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| Bill visited Canon City in Fremont County on Saturday afternoon to receive the endorsement of Colorado Representative Buffie McFadyen (House District 47.) (Click to read more about the announcement.) The Fremont County Democrats hosted the event at their downtown Canon City office, and many residents turned out for Bill's appearance. (Fremont County Democrats web site.) |
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| The Colorado Democratic Party state assembly on May 20 served up some high drama for Bill and lieutenant governor running mate Barbara O'Brien. Bill was selected as the party's nominee after delivering a rousing speech that focused on fulfilling the Colorado promise. | |
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Bill and Barbara high-five delegates as they make their way toward the stage. |
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Bill makes a powerful point during his speech. |
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Bill gets a hug from daughter Tally, 13, and youngest son Sam, 15. At right, Bill's mother, Ethel, congratulates Barbara. |
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Bill's super-sized extended family fills the stage as he and Barbara raise their hands in celebration. |
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Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff and US. Rep. John Salazar join Bill and Barbara on stage. |
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US. Rep. John Salazar joins Bill and Barbara on stage. |
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After the assembly, Bill and Barbara attended the "Welcome Home" Picnic hosted by House District 3. |
The cornerstone of all policy—education, health care, transportation—is a functional economy. Now that the 2006 legislative session has wrapped, we can truly start to appreciate what Referendum C is doing to revive Colorado’s ailing economy. The successful bipartisan effort among Colorado’s voters, the Legislature, the Governor and our business and nonprofit community produced our best economic development package in more than a decade: Promises Made, Promises Kept
We are in our first year of this five year economic recovery plan, and need to move forward in a responsible way. How do we do this? We do it by investing in our crumbling K-12 schools and universities, in our health care system and in our infrastructure. Just as the voters wanted, and just as we promised the voters through Referendum C.
The Republican candidates for Governor opposed Ref C last year and are now trying to undermine it: Tax Plans: Dumb and Dumber. This is just plain bad policy. We cannot continue to starve our institutions if we expect Colorado to live up to its promise and create a healthy 21st century economy.
Please send me your thoughts on Referendum C and your ideas for Colorado’s economic future. I look forward to reading your opinions and posting your responses.
Email bill@ritterforgovernor.com.
Classroom campaigning for Bill!
Ryan, a fifth grader at McKinley Thatcher Elementary School, demonstrates that you don't need to be eighteen to get-out-the-vote and make a difference!
This Saturday I will speak at the Colorado Democratic State Assembly in Greeley. This is a great honor, and I’m proud to be running for Governor as a Democrat in Colorado. The convention is a highlight of the Governor’s race, and a true kick-off point for many of you who want to get involved in the campaign. I look forward to seeing you there, and appreciate your support.
Check out http://coloradodems.org/ for more details on the assembly.
Bill was the honorary race starter at the 24th annual Cherry Creek Sneak on April 30. Bill has run this race in the past, but this year he was happy to fire the starting "pistol." A team of Bill's campaign volunteers also staffed the Mile 1 water station.
"Colorado is one of the fittest states in the nation," Bill said, 
"and it's because of events like this where children, families and serious runners can all come out and get in some fun exercise on a picture-perfect spring morning."
Bill listens to Estes Park supporters on May 13th.
Bill shows his ongoing support for Project PAVE (Promoting Alternatives to Violence through Education) at a luncheon in early May.
From left: Dennis Kennedy, Liz McDonough, Bill Ritter, Deb Roberts, Jeanne Elliott, Linda Fischer and Jim Bernuth.
When I released my vision for a New Energy Economy last week, I called out for Coloradans to share their energy horror stories and their ideas for a better energy future. We've received many great responses--thanks to everyone for sending your thoughts. Keep 'em coming--send your comments to Bill@ritterforgovernor.com
Here are just a few of our responses. For more, click here:
Coloradans Speak out on Energy
In February, we paid $146 to heat our modest two-bedroom home here in Glenwood Springs. Gas for our little Suzuki Sidekick is not even worth mentioning, so far. Thanks for asking. Jan Girardot Glenwood Springs
We run a food bank that serves more than 1,600 clients. We are in the process of developing funding to purchase a building in collaboration with several other agencies. Because of the high cost of energy in January and February, we almost had to shut down. The extreme increase in gas prices has caused a heavy burden on the agency as well as personally. We have a lot of donation pickups and deliveries and often our one-ton truck is full of food. It is very difficult to keep up with the cost of operations when these prices are going through the ceiling. It also has put a huge strain on many of our clients. Something needs to be done and quickly. We need more than a Band-Aid application to help low-income people, especially seniors. Rachel Hernandez
I'd like to see mass transit projects to move more people off the highways. The mass transit would have to be powered by an alternate source of energy. … Can we get our colleges to compete against each other for efficient energy design for homes, large buildings and vehicles? I'd love to see a scholarship for that! I'd like to see solar panels or wind mills powering our public buildings such as libraries, schools, and government offices. … We need a program to develop more efficient and cheaper solar panels for home use. I'd like to see an energy credit given on taxes to a household for making a substantive change which reduces dependence on gas or oil. I'd like to see an advertising campaign helping people to realize that getting off foreign oil is good citizenship. Antoinette Nowakowski Hesperus
Campaigning is an amazing and unique experience. It's busy. It's enlightening. I meet a lot of new people, reconnect with old acquaintances, and get the opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of Colorado. As we move down the road towards winning the election in November, I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you. So keep checking in!
I also believe in the importance of listening to others' stories, and the value of being able to hear from those of you who I may never get to meet in person. Please share your thoughts, stories and questions by emailing bill@ritterforgovernor.com.
Runningmate Barbara O'Brien with Denver youngsters in April.
