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<br />Colorado Qffic'e Seekers Sidestep'~
<br />i Fo-;;ihilJs. a~ - P~/iiical I~sue '
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<br />By TgDDENGDAH,L I" r;:, , .' "" Iminislmiive int~rf;ren: in ;eal affairs,
<br />Denver Post Staff WrIter ~ ~~~ ~~O@J ~Jl I Republican critICIsm of Merson is har,
<br />Colorado politicians, for the moment, f i * ' \. ImonlOus,
<br />have avoIded a. potentially vOlatile 1978 () ~.' . ~', ~ [L' r "A classic example 01 lederal interler,
<br />eieell'on. camp aignissu";-Denve. r's pro.! p.f:,. I ence,:,' said Ed Scott, 2nd Congressional I
<br />po,"I)d Foothllls water proJect. <Jt ' ',. I DIStrICt candIdate, J
<br />But some office seekers are trying to "Just another example. , , where the I
<br />use the Foothills controversy to cash in lederal bureaucracy is making deci.
<br />on general public reseptmel\t .pf govern, I . , I sions," said John Cogswell, candidate lor,
<br />ment bureaucracies. I '"harder for the Democrats." the Senate. I
<br />AI1d in at least one race, that for the I AND BERMINGHAM, a well,respected "A perlect example of one of our bu,
<br />governorslIip, Republican challengers I former Republican legislator., also says: reaucratic agencies interfering,.t said I
<br />hope' to turn the Foothills issue against, I 1"1 certainly think Lamm is disregarding Gene Hutcheson, 1st Omgressional Dis,
<br />the Democratic incumb~nt, Gov. Dick ,'that constituency." . trict ~opeful.
<br />Lamm. I r Some Republicans also seem sensitive "Another example of bureaucratic arro~ .
<br />OBSERVERS AND politicians iOlt" to environmental concerns. g~nce," said Kramer. ·
<br />viewed agree. that Foothills hll;!" I Rep, Bill Armstrong, R,Coh, said in a The 'lour Republicans seeking their
<br />becom~ a politICal Issue for one rea.:;(,r, I recent letter to President Jimmy Carter IP~rty's nomination t~ opposeLamm also
<br />Most meumbents and challengers agree that he thought' the lederal government Ilhink the governor is vulnerable on the
<br />that at least the lirst phase of the projecl IShould allow construction 01 Foothills, 'issue,
<br />'should be built and that construction has even though "I can well understand The Republicans seize on the lact that'
<br />been delayed too long, , doubts and concerns which have been Merson, prior to takjng the lederal job,
<br />, Repuhllcan ofbceholders and candidates expressed" Armstrong is seeking the served on the state Land Use Commission
<br />generally are more u,nequivocal in th", Gap nomination to' oppose Haskell lor the at Lamm's appointment and has been
<br />support and more crlllcal of what th,' Senate. close to Lamm.'
<br />call "bure~ucratic delays," 'especiad)' And state Rep, Ken Kramer, R, They also believe, thai Lamm, who
<br />those they":,y were causedby tile aclions Colorado Springs, who wants the GOP ade his political name opposing the 19721
<br />of Alan Melson, regIOnal director for the ( nomination lor Armstrong's House seat, inter Olympics and supporting environ,
<br />lederal EnVIronmental Protecllon Agen~' l sHid hc strongly opposes construction of ental causes really opposes Foothills,
<br />Many DemocratIc polItiCians,. mcludlCl2" T F' k 0 h' h D ' h .
<br />I.amm "no ~rn, Fl9Vd Haskell, also'sop wo or s . am, W IC some enver LAMM]S SECRETLY applaudmg
<br />porI construction of the first phase ot ' Watet Board criucillfA"c will he a logi. Merson," said ~tate Sen, Dick J'lock of
<br />11'00tlli1l8, but are more tempered hi their leal result il FoothUlsfs ~iit. ' Denver. , .
<br />r criticism of Merson, " Bermingham sets all that as political F'ormer Lakewood Mayor JIm RIchey
<br />nep Pat S h' d . D,C I' 'h'" .expediency, believes Lamm "Iinds it more and more
<br />\ , C roe er, 0 0" ' asn r d'ff' I t' t d' 'th
<br />committed herself Oli' the issue' ~nd js ~ ICU t .as Ime. goes. o.n 0 lsagree WI
<br />I maintaining a policy of attempting io me, "I THINK ALL, OF them (the politi, his preSident, hIS political party and the
<br />Idiate 'the dispute between the Den"". cians) believe th9 thing is way over. ~trackless bureaucracy 10 Washmgton,
<br />Water Board Merson and environmenl,J sized---{\very one 01 them" But they also Former state Sen, Joe Shoemaker 01
<br />groups' "I I know that the Watk Board has a pretty I Denver believes "He's sllll talkmg out 01
<br />I ' I good political network, both sides 01 his mouth, It's going to be
<br />AND LAMM HAS added a new dimen, "The politicians would'like to not to be on I ; an issue - his lack of decisiveness,"
<br />sion to the situation by r, evealing last the hook. ..' Their prel'fence IS to lie 1 And state Sen. Ted Strlcklanej ?f Wesl,
<br />week that he also has been trying tome- low/' Bermingham said. . mm~ter {~aId .of the Lamm-Merson c?n-
<br />,diate the dispute since, Merson announced But Bermingham, along with most poli, : I nectlon, We mtend to hang that .?n DICk
<br />two weeks ago that he would oppose is- ticians and other observers interview~d, I Lamm . . . at every.oppormDlty.
<br />I suance 01 a federal construction permit I doubts Foothills will become a major Lamm calmly demes all that. ." '
<br />for foothills,' I issue in the minds 01 the,puhlic. I .. I FEEL COMFORTABLE WIth
<br />The Democratic. politici:'ln~ and some Footh"ills will have ai political effect, I Foothills........~~ . governo~, as a D~mocrat
<br />observers admit that Foothills is more Bermingham said, only u: and ns a CItizen, ~e said. .
<br />sensitive for Democrats because the proj- -Environmental activists who once L;i1nm hi~seIf 1~ s?,~e\~hat crlt.l<'al ~~
<br />t ect is oppose<! by environmental groups, worked for Democrats withhold their help Merson, . s3ymg . hiS h.rnmg was ~d.
<br />, traditionally a Democratic constituency, from pro,Foothiils Democrats, . I ,and, at one pomt, noting Merson IS a
<br />. .' . ld th l'non-elected official."
<br />" And the Denver Demo,rallc assembly -Corporate contributors withho CIr Whether Fo thiils will hecome a major
<br />last month adopted a resolullon moppoSl' money Irom anti.Foothills or wishy,washy ," Ot b
<br />I tion to Foothills. candirlates. \ Issue remaJ~s .0 e seen.
<br />, James OgilVIe, manager 01 the Denver
<br />"We, are scar,red (~,y the enVIron, WHATEVER THEIR feelings on the Water Department, notes, "Thel'e is a
<br />me~tahs~s) on thIS o~e, Lamm saId In merits of Foothills, many candidates - significant opportunity for the political
<br />an mtervlew last week" largely Repuhlicans _ have seized on aspirants to take it out of the realm 01
<br />! John Bermingham, a Denvel' attorney Merson's legal objections as an example political advantage" il they all support
<br />who has emerged as the leadmg Private of what is wrong with government: ad, construction 01 Foothills,
<br />opponent of Foothills, agreed: "It's
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