POLITIGAB: Anti-1A panel using USOC

Nobody said politics was pretty.

The committee working to defeat Question 1A on the city's April 7 mail-in ballot is using the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Olympic Committee headquarters project as ammunition.

"The USOC scandal provides proof positive that the City of Colorado Springs cannot be trusted to broker solid incentives deals," Daniel Cole, campaign manager for Citizens for Cost-Effective Government, wrote in an e-mail Friday.

"Nobody takes pleasure in seeing these dark clouds swoop over the relationship between LandCo, the USOC and the City of Colorado Springs, but there's a sliver of a silver lining in this scandal: it broke before the city election, rather than afterwards," he wrote.

Question 1A would extend a property tax that sunsets at the end of the year. Supporters say it will generate more than $3 million annually to create jobs, but opponents say it amounts to corporate welfare.

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‘Question about conspiracy'

Are Colorado Springs fat cats controlling news coverage of the city's April 7 election?

City Council District 3 candidate Dave Gardner thinks it's a possibility. He raised the question in a March 19 e-mail to supporters that noted an "incredible lack of news coverage of the City Council election."

"Is this due to diminishing resources and short staff? Or is it conspiratorial pressure from growth-industry millionaires? After all, they have a long track record of efforts preventing local citizens from knowing the truth: That public funding to boost homebuilding has been a money-losing investment for our community for two decades," the e-mail said.

Asked to identify these millionaires or provide evidence to support his suggestion, Gardner backed down.

"I just posed the question about conspiracy. It was a question - one of a couple of choices and not an accusation. I sure hope it's not a conspiracy!" he said.

The Colorado Springs Growth-Industry Millionaires Guild couldn't be reached for comment.

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Old-fashioned stumping popular

Although campaign Web pages and e-mails like Gardner's play a big role in the campaign, much of the work of wooing voters plays out an old-fashioned way. More than 190,000 voters got their ballots in the mail recently, and untold numbers received colorful mailers promoting one candidate or another.

Gardner's mailer features a photo of him sitting in a mountain setting with two dogs, and an endorsement by Daphne Greenwood, an economist and former Democratic state representative.

"Dave Gardner sees the big picture, has long-term vision, is a cutting-edge thinker and is independent of special interests," Greenwood is quoted as saying.

District 3 incumbent Jerry Heimlicher also sent a mailer, which features 41 endorsements from individuals and organizations, including this quote from former Councilman Richard Skorman: "He does his homework, listens to all sides and then votes his conscience based on what he believes to be best for the community. Plain and simple, I'm voting for Jerry."

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Lamborn seeks input on economy

Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, wants ideas on "how to move our economy forward" from constituents and is inviting people to sign up for his e-mail newsletter.

"I look forward to hearing from you on the issues you care most about," Lamborn said in the e-mail invitation. "The best solutions tend to come from those closest to the problems."

He also asks constituents to take a survey of issues they're most interested in. To sign up, go to http://lamborn.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=116061

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Apuan will host town hall meeting

State Rep. Dennis Apuan, a Democrat from House District 17, will host a town hall meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Ruth Holley Library, 685 N. Murray Blvd. Apuan plans to discuss health care issues and resources.