North Suburban Republican Forum

November, 2011
www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.org

Our next meeting is from 9:45-11:15 am, Saturday, November 12th featuring Matt Arnold of Clear The Bench Colorado and NSRF Board Member Brian Vande Krol discussing the November 1st election results and how reapportionment will affect you . We meet at our new location, the Anythink Huron Street Library community room, 9417 Huron St, Thornton, 80260. If you have a smart phone, use a bar code app for the QR code on the left, it will take you to our web site, www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com

NSRF upcoming calendar in 2011: December 10 Don Beezley on upcoming legislative issues January 14 What to do to prepare for the 2012 election season with your county party chairs February 11 Upcoming legislative bills and what you can do to inform your legislator March 10 850 KOAs Michael Brown discusses the 2012 election & the presidential candidates April 14 What has the Colorado Legislature accomplished so far this session and what is on tap? 1

Table of Contents: Colorados Chicago: Another Corrupt Democrat Revealed In Adams County
People's House Round-Up that is going on in Westminster Shout Out from The Wall Street Journal!

Colorado K-12 Election Roundup: Fiscal Restraint Beats Prop 103, Most Local Taxes: Reformers Win Key Races Republican Trumpeteers of Adams County Christmas Party Liberal Loon Carol Hedges: Prop 103 Failed Because It Was Big Enough Denied a third term in vote, DA Don Quick says tumult in Adams County seeped into election Adams County paid $1.6 million to settle sex-harassment allegations in coroners office Allegations mount in Adams County paving scandal CLaRO Monthly Business Meeting Eleven Challenges to Colorado Reapportionment Commission State Legislative District Maps Filed With Colorado Supreme Court Colorado Reapportionment Commission Colorado Reapportionment Commission adopts final state legislative district maps Colorado Supreme Court to review Elected Officials 2

COLORADO'S CHICAGO: Another Corrupt Democrat Revealed In Adams County

by: ColoradoPeakPolitics
Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 11:46 31 MDT This has past the point of ridiculousness. Virtually every elected Democrat in Adams County has now been tied to corruption in the last year. From County Commissioner Alice Nichol allegedly receiving cash payments of $10,000 from a company that charged the county to pave roads that didn't exist, to County Assessor Gil Reyes saving his campaign donors nearly a million bucks in taxable income through lowering their assessed property values, if you've got a D next to your name in Adams County you're probably corrupt. Today we add news of RTD Director Ken Riley from The Denver Post, who has apparently fled the state after illegally spending five figures of union money on his own RTD election. The news of Riley's troubles first appeared in a tweet from anonymous (& apparently very well informed) twitter user RockyMtnShadow on August 22nd that said that Riley had been "abruptly removed" from his position of Executive Director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union in the country. That tweet was followed up with detailed reporting by Adams County conservative blog Tonys Rants two weeks ago, a local blog we profiled on these pages back in April, praising it for its "assiduous" coverage of local corruption in ADCO. Complete Colorado called Tonys Rants story on Ken Riley a "must read." Today The Denver Post's award-winning investigative reporter, David Olinger, reports Riley is now under criminal investigation for his use of AFSCME money on his campaign, making him no less than the third Democrat in the county to come under criminal investigation this year. Olinger also reports Riley resigned in an email Monday evening, though his location is still not known. These three criminal investigations of Adams County Democrats are in addition to a slew of other ethical and legal issues for Obama's party north of Denver. Let's recount a few more eye-popping examples of ADCO Democrats' extensive and almost unbelievable corruption. Remember: this is only corruption exposed in the last year. 1. Sherriff Doug Darr (D-Adams County): Adams County was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in a case where the jury found Sheriff Darr violated the First Amendment rights of his campaign opponent, Mark Nicastle. Darr was found to have demoted Nicastle and also launched a number of unjustified internal investigations against Nicastle with the aim of damaging his candidacy. It was so bad even liberal lawsuit mavens Colorado Ethics Watch called for his resignation. What did Governor Hickenlooper do? He appointed Sheriff Darr to his gaming commission after sacking the entire existing commission. 2. Sheriff Doug Darr (D-Adams County) A CBS4 investigation found that "the Adams County Sheriffs Office has been doling out lucrative, taxpayer-funded summer jobs only to sons and daughters of department members." 3. County Surveyor Tim Thoms (D-Adams County): A CBS4 investigation found that "much of the county's car washing business was going to a car wash owned by county surveyor, Tim Thoms." This illegal conflict of interest spurred ADCO to discontinue paying for county cars to be washed for 30 days while they determined how to avoid future corruption. 3

4. County Assessor Gil Reyes (D-Adams County) Reyes pled guilty and paid a $300 fine for illegally accepting sports tickets from a campaign donor. Reyes was found to have saved the donor who gave him the tickets and other donors over $800,000 in taxes through lower property value assessments. The Colorado Department of Property Taxation found Reyes' actions clearly violated the law (PDF). 5. County Commissioner Alice Nichol (D-Adams County) has been accused of selling no-bid county road paving contracts to campaign contributors and of placing virtually her entire family in the employ of the county. A lawyer for the federally-indicted company, Quality Paving and Resurfacing, has claimed Nichol received a secret $10,000 cash payment for her help. All of this comes after last year's discovery that County Treasurer Diane Christner (D-Adams County) was using taxpayer resources to fund her campaign, the County Coroner James Hibbard (D-Adams County) was sued for sexual harassment of subordinates, and Adams County Democrat Party Treasurer Elmer "Butch" Hicks was caught embezzling party funds. Is there any Democrat in Adams County who has not been found to be corrupt? ADCO is beginning to make Chicago look like a model of fair and open elections. http://www.coloradopeakpolitics.com/diary/726/colorados-chicago-another-corrupt-democrat-revealed-inadams-county

