Speaker Ruben Valdez (1937-2019)

(left) Valdez with President Jimmy Carter. Valdez served as Regional Director at the Department of Transportation under Carter. (right) A recent photo of Valdez, provided to the Denver Post by the Valdez family.

We were heartbroken to learn that former Colorado House Speaker Ruben Valdez passed away this week. A native of Trinidad, CO, Speaker Valdez was the youngest of 9 children. At age 15, he dropped out of high school to work at the Pueblo brickyard to support his single mother and his family. As an adult, he joined the United Steelworkers of America and rose in the ranks, eventually being elected president of Steelworkers Local 5099 in Denver. He would then complete his high school education, earning his GED, and became the first in his family to graduate from college.

A member of the Democratic Party, Valdez would first be elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1970 to represent west and southwest Denver (his district was House District 2 in his first term, and then was House District 5 for the rest of his time). His signature issue was was bilingual and bicultural education. Earning the respect of his colleagues, Valdez would quickly ascend to the first Hispanic Speaker of the Colorado House in 1975 when Democrats won control of the House. Valdez would serve as Minority Leader for two years after Republicans retook the majority, leaving the House at the end of his 4th term in 1978.

Valdez would later be tapped by President Jimmy Carter to serve as regional director for the U.S. Department of Transportation. He would then be asked by Governor Dick Lamm to serve as Executive Director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (then known as the Department of Social Services), and then Executive Director of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Valdez and his granddauther Amber, with whom he ran Valdez Public Affairs.

In addition to running a successful public affairs fim and raising money with the Denver Foundation to create the Strive Prep Academy in Denver (housed in the Ruben Valdez Achievement Campus), Valdez remained a giant in Democratic politics. Latinx elected officials from over the years, from former State Senator Polly Baca to State Senator Julie Gonzales, all spoke have highly of the impact that Speaker Valdez had on their careers and the careers of so many. Speaker Valdez is survived by his three children (Peggy, JR, and Trish) and his seven grandchildren.

We will miss you, Mr. Speaker, and we thank you for your service. Colorado will never forget the countless contributions you have made towards the betterment of our great state!

Yes on Prop CC: Start Fixing Things!

Supporters of Proposition CC gathered at Metro State University in Denver to officially launch the "Yes on Prop CC" campaign! The goal? To have voters vote 'Yes' this November on a ballot initiative that will allow Colorado to invest millions in roads, bridges, and schools without raising taxes.

Here's what's on the website:

Almost 30 years ago, Colorado voters narrowly enacted the most restrictive government spending limits in the country. Prop CC asks Colorado voters to remove the those arbitrary limits, which have severely restricted our ability to invest in our students, our roads, bridges and transit, and to address the needs of our fast-growing state.

This fall, we have an opportunity to begin to repair the damage the state’s antiquated budget formula has done to critical government services. By voting yes on Prop CC we can fill potholes and fix our roads and bridges, improve our schools by hiring and retaining the best teachers, and improve our economy with investments that help all Coloradans. And we can do it without raising the tax rate.

Prop CC also includes unprecedented transparency, requiring annual, independent audits to show the public how the money was spent.

This Week in Trump: Alligators, The President of Finland, and China

It continues to look worse for Donald Trump and Republicans as more and more of the facts surrounding Trump's gross abuse of power are coming out. This week alone, we have now learned:

• Attorney General Bill Barr held private meetings with foreign officials seeking their help to discredit U.S. intelligence agencies’ investigation of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Trump also pressured the UK and Australian governments to help Attorney General Barr gather information to discredit the Mueller investigation.
• Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that he was listening in on the call where Trump pressured the Ukrainian president, despite previously suggesting he had no knowledge of the call.
• Vice President Mike Pence reportedly received the transcript of Trump’s call within hours of it ending. Pence also told the Ukrainian president that U.S. aid was being withheld while demanding more aggressive action on corruption, days after Trump’s call asking for an investigation.
• On Thursday morning during a press availability, Trump tripled down, not only again calling on Ukraine to investigate a political rival, but now calling on China to investigate a political rival.

​During a contentious joint press conference on Wednesday with the President of Finland, Trump got into an awkward back-and-forth with Jeff Mason of Reuters, constantly telling him to ask the President of Finland a question.

Of course, that doesn't even cover the bombshell that "Privately, the president [Trump] had often talked about fortifying a border wall with a water-filled trench, stocked with snakes or alligators, prompting aides to seek a cost estimate."

No word yet if the President also asked for "frickin' laser beams attached to their heads."

ICYMI: Here's some excellent resources to keep you taught up on all things Impeachment.

Join us at our 2019 Statewide Outreach Stops and Senate Forums!

October 13, 2019 (Trainings @ 2:00pm, Forum @ 5:00pm)
Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Pueblo, and Teller Counties
CSU-Pueblo, Occhiato Center Ballroom, 2200 Bonforte Boulevard, Pueblo, CO 81001

Click the Graphic to Sign Up!

