposal on the ballot.
There are also about 10 initiatives that are still going through the hearing process to make the ballot and about 20 initiatives that are currently awaiting their first hearing.
Some other initiatives that are close to becoming finalized are:
• Initiative 40, which would prohibit punishment for the possession of cannabis.
• Initiative 46, which would define the term “person” as being a member of the species homo sapiens at any stage of development. The proposal would make it unlawful for a child created through rape or incest to be aborted, and would prohibit some forms of birth control.
• Initiative 51, which would declare September 21 as Colorado Peace Day.
• Initiative 52, which would require proof of citizenship or “lawful presence” to obtain a driver’s license.
• Initiative 74, which would allow people who are at least 21 years old to carry a handgun, whether concealed or open, without a permit.
• Initiative 77, which would end property taxes by Jan. 1, 2017.
• Initiative 78, which mandates that the government may not burden a person’s or religious organization’s freedom of religion.
The Colorado House and Senate are also trying to pass a couple of concurrent resolutions that would appear on the November ballot if approved.
House Concurrent Resolution 001 would make a few changes to the state’s Department of Personnel and Administration. For example, currently, appointments and promotions in the department are made based on competitive tests. The tests would be replaced under the proposal with the requirement that there be a comparative analysis of candidates based on objective criteria.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 001 would repeal certain campaign finance provisions of the state constitution, and certain bill of rights provisions of the state constitution.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 002 would require the Colorado department of military and veterans affairs to establish and administer the state veterans assistant grant program. According to the proposal, it would authorize state-supervised lottery games to fund veterans programs, and requires the state lottery division to operate, market and advertise the lottery.
City of Aurora:
Aurora City Council members already approved one ballot question, concerning the start date for future Aurora mayors and Aurora City Council members.
It moves the swearing-in date from the first meeting after the election to the first regular meeting in December. The goal is to give newly elected council members time to acclimate and give outgoing council members the opportunity to wrap up business, according to city documents.
Another item that could make it on the November ballot concerns asking voters to extend a mill levy that’s set to expire. If voters approved the tax extension, it would generate about $5.8 million per year for city officials to use on road improvements and capital projects.
Residents have been paying property taxes of just under 2 mills since 1998. The two mill levies begin to decrease in early 2013 and officially expire in 2015.
The taxes are set to expire beginning in 2013, but the city can still ask voters to extend them in 2012 and 2013.
Cherry Creek Schools:
The Cherry Creek School District Board of Education this week unanimously approved a $125 million bond issue for the November ballot, funds that would go toward new technology, added security and building expansion across the district.
Because the plan takes advantage of refinanced past debt, and because of valuation assessment rates, if approved, the bond issue would not affect the mill levy for Cherry Creek School District property owners, leaving tax rates unchanged.
Adams and Arapahoe counties
District Attorneys races:
Voters will pick new district attorneys this fall to represent both judicial districts that cover Aurora.
Several lawyers are lining up to seek the seats being vacated by Carol Chambers in Arapahoe County and Don Quick in Adams County. Both sitting district attorneys are term limited. In the 18th Judicial District, which includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, four Republicans have announced plans to seek Chambers’ seat. George Brauchler, Leslie Hansen, John Topolinicki and Robert Wareham have all filed paperwork saying they intend to run for the Republican nomination, according to state records.
Topolinicki and Hansen both work as prosecutors for the district attorney’s office now and Hansen has long been seen by many observers as Chambers’ eventual successor. Brauchler, a former Jefferson County prosecutor, challenged Chambers in the 2008 Republican Primary but lost after a bruising primary battle. Wareham, who previously worked as a police officer in California, currently works in private practice in Highlands Ranch.
On the Democratic side, it appears just one candidate will vie for Chambers’ seat, former prosecutor and Arapahoe County Court Judge Ethan Feldman.
In Adams County, just one candidate has announced plans to fill Quick’s seat. Dave Young, one of Quick’s chief deputies, announced plans to seek Quick’s seat during a campaign kickoff event Feb. 21 in Commerce City.
Adams County Republicans also have not announced a candidate. In 2008, Quick, a Democrat, ran unopposed.
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.
Aurora Sentinel reporter Brandon Johansson contributed to this report.