Why I Will Sign

I will sign a petition because when I voted YES to allow broomfield to become a county in 98, I had been lied to. I did not know how that vote would affect me. That information was not made available to me. I want a chance to vote again. This time I will vote to disallow that county formation.

By westminster anonymous

To Observer

Thank you for answering my questions, and for caring to hear what I think. This will be my last post to your site.

1. Anything can be placed on a ballot without local approval. This is not unethical. Also, the "locals" approved it by a 2-1 margin in 1998, thus ratifying any "hasty" decision to put it on the ballot. What MIGHT have smacked of impropriety is if the city leaders misjudged what was best for Broomfield and its citizens, the ballot question was proposed to the entire state, and while the state approved, the citizens of Broomfield did not. BUT, that didn't happen, did it?. Apparently, the city officials/citizens who put it on the ballot did in fact do what the majority of Broomfield wanted.

2. Lies, or statements with which you just happen to disagree? It is not unethical to make a statement contrary to another's. Am I lying when I say this is all about the jail issue? You claim it isn't. I disagree. I am entitled to my opinion. Broomfield citizens/officials are entitled to theirs.

3. Local officials do not give up their rights as citizens when they are elected. They have the same first amendment rights as you and I. As leader-citizens, should they not answer questions from legislators directed to them as leaders when they are exercising their 1st Amendment rights as private citizens? That is not unethical.

4. "Severely stretched" sunshine laws sounds like a judgment call. If laws were broken, there is a remedy under the law. Laws do not as a general matter "stretch." There is either a violation, or there is not. Please be certain before you launch a campaign.

5. The charter "might" have been violated. Well, was it or wasn't it?

6. Big contributions came from groups which are funded by the city? What groups? Are you talking about Interlocken again? How does the city "fund" Interlocken? Interlocken is also free to exercise free speech and support whatever political cause it chooses. Not unethical.

7. This appears to be yet another allegation you cannot prove. Is this ethical? I doubt your group would consider a "smear campaign" to be ethical.

8. "Very questionable" instances with regard to Fair Campaign Practices laws. Uncertainty again. At least you are a good enough person to admit this.

What do I think? I think your group is/was angry about the JAIL, and then someone had the idea that you could stop it by revoking Broomfield's county status because then they wouldn't need a jail. When Broomfield said it would build it anyway, repeal no longer suited your purpose, but it did serve Br Anon's. Br Anon is the worst kind of coward, hiding her identity while playing both sides. She encourages you, yet praises the "unethical" Broomfield City Council and staff -- just in case staying in their good graces may suit her needs in the future. She and another disgruntled Broomfield resident started feeding you baseless allegations about the whole county ballot issue, which should only concern BROOMFIELD CITIZENS, and you guys in Countryside gobbled it up, your judgment clouded by anger. It isn't about the jail? Please. You've been honest enough to admit that your allegations only "sound" unethical. Be honest enough to admit what this is really about.

By Oliver

I won't sign

I won't sign a petition because when I voted YES to Broomfield, I knew what the issue was and it made sense. I also know that Westminster and Arvarda have considered doing the same thing. Broomfield has no affect on us in Westminster. I don't want them voting against us being a county someday because we took away theirs just to be mean.

By Westminster Voter

Here's What I Think

1. You are interpreting the 1996 Broomfield election incorrectly. More importantly, when the state legislature decided to consider placing the city/county on the statewide ballot, hearings were held by senate and house committees. All interested parties had the right to be heard at these hearings. To say there were no hearings is not the truth.
2. Your contradict yourself. First, you say there were no hearings, then you say someone lied at the hearings. Lied? Says who?
3. If this is true, so what? The state legislature knows what it takes for binding commitments to be made. If a member of the state legislature knows that a person is a local government official, he or she may ask questions of that local offical. This is not unethical.
4. State Sunshine laws were not violated in any way.
5. There have never been nor are there now any violations of the Broomfield City Charter.
6. What groups? Are these groups funded entirely and soley by the City. Do they receive other contributions. In any event, who are you to say these groups do not have the right to support a ballot measure.
7. This is utter nonsense.
8. There were no such violations.
I think your list has a great many innuendos with virtually no substance. If you are challenged in court on some of your accusations, you will need more than innudendo.


By Another Observer