DENVER – Democrat Michael Bennet is hoping for another six years in the U.S. Senate to continue to chip away at the “dysfunction” in Washington, D.C.
It might seem odd for a member of Congress to highlight the gridlock. After all, he is a member of that publicly loathed body.
But the attorney, businessman and former Denver Public Schools superintendent says he has a record that shows he can reach across the aisle, a necessary tool in busting Congressional roadblocks.
“I really believe our office has been more successful than most at navigating the dysfunction of Washington, D.C., and getting bipartisan results,” Bennet recently told The Durango Herald.
Bennet exuded confidence as he spoke of his goals for a second term, perhaps because he lucked out this election, facing an opponent, Republican Darryl Glenn, who has been unable to draw mainstream support and has floundered in the polls. Bennet is up by double digits.
For Bennet to say he is able to work with both sides of the aisle is not just political speak.
The Democrat was instrumental as part of the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of lawmakers that brought comprehensive immigration reform forward. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the House because of procedural moves by Republican leadership.
The Senate version included a compromise conferring legal status on millions of undocumented immigrants while strengthening border security and tightening employment rules through an electronic system to verify residential status, known as e-verify.
“The rhetoric has been completely at war with our history, completely at war with our commitment to the rule of law,” Bennet said of the conversation around immigration, suggesting that Republican Donald Trump has added to that vitriol.
But Bennet also has been criticized for siding with Democrats on protecting the Affordable Care Act, which has caused problems for rural Colorado, where insurance rates have spiked and access to health care has not dramatically improved.
His opponent, Glenn, however, has seemingly refused to work with Democrats. Glenn famously said repeatedly that the problem with Congress is “Republicans wanting to just reach across the aisle.” Bennet believes this is perhaps the clearest distinction.
“It’s possible that Colorado faces the widest choice and the biggest range of differences of any race in the United States,” Bennet said.
He listed other differences between himself and Glenn, underscoring that Glenn is open to transferring ownership of federal public lands to the states and is skeptical of human-made climate change. Bennet would keep management of public lands under federal authority and believes that people are contributing to climate change.
“It is basically summed up by, on the one hand, I have a track record of relentless attempts to work in a bipartisan way ... versus my opponent’s diagnosis, over and over again, that the problem with Washington is that Republicans have been too conciliatory,” Bennet said.
Bennet was appointed to the Senate after former Sen. Ken Salazar was named Interior secretary. Bennet was familiar with politics, having served as chief of staff to then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who is now governor.
Bennet fought a hard battle in 2010 to turn the appointment into a six-year term, defeating Republican Ken Buck in a tight race.
Looking ahead to a second term, Bennet says he wants to invest in infrastructure, finally pass immigration reform, work toward a cleaner environment, make college more affordable and spur better economic growth.
“There’s a lot more for us to do,” Bennet said. “I still meet people all the time in Colorado who are making about what they made 10 years ago, but their cost of housing, their cost of health care, their cost of college, their cost of early childhood education, is all conspiring to put them in a position where they feel like they can’t save or they can’t advance the next generation.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
Michael Bennet
AGE: 51
RESIDENCE: Denver
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts, Wesleyan University; law degree, Yale Law School.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND: Chief of staff to Denver mayor; superintendent, Denver Public Schools.
OCCUPATION: U.S. senator.
FAMILY: Wife, Susan Daggett; three daughters.
PUBLIC LANDS: Federal government should retain management authority.
IRAN: Supported nuclear deal.
COLLEGE DEBT: Would collapse loans into one; fund summer Pell Grants; simplify financial aid forms; incentivize universities.
GOLD KING MINE: Hold EPA accountable to ensure reimbursements are paid; supports Good Samaritan legislation; supports reforming Mining Act of 1872, including adding fees.
RURAL COLORADO: Spur economic opportunity by diversifying the state; link and boost economies of agriculture, natural resources, food production, tourism and ranching.
MARIJUANA: Supports Colorado’s decision to legalize; supports access to banking.
GUN CONTROL: Supports universal background checks at federal level.
ABORTION: Supports abortion rights.
IMMIGRATION: Supports a pathway to citizenship.
SUPREME COURT: Believes Senate should act on nomination quickly; believes the election is about the direction of the court.
HEALTH REFORM: Supports Affordable Care Act; would like to see more competition; supports a public option.
Election Guide
The Durango Herald will bring you daily stories through Sunday about every contested race and every local and state ballot issue. You can find all election coverage, including previous election guide stories, at durangoherald.com/election.
Voter information
The Nov. 8 election is the first presidential election in which all voters will receive a ballot through the mail if registered to vote by Oct. 31.
Here are some details:
Ballots were mailed beginning this week.
Ballots can be returned by mail or dropped off at a secure, 24-hour drop boxes at: La Plata County Clerk & Recorder’s Office, 98 Everett St., Durango; Bayfield Town Hall, 1199 Bayfield Parkway, Bayfield; La Plata County Administration Building, 1101 East Second Ave., Durango; or Farmers Fresh Market, 535 Goddard Ave., Ignacio.
Voter registration is open through Election Day.
Voter Service and Polling Centers in La Plata County will be open Monday through Saturday, beginning Monday.
For a sample ballot and times and addresses for polling centers, visit
.
