Photo by John F. Russell
Dan Maes, candidate for Colorado governor, talks with Skip and Cathy Moyer at a meet-and-greet Wednesday morning at The Egg & I in Steamboat Springs. Maes is up against Scott McInnis in the Aug. 10 primary.
Gubernatorial candidate expresses bike program concerns in Steamboat
Maes explains remarks at campaign appearance
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Steamboat Springs — On the morning after the Steamboat Springs City Council allocated up to $14,000 to support Steamboat Springs’ Bike Town USA initiative, Republican candidate for governor Dan Maes rolled into town and discussed recent remarks in which he implied that Democratic candidate and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s efforts to make bicycle commuting more convenient represent a possible conflict with the Colorado Constitution.
It was also today that Gov. Bill Ritter and cyclist Lance Armstrong announced the return of a professional road racing bicycle series to Colorado.
“I don’t want anyone to think I’m against bicycling,” Maes said Wednesday, minutes before speaking to the Routt County Republicans. “I have a mountain bike. I like to ride a super trail by our home in Evergreen. It’s right at the end of our driveway. I ride early in the morning, and I see wildlife.”
Maes is running against former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis in the Aug. 10 Republican primary election, which will decide who faces Hickenlooper in the general election in November.
In a Denver Post article that published Wednesday, Maes questioned Denver’s involvement with the International Council for Environmental Initiatives, an advocate for sustainability causes.
Maes characterized the council as being affiliated with the United Nations and said the organization is working exclusively at the mayoral level to promote programs he thinks emphasize environmental causes over individual rights.
In an article by Post reporter Christopher N. Osher, Maes called out a bike-sharing program in Denver that provides rental bikes across the city.
The Post reported that during a July 26 campaign rally in Centennial, Maes made statements to the effect that the bike-sharing program subordinates individual liberties to an environmental program.
“What I’m going on is based on limited information,” Maes told the Steamboat Pilot & Today on Wednesday. “On the surface, the program looks great. But this is a U.N. program the mayor has signed on to.”
Maes said Wednesday that his remarks had been made in the context of a question asking him what strategy he would use to defeat Hickenlooper in the general election.
“I met a woman at a campaign event who handed me a very well-documented portfolio” about the International Council for Environmental Initiatives, Maes said. “I have not had time to study all of the portfolio. I have to learn more about it. We’ve just scratched the surface.”
Maes reaffirmed his concerns that the bike-sharing program could be in conflict with the Colorado Constitution.
“It’s paid for with taxpayer dollars,” he said. “We need to ask, how compatible is this program with our state Constitution?”
In other remarks to the Routt County Republicans, Maes promised to work to downsize state government and strengthen Colorado’s stature as an energy producer.
“We should be one of the top energy-producing states in the country, and that’s my goal,” Maes said.
He criticized Ritter, a Democrat, for increasing the size of the executive branch.
“Bill Ritter added 600 to 700 employees just in his branch,” all making salaries greater than $100,000, Maes said.
“I would advocate for smaller government. We cut taxes. That’s what Republicans are supposed to be about, are we not?”
Comments
dave fisher 2 years, 9 months ago
“I don’t want anyone to think I’m against bicycling,” Maes said today, minutes before speaking to the Routt County Republicans. “I have a mountain bike. I like to ride..."
really? that logic reminds me of a white frat boy who listens to n-bomb hiphop, trying to explain it away by saying that some of his best friends are black.
The Post reported that during a July 26 campaign rally in Centennial, Maes made statements to the effect that the bike-sharing program subordinates individual liberties to an environmental program. “What I’m going on is based on limited information,” Maes told the Steamboat Pilot & Today. “On the surface, the program looks great. But this is a U.N. program the mayor has signed on to.”
apparently, he hasn't read the "well documented portfolio", yet he goes off... hinting at Socialism.
i'm wondering if he's elected, will all taxpayer-funded state and local programs be scrutinized in order to assure that they are compatible with our state Constitution? or will it be just the ones that are somehow linked to the United Nations or any sort of environmental initiative?
welcome to Bike Town, USA, Mr. Maes. it's nice that you advocate for "smaller goverrnment" and cutting taxes. is that smaller government you envision modeled after any particular 3rd world country, (Haiti comes to mind, they don't have much government, do they ?) or some radical, new social experiment that you have in mind for the United States of America?
beentheredonethat 2 years, 9 months ago
maes is another in a very, very long line of republican / tea party losers. fortunately he will fail to win the governorship and so continue to remain harmless to the society.
John Fielding 2 years, 9 months ago
.
The conflict with th state constitution would presumably be if the mayors had agreed to take orders from the UN. But initiatives by any group can be supported by participation or resolution.
.
Lura Gerhart 2 years, 9 months ago
Right on, Dave. The gullibility of the masses is staggering and frightening to me. Somehow the veiled comments and fear-mongering that these extremists keep alive continues to overshadow facts and reason. Let's keep exposing these vile people for what they really are.
jenette settle 2 years, 9 months ago
Yep. Maes gives a fine example of spinning party politics and fear over common sense. Yuck..
Scott Wedel 2 years, 9 months ago
But what about the local angle here. Did the City Council just spend money to become Bike Town USA and thus also join that UN agenda so we now have to take orders from the UN General Assembly?
I have not had time to study all of the portfolio. I have to learn more about it. We’ve just scratched the surface.
dave fisher 2 years, 9 months ago
good idea, Scott. why don't you dig into that portfilio down there at the Steamboat Springs U.N.HQ and get back to us with a brief report.
in the mean time, i will get working on a batch of tin foil bike helmets for everyone. just in case, you know.
Scott Wedel 2 years, 9 months ago
As far as I can determine, now that SB has done something favored by the UN that now SB has set the precedent that it will follow the UN and thus has to follow existing precedent or become local activists and be willing to overturn precedent. There is no law prohibiting local activism, but local activism is too similar to the concepts of judicial activism and community organizers that any right thinking person would be against it. And so any right thinking government is forced to adhere to the UN on everything.
The choice is being ruled by the UN or allowing polygamy, legalizing child abuse and allowing people to marry animals. It makes perfect sense because once on a slippery slope then there is no stopping.
John Fielding 2 years, 9 months ago
.
Thanks for making that clear Scott, now I understand.
.
Requires free registration
Posting comments requires a free account and verification.
Or login with:
OpenID