Familiar Colorado Political Veteran Addresses Barrage of Concerns
Rick Langenberg
In his first official visit to Teller County in several years, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who represents Colorado, met last week with key community and political leaders in an open panel discussion at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.
Hickenlooper, who is seeking re-election, addressed such issues as wildfire mitigation, water rights, forest resources, health care, gaming and a variety of community topics.
Even though he faced a mostly pro-Republican crowd, the forum was quite cordial. For many local officials, Hickenlooper is a familiar figure due to his multi-varied roles as a brewery entrepreneur, mayor, governor and now U.S. senator for Colorado.
For the most part, Hickenlooper took a bipartisan approach. He mostly avoided the current strife between Colorado and the White House and didn’t touch too much on the controversy over ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents reportedly abusing powers in the current crackdown against illegal immigrants.
But at times, the subject could not be avoided. In a joking manner, the senator urged area leaders to spend whatever money they get from the feds, as fast as possible. “We have a president who doesn’t like Colorado, admitted Hickenlooper. The senator attributed this partially to the controversy over the jail sentence of strong Donald Trump ally Tina Peters, the former clerk of Mesa County, convicted of breaching election security. The senator, though, did question the length of her nine-year sentence, but didn’t elaborate on a subject that has triggered a virtual war between Colorado and the White House and Trump administration.
He said he has tried to mend fences with the White House, but experienced limited success. “I have tried to take Colorado out of the crosshairs,” said the senator.
Although not rehashing this feud, Hickenlooper fully stood by the mail-in voting process in Colorado, citing this as a successful model that generated an impressive turnout and was fully transparent and cost-efficient. President Trump has frequently criticized the state’s mail-in voting system in his bid to nationalize elections.
Hickenlooper described such attempts as putting democracy at risk.
Threat of I-Gaming and Open Space Success
One key local subject that arose dealt with gaming. Cripple Creek City Administrator Frank Salvato warned the senator of the threat the town faces with I-gaming and the health risks this could impose from with such easy access to games of chance for young people. “We think that (I-gaming) will kill the three (gaming) towns,” said Salvato.
The Creek administrator also gave a dire report of the impacts of sports betting, with such national companies as Draft Kings dominating the market. “Something has to be done with sports betting,” said Salvato. Sports betting remains a touchy subject with Cripple Creek leaders due to the fact that they got zilch dollars from an industry that it helped to promote and actively support.
Hickenlooper agreed and contended that only the winning gaming stories are told.
On an upscale note, the senator strongly complimented Woodland Park on its open space acquisitions, especially its purchase of the Shining Mountain golf course. “It is brilliant, commented Hickenlooper. “Good for you.” Hickenlooper said he was quite familiar with this property and was surprised to learn about the successful deal.
He said similar open space purchases were done in Denver to preserve key land areas and worked quite well.
As far as key federal issues, County Commissioner Dan Williams pleaded with the senator to do what he could in the area of forest and public land management. Williams sought more rangers to monitor forest areas that are now experiencing big increases in outside visitors and usage. Williams cited a big problem in the growth of “bad behavior in the forest. The impacts are being felt,” said Williams, in discussing the current situation.
Wildfire mitigation was another big topic of concern in last week’s forum. Hickenlooper mentioned such bipartisan legislation as “Friends of Fire Act,” as a step forward. The senator also raised concerns over reports that a growing number of homes in rural parts of the state can’t get insured. “This is serious,” said the senator. “Fifteen percent (of residential homes in Colorado) can’t get insured. We have to have a louder voice.”
Hickenlooper is seeking ways to put more pressure on the insurance industry in developing better incentives for people that harbor or take measures to protect their properties from natural disasters, such as wildfires.
Rural health care emerged as another signature issue that generated much discussion.
As for overall advice, the senator recommended taking a bipartisan approach in social media postings that concentrate on the facts. “We need a full-court press from the left and right,” said the senator.
Hickenlooper was originally elected as Colorado’s U.S. senator in 2020, after stints as governor and mayor of Denver. The senator faces stern opposition from a variety of Republican contenders in his bid for re-election, including state Senator Mark Baisley.
