Ranchland News writer wants state senate seat

An editorial writer for eastern El Paso County’s Ranchland News said Monday she intends to seek the Senate District 10 seat, one day before her likely 2008 opponent is sworn into the office.

Diane Whitley, 48, will run as a Democrat in the overwhelmingly Republican district but says she thinks her issues cross party lines. The married mother of two grown sons will emphasize the need to fight for veterans’ programs and to stop the Legislature from passing laws that restrict people from using their property to make money, she said.

One law that put such a restriction in place was the 2006 statewide indoor smoking ban — backed largely by Democrats — which Whitley said is responsible for closing two businesses in Calhan. She would like to require the state to compensate any business that is forced to close by such a restrictive-use ban.

“The kind of laws that they’re passing now are destroying rural America,” the Calhan-area resident said.

State Rep. Bill Cadman will be sworn in today to replace recently retired GOP Sen. Ron May in the seat that represents northeast Colorado Springs and eastern El Paso County.

Whitley said Cadman’s past votes are one reason she decided to run. She pointed especially to his vote for a failed 2005 measure that would have cleared the way for a private company to build the “Super Slab” toll road through eastern El Paso County.

Whitley’s formal announcement is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Frankies Too, 7376 McLaughlin Road in Falcon.

CONTACT THE WRITER: (303) 837-0613 or ed.sealover@gazette.com.