{"id":8350,"date":"2018-06-19T02:48:41","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T02:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/?p=3087290"},"modified":"2018-06-19T02:48:41","modified_gmt":"2018-06-19T02:48:41","slug":"in-final-debate-democrats-running-for-colorado-governor-continue-sparring-over-campaign-finance-tactics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/in-final-debate-democrats-running-for-colorado-governor-continue-sparring-over-campaign-finance-tactics\/","title":{"rendered":"In final debate, Democrats running for Colorado governor continue sparring over campaign finance, tactics"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/in-final-debate-democrats-running-for-colorado-governor-continue-sparring-over-campaign-finance-tactics\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<div><img src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/in-final-debate-democrats-running-for-colorado-governor-continue-sparring-over-campaign-finance-tactics.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>In their final debate before the June 26 primary, the four Democrats vying for a chance to become Colorado\u2019s next governor tussled Monday evening over everything from immigration and guns, to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/tag\/colorado-divide\/\">the state\u2019s rural divide<\/a> and oil and gas drilling.<\/p>\n<p>But the real fight came on the topic of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/05\/30\/hickenlooper-on-cary-kennedy-attack-ad\/\">campaign-trail tactics<\/a>, where the candidates again picked one another apart over allegations of negative television ads and inappropriate campaign financing.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"related right\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2017\/07\/13\/colorado-governor-race-candidates-2018\/\">Who is running for governor of Colorado in 2018?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The bulk of those attacks were leveled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/15\/jared-polis-colorado-governors-race\/\">at U.S. Rep. Jared Polis<\/a>, D-Boulder, the presumptive front-runner, who has injected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/15\/jared-polis-colorado-governors-race\/\">more than $11 million<\/a> of his own money into the race.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\">[embedded content]<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think this election is for sale,\u201d declared Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, though she declined to name a direct buyer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s sure spending an awful lot of money,\u201d quipped former Colorado Treasurer Cary Kennedy as she looked at Polis.<\/p>\n<p>And former state Sen. Mike Johnston went after ads from Kennedy and Polis and their commitments to not attacking the other Democrats in the race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey caved on those promises,\u201d Johnston said.<\/p>\n<p>The theme of \u201cclean campaigns\u201d and whether candidates\u2019 broke their pledges to run them was the most contentious part of the debate and is an issue that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/05\/30\/colorado-governors-race-democrats-education-ad\/\">has been swirling around the Democratic race<\/a> for weeks. It\u2019s become a sticking point at forums and fodder for candidates\u2019 news releases as they jockey for votes.<\/p>\n<p>Heading into the final stretch before the primary, it was clear during Monday\u2019s debate hosted by The Denver Post, Denver7 and the University of Denver that the theme wasn\u2019t waning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I started this race I wanted to spend the time hearing from actual Coloradans, not millionaires and billionaires,\u201d said Polis in a stab at Johnston, who has won backing from some of the nation\u2019s wealthiest Democrats. \u201c\u2026 Candidates shouldn\u2019t be forced to either be wealthy or spend time with 10 millionaires at a Denver steakhouse every night trying to raise the funds they need to compete.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Johnston accused Polis of talking out of both sides of his mouth by advocating for campaign finance reform and also putting so much of his money into the race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMike, look, if you didn\u2019t have all these out-of-state donors, I wouldn\u2019t have needed to put in my own money to keep up with you,\u201d Polis quipped back. \u201cMoney begets money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Polis also accused Kennedy of running negative and false ads against him. Kennedy, in turn, said she disavowed an attack piece against Polis from an outside group backing her campaign, and shot right back at Polis that he had attacked her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a fighter, but I fight clean,\u201d declared Lynne, who has stayed out of the fray, but is behind in fundraising and name recognition among voters<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\">[embedded content]<\/span><\/p>\n<p>On policy, the four candidates showed some differentiation on the hot-button issue of immigration.<\/p>\n<p>None of the candidates would commit to making Colorado a \u201csanctuary state,\u201d but each voiced support for ending interaction between local and state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.<\/p>\n<p>Polis called the Trump administration\u2019s new policy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/18\/immigration-child-seperation-midterms-impact\/\">separating immigrants coming to the U.S. illegally<\/a> from their children \u201cacts of terror\u201d and said \u201cwe should be a welcoming state for immigrants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also voiced support \u2014 like the other candidates \u2014 for Gov. John Hickenlooper\u2019s move Monday to sign an executive order <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/18\/immigrant-family-separation-colorado-stance\/\">forbidding any state resources from being allocated<\/a> to that Trump administration immigration policy.<\/p>\n<p>While the order is not expected to have any substantive impact, Hickenlooper says it serves as a rebuke of the president.<\/p>\n<p>Lynne, who is Hickenlooper\u2019s No. 2, also agreed with the governor\u2019s move, saying of the Trump administration\u2019s separation policy: \u201cI think the word \u2018reprehensible\u2019 is probably even too mild.