LET'S CLOSE MMJ CENTERS, IMPROVE JAIL

With an election a week away, I have some thoughts on the issues and
candidates:

Pot shops: I talked with County Clerk and Recorder Scott Doyle and he
told me that a lot of Fort Collins voters already have voted in the
current election. Maybe it is because of Initiated Question 300 - the
city ordinance that would prohibit medical marijuana centers in Fort
Collins.

I am opposed to allowing these centers to remain in operation in our
town and will vote in favor of Question 300. (This is an issue where
you vote "yes" if you are opposed to marijuana shops.) Larimer County
and other municipalities already have banned them.

We are sending a bad message to the youths of Fort Collins by allowing
pot shops to exist in the city. The Poudre School District reports
that drug-related expulsions have gone up by 300 percent during the
time these "clinics" have come into our community. In addition,
marijuana is illegal under federal law, so the U. S. government could
come in and arrest anyone selling or possessing pot. If this stuff
were really medicine, there are many places that could legally sell it
- - pharmacies.

A campaign report filed by the committee opposing Question 300 shows
it has thousands of dollars that were contributed by unions from
Washington, D.C.; Schaumburg, Ill.; and Wheat Ridge. It paid $5,000 to
a District of Columbia-based political consultant to advise the
campaign. I find this outside interference in a local issue to be outrageous.

Please vote "yes" on Question 300.

Jail tax: That brings me to the extended reduced tax for public
safety (Referred Issue 1A). As a former county commissioner, I know
how important it is to operate a safe and effective jail and urge you
to vote "yes" on this issue. It will lower the current sales tax rate
in the county and provide important funding to improve our ability to
deal with crime and criminals in Larimer County.

The tax will provide needed money for jail operations and alternative
sentencing. One of the important aspects of the funding is that it
will also restore mental health and drug treatment programs for
offenders. Statistics show that the vast majority of arrests involve
individuals with drug addiction and/or mental health issues. The tax
also will provide dollars to expand the jail - something that is
desperately needed.

School board: My ballot will be marked for Barbara Schwerin, Tom
Balchak, Stephen Yurash and Teresa Affleck. These folks will provide
the policy direction needed to help our schools become accountable to
parents and taxpayers while providing our children with a more
effective education.

Proposition 103: This is a state-wide ballot issue that will raise
income and sales taxes with the proceeds earmarked for schools.

I was raised by a teacher and have two sons and a daughter-in-law who
teach in Colorado. I have six grandkids attending Colorado public
schools where the taxpayers spend $8,167 per student to educate them.
I have five grandkids who attend Utah public schools where the
taxpayers only spend $5,683 each. While they are all receiving a good
education, overall test scores in Utah are higher - go figure. Vote
"yes" if you want more money for Colorado schools. Vote "no" if you
don't want a tax increase.

Happy voting!