State Senate

District 16: Dan Gibbs (D) over Don Ytterberg (R)
Transportation is one of the biggest issues facing Colorado, in addition to the economy, healthcare and education. We currently have a budget that covers about half the annual maintenance needs of our roads, highways and bridges.
Faced with a weakening economy, our transportation infrastructure and congestion woes are projected to get even worse. And with a winter tourist economy hampered by L.A. rush hour-style traffic dribbling through the Eisenhower Tunnel, this district – which straddles I-70 – is of vital importance. That’s why a strong voice is needed to help solve the many problems it faces.

Since being appointed to office to fill the spot vacated by Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, Dan Gibbs has fought hard on transportation issues impacting his district. He has been an active member of the I-70 Mountain Corridor Coalition since its inception and is a strong advocate of finding collaborative means for solving transportation problems. He proved himself during what was essentially a trial period in office and deserves your vote now that he is running for re-election. During a one-term tenure in the state House of Representatives and his year in the senate, he successfully introduced bills to make roads safer, develop energy resources and adddress the pine beetle epidemic. He represents the values of the mountain communities he serves, which mirror the ideals of the pieces of Boulder he also represents.

Senate District 17: Brandon Shaffer (D) over Katie Witt (R)
Brandon Shaffer is persistent. He comes up with unique ideas to create positive change in Colorado and doesn’t stop working on them until he garners enough bipartisan support for them to pass. Two recent examples include a net metering proposal that took two sessions to pass and now allows residents and businesses that power their pads with renewable energy to sell the excess back to their providers. He also was able to push through a version of his ROTC for teachers plan that pays local students’ college bills if they agree to teach in Colorado following graduation. Next up for Shaffer is transportation. He considered the lack of progress in funding road projects a big disappointment; we’re guessing he gets behind some pretty good policy that helps find dollars for transportation projects without stealing funds from other vital programs.

District 18: Rollie Health (D) running unopposed.
We’d just like to point out that we hate to see seats go unopposed.

District 23: Shawn Mitchell (R) over Joseph Whitcomb (D)
In a time when we need to be watching our budget as closely as the mental health of those working on the New York Stock Exchange, Shawn Mitchell deserves another go around in office because he has proven himself a financial watchdog. He has become one of the leaders of the minority party, pushing for fiscal responsibility at every turn, which in today’s economy (locally and nationally) is a huge priority. While we wish he would admit to more of the shortcomings of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, his philosophies and voting record prove to us he will be a smart voice when the next legislative session opens. He has championed for changes to help small business provide health care for employees, worked hard to protect property rights as a smart voice in eminent domain cases and worked to promote political diversity in Colorado’s higher education system.

Incumbents denoted by italics

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