This is The Colorado Independent‘s complete four-part series on Walker Stapleton, Colorado’s Republican nominee for governor. You can click directly to Part 1 (Stapleton’s early years and family history), Part 2 (Stapleton’s business career and entry into Colorado politics), Part 3 (Stapleton’s time as state treasurer) or Part 4 (Stapleton’s run for governor). You can also listen to reporter Corey Hutchins discuss his series on Walker Stapleton at our Indycator podcast. We’ve also written a four-part series on Stapleton’s Democratic opponent, Boulder Congressman Jared Polis. Part 1: An elite East Coast background, a powerful family, and early political ambitions forged Colorado’s GOP nominee for governor Walker Stapleton has steer snot on his hands. He does not look particularly comfortable with it, either, as he pats the animal’s head and runs a show stick … [Read more...] about The privilege and promise of Walker Stapleton: A Portrait in Four Parts
California secretary of state llc
Pedigree and political ambition launched Walker Stapleton into the treasurer’s office, but state pension reform ‘put him on the map’
This is the third in a four-part series about Colorado’s Republican nominee for governor. Read part one and part two. No issue has defined Walker Stapleton’s two terms as state treasurer more than his efforts to put Colorado’s Public Employee Retirement Association, known as PERA, on sound financial footing. After eight years sounding alarms about its solvency, fighting with the program’s beneficiaries, and suing board members, Stapleton can claim some victories. “Walker has far more often been right than wrong on the PERA issue,” said Eric Sondermann, a political analyst who is co-director of the PERA-reform group Secure Futures Colorado. “But … he has often been a bull in a china shop.” The state pension and health care fund, which affects more than 500,000 current and former public employees, has a $30 million-plus funding gap that threatens the state’s bond rating and borrowing power. For nearly eight years as state … [Read more...] about Pedigree and political ambition launched Walker Stapleton into the treasurer’s office, but state pension reform ‘put him on the map’
Newsom’s and Cox’s visions of California’s governorship radically differ
By Dakota SmithLos Angeles Times LOS ANGELES — Sometimes it seems that California’s two candidates for governor are running for different offices. Democrat Gavin Newsom casts himself as the leader of the state’s resistance to President Donald Trump, pushing big-ticket issues such as health care, education and climate change. Republican John Cox has focused on pocketbook issues that are narrow in scope but emotionally charged — repealing California’s increased gas tax, and problems at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The contrast in approach shows how differently the candidates see the issues facing California, and the role they would play in addressing them. In this deep-blue state, Newsom leads in the polls and fundraising. That leaves Cox — who has never held elected office — to run an insurgent campaign as he tries to chip off Democratic and independent votes. Cox is focusing on what he calls the “forgotten … [Read more...] about Newsom’s and Cox’s visions of California’s governorship radically differ
Taiwanese Young Professionals Honor Ga. Tech Prof and Sec. of State Candidate During Cultural Outreach
L-r: Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce of Georgia(TJCCGA) Co-President Dean Wang, Taiwanese Chef Amo Liang, Taiwanese Chef Tony Huang, TJCCGA Co-President Alex Day.The Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce of Georgia honored a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Republican candidate for Secretary of State at its annual “Taste of Taiwan” cultural outreach Aug. 22. Held at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North in conjunction with the Taiwanese Economic and Cultural Office and the Overseas Affairs Commission, the chamber presented its 2018 “Cultural Ambassador” awards to Dr. Ray H. J. Wang of Georgia Tech and Brad Raffensperger, a businessman and state legislator. Dr. Wang teaches and focuses his research on environmental and satellite remote sensing fields. He earned his doctorate at Georgia Tech in 1998. Since then he has served as a board member for numerous non-profit organizations such as the Chinese Community Center, the Monte Jade … [Read more...] about Taiwanese Young Professionals Honor Ga. Tech Prof and Sec. of State Candidate During Cultural Outreach
Kris Kobach’s Lucrative Trail of Courtroom Defeats
Kris Kobach at a fundraiser in October 2017.Mark Reinstein via ZUMA Wire Looking for news you can trust?Subscribe to our free newsletters. This story was originally published by ProPublica. Kris Kobach likes to tout his work for Valley Park, Missouri. He has boasted on cable TV about crafting and defending the town’s hardline anti-immigration ordinance. He discussed his “victory” there at length on his old radio show. He still lists it on his resume. But “victory” isn’t the word most Valley Park residents would use to describe the results of Kobach’s work. With his help, the town of 7,000 passed an ordinance in 2006 that punished employers for hiring illegal immigrants and landlords for renting to them. But after two years of litigation and nearly $300,000 in expenses, the ordinance was largely gutted. Now, it is illegal only to “knowingly” hire illegal immigrants there—something that was already illegal under federal … [Read more...] about Kris Kobach’s Lucrative Trail of Courtroom Defeats