The Peoples House Round-Up

I am letting you know of a People's House Round-Up that is going on in Westminster. Many have already occurred in Colorado and the Westminster one is scheduled for November 9th. These are great events that allow local folks to talk with their legislators as well as meet members of the Colorado House Leadership team. The small donor funds raised at the event will help expand our majorities in 2012. Since the energy and turnout has been so great, this is one of three additional locations to be added. Please feel free to forward this invitation to any and all of the Republicans in our part of the Front Range. Regards, Rep. Priola Kevin Priola State Representative House District 30 12255 Ursula St. Henderson CO. 80640 303.882.5486 www.kevinpriola.com Join members of the Colorado House Republican Leadership and your local State Representatives for food, drink, and conversation. Fundraiser benefitting The People's House, small donor committee Dedicated to Expanding our Republican Majority in 2012 Suggested Contribution $50 per person. Please make checks payable to The Peoples House SDC If you have any questions or would like to RSVP please send an email to peopleshouseroundup@gmail.com Visit www.peopleshouseroundup.org to donate online.

Shout Out from the Wall Street Journal!

Posted by jccaldara on Nov 03 2011 | Get used to the national attention my fellow Coloradans! It wont be going away until after next Novembers elections. For example, President Obama has dropped by what, a half dozen times already? Hes here so frequently I figure Id ask him to do something useful the next time. Like water my plants or something. Weve got to face the facts. All eyes are on our tiny little state and its 9 electoral votes. Even the Wall Street Journal couldnt help but notice when we voters demonstrated our intolerance for higher taxes in this past Tuesdays killing fields. Check out what the Journal said about us in this house editorial: You probably wont be reading much about it, and dont look for the results to get a lot of airtime on CNN or MSNBC, but Colorado held a referendum on taxes on Tuesday. The tax increasers got blown away. By a nearly 2 to 1 margin, voters rejected a $2.9 billion income and sales tax increase ostensibly earmarked for education. Proposition 103 would have raised the income tax rate to 5% from 4.63% and the sales tax to 3% from 2.9%. Supporters claimed the tax would merely have been temporary and was needed to make up for recent cuts in state spending for K-12 and college education. Both are familiar ploys to sell tax hikes that fund higher spending and typically become permanent.The education gambit was a sneaky attempt to undermine the states landmark and popular Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which was approved by voters in the 1990s and has slowed the growth of government. Tabor, as it is known, caps the state budget to the growth of population and inflation each year while rebating revenues above that limit to taxpayers. The union scheme was to erode the spending caps by exempting education spending and earmarking new tax revenues to schools, which already command 40% of the states general fund budget. The Independence Institute, a free-market think tank, warned Coloradans that exempting education from the spending cap is what undermined Californias Gann Amendment budget ceilings in the 1980s. Californias spending and tax burden exploded in the aftermath, leading to its current fiscal and economic laments. Colorados antitax mood was equally clear at the local level. The Denver Post reports that Aurora voters rejected a $114 million tax increase for recreation centers, Douglas County voters said no to school tax increases, and Caon City voters rejected a tax for library improvements. The paper called the overall results a killing field for tax measures. Its not everyday the Journal writes about you in the house editorial. I imagine as November 2012 inches closer, well see more and more coverage of whats going on here. So my advice to my readers is simple: be on your best behavior. Dont let the Journal or say, Time Magazine catch you picking your nose or peeing in public. That could be embarrassing. Speaking of Id like to remind the national media outlets that nothing, absolutely nothing of importance happens anywhere in or around Shotgun Willies. Dont even bother going near it. http://www.joncaldara.com/2011/11/03/shout-out-from-the-wall-street-journal/

Colorado K-12 Election Roundup: Fiscal Restraint Beats Prop 103, Most Local Taxes; Reformers Win Key Races
Posted on November 1st, 2011 | Written by Ben | Update, 11/2: One quick correction, as Englewood voters appear to have approved the construction bond / BEST grant, but turned down the mill levy override. Also, a great roundup of school board election results in El Paso County from the Gazette. From school board races to mill levy and bond measures, there are a number of issues pertaining to education in Colorado being decided this evening. Well known is the fate of the Proposition 103 For the Children tax hike which not only crashed and burned but also disintegrated in a ball of blue-hot flame (64% No vote at last count). Two out of three Denver Public Schools board seats went to the reform ticket, with a third between challenger Jennifer Draper-Carson and incumbent Arturo Jimenez literally too close to call at this hour. Disappointing news in my own backyard of Jefferson County, where the reform, Republican-backed Dads ticket of Jim Powers and Preston Branaugh were defeated. In my mind, though, the story of the night has to be in Douglas County where a unanimous majority in favor of the nations first school board-initiated voucherlike program appears headed for complete electoral vindication. Other lesser-touted school board results of note:

