Cunniff distances himself from $48K campaign investments

City Council Candidate Ross Cunniff.

Calling it an "attempt to buy the local election," Candidate Ross Cunniff is trying to further distance himself from the National Association of Realtors/Fort Collins Board of Realtors (FCBR) investment of $48,500 in the local election. Cunniff was a recipient of a small portion of these funds and he's been actively posting his response to this issue on today's Coloradoan and other sites (including our own).

Reporter Kevin Duggan may have been aware of this issue since as early as March 14. On March 17, an editorial by FCBR's Clink Stutchen appeared in the Coloradoan, explaining the purpose of this investment. On March 24, in today's Coloradoan, Duggan skimmed over concerns expressed by several in the community, which may be the motivation behind Cunniff's recent engagement.

The primary point of contention is that $48K equals roughly half of all other contributions -- combined. This dwarfs individual donations and places opposing candidates at a significant disadvantage. Why does today's story inadequately address this issue and why did it take so long to appear?

• Cunniff's letter 
• Today's Coloradoan story 
• Clint Skutchen's editorial

Confusion over the Fort Collins fracking ban; information incomplete

Map of impacted areas.

In the midst of cameras and microphones, which resulted in national press, the Fort Collins City Council passed a fracking ban with some exemptions for our existing operator.  With little public attention, the Prospect Energy Operating Agreement came to city council's table. The resulting discussion signaled confusion over what was actually passed in the ban.

A small contingent of citizens express concerns ranging from wanting an absolute ban to uncertainty over specifics such as fracking chemicals used and well pad exemptions. Comments from council members following the Citizen Participation established that council members were not previously briefed on an area referred to as the “UDA,” or "Undeveloped Acreage" – the apparent source of misunderstanding.

National Association of Realtors throws $48k into local race

What are they hoping to buy?

Admittedly, candidates can't control who and what is contributed to their campaign. But in a city where citizens are limited to $100 contributions for mayor and $75 contributions for other council members, how is it that non-local organizations can contribute thousands of dollars to support the campaigns of local candidates?

Reports on file with the Fort Collins City Clerk indicate the National Association of Realtors has contributed $23,870 to support Weinkunat, $11,396 to support Campana, $11,396 to support Stockover and $1,868 to support Cunniff. A representative of the city clerk's office stated that "Independent Expenditures" are often used to support issues on the ballots but it is "not typical" to see them in support of candidates.

The amount given to support Weinkunat seems particularly out of line when you consider her opponent has raised only a few hundred dollars to finance his whole campaign (see Campaign Finance Reports).

Will state Dems extend the same drive for O&G legislation?

Screen shot of a poll from the Denver Post at 1:30 pm on March 16, 2013

Former fracking ban opponent, Mayor Weitkunat, voiced the concerns of many Fort Collins residents when she switched her vote and made the following statement:

"We are responsible for the residents of Fort Collins and their well-being, Mayor Karen Weitkunat said before the meeting. "We're truly representing the people when we come forward with a decision, even though it may conflict with the state's. There's been reluctance by state legislators. If this is regulated by the state, why haven't they been talking about it? I don't take my responsibilities to the state or the federal government lightly. We are all under the same flag."

While patiently waiting for oil & gas (O&G) legislation, we have watched the Democratic legislature sweep through a slew of other bills, with little accommodation for those who resist them. Last year, the ASSET bill (granting in-state tuition to undocumented students that attend and graduate from Colorado high schools) wouldn't even pass with compromise language that set the tuition rate for undocumented students at higher than the in-state rate, but lower than the out-of-state rate -- it passed this year with no compromise. Last year's Civil Unions bill was killed even though it contained exclusions for religious institutions -- this year it soundly passed without those exclusions. And a slew of gun bills have furiously progressed through the legislature with little regard for organized opposition on the right. So where are the O&G bills?

Democrat legislators demonstrate they have the social capital and will to pass legislation that's important to them. As O&G legislation finally comes to the table, will they demonstrate they have the will to fight for public health and the environment? Or did they use up the social capital we extended them for other purposes?

References:

• Threat of Colorado lawsuit looms as fracking ban OK'd in Fort Collins, Denver Post, March 5, 2013
• Colorado Democrats to pitch expanded city, county control over fracking, Coloradoan, March 14, 2013
• Denver Post poll

Amazing Healthful Pancakes - A southeast original recipe

Click to enlarge.

This post is completely different than our usual subject matter, but thought it might be a good experiment. Are there any dads out there, looking for a new pancake variation to impress the family with on Sunday mornings?

Why not try this delicious and healthy, southeast original recipe? It was created by an experimental dad and it's a guaranteed hit!

The batch is slightly larger than many pancake recipes but it's perfect for a hungry family of four big appetites.

1 1/2 cups skim milk
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 1/2 cup whole grain flour mix
   (1/2 whole wheat pastry flour, 1/2 whole grain barley flour)
1/2 cup oat bran
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup egg whites
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons nut oil (or high-oleic safflower/sunflower oil)

1) Mix milk and vinegar in a bowl and set aside, to curdle milk.

2) Mix dry ingredients together. Preheat griddle to 325-350 degrees.

4) Mix butter and egg whites with milk mixture, then combine with dry ingredients.

Lightly wipe griddle with nut oil (has higher smoke point than olive oil) and spoon batter onto grill. Serve hot.

Any other flour blend can be used but we find the combination of whole wheat pastry flour and whole grain barley flour will appeal to the "white bread taste buds" of the most stubborn whole-grain-haters. These are flat out delicious!

Stop Hickenlooper in his tracks: Uphold the Fort Collins fracking ban

Residents ready themselves for a successful bid to ban fracking at the March 5, 2013 City Council meeting.

Governor Hickenlooper has previously threatened to sue Fort Collins if they impose a fracking ban. Despite his threats, the Fort Collins City Council passed a fracking ban during the March 5, 2013 City Council meeting.

Responding to considerable public pressure and likely, her campaign for reelection, the city's mayor stated:

"'We are responsible for the residents of Fort Collins and their well-being,' Mayor Karen Weitkunat said before the meeting. 'We're truly representing the people when we come forward with a decision, even though it may conflict with the state's.'

"'There's been reluctance by state legislators. If this is regulated by the state, why haven't they been talking about it? I don't take my responsibilities to the state or the federal government lightly. We are all under the same flag.'"

We encourage all residents to contact Governor Hickenlooper and their state legislators now, asking them to support the council's right to protect its citizens.

Contact Information
All contact information can be found on our Facebook contacts tab. or you can simply email Governor Hickenlooper, State Senator John Kefalas, State Representative Joann Ginal and State Representative Randy Fischer.

References

• State could sue Fort Collins over fracking ban, NCBR, February 27, 2013
• Threat of Colorado lawsuit looms as fracking ban OK'd in Fort Collins, Denver Post, March 5, 2013