November FREEDOM WATCH Online

By Beth Payne

November's election is over; despite the huge huge loss for public services in Colorado Springs, there were some victories elsewhere. Here Citizens Project reviews the good and the bad as we roam the country bringing you the best 2009 election tidbits for your reading pleasure.

Lobster Losses and Washington Wins Pride Flag

Maine and Washington State are at opposite ends of the country, and their electoral decisions were equally disparate. Earlier this year, both states passed laws increasing the legal rights of gay couples. Maine legalized gay marriage, and Washington expanded state benefits for same-sex partners (a measure similar to Colorado's Senate Bill 88, which was enacted this May). Gay-rights opponents responded by preparing initiatives for the fall election which would force voters in both states to reexamine their decisions.

The outcome varied. In Maine, voters repealed a spring law legalizing gay marriage, 53-47%. Defenders of the law raised nearly twice as much in campaign funds as their opponents and vow to continue their fight. "We're here for the long haul and whether it's just all night and into the morning, or it's next week or next month or next year, we will be here," said Jesse Connolly, manager of the pro-gay marriage campaign. "We'll be here fighting. We'll be working. We will regroup."

Gay-rights advocates had hoped that Maine's notoriously open-minded voting population would help to break an unfortunate trend: 31 states have attempted to pass gay marriage laws through a popular vote, all unsuccessfully. The states that have been successful in legalizing gay marriage did so through legislation or a court ruling. Currently there are five such states: Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Iowa.

A disappointment from the East Coast, but fortunately, the West Coast offers some compensation. It's Referendum 71 in Washington State, which passed 52-48%. The outcome was historic, marking the first time voters have upheld a measure dealing with equality for same-sex couples.

Who's next in Houston?
In Houston, a mayoral election has attracted nationwide attention. The candidates, Annise Parker and Gene Locke, will have a runoff election December 12. If Parker is elected, she will be the city's first openly-gay mayor. Parker received 30.5% of the votes to Locke's 25.9%. A runoff is needed to ensure that the winning candidate receives at least 50 percent of the votes. Peter Brown was a third contender, with 23%. The race also had a conservative candidate, Roy Morales, who received 20% of the vote, and three other minor candidates. The Houston Press characterized Houston's main choices for mayor as a "Black Guy, Rich White Guy, Lesbian or Hispanic Republican."

Colorful Colorado: a colorful election

For many, the greatest disappointment on November 3 was the defeat of ballot measure 2C in Colorado Springs, councilmember Jan Martin's initiative to raise property taxes by 10 mills over the next five years. The measure lost 63-37%, so projected budget cuts for the 2010 fiscal year will continue to be implemented. These include cuts to parks, transit, community centers, and even public safety, among other things. Final measures are still being determined.

Doug Bruce's measure 300 won 55-45%. The measure eliminates payments from city enterprises and loans, gifts and subsidies from enterprises to the city. The measure requires payments to be phased out over the next eight years. Now, Council is questioning whether the measure applies to the Stormwater Enterprise, and some citizen groups are considering a legal challenge.

Elsewhere in Colorado, 72 percent of Breckenridge voters opted to legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. Technically, however, Colorado still considers it illegal, so the new law is largely symbolic. In Denver, over two-thirds of voters decided against a measure to impound vehicles driven without a valid driver's license.

That's it for Citizens Project's election roundup. Thanks for joining us! Talk back on our blog and Facebook.