In Adams 12, the states fifth-largest district, conservative Mark Clark won re-election and was joined by challenger Norm Jennings, who won a convincing victory (Republican-backed Richard Ezo lost his race) In Colorado Springs 11, the largest district in the Pikes Peak region, conservative Bob Null was reelected and joined by former district communications director Elaine Naleski (sadly, reform-minded Lisanne McNew was defeated) In Greeley, two strong reform candidates prevailed to take three seats in a pair of races that featured 14 candidates: Scott Rankin and Logan Richardson (fellow conservative Geoff Broughton did not prevail, however) In both Poudre (Fort Collins) and Lewis-Palmer 38 (El Paso County), reform-minded slates all sadly went down to defeat Conservative Ann Tisue beat out her liberal opponent in Mesa County 51 and Jeff Leany cruises through unopposed, marking a likely shift in the reform direction for what is by far the largest district on the Western Slope Conservative Bob Kerrigan, who boldly came out against the local mill levy in Thompson School District, has an unofficial narrow lead of 228 votes though even if he wins, he might be a lone voice of dissent on the board (where have I seen that before?) Falcon 49 incumbent treasurer Andy Holloman finished third in a four-way race for two seats Im not entirely clear what the results mean for the districts bold innovation plans, but I will be digging for answers Conservative Karen Hoopes wife of 2010 Republican state legislative candidate Kaarl Hoopes looks very much like she has won a spot on the Mapleton Board of Education

A mixed bag, but all in all a positive signal for the conservative reform team against the always well-organized forces of the status quo. Meanwhile, a host of local mill levy, bond and BEST facility matching grant elections were held tonight. I havent been able to do a full roundup, but the results by-and-large appear to have been

carried down with Senator Rollie Heaths Proposition 103. These include the following tax and debt elections, which according to unofficial results all appear headed for defeat:

Douglas County Schools Mesa County 51 Pueblo County 70 Thompson R-2J (Loveland) Brighton 27J Englewood Public Schools Sheridan 2 Bennett 29J Falcon 49 Peyton 23 JT Eagle County Schools Garfield County Re-2 Garfield County 16 Weld County Re-1

A handful of districts (mostly small- or medium-sized) Ive been able to find defied the odds and achieved victory, including:

Mill levy overrides in Cheyenne Mountain 12, Roaring Fork (Glenwood Springs) and Byers 32J BEST matching funds grant elections, primarily to construct new schools, in Ellicott 22, Big Sandy 100J, and Prairie Re-11

Not all results were easily available, but the large sample indicates a clear majority of the school district tax and debt elections (and especially in the larger districts) failed. Seeing some success in the matching funds grant elections is not so surprising, since the local tax dollars power is effectively doubled in the voters mind. Im sure some will want to know what the three successful MLO districts did to persuade their local voters. In the final estimation, taking what you can from an off-year election, tonights results are a resounding vote for fiscal restraint and an encouraging (if not perfect) result for local reform. Given the hand theyve been dealt, what will the new reform (and status quo) board members do next? Stay tuned.
http://bendegrow.com/2011/colorado-k-12-election-roundup-fiscal-restraint-beats-prop-103-most-local-taxes-reformers-win-keyraces/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bendegrow+%28BenDeGrow.com++Mount+Virtus%29

Republican Trumpeteers of Adams County

Cordially invites you to attend our

Christmas Luncheon
Saturday, December 3, 2011 11:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m. The Ranch County Club 11887 Tejon Street (between Federal and Pecos on 120th Avenue) Westminster, Colorado 80234 Deli Style Buffet Luncheon Recognition and Awards Installation of Officers by Perry Buck, President of CFRW Special Holiday Music $20 per person Donations of nonperishable food items and unwrapped new childrens toys will be collected for the Colorado Guard Foundation,
Supporting our active duty National Guardsmens families

Reservations Required by November 29: Maggie Caillouette (303)252-9731 or maggiecail@juno.com Make checks payable to Republican Trumpeteers of Adams County Mail to Maggie Caillouette 13132 B Grant Circle North Thornton, Colorado 80241 Or pay at the door 2012 Membership Dues will be $22 and may be paid at the meeting. 2012 Associate Membership Dues will be $15 and may be paid at the meeting.

Liberal Loon CAROL HEDGES: Prop 103 Failed Because It Wasn't Big Enough
by: ColoradoPeakPolitics

Thu Nov 03, 2011 at 10:51 15 MDT Some people never learn. You can beat them over the head with the lesson and it still won't sink in. Case in point: Liberal Loon Carol Hedges. The big government budget maven from the liberal Fiscal Policy Institute believes, unlike anyone else in Colorado, that Prop 103 lost because it wasn't big enough and didn't last forever. Apparently when voters reject a five-year, $3 Billion tax increase two-to-one it means you just should have asked for more. Per The Denver Post: Some voters didn't think 103 was big enough or didn't like that it was only temporary, Hedges said. Some disliked that the measure didn't reinstate a graduated income tax. "I think the message is that you have to keep trying," said Hedges, who added, "I hope all the people who didn't support 103 because they wanted the Big Fix are committed to holding people accountable to make sure that Big Fix comes through, because our state is at risk if we don't." Uh huh. Sure, Carol. Since we can't top Jon Caldara's response to this liberal lunacy, we'll let him respond as he did to The Denver Post: "That's like saying women aren't interested in me because I'm not bald enough," Caldara said Wednesday. "They (103 supporters) are dreaming. Last night, the people of Colorado overwhelmingly said, 'We can't afford more tax increases.'" Political strategist Lori Weigel believes the public just doesn't buy the budget problems Carol Hedges is selling: "The assumption of the chattering class that everyone knows how difficult the budget situation is is a complete fallacy," Weigel said. "Most Coloradans think there is fat still to be cut and waste in government. There is not a sense that our state budget is in crisis." Maybe the Liberal Loon's poorly constructed excuses are simply her trying to protect her own ego, as she backed off her own tax initiatives that were far bigger and permanent and agreed to support Heath's initiative as the more likely to pass. No, really. Back in March we reported that Hedges decided to stand behind Rollie Heath's bone-brained tax hike attempt that eventually became Prop 103 because no one would support her idea. So...no one would support the Loon's huge, permanent tax increase with a graduated income tax in March...so she supported Rollie's temporary flat tax increase...which was thoroughly rejected by voters in all but three counties in Colorado...which means Rollie's tax increase lost because it wasn't big enough, permanent and including a graduated income tax. Wow. Liberal logic is some convoluted, nonsensical garbage. Carol: let us explain this really, really slowly for you so you can understand. The economy is in the tank. People cannot afford to give the government more money. Government gets enough money. In fact, government is growing faster than the population. People have 9

