Christine Scanlan for Colorado - CO

Thank You!

I want to extend a warm thank you to each and every one of you for all your hardwork and dedication to my campaign - I would not have won without your support!&#160;

Summit County Builders Association Endorses Christine Scanlan

The Summit County Builders Association, in consideration of the thousands of working families living in Summit County, is proud to support the following candidates in their bid for election. The SCBA, through its Political Committee, Summit Builders Political Committee, has endorsed the following candidates for the 2008 General Election. Each candidate’s name is a hyperlink to their campaign website - we encourage you to learn more about each of these candidates and to contribute directly to their campaigns.

Colorado House

House District 56

Vote for Christine Scanlan

Works hard to find solutions to tough problems.

Strong position on construction defect legislation.

Proponent of careful consideration of all I-70 traffic and funding solutions

Strong proponent of pine beetle / wildfire mitigation efforts

Don't call us crazy: Why RealVail.com feels you should vote for Christine Scanlan

&#160;At first I thought Thursday’s endorsement of Republican Ali Hasan for the House District 56 seat had to be an errant reprint of the Vail Daily’s hilarious annual April Fool’s edition. (See article here)

After first admitting their editorial board was deeply conflicted (as well they should be), the Daily then demonstrated it’s deeply confused about the qualities that constitute an effective lawmaker.

Despite incumbent Democrat Christine Scanlan of Dillon successfully passing 11 bills in her very short stint in the state House since replacing Rep. Dan Gibbs – most of them focused on educational and environmental issues, including beetle kill and water quality laws – the Daily said Scanlan fits into the “Denver woodwork.”

Huh? Those sound like pretty critical issues to mountain dwellers. Hasan’s big gimmick? Mountain monorail. I’m as supportive of mass transit along the I-70 corridor as the next guy, but his claim that he can pull it off with mostly private funding and fees assessed to lift tickets (oh, and maybe a little bit of a tax increase) is naïve at best.

Scanlan has been part of the coalition that has been working tirelessly for years to build consensus all along the corridor, and the plan that emerged from that group (some widening in bottlenecks critical to the trucking industry, more chain-up areas, a promise not to six-lane through Clear Creek County) actually put mass transit back on the table after the Owens’ administration steadfastly refused to even consider mountain rail.

Now a rail study is in the works by the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority that will lay out all the available technologies, potential ridership, optimal station and line layout and all the funding options.

To think Hasan, at age 28, will be able to waltz into the Capitol and get lawmakers to sign off on a massive funding package or ballot question asking voters statewide to build a multi-billion-dollar mass transit line that primarily benefits ski country (and, of course, Front Range skiers) is ludicrous.

Scanlan fought hard to defeat tolling measures that could have crippled tourism in the mountains, instead focusing on getting back to the state House and doing the hard work of putting a comprehensive transportation-funding package together that will provide money for I-70 fixes, statewide infrastructure needs and, down the road, a realistic mass transit plan.

The Daily also argued that Democrats have been ineffective since taking control of the Legislature in 2004 (remember, two of those years the obstructionist Owens was in the governor’s mansion), but I’m pleased with the direction the state is taking, developing a new-energy economy that will put us as the forefront of the renewable industry for decades to come and bringing environmental issues and climate change to the forefront of the state debate.

Meanwhile, conservatives’ main complaint is about the Legislature’s mill-levy freeze, which would have pumped increased property taxes (stemming, of course, from increased values) into our badly underfunded public-education system. A judge ruled that move constitutional but the case is being appealed, and Coloradans continue to enjoy some of the lowest property tax rates in the nation while our schools suffer.

Scanlan heads the Keystone Center in Summit County, a nonprofit environmental education and conflict-resolution organization. She and her husband have raised three daughters in the high-priced high country. She knows how hard it is to make ends meet up here; she knows the challenges of keeping our local schools not just afloat but competitive; and she has demonstrated good fiscal judgment and nonpartisan consensus-building skills in tough economic times.

Hasan has consistently demonstrated very poor judgment throughout his campaign, from his tumultuous relationship with his ex-girlfriend and publicist, a former Vail Daily reporter, to his selection of loose-cannon gadfly Kaye Ferry as his campaign manager to comments that he would remain celibate through the election.

The record amount of money Hasan has spent on the race, more than twice what the most expensive state House races typically cost, is another strike against his judgment and serves as a warning that working within tight state budgets might not be his strength.

Finally, the Vail Daily admits Hasan come across as “loony” and that their own endorsement could be construed as “crazy,” but what’s really crazy is the $71,000 the paper has collected from Hasan in advertising. The most expensive state House races of all time have come in around $100,000, and Hasan has spent more than two-thirds of that in one newspaper.

In the interest of full disclosure, Scanlan’s campaign is paying this site $1,200 for advertising (including building the ad you see on this site and on the Vail Daily site). We offered Hasan the opportunity to advertise, but he told us Ferry advised him not to.

That’s fine, but even if Hasan had outspent Scanlan 70 to 1 in advertising on our site, we wouldn’t have endorsed him. Consider this the official RealVail.com endorsement for Scanlan. No need to call us crazy.

Congressmen Salazar & Udall Help Secure Additional $910 Million for Firefighting Costs

http://markudall.house.gov/HoR/CO02/Newsroom/Press+Releases/2008/Congressmen+Salazar++Udall+Help+Secure+Additional+910+Million+for+Firefighting+Costs.htm

Bark Beetle - Doing real work

•&#160;&#160;&#160; I have become a leader on the bark beetle epidemic, sponsoring and passing bark-beetle bills SB71, SB221, and HB1269; I have convened an action-oriented task force which met with experts, toured affected sites, and quickly created 7 new legislative solutions to the problem; and recently, I led a delegation to Washington to get millions in federal funds and to demand action.

