There is no denying that recalls have become trendy in Colorado. With both Democrats and Republicans using them to hold referendums on those whose policies are at odds with their own beliefs. We saw it in Pueblo and Colorado Springs with the gun recalls. And we saw it in JeffCo with the school board.
It has gotten so bad that The Denver Post even editorialized against what they’ve dubbed the “misuse” of political recall elections. Saying: “Recall generally should be reserved for malfeasance, corruption or glaring incompetence. Otherwise, political campaigns will never end.”
And maybe the Post has a point. Where does it end? Activists in Adams County are taking recall to a whole new level by trying to get rid of Thornton City Council Member Jan Kulmann because they don’t approve of her day job as – wait for it – a licensed professional engineer for an oil and gas company.
At a March 29th council meeting, Kulmann defended herself, pointing out that each member of the council brings their “own expertise and background” making them a stronger governing body. The council also includes a teacher, an electrician and a small business owner, among others. The city attorney explained why Kulmann’s job is in no way a conflict of interest when the council votes on oil and gas related matters, pointing out that her employer doesn’t even own any mineral interests in Thornton.
Other council members spoke up on Kulmann’s behalf, with Councilwoman Jacque Phillips strongly stating: “We do not support a recall at taxpayer’s expense.”
In firing this shot, there is no question the recall wars have escalated. And both parties should be outraged. Why does standing up for local jobs and supporting responsible energy production merit a recall? Shouldn’t we all be defending this female engineer? Don’t we all want to see more women in this field and in public office? What kind of message does it send to our daughters?
JP Caro I see you read the information provided by a group that had to look for anything they could find and found a total of 13 incidents over 16 years anywhere in the country and only 1 of those events resulted in any sort of a fireball. When you go fishing to find a negative in an industry that has been in business for a hundred years and has been using hydraulic fracturing for 80 years you can always find 1 catastrophe. Are you going to ban airlines next because an airline crashes every so often? How about the auto industry because those can crash and cause deaths as well? The reality is you are not looking at this rationally at all but instead being pulled into the emotional hype.
But then you will ignore this argument entirely because it doesn't fall into your emotional support structure therefore it can't possibly true… in your mind at least.
So, what you are is an enviro-nazi, closed to the very science and facts that others try to point out. Nice…
JP Caro what makes you an expert or do you just hate all things that don't compliment your point of view?
Sorry that people do not understand there are legitimate different points of view.
I guess you dont care how you play just a long as you get you what and thats the fact.
No you will sell them out for free because you don't agree with them on one issue.
Dan Smith fracking hasn't been done with Slickwater for 60 years get your facts straight. Slickwater was introduced in 2008. Anti-science LOL!
Tracking has been done safely for over 60 years, the anti science left simply doesn't want to understand that fact
The message we are sending to our daughters is that we are not used to protect an industry. Jan is used by this industry, they need her at City Council so she can vote against all of the regulations that actually protect people and the environment. Have you seen her video that talks about how her industry cannot follow certain regulations because it's nearly impossible? For someone who works in "safety" she should be talking about THAT in public. But she was talking to her fellow peers at an oil and gas conference and they all know the truth, fracking cannot be regulated properly to ensure human safety and environmental protection.