Why Caucus in Colorado?

#TheFutureIsBlue -- Get Your Tickets to 2020 Obama Dinner!

Tickets are NOW AVAILABLE for the 3rd Annual Obama Dinner -- the Colorado Democratic Party's biggest fundraiser and gala dinner of the year!

Join us in celebrating the 2019 Election accomplishments! Join old friends and meet new allies from across our state on Saturday, April 18, 2020 to kick off the work needed to elect Democrats across Colorado in 2020.

Help us thank our hardworking volunteers by donating a scholarship ticket! Not only will you have the gratitude from a well deserving volunteer, your generosity will be recognized in our program.

Thank you for helping us be more inclusive at our gala dinner. Buy your tickets today!

Teller County is located in the central part of Colorado, west of Pikes Peak, and covers about 559 square miles. To the north of Teller County is Douglas County and a tiny tip of Jefferson County, to the east is El Paso County, to the south is Fremont County and to the west is Park County. Cripple Creek is the County Seat of Teller County.

Created in 1899, Teller County was named after U.S. Senator Henry M. Teller. Teller County is crisscrossed by many small streams, including Beaver, Cripple, Fourmile, Rule, and Wilson Creeks—some of which have been dammed to create reservoirs such as Catamount and Skaguay. From the Florissant National Monument Fossil Beds to gambling your day away in Cripple Creek, Teller County offers a little something for everyone. 

Teller County has a very rich history. Two centuries before the Spanish settled in Colorado, which was in the sixteen-century, the Ute Indians occupied most of the land around Pikes Peak. The Utes in the Pikes Peak area knew the iconic mountain as “Sun Mountain” and called themselves “Tabeguache,” the people of Sun Mountain. The Arapaho Indians began frequenting the Pikes Peak area by the early nineteenth century, calling the mountain 

“Heey-otoyoo.” Or “Long Mountain”. In the late 1850s and 1860s white settlers came to find their fortune in Gold. Mining camps, like Cripple Creek, popped up soon occupying most of the area and putting a large burden on the Native Americans who had long lived there. In 1880 the Meeker Massacre in northwestern Colorado prompted their forced removal to a reservation in Utah. By the early 1900s, mines in the Cripple Creek-Victor area were producing almost $20 million worth of gold per year. Today Cresson Mine and the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine Company are still operating in Teller County and remain the largest producers of gold in Colorado.  

There are approximately 2,567 registered Democrats, 8,366 Republicans, and 269 Unaffiliated voters in Teller County. In 2018, 64.38% had their ballots counted. Teller County might be a pretty red county, but Laurie Glauth, chair of Teller County Democrats, keeps the Blue Wave moving forward. On October 13th Teller County Dems will be joining, Custer, Huerfano, El Paso, Fremont, and Pueblo Democrats for our next Outreach Stop at the CSU Occhitato Center Ballroom, 2200 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, 81001. We will start at 2pm and at 5pm there will be a U.S. Senate Candidate Forum.  

For more information about the Teller County Democratic Party please check out their Facebook page: Teller County Democratic Party or contact Laurie Glauth, [email protected]

Keep Colorado Wild

Sign up for "Work for the Wave" Webinars!

Our party wouldn't be as organized and successful as it is without the talented and dedicated volunteers we have at the local levels. Want to brush up on your skills so you can help make sure Colorado goes blue in 2020? Sign up for an upcoming webinar:

October 14: GOTV (Hosted by Morgan Carroll)
When Democrats turn out to vote, we win elections! Learn from CDP Chair Morgan Carroll some tips and strategies for effectively turning out voters in your community!

October 14: Campaign Finance (Hosted by Jamie Elkins and Martha Tierney)
How do you ensure that you're in compliance with Colorado's campaign finance laws while running a campaign and fundraising? Learn from attorney Martha Tierney and CDP's Compliance Director Jamie Elkins!

November 14: Citizen Lobbying (Hosted by Morgan Carroll)
How do you exercise your power as an individual and citizen to engage with lawmakers and affect change in Colorado? Learn from CDP Chair (and former Colorado Senate President) Morgan Carroll on how to talk to lawmakers and how to become an advocate on issues you care about!

November 25: Messaging (Hosted by Halisi Vinson and David Pourshoushtari)
How do Democrats win the narrative, and ultimately break through all the noise to get their message out there? Learn from CDP Executive Director Halisi Vinson and Communications Director David Pourshoushtari about how to get your message out there through traditional and digital media!

On The Road

CDP Chair Morgan Carroll joined Democrats in Archuleta County alongside State Representative Barbara McLachlan to discuss political updates and what work the CDP is doing to win in 2020! CDP 1st Vice Chair Howard Chou joined activists in Douglas County to knock on doors for school board candidates!

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