Summit Daily Endorses Christine Scanlan

Editorial: Scanlan for House District 56

The race for House District 56 - the winner of which will represent Summit, Lake and Eagle counties in the Colorado Legislature - has been one of the more unusual in recent history. It has pitted an appointed Democrat incumbent of modest means, Christine Scanlan, against Ali Hasan, a young Republican with what seems almost bottomless reserves of campaign cash. The campaign has also had its fair share of unusual stories, mostly emanating from the camp of Hasan.

But what’s of real concern to Summit County voters is which of the two candidates is best prepared to represent us at the state capitol. After careful review of both candidates’ qualifications and positions, the answer is clearly Christine Scanlan.

Ali Hasan has a great deal of energy, but he does not have the experience or grasp of the issues to be effective in the state House. Our district has serious issues: transportation, wildfire mitigation, watershed protection, education, affordable housing and our local long-term economy to name a few. We can’t tackle these issues alone. We need serious help from Denver and Washington. We simply cannot afford anything short of outstanding representation in the state house.

Christine Scanlan has excellent knowledge of the issues, and a warmth and style that allows her to get things done. She speaks fluidly and knowledgeably about the issues crucial to Summit County. As a long-time county resident, school board member, parent and small-business owner, Scanlan simply has a better understanding of the issues that affect us than a young man from Beaver Creek with little political or managerial experience.

In her first term, Scanlan has proven herself time and again to be an effective legislator who works across the aisle to get things done. She also has a strong bond with our State Sen. Dan Gibbs, and the two of them together at the capitol means Summit County has its best representation in years.

In short, Scanlan has earned another term, and she represents the best interests of Summit County on the state level.

Scanlan, Hasan square off

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080925/NEWS/809259993/1078&ParentProfile=1055&title=Scanlan,%20Hasan%20square%20off

Christine Scanlan: Tips for school success

Check out these great tips!

Whether your child is a first-timer or a seasoned pro, back-to-school time can be stressful for families. In my work with educators in Summit County, I have witnessed how parental involvement and influence helps children succeed in school. Here are some ways you can help your child succeed this school year:

1. Homework haven

Help your child develop good homework and study habits by creating an area that is consistently used for doing homework. Set aside a regular time that is strictly for doing school work, far away from the television! If you don’t have a place at home free from distractions, become a regular at your nearest library.

2. Shut-eye

Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep. Research shows that kids who get enough sleep (10-11 hours for kids ages 5-12) are more successful in school. Re-establish a permanent bedtime if you became lax over the summer.

3. Brain food

Make sure your child eats a good breakfast and packs a nutritious lunch. Make lunches the night before, and use this time to talk about healthy foods. Younger children, in particular, need to adapt to new meal routines before the school day demands it of them.

4. Set a good example

Show your child how much you like reading, or talk about math and measuring when you’re making a recipe together. Read aloud to each other instead of watching television. Talk about the book each of you are reading, and show genuine enthusiasm for their comments. Remember that children can learn anywhere, anytime.

5. Talk to each other

Talk to your kids as much as you can about what they are learning in school. They may say they don’t like it, but it shows your child that you value their education. On a car ride home or on a family walk, take the time to show interest in their learning. You will soon find out what interests them most, and then encourage them to explore those subjects.

6. Organize

Ease back-to-school anxiety by being prepared. Help your child to lay out her clothes and pack her backpack the night before. Keep calendars with important dates in a place where everyone in the family can see.

7. Get your child involved

Encourage your child to register for fun and educational extracurricular programs. Find out if your school or community offers an after-school activity that would interest your child. From pottery and art classes to reading clubs and soccer practices, there are many opportunities for your child.

8. Get yourself involved

Evidence suggests that students’ success stems in part from their families’ involvement in their school. When parents and teachers are in touch, children are more likely to do well in school. And when parents are heavily involved with schools, children’s academic performance vastly improves. Involve yourself in the academic community: Volunteer, join the PTA and stay in touch with your child’s teacher.

9. Be flexible

Be flexible in the first weeks back. School can be a long day for a young person, and getting back into routine after a long summer break can be exhausting.

10. Get help

Offer your help if your child is struggling, but don’t do all the work for them. Tutors can be a good alternative.

Happy Learning!

Scanlan off to D.C. to fight pine-beetle epidemic

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080907/NEWS/809079961&parentprofile=search

Less than half of state communities prepared for wildfire

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080806/NEWS/452549477/1001&parentprofile=1055

Lawmakers: Major wildfire only a question of time

/www.denverpost.com/search/ci_10106666

The Dillon Dam Road Re-Opens!

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080729/COLUMNS/919207961&parentprofile=search

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080729/NEWS/808890270&parentprofile=search

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080728/OPINION/324946259&parentprofile=search

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20080730/NEWS/568205384&parentprofile=search

Scanlan deserves some credit for Dam Road opening

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080727/LETTER/312809025&parentprofile=search

Local CSAP scores look strong, but Spanish-speakers struggle

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080729/NEWS/33524663/1001&parentprofile=1055

Eagle County Fair

Come Join Christine as she hangs out with the locals on Friday before and during the rodeo and then on Saturday at the dunk tank.&#160;&#160;&#160;

Colorado Conservation Voters

http://www.coloradoconservationvoters.org/endorsements.htm

Latest Campaign News

Our campaign participated in the fun filled parade in Gypsum.&#160; It was wonderful seeing all the residents, children and parade participants along the streets of Gypsum.&#160; Thank you to all of those who participated.&#160;