Maureen, Brent and I just completed a tour of the West Slope. We went to Grand Junction, Aspen, El Jebel, Delta, Montrose, Ridgway, Telluride, Silverton, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Alamosa, Saguache and Salida. We visited coffee shops, book stores, newspapers, radio stations, libraries and private homes. It was great to get away from the office and remind ourselves of Colorado’s beauty.

Driving south from Montrose on a stunningly beautiful day we saw a hot air balloon rising above the San Juans.

"Maureen, five hundred volunteers go up there every morning and sprinkle powdered sugar on those mountains," I told her. "They have to do it every day because of the wind."

On the way from Saguache to Salida we could see the Aspen colors on the sides of the mountains. "Do you think we could move the Secretary of State's office to Saguache?” I asked.

I visited newspapers to talk about the Secretary of State's race. Usually they were interested.  For local stories covering this West Slope Tour, see the following links:

http://www.montrosepress.com/articles/2006/09/17/local_news/2.txt

http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060919_3.htm

The Saguache paper is called The Crescent, circulation 560. Dean Coombs, the publisher was setting type on a 1920's linotype machine when we stopped in. He proudly showed us the machine. He was a newspaperman who literally had ink on his hands.

"I'm running for Secretary of State. Do you want to write something about that?" 

"Not so much. I’m looking for something my readers would be interested in. Do you have a three-legged dog?”

Electronic Voting Machines:  Colorado law requires the Secretary of State to pick an expert to test and certify electronic voting machines before they can be purchased by counties. A lawsuit currently being tried in Denver District Court alleges that Secretary of State Dennis failed to pick an expert to do this testing, and the person that she picked failed to conduct the required tests. The plaintiffs are making their case. The office, which was supposed to do independent testing, relied on the vendor’s representations to certify the machines.  It will be interesting to see what Judge Manzanares decides to do.

The Colorado County Clerks Association came to me in January to inquire about doing an all-mail election this year. Secretary Dennis had not yet certified any machines and they were worried that there would not be time to purchase the machines and train people to use them. I told the clerks that if the Secretary and the Governor supported their proposal, I would carry a bill. Dennis said she could get the machines certified quickly, and therefore I didn’t run a bill. But it seems that she rushed the process.

This lawsuit highlights the importance of the Secretary of State’s office and the need to have someone in the office who is fair, competent, and independent of special interest influence.

September deadline: I don’t accept special interest PAC contributions, which is unusual in our political system. If you have complained about the disproportionate influence of tobacco, pharmaceutical or oil companies, here is a chance to help a candidate who is taking a risk to make a serious change. You can help start a trend and rescue democracy from big money.

I have asked you for help raising money before, and you have come through big. In fact, I have out-raised all of the other statewide candidates (except Ritter and Beauprez, of course) for the last two reporting periods. It is still an uphill battle, because the Republicans have a 180,000 voter-registration edge in Colorado and they have the benefit of taking special interest PAC money.

Now the election is less than seven weeks away, and my campaign needs your help again. We are trying to raise $20,000 over the Internet by September 27, the end of the period. We are trying to make a good showing.

If you haven’t made a contribution yet, or if you are willing to contribute again, now is a good time. A contribution of even $100, $50 or $25 makes a huge difference. To contribute, please click here.

Democracy for America:  This organization encourages its members to make modest individual contributions to candidates. Two weeks ago they recommended four Secretary of State candidates. I was not one of them, but I think it is possible that they will endorse me if they hear from a number of people Colorado. They will like that I:

1. Have never taken special interest PAC money.

2. Walked the state in support of a ballot measure to restore funding to education and health care.

3. Carried the bill to require the verifiable paper audit trail in electronic voting machines.

Send them an email and encourage them to support me as well.

I want the political system to work so well that the values of the American people become the laws of our country.  When they don’t, young people get killed in fruitless international conflicts, oil companies prevent us from having a rational energy policy, and vital prescription drugs are unaffordable for seniors and others who need them.

Thanks for your support and help. As always, don’t hesitate to write back with comments or questions.

Sincerely,

Ken Gordon