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WELCOME NEW ANT FANS
Thank you for the overwhelming support for The Red Ant! So many of you recently signed on during the 2010 election season that it's only appropriate to say THANK YOU for your interest. And to my cherished long-term readers, THANK YOU for all you've done to further the effort of bringing fiscal responsibility, accountability and election transparency to our local government. The Red Ant strives to deliver coverage and commentary on Aspen political issues that you won't find anywhere else, especially in the local newspapers. The road is long, but we're definitely on a roll.
IT'S ITTNER! AND THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY IN LOCAL POLITICS
Hurray! Local restaurateur Rob Ittner solidly defeated former one-term city councilman Jack Johnson for the District 1 Board of County Commissioner seat by a margin of 3620-3086 (54%-46%). This is clearly a referendum on the election of "pawns of the regime" to political office, and marks the starting line for future races where regular citizens can run against and, more importantly, BEAT the entrenched political class, affectionately referred to as "The Ba'ath Party" by The Red Ant and others who are sick and tired of the long-standing status quo.
No longer are the unemployed and unemployable "shoe-ins" for local elected office!
Despite the wacky emotional pleadings of local letter-writers who long for the return of "The Quiet Years" -- Frank Peters, Allyn Harvey, Junee Kirk, Betty Farson, Tim Cooney -- all of whom felt that The Red Ant's facts-only presentation of Jack's boorish behavior, irresponsible legislation and arrogant attitude (a.k.a. "The Truth") while serving as a city councilman were just "too mean" for prime time, Jack Johnson is thankfully OUT. Again. My favorite preposterous endorsement of Jack was by former mayor Bill Stirling who went so far as to state, "Jack is the embodiment of the Aspen Idea." Good grief. Poor Walter Paepcke -- rolling over in his grave yet again.
The days of "the Mick machine" and its iron-fisted control over local politics are numbered. Calling all interested candidates! There's a race for mayor and two city council seats in May 2011. Congratulations Rob! Game on! Hit the road, Jack. And don't ya come back.
REF 5A & 5B: HOSPITAL EXPANSION NARROWLY SURVIVES
A closer contest was waged between the Aspen Valley Hospital and local property tax owners who did not want to buck up for a $50 million bond to finance an extensive expansion of our local hospital. The measure narrowly passed 3219-2951 (52% - 48%). While the aging facility does indeed need a facelift and some internal upgrades, this could still have been accomplished with the $40 million nut that AVH has access to ($15 million in cash-on-hand, plus the potential to raise nearly $26 million through revenue bonds). Nearly half of the voters simply didn't buy in to the need for a huge facility, given the massive amount of public funding needed, the 27,000 s.f. of on-site office space, the 3-story parking garage, the lack of a capital campaign for the $30 million philanthropic piece of the financial pie, not to mention the plethora of world-class healthcare nearby. Watch and see - will AVH be able to raise $30 million through a capital campaign, or will they be back with another big bond in the near future?
REF 2B: INSTANT RUN-OFF VOTING -- SENT BACK TO THE UNIONS
Exhausted by the ongoing controversies surrounding the May 2009 election when city of Aspen officials botched the progressive voting gimmick called Instant Run-Off Voting, local voters overwhelmingly said "no thanks" to its retention as Aspen's official voting method. The measure was solidly shot down 1654-880. Imagine that -- local voters want their election ballots counted correctly!?
And wouldn't you just know it, mayor Mick even bailed on IRV in the 11th hour. I'd be willing to guess that Mick saw the Titanic sinking and knew that he needed a win somewhere on the ballot. He jumped ship, right into the lifeboats designed for women and children. This last minute flip-flop had nothing to do with his feelings about IRV. Rather, it was a lame attempt to save his political hide. Nice try Mick. We see right through you.
(Next step now that the gimmick is gone -- focus on the city employees who do the ballot counting. The long-entrenched game of playing fast and loose with municipal elections and conducting them without citizen oversight is soon to end.)
REF 3A: $1.35 MILLION TAX INCREASE FOR THE SCHOOLS
Nobody likes to say no to the schools. And once again, the schools got the YES they were looking for 3325-1859 -- which now ups property taxes so that they get another $1.35 million per year. Worse legislation has passed, however, the blind YES to the schools is a fool-hardy habit.
The Red Ant, in the Election Issue (# 50), stated that the average expenditure per pupil in Colorado is $9000 and in Aspen it's $12,000. I've since learned that this is incorrect information. The REAL numbers have Colorado total expenditures per pupil at $12,000 and Aspen's total expenditures per pupil at $21,000. Yes, $21,000. That's 171% more than the state average. In other words, I tried to illustrate how little our schools need the money. But the truth is, they need it even less than I said.
Is it too much to ask our local schools to show some fiscal restraint?! This is a $1.35 million annual boondoggle at local property owners' expense. Don't come a-knockin' again for a LONG, LONG, LONG time!
REF 2A: THE LODGING TAX
It is no surprise that the 1% lodging tax passed 1734-1034. Let's just hope that ACRA has the wherewithal to keep city officials, city council and other unethical and unqualified sticky mitts out of the million dollar pot that has now been created for marketing purposes. The Red Ant will be watching this one closely and promises to report back.
AND THE RESULTS OF OTHER CONTESTS, AS OF 1AM PRESS TIME:
· COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 2: RACHEL RICHARDS
Rachel, who ran unopposed, of course retains her seat. She garnered 4809 votes, but the nearly 2000 "blank" ballots clearly demonstrate that nobody is unbeatable. For a position with a $70,000+ salary, all incumbents should have to defend their record to remain in office.
· PITKIN COUNTY SHERIFF: JOE DI SALVO
Joe DiSalvo handily defeated his opponent Rick Leonard 5182-1358. This is no surprise, just a disappointment that it wasn't a closer race. Given that Leonard hardly campaigned, it is notable that he received 21% of the votes. The status quo in the Sheriff's office lives on.....this round.
· AMENDMENTS 60, 61 & PROPOSITION 101 NO, NO, NO
· AMENDMENT 62 NO
· AMENDMENT 63 NO
· PROPOSITION 102 NO
· SECRETARY OF STATE SCOTT GESSLER (R)
· STATE TREASURER WALKER STAPLETON (R)
· ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN SUTHERS (R)
· STATE SENATE,DISTRICT 5 RANKIN vs SCHWARTZ - TBD
· STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 61 TBD
· GOVERNOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER (D)
· US SENATOR KEN BUCK vs MICHAEL BENNET - TBD
· CONGRESS, DISTRICT 3 SCOTT TIPTON (R)
· AMENDMENT P NO
· AMENDMENT Q YES
· AMENDMENT R NO
WE'RE ON A ROLL! AND WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
The 2010 election is only the beginning! Subscribe to www.TheRedAnt.com and tell your friends. Join the revolution!
THE ASPEN BUSINESS LUNCHEON
The weekly tradition continues.... Events to look forward to:
- Nov 24: Auden Schendler, VP of Sustainability, Aspen Skiing Co
- December 8: Chris Klug, Olympic Snowboarder and Author, To The Edge and Back
For reservations, email AspenBusinessLuncheon@gmail.com
ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOTE: DINNER AT PEACH'S?!
YES!! The Red Ant has it on good authority that Peach's Café will soon be offering dinner! Stop by, sign up, and get on the list to receive daily emails/texts of nightly dinner specials, eat-in or to go.
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