to live within their means. Tuesday's vote told you and all other purveyors of growing government further to sit down, shut up and live within your means like everyone else. Votes that are as big of a blowout as Prop 103 are clear lessons. Try to pay attention to the electorate. They did not stutter.

Denied a third term in vote, DA Don Quick says tumult in Adams County seeped into election
By Monte Whaley The Denver Post Posted: 11/06/2011 01:00:00 AM MST

Don Quick sought to extend term limits for the 17th Judicial District Attorney but was shot down by voters. BRIGHTON District Attorney Don Quick learned last week that voters weren't going to tolerate politicians asking for more time in office, especially if they had any links to Adams County. Quick's bid to extend term limits for the 17th Judicial District attorney was shot down decisively by voters in both Adams and Broomfield counties on Tuesday. Quick who took office as district attorney for the 17th District in January 2005 wanted to run for a third term next fall in hopes of completing several projects, including a program that has cut juvenile crime by 35 percent. But, Quick said, he was tainted by the alleged criminal activities of other high-ranking public officials in Adams County. Quick is prosecuting many of those people. "I think a lot of people weren't able to distinguish between the people being investigated and those doing the investigating," said Quick, a Democrat. Quick had lined up a sizable roster of local police chiefs to support his proposal for a three-term DA. But then his campaign staff began hearing what callers were telling them. "We heard that everybody, no matter who, must go in Adams County," he said. 10

Quick said his office has investigated and filed charges against seven people, including former Adams County public works director Leland Asay, related to a $1.8 million scandal involving Quality Paving. Quick's office also investigated Adams County Commissioner Alice Nichol, a Democrat, for her role in the paving case and handed it over to a special prosecutor. In addition, Quick is investigating Adams County Assessor Gil Reyes, a Democrat, for providing property-tax breaks to his biggest campaign contributor. "But, it seems nobody has any knowledge of any of that," Quick said. "That's what really bothers me. My staff and I have worked hard to do the right things on these cases, but I couldn't fight the sentiment that everybody should go in Adams County." That's too bad, said Broomfield resident Dottie Rawsky, who worked on the campaign to extend the DA's term limits. "I think the issue lost, but I don't think he as a person lost," she said. Quick was just fighting an anti-incumbent tide both locally and in the nation, Rawsky said. "One person said to me they worked on one of Quick's campaigns and that he was great guy, but that there should be term limits for everybody," Rawsky said. "Plus, I think people are just voting no for everything." Quick said he will continue to work on several fronts, including the Adams County Youth Initiative, which has been successful in steering kids away from crime. "That's what I really regret," he said, "is that there is so much more we can do for that program and others." Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com

Read more: Denied a third term in vote, DA Don Quick says tumult in Adams County seeped into election The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19274590#ixzz1d4Avn6OH Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Adams County paid $1.6 million to settle sex-harassment allegations in coroner's office
By Monte Whaley The Denver Post Posted: 11/05/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT

James Hibbard, the former Adams County coroner, has been accused of sexually harassing female employees. The settlements in Hibbard's cases total $1.6 million. BRIGHTON More than $1.6 million in settlements have been paid to former employees of past Adams County Coroner James Hibbard, all related to allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation in his office. The biggest settlement $650,000 was to Dr. Michael Arnall, a pathologist under contract with Hibbard's 11

office. Arnall claims he was fired for trying to help women sexually harassed by Hibbard's chief deputy coroner, Mark Chavez. Arnall also alleges in his federal lawsuit that Hibbard used an overhead camera to peer at the breasts of female employees during autopsies. But over the past several months, other settlements have been reached with women who worked in Hibbard's office, according to the county attorney's office. Emma Hall now the Boulder County coroner received $350,000. Monica Broncucia-Jordan currently the Adams County coroner got $275,000. Then pathology assistant Sherronda Appleberry received $275,000. She is now Broncucia-Jordan's chief deputy. Another former employee, Amy Aragon, collected $85,000. All the women were either fired by Hibbard or left the office after being allegedly harassed, officials say. Of those settlements, $1.1 million was paid by Adams County; the county's insurer paid $550,000, according to the county attorney's office. Attorney David Lane, who represented Arnall, said the settlements should frighten cities and counties that tolerate sexual harassment among employees and supervisors. "It is hoped that this sends a clear message to any municipality that sexual harassment and retaliation will not be tolerated," Lane said. Adams County Attorney Hal Warren said the county had to weigh the cost benefits of arguing the case before a jury. "For us, it's really about assessing the risks going to trial," Warren said. Hibbard could not be reached for comment. He was harshly criticized for his handling of cases during his eight years as coroner. He declined to run again in 2010 even though voters approved a term-limit extension for his office. Arnall ran for coroner against Broncucia-Jordan. Arnall now works as a contract pathologist for both Broncucia-Jordan and Hall. In his lawsuit, Arnall said he "witnessed severe and pervasive sexual harassment and retaliation upon many of (Hibbard's) female employees." In the lawsuit, Arnall alleged Chavez would often rub Hall's back and made "unwelcomed comments about Ms. Hall's appearance." Arnall said his contract with the coroner's office was terminated in December 2008 in part because he preserved evidence of Hibbard observing Broncucia-Jordan's breasts with an autopsy camera. Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19269215

