Friends,
The People of Denver were the winners at last night's Denver City Council Meeting, when a majority of Council Members voted to block Councilman Kevin Flynn's bill to cut funding for Fair Elections with an 8-5 vote. Council only needed five votes to defeat the bill, which requires a 2/3 majority to cut or suspend funding. So while five would suffice, it's great to have eight!
This suggestion came up quietly three weeks ago, and even as it was discussed by email among Council Members, at a public City Council Meeting, and in a formal letter from City Council to Mayor Hancock, there were members of City Council who weren't aware it was on the table at the time, given the condensed timeline in the midst of a whirlwind of other activity. Surprisingly, Council did not consult with the Clerk and Recorder's Office (responsible for managing Denver Elections) before sending the suggestion to the mayor, and the Clerk was also unaware that momentum was building as a letter was drafted from City Council to the Mayor. It is thanks to your efforts that the suggestion got the serious attention and public scrutiny it deserved.
Denver's Fair Elections Act started as a grassroots effort, The Democracy For The People Initiative, to get the corrupting influence of big money out of elections and to bring the essential benefit of clean and fair elections to all Denver residents. It was supported by 71% of Denver voters, so it is fitting that the people of Denver came to its defense and put the brakes on an effort to cut funds that might easily have passed with little attention.
We owe special thanks to the Council Members who carefully considered the bill, listened to their constituents, and were moved to defend Fair Elections with a NO vote on Flynn's proposed cuts: Candi CdeBaca, Chris Hinds, Paul Kashmann, Amanda Sawyer, Amanda Sandoval, Jamie Torres, Stacie Gilmore, and Robin Kniech. We encourage you to show your appreciation to them, and if you have a moment to send an email or make a call to thank them, it would mean a lot. Contact information for all of them is on our website at www.CleanSlateNowAction.org/defend-fair-elections.
Thanks also to the community organizations that answered the call to action, spoke out to defend Fair Elections, and mobilized their supporters to make their voices heard: Colorado Progressive Democrats of America, Move To Amend, The Campaign Legal Center, Colorado DSA, CoPIRG, Colorado Working Families Party, Colorado Latino Forum, and Colorado Common Cause.
