denverpost.com
A group trying to end preferences says it has enough signatures to reach the ballot.
By Tim HooverThe Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 03/11/2008 01:52:52 AM MDT
Supporters of a ballot measure that would ask Coloradans to end state affirmative action programs said Monday that they have enough signatures to put the issue before voters in November."There is a groundswell of support for this issue in Colorado," said Ward Connerly, a nationally known foe of affirmative action programs who is leading similar efforts in Oklahoma, Arizona and Missouri.
Amendment 31, which supporters call the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, would ask voters to end race and gender preferences in government hiring, education and contracting. Connerly said the measure is a return to the original intent of legislation from the civil rights struggle of the 1960s — a color-blind society.
"This is not something that is a radical idea or a misappropriation of the term, 'civil rights,' " said Connerly, who is black. "Civil rights belong to all of us, not just black people."
Supporters needed to gather the signatures of 76,047 voters to put the issue on the ballot, and they said Monday that that had gotten 128,744 signatures. Secretary of State Mike Coffman must validate the signatures before the measure can be on the ballot.
Melissa Hart, a University of Colorado law professor working with proponents of a competing measure, questioned whether Amendment 31 backers had enough valid signatures.
"They may think they have enough signatures, but there will be lots of challenges," Hart said. "We've been hearing all kinds of stories about misinformation people received. People have signed it thinking it does all kinds of things, including preserving affirmative action."
Hart supports Amendment 61, a proposal that seeks to preserve affirmative action programs.
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