Allegations mount in Adams County paving scandal

By David Olinger and Kevin Vaughan The Denver Post Posted: 10/29/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT The investigation that led to the arrest of former Adams County public works director Leland Asay also uncovered allegations of wrongdoing involving other county employees and a business owner. Among those allegations: Quality Paving Co., the company accused of stealing at least $1.8 million from Adams County taxpayers, paved the parking lot of a carwash owned by Timothy Thoms, the elected county surveyor.

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 County trucks delivered free material from a paving job to a site owned by Phil Spano, a longtime county resident and businessman. Anthony Zamora, the highway superintendent, told investigators the county let Quality Paving borrow a box paver a machine that takes asphalt from a truck and lays it on the roadway for an entire year. Adams County District Attorney Don Quick, whose office has now charged seven people in the Quality Paving scandal, said Friday that the 42-month investigation is not done. "We filed the charges based on what evidence we have now," Quick said. "We are continuing to investigate a number of aspects." Asay, who was hired by Adams County in 1969 at the age of 18, rose through the ranks and was named director of public works in 1991. He is accused of providing county trucks to deliver asphalt and haul away disposal materials on numerous Quality Paving projects, costing taxpayers $128,395. Gene Ciancio, one of Asay's attorneys, said his client's actions were known to top county government officials. "One thing that he is adamant about is that he did not violate any criminal statutes, and that everything he did while he was an excellent 20-plus-year employee of the county was done with the full knowledge of people in positions above him," Ciancio said. Asay reported to the county administrator and commissioners. Carwash, missing paver Larry Pozner, an attorney hired by the Adams County commissioners to sue those alleged to have carried out the scheme, rejected the idea that anyone would have approved what Asay is accused of doing. "People who fear the truth don't hire our law firm to begin a civil suit against these guys," Pozner said. Adams County sheriff's investigator Jeremy Whytock filed a 34-page affidavit detailing his case against Asay. His report reveals that the latest phase of the investigation actually stemmed from an allegation unrelated to the public works director. This year, Adams County halted county payments for car washes at Tailfeathers, a bar and carwash at East 120th Avenue and U.S. 85, after learning that Thoms owned the business. Karen Long, the county clerk and recorder, called county fleet superintendent Richard Stark to ask about the county's carwash policy. She told the sheriff's investigator that during their conversation, Stark mentioned that Thoms "had the parking lot at Tailfeathers paved by Quality Paving." She said Stark also told her that a county-owned box paver had disappeared for a year and was returned "in horrible shape" with parts missing. Whytock went to the county fleet analyst, Jeff Hadju, who said he asked repeatedly about the missing paver, and superintendent Zamora told him, "Don't worry about it." The investigator called David Schmidtline, a retired fleet operations manager, who confirmed that the box paver disappeared and was returned "in terrible shape." Schmidtline then opened a new area of inquiry by alleging that county materials, trucks and labor were used to benefit Quality Paving. He said filling company vehicles with county gas "happened all the time," and "the county supplied county trucks to haul asphalt to Quality Paving jobs on several occasions." Thoms did not return e-mail messages or calls to his home Friday. Zamora told investigators he sent county trucks to Quality Paving projects on instructions from Asay, who assured him the contracts permitted it. Zamora said he believed the box paver Quality Paving returned was "not the paver that had left the yard." According to the affidavit, Adams County in effect paid twice for jobs contracted to Quality Paving, first in cash and then by delivering materials to the projects and carrying away dirt and ground-up asphalt for recycling. 13

Whytock identified 43 days from 2005 through 2008 when county trucks and employees did work for Quality Paving. County employees told the investigator they delivered some of the ground-up asphalt to "Spano's place" at 66th Avenue and Delaware Street. Jeff Blair, a retired highway department supervisor, said that when he asked why material he needed was being given to a private businessman, "Anthony Zamora told him, 'Well, we owe Spano. We have to haul it to him,' " the affidavit said. Zamora did not return phone calls to his office Friday. Spano also could not be reached for comment. Broader investigation The Quality Paving investigation began after Channel 7 reported in 2008 that the company had done work at Asay's home. While that inquiry yielded no criminal case, it led to charges that Quality Paving had billed the county for work it never did and double-billed on other jobs. A special prosecutor is also investigating Commissioner Alice Nichol after The Denver Post reported that Quality Paving had done a $10,000 project at her home. The Post also reported that Quality Paving played a key role in the hiring of Richard Stark, Nichol's son-in-law, as county fleet superintendent. Company president Jerry Rhea and Asay cast the deciding votes on the panel that chose him. David Olinger: 303-954-1498 or dolinger@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19220140

CLaRO Monthly Business Meeting

CLARO Adams County, Conservative Latino and Republican Organization Adams County, is dedicated to advancing conservative principles in Adams County, providing Hispanics the resources to become active, and recruiting future Hispanic leaders. The Goals of CLARO are to build a membership organization to foster the conservative principles of the Hispanic community; to provide Hispanic Americans with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities; to increase the number of Hispanic Republican elected officials; and to create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders. Chair- Martin Mendez adcoclaro@gmail.com Vice Chair- Ruben Pacheco 303.862.0098 Secretary- Andrew Sanchez

