October 01, 2006 10:00 PM UTC

Denver Post: Ritter for Governor

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Denver Post this morning joined a so-far unbroken streak of Colorado newspapers in endorsing Democrat Bill Ritter for governor:

Ritter certainly isn’t your everyday Democrat. He is a pro-life advocate whose anti-abortion beliefs rattle many party members, but his thoughtful approach to this emotional subject has earned their respect. He has provided assurances that he will not mount a campaign to gut the protections of federal law. Beauprez also is pro-life, but as is his way, he takes the most extreme view of the issue, declining even to make exceptions for rape and incest.

Ritter speaks with assurance on subjects that will loom large for Colorado over the decades ahead, water and energy chief among them. He believes the state must better serve agriculture and ranching interests in western Colorado and the eastern plains. By investing in wind energy development and “biofuels,” such as ethanol made from corn, Ritter would work to expand the job base for Coloradans in what he calls a “new energy economy.”

His bid to become governor first caught our eye in 2005, when state officials were rallying to restore Colorado’s fiscal stability. Gov. Owens answered the call, as did Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. GOP leader Bruce Benson was there, as were legislative chiefs Joan Fitz-Gerald and Andrew Romanoff. University of Colorado president Hank Brown campaigned for fiscal reform on his own time.

These leaders used their influence to promote Referendum C, a compromise measure that achieved state financial objectives and earned voter approval. Without C, the state would have slashed $365 million in programs this year alone, and more next year.

Ritter worked for Referendum C. Beauprez stood apart, in feeble opposition.