The Fort Collins Coloradoan - 3 Points Of View

3 Points Of View - May 13

Fort Collins Coloradoan

In their first appearance together, Colorado's three gubernatorial candidates remained civil Friday while passionately addressing Referendum C, higher education and their visions for the future of the state.

Democrat Bill Ritter joined Republicans Bob Beauprez and Marc Holtzman in a forum at the Fort Collins Board of Realtors' 23rd Annual Government Affairs Luncheon. The three began with 10 minutes each to speak in general and then took on specific questions from the audience.

The most divisive topic seemed to be the passage of Referendum C.

"I think nothing frames what really will be the biggest issue in this campaign better than our debate in this state over the passage of Referendum C," said Ritter, former Denver district attorney. Ritter pointed to Referendum C dollars that the Legislature appointed to pre-kindergarten programs, tourism and higher education as evidence that the money is being put to good use.

Beauprez, one of Colorado's U.S. representatives, disagreed.

"The problem I have with C is it changed nothing," Beauprez said. "All it did was keep more of your money and let the state spend it in the same old way without changing any of the circumstances that they say got us ... into the problem in the first place."

Holtzman, former president of the University of Denver, blasted Referendum C and said as governor he'd return the excess revenue beyond the $3.1 billion Referendum C was originally meant to bring in.

"I believe Referendum C was a disaster for Colorado," Holtzman said. "That money belongs to the people of Colorado, and I'm going to do everything in my power to return that money where it rightfully belongs."

Economic issues will present the biggest challenges for the new governor, said Lew Wymisner, assistant director of the Larimer County Workforce, who attended the luncheon.

"The city of Fort Collins is hurting," Wymisner said. "While the private sector is rebounding from the recession, government entities are still not out of the woods yet. It's still interesting times in terms of the economy."

Ritter's campaign message is based on investing in the future by supporting people, infrastructure and institutions.

Holtzman hails Ronald Reagan Republican values and said the government must create an environment in which people can achieve and prosper, then quickly get out of their way.

Beauprez discussed four areas of infrastructure he said must be strengthened: transportation, water, education and health care.

"Government doesn't grow economy; people do that," Beauprez said. "But government can provide the right kind of environment in which people who are willing to take the risk might be rewarded with a little bit higher livelihood and success."

Beauprez argued that his ties to Washington make him a stronger candidate than his opponents.

All three emphasized the importance of funding higher education and developing partnerships between private and public entities for the sake of improved economic development.

"We sit in a town with a major research university," Ritter said of Fort Collins. "If we as a state don't have a role in investing in that, we in the state will lose our cutting edge."

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http://www.ritterforgovernor.com/displayNews.cfm?nid=216