Join us in Aurora as we reach out to Hispanics in this part of Adams County with the message of Faith, Family, Freedom; Less Government Intrusion and Lower Taxes; we are Business Friendly and Support Center Right Policy Tuesday, November 15 7:00pm - 8:30pm, Lupita's Restaurant 11809 E Colfax Ave. Aurora, Colorado 80010

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Eleven Challenges to Colorado Reapportionment Commission state legislative district maps filed with Colorado Supreme Court
These go to eleven Unsurprisingly, the state legislative district maps filed by the Colorado Reapportionment Commission earlier this month for review of constitutionality by the Colorado Supreme Court have drawn a number of challenges based on constitutional shortcomings - as of press time, the challenges go to eleven. Many of the challenges (from across the state) arose in response to the eleventh-hour introduction of an entirely new set of maps by the commissions sole unaffiliated member (and chair) Mario Carrera - the maps that were, in the end, approved - after earlier maps had been subjected to multiple rounds of public comment and scrutiny (beginning with meetings in Denver from 31 May to 25 July, followed by meetings around the state throughout August, and a final commission meeting on 12 September.

House Final Plan Maps & Reports Senate Final Plan Maps & Reports Maps by District (sets): (House District 1-20), (House District 21-40), (House District 41-60), (House District 61-65), (Senate District 1-35) Google Earth maps (requires Google Earth download): Final Plan House (download zip file), Final Plan Senate (download zip file)

Ironically, the Colorado Supreme Court must now review the approved maps - and challenges to the approved maps - which are largely the sole creation of Colorado Reapportionment Commission Chair Mario Carrera, appointed to the commission by Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Bender. The court will essentially be reviewing the work product of its own appointee - a potential conflict of interest that in other circumstances might warrant recusal, and which highlights the problematic involvement of the courts in deciding issues of policy and politics. The eleven challenges to the commissions maps were filed from around the state:

Statement of Opposition/Las Animas County Board of County Commissioners Statement of Opposition/Garfield County Board of County Commissioners Statement of Opposition of Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder - Carol Tullis Statement of Opposition of Southwest Colorado Citizens for a Constitutional Map and Club 20 Statement of Opposition of The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado Statement of Opposition Town of Superior et al Statement of Opposition of Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Statement of Opposition of Arapahoe County, Colorado Statement of Opposition of Elbert County Board of Commissioners, et al. Statement of Opposition of Douglas County Board of County Commissioners Statement of Opposition of Colorado Citizens for Fair Representation

In contrast, only a single group (the Colorado Latino Forum, a special interest group which may have been involved with creating the chairmans maps) filed a short brief in support of the final product, immediately after the commission filed the maps with the Colorado Supreme Court for review). Justice Takes a Holiday? 15

In any event, the Colorado Supreme Court will have its hands full in the coming month (or more - the statutory deadline for completing review of legislative district maps is 14 December) reviewing not only the state legislative district maps and the eleven (and possibly counting) challenges to the maps for compliance with federal and state constitutional requirements, but also dealing with the inevitable legal challenges to the eventual outcome of the Congressional Redistricting trial in Denver District Court (set to end with closing arguments on Halloween morning, 31 October). Other court business must (by law) take a back seat to the resolution of these political issues. Further complicating matters, both cases will ultimately be decided by a court including a new member to be appointed to the bench later this week (replacing outgoing Justice Alex Martinez, resigning to take a city job as Denver Manager of Safety effective 31 October). Talk about a baptism of fire Additional references:

State Courts Reapportionment page Additional information is also available on the Reapportionment Commission website. Constitutional Provisions Controlling Reapportionment/Redistricting (state website listing relevant legal language on Congressional redistricting & legislative reapportionment)

http://www.clearthebenchcolorado.org/2011/10/26/eleven-challenges-to-colorado-reapportionmentcommission-state-legislative-district-maps-filed-with-colorado-supreme-court/

Colorado Reapportionment Commission

The Commission has submitted a number of documents to the Colorado Supreme Court. Click here to access those documents. Commission Members The Reapportionment Commission consists of 11 members. Pursuant to the Colorado Constitution, the Senate Majority Leader, House Speaker, Senate Minority Leader, and House Minority Leader all designated one person to serve on the commission. The Governor appointed three members to the commission. The Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court appointed the final four members of the commission. These appointments are reflected below.

Commission Members Dolores Atencio Mario Nicolais Gayle Berry Arnold Salazar Senator Morgan Carroll Steve Tool Robert Loevy Rob Witwer 16

Representative Matt Jones Wellington Webb, Vice Chair

Mario Carrera, Chair

Staff Contacts Jerry Barry Troy Bratton Amanda King Kate Meyer Bo Pogue Clare Pramuk Jessika Shipley Kate Watkins (303) 866-4341 (303) 866-3286 (303) 866-4332 (303) 866-4348 (303) 866-5390 (303) 866-2677 (303) 866-3528 (303) 866-6289

Phone:

303-866-3950

Email: reapp2011@state.co.us Website: WWW.Colorado.gov/Reapportionment

What is Reapportionment? Reapportionment is the process used to reallocate the 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives amongst the 50 states following each mandated decennial census. The 435 US Congressional seats are apportioned to each state based on that states percentage of the total population of all 50 states. However, each state is guaranteed at least one seat by the Constitution. There are seven states with a single representative because their population is too low; they are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. Based on the 2010 Census results Colorado will again be apportioned 7 Congressional seats. Watch the video. What is Redistricting? 17

Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of congressional and state legislative electoral districts to reflect population changes that result from the mandated decennial census results. How is Redistricting accomplished in Colorado? In Colorado there are two separate and distinct processes for redistricting, US Congressional districts and state legislative districts. The Colorado General Assembly is responsible for redistricting Colorados congressional seats. However, the Colorado Reapportionment Commission is responsible for redistricting Colorados 35 State Senate and 65 State House of Representative districts. What are the timelines for Congressional redistricting? There are no constitutional or statutory deadlines for drawing the congressional district lines. In the past, the Governor has called a special session of the legislature after final population figures have become available and could be analyzed. The General Assembly, potential candidates, and voters will want to have the redrawn congressional district boundaries completed well before the April 2012 precinct caucuses. What are the criteria the General assembly must use for Congressional redistricting? Federal law requires precise mathematical equality in population among congressional districts. Other criteria that courts have looked at to assess congressional plans include: 1) absence of racial discrimination; 2) compactness and contiguity of districts; 3) preservation of county or municipal boundaries; and, 4) preservation of communities of interest. Unlike state Senate and House plans, congressional plans are not required to be submitted to any court for review. However, in the past these plans have often been challenged in court. What are the timelines for the reapportionment commission? January-March, 2011- Census Bureau transmits census information to the Governor and Majority and Minority Leaders April 15, 2011- Last day for four legislative members of the reapportionment commission to accept service or appoint designees. April 15-25, 2011- Governor appoints three commission members representing executive branch April 25- May 5, 2011- Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court appoints four commission members representing judicial branch May 15, 2011- Date by which Governor convenes commission and appoints temporary chairman

September 5, 2011- Date by which commission publishes preliminary plan for reapportionment. The constitution directs the commission to adopt a preliminary plan within 113 days after the commission is convened (by September 5, 2011) and then to hold public hearings within 45 days after publication of the preliminary plan. However, because2012 is a presidential electoral year. Precinct Caucuses will be held the first Tuesday in February rather than the third Tuesday in March. Therefore the Preliminary plan and Public hearings must be held earlier than the Constitution requires.

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October 7, 2011- Date by which commission finalizes plan and submits it to Colorado Supreme Court for review (within 45 days of completion of public hearings) November 9, 2011- Date by which all arguments and evidence submitted to Supreme Court. December 14, 2011- If plan is approved by Supreme Court, date by which the plan for redistricting state legislative district is filed with the Secretary of State How is the Commission Appointed? Under the state constitution, redistricting of state legislative districts is done by an 11-member Commission that convenes every ten years. The Commission consists of 4 legislative leaders, 3 persons appointed by the Governor, and 4 persons appointed by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. What are the criteria the commission must use for redistricting the state legislative districts? Federal law and the Colorado constitution set criteria for the Commission to follow when redrawing district boundaries. The "one person, one vote" mandate requires the Commission to achieve equal population among the districts, and the Colorado constitution defines this mandate as no more than 5% deviation between the most populous district and the least populous district. The federal "Voting Rights Act" requires that districts be drawn so as to give minority groups an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice. Other state constitutional criteria include:

The area within a district must be as compact as possible and the sum of the perimeters of all districts must be as short as possible. Districts must be composed of contiguous election precincts. Counties and cities cannot be split unless necessary to achieve equal population

Finally, communities of interest- ethnic, economic, cultural, demographic, trade area and geographic- are to be preserved within a single district whenever possible. How Can I get Involved? Under Colorado's Open Meetings Law, all commission, committee, or floor sessions to consider redistricting plans are open to the public. Public testimony is usually taken at commission or committee meetings. The location, time and agenda for each meeting will be available through the Internet. Interested persons may wish to contact individual commission members or legislators and view proposed plans which will be published on the World Wide Web.

Colorado Reapportionment Commission adopts final state legislative district maps - Colorado Supreme Court to review
The Colorado Reapportionment Commission (charged with drawing our state legislative districts) yesterday (19 September 2011) approved the final set of state legislative district maps for Colorado, having completed two rounds of hearing public testimony (meetings in Denver from 31 May to 25 July, followed by meetings around the state throughout the month of August) and a final commission meeting on 12 September. 19

The competing plans for put forward for consideration and public review by the major parties (Democrats and Republicans) over the summer were modified significant based on public testimony, but were ultimately all rendered irrelevant by the eleventh-hour introduction of an entirely new set of maps by the commissions sole unaffiliated member (and chair) Mario Carrera - the maps that were, in the end, approved. All of the Democrat commissioners joined Carrera in voting for the maps, along with Republican commissioners Gayle Berry, Robert Loevy and Rob Witwer voting yes on the Senate map (Republicans Mario Nicolais and Steve Tool voted no, for a 9-2 vote) and Barry & Loevy again joining Carrera and Democrats in voting yes on the House Map (Republican commissioners Nicolais, Tool and Witwer voted no, for a 8-3 vote). Earlier today, the Colorado Reapportionment Commission staff issued a release announcing the new maps: On September 19, 2011, the commission voted to adopt Final Plan Senate 003v1 [Senate map] and Final Plan House 003v1 [House map]. The commission instructed staff to renumber some of the districts. The commission also authorized staff to make minor technical changes to the plans before the final plans are submitted to the Colorado Supreme Court. Staff will send out another email once the final plans have been filed with the Colorado Supreme Court. The page also contains a Google Earth map feature allowing the user to zoom in on a particular area of the approved final plans. For this feature, the user must load the Google Earth application and then download the files of the approved final plans. The minor technical changes (mostly re-numbering districts) will likely be completed in the next few days, and the maps will be submitted to the Colorado Supreme Court for review of how constitutional criteria have (or have not) been met no later than October 7th. Legal challenges can (and probably will) be filed with the court once they are submitted for review. If the Colorado Supreme Court rules that the maps meet Colorados constitutional requirements, barring any unresolved legal challenges), the maps will be filed as final with the office of Secretary of State on 14 December. The following quick-reference summary of constitutional provisions controlling how Colorados legislative districts are drawn is provided with a view towards informing public comprehension of what are sure to be both contentious and complex discussions. Colorado Constitutional Requirements:

