GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFULS FACE OFF

Gubernatorial candidates battle on variety of issues

Colorado’s gubernatorial candidates, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Polis and Republican state Treasurer Walker Stapleton, clashed Friday night over abortion rights, the state’s transportation needs and the state’s energy economy during the fall’s first televised debate.

Each charged that their opponent had no way to pay for their plans or would plunge the state into debt.

But the most fiery exchange between the two men came during a discussion of their personal wealth and their mutual and continued refusal to release current tax returns.

“I’m not interested in getting a food fight with him,” Stapleton said after both candidates relentlessly talked over each for several minutes and the debate’s moderator clapped in order to get their attention.

While the two men have traded jabs along the campaign trail since winning their respective party’s nomination, Friday’s debate was the first chance voters had to see the two men go headtohead over the issues. The two, neither known for their skills at debating, are running to succeed Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who is termlimited.

Stapleton maintained familiar attacks calling Polis’ campaign pledges — which include expanding preschool, universal health care and moving the state’s electric grid to 100 percent renewable energy 2040 — as “radical” and “extreme.”

Polis countered that Stapleton has no plans for the state other than to attack him.

“Every time Walker Stapleton talks it’s noun, verb, Jared Polis,” the Democrat said.

Stapleton has pledged to pay teachers more by going after administrative costs, allow catastrophic insurance plans to be sold in the state and crack down on socalled sanctuary cities.

The debate began with a question regarding the impending nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, which quickly turned to the topic of abortion.

Stapleton pledged he’d be a “prolife governor,” and would support a ban on thirdtrimester abortions. He then suggested Polis would support such a mea sure.

“Obviously, I don’t,” Polis said. “But what I want less is Walker Stapleton deciding that for women of Colorado.”

Polis did not say whether he would support allowing state tax dollars to be used for abortion. Currently, state law forbids it.

Polis and Stapleton stuck to familiar territory discussing constitutional amendments and propositions that will appear on the fall ballot with them this fall.

Both oppose Proposition 112, which would require oil and drilling to take place 2,500 feet away from homes, schools and parks.

However, Polis’ past financial support of similar potential ballot measures and his promise of moving the state toward more renewable energy is starkly contrasted with Stapleton’s positions.

“We don’t want to go for the jobs of tomorrow land, those jobs aren’t here in Colorado,” Stapleton said.

Later in the debate, Polis said, “Renewable energy saves money, this isn’t from Jared Polis. This is from Xcel Energy.”

While both Stapleton and Polis agree that the state’s infrastructure is in dire need of an update, they are split on competing ballot initiatives that take on that issue. Stapleton supports Proposition 109, which would require the state to seek loans for its most critical needs. Polis opposes it.

Stapleton reiterated that he opposes Proposition 110, a proposed 0.62 percent sales tax increase to fund state and local transportation needs. If approved, it could generate upward of $20 billion over two decades. Polis has not taken a stance on the question.

Neither candidate was able to provide clear details on how they’d fund improvements to roads if voters reject both options.

Since the start of the 2018 campaign, Stapleton has charged that Polis does not have plans to pay for any of his major campaign promises. He reiterated that point several times through the evening.

“You have no way to pay for any of this,” Stapleton said.

Polis countered that Stapleton’s support for Proposition 109, which does not dedicate a revenue stream, would create a new financial burden for the state.

“You’re the only one here who is supporting an initiative that would put our state further into debt,” Polis said.

The next debate is 7 p.m. Saturday at Colorado Mesa University. It will be broadcast on Rocky Mountain PBS. The Denver Post’s debate, cohosted by Denver7 and the University of Denver, will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 23.

Jeffrey Karol Bonczyk, 48, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of committing a biasmotivated crime causing an injury, a Class 5 felony, and thirddegree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

According to an arrest affidavit, the victim and Bonczyk were both “hanging out” in the area of 28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue.

The victim told Boulder police that Bonczyk became aggressive because of her perceived race.

Bonczyk told her to “go back to China,” according to the affidavit.

When the victim told Bonczyk that she is of native descent, Bonczyk told her, “I’m the first one here, I’m the white one, I’m the viking.”

The victim told police that Bonczyk then pushed her down and kicked her several times.

While she said the strikes hurt, she did not want medical attention.