State Senate District 14

Bacon touts legislative experience

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

City service counts, says Martinez

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Colorado is at a crossroads, according to Bob Bacon of Fort Collins. "I want to make sure the people of Fort Collins are adequately represented in addressing the issues that affect our quality of life," said Bacon, who served three terms as a state representative and is the Democratic candidate for Senate District 14.

Bacon, 69, said his legislative experience makes him better qualified for office than his opponent. "I know how the system operates, and I have a better grasp of issues and conditions confronting Colorado and Fort Collins," he said. Prior to serving in the legislature, Bacon had a career as a history teacher and served on the local school board.

He is critical of the current Republican leadership, especially where the state budget is concerned. He considers the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR) to be the chief cause of the state's current fiscal crisis and noted that, because of TABOR constraints, the state faces a funding shortfall of $250 to $300 million. Recent reports of a negative Consumer Price Index in the state may add another $165 million to the shortfall, he said.

The legislature had an opportunity, Bacon noted, to get a de-Brucing referendum on the ballot this fall, but "the governor and Republican leadership did not allow that to occur." Such a measure would allow the state to use tax revenue that exceeds TABOR limits for specific purposes, instead of refunding it to taxpayers. Voters, however, would still approve tax increases.

The chances of such a change passing this fall might have been good, Bacon said, since 95 percent of de-Brucing measures throughout the state have passed, both in Republican and Democratic counties.

By not modifying TABOR, Bacon contended, the state is in a crisis regarding transportation, higher education and health care. Medicaid is facing further cuts, he noted, and Colorado has fallen to 50th in the nation in childhood immunizations. "This is unconscionable," he stated. Furthermore, he said, Colorado State University has seen a drop in state funding of more than 20 percent in the past two years, and he sees that as hurting Fort Collins directly.

Bacon said he would be reluctant to change Amendment 23 unless TABOR is changed, since the amendment was intended to correct past shortfalls in Colorado's education spending. To reverse that again, he said, "just compounds the problem."

"Legislators must be honest about the needs in our state," he said. If elected, he wants to build coalitions of legislators who will be up front with citizens about the consequences of different courses of action - or inaction.

Some of the current cuts, Bacon said, are "penny wise and pound foolish." He cited the example of mental health services in the state. Now, he said, corrections facilities are taking care of many people's mental health needs, at great expense. An aggressive mental health program could reduce corrections costs, he said.

To promote job growth, Bacon would like to offer low- and no-interest loans for starting up new companies, "since they have the greatest potential for job creation."

Bacon sees the current Republican leadership gradually eliminating government involvement in social issues. He views that as a "radical, not conservative stance," an abandonment of a basic American belief in community. "We can do things together for our mutual well-being," he said.

Ray Martinez of Fort Collins, Republican candidate for Senate District 14, says his experience as mayor of Fort Collins is one of the "key separators" between him and his opponent.

While serving as mayor for three terms and as a member of the city's legislative affairs committee, he has worked with officials at the federal, state, county and city levels. Martinez is term-limited as mayor.

Martinez, 52, said he would carry over tools learned in city government to the state senate. "I look for a balance between the economy, the environment and quality of life," he said.

The biggest challenge facing Colorado at present is budget cuts, Martinez said. With the state facing $300 million to $400 million in budget shortfalls, "we'll be taking things away, not adding, if we don't straighten out TABOR (the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights) and Amendment 23," he commented.

Martinez is especially concerned about the funding crisis in higher education, notably for Colorado State University. "CSU is our major employer," he said. "If CSU fails, so does Fort Collins."

Martinez said there "has to be a time-out on Amendment 23 and TABOR" when the economy takes a downturn. He suggests the state develop a formula to use as a "trigger point," at which time Amendment 23 and TABOR would not be in effect. He also said the state legislature must drop party-line behavior in regards to these amendments. He would like to see an issue about both amendments on the ballot in 2005.

After the budget issue is addressed, Martinez wants the legislature to develop a fiscal safety net to prepare for the next economic downturn.

Other major challenges, Martinez said, involve transportation and jobs in the state. He said the state needs to look at different funding alternatives for transportation and find out what concepts the people will accept. Northern Colorado, he said, faces transportation challenges because there are no plans for widening Interstate 25 north of Longmont. He suggests looking at roadways parallel to I-25, given the large number of people who commute among Loveland, Greeley and Fort Collins. "Only 4 to 5 percent commute to Denver," he pointed out. "The short commutes cause the most abuse of our highways."

Martinez said rail transportation needs to be looked at for the long term, but he would rather put money into an improved bus system for the tri-city area at present. Bus routes are more flexible than rail lines, he noted.

Jobs, Martinez said, are "the number one concern of people" in the state. He wants to encourage new companies coming into Colorado to recruit employees from the workforce already in the state.

If elected, Martinez said, he will stay in touch with the people in his district and meet with local leaders to get their input. "The government needs to go to the people," he stated.

He added that it's government's responsibility to "help people become independent, not dependent on government." Martinez said he asks this question when considering a social program: "Is this going to provide freedom and rights, or more control and dictatorship?"

Martinez said he is "not a single issue person" and charges that Bob Bacon, his opponent, is focused mostly on education. Prior to serving as the Fort Collins mayor, Martinez had a 25-year career in law enforcement.