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy declared that she thinks \u201clocal law enforcement shouldn\u2019t have anything to do with enforcing federal immigration policy.\u201d Johnston agreed, declaring \u201cthere\u2019s no reason for the state to share that information with (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The candidates also were split on oil and gas drilling, though they all oppose a potential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/12\/royalty-owners-claim-wider-well-setbacks-would-cost-them-26-billion\/\">ballot initiative to increase the distance between drilling and occupied buildings<\/a> to 2,500 feet. The current setback is at least 500 feet.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\">[embedded content]<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Lynne did not offer a specific proposal. \u201cI do think that a 2,500-foot setback is not something that most people support,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 I think it\u2019s arbitrary. Quite frankly, I mean 799 could be my answer. But I think we have to rely on professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy agreed that current setbacks are too lenient and wants to give local governments more authority to set the boundaries \u2014 a power now mostly reserved to the state. \u201cI support giving our local jurisdictions the authority to make those setbacks longer than they are currently,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 I don\u2019t think we should have the same setback requirement for every single building in the entire state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Johnston said he, too, wanted the setbacks to be expanded beyond the current 500 feet, but contrasted with Kennedy because he believes in statewide setback rules. \u201cBut I believe that we need to have one set of statewide rules so you don\u2019t have every local city council and county commissioner having oil and gas companies come and negotiate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Polis also said current setbacks weren\u2019t enough\u00a0 and noted he would still supported 1,500- or 2,000-foot setbacks as he proposed in the past.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"related right\">\n<ul>\n<li><span>June 19, 2018<\/span> <a class=\"article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/19\/colorado-governor-election-fundraising\/\" title=\"Colorado governor\u2019s race fundraising stays on course for record-shattering year, latest reports show\"> <span class=\"dfm-title optimizely-3088075\"> Colorado governor\u2019s race fundraising stays on course for record-shattering year, latest reports show <\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li><span>June 19, 2018<\/span> <a class=\"article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/19\/how-many-ballots-colorado-primary-2018\/\" title=\"With a week left before primary election day, just 425,377 Coloradans have cast ballots\"> <span class=\"dfm-title optimizely-3087730\"> With a week left before primary election day, just 425,377 Coloradans have cast ballots <\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li><span>June 19, 2018<\/span> <a class=\"article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/19\/denver-post-republican-governor-debate-watch\/\" title=\"Where to watch tonight\u2019s Denver Post\/Denver7 Republican governor\u2019s race debate\"> <span class=\"dfm-title optimizely-3087757\"> Where to watch tonight\u2019s Denver Post\/Denver7 Republican governor\u2019s race debate <\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li><span>June 18, 2018<\/span> <a class=\"article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/18\/democratic-governors-primary-debate\/\" title=\"WATCH: Colorado Democratic governor\u2019s debate\"> <span class=\"dfm-title optimizely-3086689\"> WATCH: Colorado Democratic governor\u2019s debate <\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li><span>June 18, 2018<\/span> <a class=\"article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/18\/hickenlooper-endorses-phil-weiser-attorney-general\/\" title=\"Hickenlooper, in extraordinary move, endorses Phil Weiser in Democratic primary for Colorado attorney general\"> <span class=\"dfm-title optimizely-3086192\"> Hickenlooper, in extraordinary move, endorses Phil Weiser in Democratic primary for Colorado attorney general <\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe need additional setbacks statewide, and we should be guided by science,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>On guns, all four candidates said they supported a ban on military-style or assault-style weapons, as well as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/05\/07\/colorado-red-flag-gun-bill-fails\/\">so-called \u201cred flag law\u201d<\/a> that would allow judges to seize firearms from people deemed a threat.<\/p>\n<p>Polis blamed gun regulation gridlock on special interest groups \u2014 \u201cIt\u2019s the gun manufacturing lobby or the NRA\u201d \u2014 while Lynne said she would declare gun violence a health crisis if elected governor.<\/p>\n<p>Johnston touted his record in the legislature supporting gun-control legislation, while Kennedy said students needed to be safe in their classrooms.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday night, the four Republicans vying for governor \u2014 Colorado Treasurer Walker Stapleton, former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez, businessman Doug Robinson, and former state lawmaker and businessman Victor Mitchell \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2018\/06\/06\/colorado-governors-race-debate-2018\/\">face off in a final debate of their own<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Staff writer John Frank contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>In their final debate Monday night before the June 26 primary, the four Democrats vying for a chance to become Colorado\u2019s next governor tussled over everything from immigration and guns, to the state\u2019s rural divide and teacher pay. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2163,5062,7869,7703,7707,6811,6857,6812,376,7708,7660,7785,1547,784,7454,7870,7756,6874,6892,1538,854,2097,6813,6848,77,9,7665,7231,6833,5019,7017,441,1,3,526,7508,7565,7871,7872,61,1736],"tags":[4731,5063,7873,7726,7730,6816,6859,6817,2954,7731,7679,7800,4115,3357,7458,7874,7771,6876,6893,4106,3427,4665,6818,6851,2655,7684,7232,6835,5022,7025,3015,3100,7510,7567,7875,7876],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8350"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8350\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}