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Levy faces Republican challenger in state House
Robert Houdeshell argues for less taxation, stronger property rights
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Robert Houdeshell, the Republican nominee for the District 13 seat in the state House of Representatives, faces a tough fight this fall against Democratic incumbent Claire Levy.
Levy won her first state House race in 2006 with 86 percent of the vote against Rand Fanshier, a Libertarian, though no one from the Republican Party challenged Levy then.
Houdeshell is hoping his message, which focuses on employment, stronger property rights and reasonable transportation policies, will resonate with voters in District 13, which includes western Boulder, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties.
“Let’s remove the barriers to success and take the handcuffs off of achievement” so that Coloradans find good jobs, Houdeshell said.
Houdeshell said the “handcuffs” are taxes, and he will work to eliminate unnecessary spending and taxation. He also said state government has put hurdles in the way of businesses.
Levy said her key concerns in this election — and for the next legislative session — include energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, health care reform and education funding.
Levy said she worked hard on energy-efficiency issues during her last term and will continue to work toward similar legislation if she is re-elected.
She said she is most proud of Senate Bill 184, which passed last session and will allow low-income homeowners and private nonprofits to get below-market-rate loans for energy-efficiency improvements or to install renewable-energy equipment.
Houdeshell said residents can’t conserve their way out of an energy crisis, and that Coloradans do not need legislation like Senate Bill 184. He said renewable technology will come to fruition as the market dictates the need for it.
“That bill does squat for renewable energy,” Houdeshell said. “The way to get out of our energy crisis is to drill here and to drill now as well as support renewable sources.”
Levy said energy efficiency won’t solve an energy crisis.
“But I do know it’s a huge factor in addressing global warming,” she said. “If you remove the spikes in peak load, you don’t have to build another coal-fired power plant to serve that air conditioner which cycles on at 2 in the afternoon.”
Houdeshell is calling for stronger property rights. He said eminent domain is being abused in Colorado and that municipalities or developers need to purchase property on the open market.
Houdeshell also criticized a June 2 Supreme Court decision allowing Telluride to condemn 572 open space acres, thus barring it from development. Houdeshell said condemning land to create open space is against basic property rights.
Houdeshell also questioned legislation that makes it harder to claim “adverse possession” in property disputes, which Levy co-sponsored and which was passed last session. Houdeshell said that in a perfect world, adverse possession would be outlawed.
Levy said adverse possession has served a purpose for hundreds of years and still serves a purpose today in some instances, but she did support the new law raising the standards for claiming another’s land.
Houdeshell said as late as May 30 he wasn’t planning to run for the state House, but when he realized there was no Republican on the ticket, he decided to challenge Levy.
“We are fighters, not quitters,” he said. “We will go after this position, and we will tell our story because we have a better story to tell.”
Levy said her motivation for being a state representative comes from years working as a political advocate on a variety of issues.
“Being in the Legislature is my opportunity to actually step up to the plate and do something about it,” she said.
Posted by malohovno on October 6, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
she needs eddie stevens to help her steal the votes
Posted by SoBoPop on October 6, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
District 13 voters: Please remember Levy's elitest comments in support of the land thieves (one of whom was the treasurer of her election committee)as you vote.
Send a message to The Boulder County Democratic Party Machine.
Posted by Ralphie2 on October 6, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
www.KeatingEconomics.com
Posted by flintonx2 on October 6, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Houdeshell is a strong candidate who would represent western Boulder well. See for yourself at http://robert2008.us
Claire Levy's treasurer was Landgrabber Edie Stevens!
Posted by RoseFromTheDead on October 6, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's too bad the anti-intellectual, anti-labor, borrow-and-spend Repuglicans are so far out of touch on women's rights, reproductive rights, civil rights, separation of church and state, education in general, classroom science in particular, stem cell research, energy policy, universal medical coverage, and global climate change because I'd love to vote against Levy but there's no way in hell I'll vote for a Repuglican until they clean up their corrupt party and get real on the issues that are dragging this country into second class status.
Posted by DavisA on October 6, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Despite RoseFromTheDeads never ending string of Republican wrongdoings, Robert Houdeshell will get my vote, although I'm under no illusion that he stands a chance.
While we're bringing up Edie Stevens, don't forget to vote to "not retain" Judge James C. Klein. Despite lack of an organized effort to "oust" Judge Klein, apparently the Board of Directors of the Boulder County Bar Association are concerned that he might lose his job. Why else would they have written this guest opinion piece on Sunday.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/...
Posted by SteveFesch on October 6, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I had numerous discussions with Claire Levy when we were working on HB1278 which would have limited RTDs power of eminent domain to only transit purposes. She voted against this bill as she supports the use of eminent domain for "economic development". What that means is she agrees the government should be able to take YOUR land and turn it over to private developers for profit.
It that sounds good to you Boulder then get ready because the train is coming.
Posted by flintonx2 on October 6, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DavisA.... Keep in mind that HD 13 is very large and parts of Boulder are only a fraction of that State House District. Houdeshell does in fact stand a chance if good people of Boulder who are fed up with do-nothing politicians give him their vote.
Posted by biker_joe on October 6, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember Clair, as I told you earlier this year. It is going to be tough looking for a job in the present economy. Up early every day, Update that resume, and try and save on gas cost by arrangeing to car pool with Judge Kline.
Posted by joker49 on October 6, 2008 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote NO on Levy.She supports thievery, perjury, lying & has made some very bad choices about with whom she associates.Bust that "Good Ol Boy" network.Also vote to NOT retain Klein.Send a strong message.No more elitest representation.
Posted by flintonx2 on October 7, 2008 at 12:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey rosefromthedead... the whole worldwide economic mess we're in is the work of the democrats led by Barny Frank. Barney's live-in partner, Moses, worked as an exec for Fanny Mae while Barney protected them from additional regulation proposed by McCain. Moses made tons of money and then left Barney in 1998.
Posted by RoseFromTheDead on October 7, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMFG!!! Now that a dumb as dirt conservative has pointed out the one time in his career McDumbya actually supported regulation instead of his long standing efforts of deregulation, I see the light!
This, of course, ignores the fact the Repuglicans *could* have done something about regulating the banking industry in the six years they controlled the house, senate, and the presidency, but instead chose to continue the long discredited policies of lax government oversight and deregulation.
Exactly the same policies implemented by Reagan that led to the Savings and Loan collapse over 20 years ago.
Can you say, "Keating Five"? Sure you can.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_...
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