Equal population (with no more than 5% deviation; ideal district size - Senate: 143, 691, House: 77,372) (Colorado Constitution Article V, Section 46) Counties cannot be split unless necessary to achieve equal population between districts

Except when necessary to meet the equal population requirements of section 46, no part of one county shall be added to all or part of another county in forming districts. Article V, Section 47(2)

Municipalities may not be split unless necessary to achieve equal population between districts (Article V, Section 47(2)) Districts must be as compact and contiguous as possible, and consist of whole precincts

(1) Each district shall be as compact in area as possible and the aggregate linear distance of all district boundaries shall be as short as possible. Each district shall consist of contiguous whole general election precincts. Districts of the same house shall not overlap. (Article V, Section 47(1)) 20

Finally, communities of interest - ethnic, economic, cultural, demographic, trade area and geographic are to be preserved whenever possible

(3) Consistent with the provisions of this section and section 46 of this article, communities of interest, including ethnic, cultural, economic, trade area, geographic, and demographic factors, shall be preserved within a single district wherever possible. (Article V, Section 47(3)) Note that per a previous Colorado Supreme Court ruling (In re: Reapportionment of the Colorado General Assembly), these criteria are listed in order of priority - i.e. theres a hierarchy of constitutional criteria which must be satisfied in order for district maps to pass constitutional review. Additional references:

Additional information is also available on the Reapportionment Commission website. Constitutional Provisions Controlling Reapportionment/Redistricting (state website listing relevant legal language on Congressional redistricting & legislative reapportionment)

Clear The Bench Colorado will, with your support, continue to promote transparency and accountability in the Colorado judiciary, informing the public to increase awareness of the substantial public policy implications of an unrestrained activism and political agendas in the courts. We will continue to work to educate voters and provide information of relevance related to the judicial branch, and to provide useful and substantive evaluations of judicial performance. However, we cant do it alone - we need your continued support; via your comments (Sound Off!) and, yes, your contributions. Freedom isnt free -nor is it always easy to be a Citizen, not a subject. Ultimately, though - its worth the effort.

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NSRF Board of Directors John Lefebvre Leonard Coppes Jan Hurtt Phil Mocon Brian Vande Krol Gary Mikes Mike Arnall Dick Poole Dana West

President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Issues Issues Planning Planning Communications

Email Address john.lefebvre@comcast.net ljcoppes@yahoo.com jansadvertising@msn.com ph7ss@msn.com brianvandekrol@yahoo.com advancedrefrigeration@msn.com forensic@gate.net dana.west@live.com

Telephone 303-451-5558 303-287-9145 303-451-0934 303-427-5453 303-466-4615 303-252-1645 303-655-1258 303-373-1521 303-280-0243

Join the North Suburban Republican Forum on the Internet and Facebook: http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95611986640&_fb_noscript=1

Yearly membership dues are $20, while a couple is $30. Make checks payable to NSRF. It only costs $3 per person to attend the monthly meeting and a continental breakfast and beverage (coffee, tea, orange juice or water) is included. A membership application is located on the last page. Fill it out and bring it along with you.

To subscribe or unsubscribe from our monthly newsletter, send an email to Dana.West@live.com with your name and subscription instructions in the body.

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Politically, is there really a difference? Here are the facts:

Democrat platform
Bigger government More onerous rules and regulations More government control over your life More government spending & higher tax rates Anti-business policies Gun control & weak national defense Obamacare Equality of outcome Social justice Liberal/Progressive Community and social responsibility-based The U.S. debt is due to a revenue problem

Republican platform
Smaller government Less onerous rules and regulations Less government control over your life Less government spending & lower tax rates Pro-business policies Gun rights & strong national defense Private health care choices Equality of opportunity Personal responsibility Conservative Individual rights and justice-based The U.S. debt is due to a spending problem

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The North Suburban Republican Forum

NSRF Membership Application
We meet on the second Saturday of each month to discuss politics from 9:15-10:45am at Gander Mountain (9923 Grant St, Thornton, CO, 80229) in the employee training community room. A continental breakfast is provided with coffee, tea, orange juice and bottled water. Http://www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________________________________________Zip: _____________________ Best phone number to reach you: H/W/C______________-________________-________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________@_______________________ How did you hear about the NSRF? ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature: ________________________________________________________________________________ ______ New member ______ Current member renewal ______ Individual Membership $20 per calendar year ______ Family Membership $30 per calendar year for couples ______ Deluxe $56 individual/$66 family per year includes 12 monthly fees + yearly dues Paid via __________ cash __________ check #__________ Todays date: _____________________________________________________________________________ Received by NSRF board member: ____________________________________________________________

If you have a smart phone, use a bar code app for this QR code. It will take you to our web site.

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