The coffee date is off.
Fifth Congressional District candidates Democratic challenger Hal Bidlack and Republican incumbent Doug Lamborn had planned to chat over a cup of coffee on Monday.
Lamborn's spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen said in an e-mail the date was canceled after Bidlack made the meeting contingent on a debate before next Thursday.
"The congressman has made no such commitment," she wrote. "So, at this point, Congressman Lamborn is not planning on meeting Mr. Bidlack for coffee on Monday."
The Bidlack campaign accused Lamborn of ignoring constituents and refusing to debate.
"As voters, we have the right to question what our congressman is doing for us," Bidlack said in the release, pledging an open-door policy if elected.
Mortensen said Lamborn looks forward to debating at a Falcon Republican Club meeting on Oct. 30. He also will appear on a local radio station on Oct. 28, but it's unclear whether Bidlack also will be on hand.
Balink scolded
In an Oct. 9 letter to Secretary of State Mike Coffman about voter registration issues, Gov. Bill Ritter got after El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink.
He noted Balink's incorrect comment that Colorado College students, if claimed as dependents for tax purposes by their parents in another state, are ineligible to register to vote in Colorado. Balink later retracted the statement, then reissued guidelines with a clarification.
Ritter called Balink's statements "wrong" and "beyond the scope of his duties."
"His actions ... should be carefully scrutinized by your office," Ritter wrote.
Balink said in an e-mail to The Gazette: "My staff and I are totally committed to ensuring all eligible residents are able to register and vote in fair and accurate elections."
Stamp it
In the last week, the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office sent more than 121,000 mail ballots in what's sure to be the heaviest mail balloting in county history.
Be aware postage costs 59 cents to return a ballot. Avoid the cost by dropping it off at one of the sites noted on the envelope. For information, http://car.elpasoco.com/election or contact the Election Department at 575-8683.
County tax called unpatriotic
Two state lawmakers have joined Sen. Andy McElhaney in opposing El Paso County's 1-percent sales tax increase on the Nov. 4 ballot, opposition group Citizens for Cost-effective Government said in a news release.
Sen. Dave Schultheis and Rep. Kent Lambert, both Republicans, are against the tax, group spokesman Daniel Cole said.
Cole notes GOP presidential candidate John McCain said during a recent Cedar Rapids, Iowa, appearance, "Raising taxes in a tough economy isn't patriotic. It's not a badge of honor. It's just plain dumb."
Cole said that could apply to the county's measure, submitted to voters by the all-Republican Board of County Commissioners put it on the ballot on a 3-2 vote, with Jim Bensberg and Amy Lathen dissenting.
The no's have it
Opponents of two ballot measures that would likely eliminate the Stormwater Enterprise raised $36,520 in four days last month, city disclosure reports show.
The group, "Just Say No to Issue 200 and Issue 201," bought yard signs and billboards with contributions from development interests.
The measures' author, Douglas Bruce, sent a mailing from his nonprofit Active Citizens Together organization. But he hasn't reported its cost, saying he's not required to.
City Clerk Kathryn Young said she'll determine whether he has to disclose.