Bennet’s timing for a gubernatorial campaign is the problem
Re: “Right or wrong? Bennet plans campaign for governor while serving in U.S. Senate,” April 17 letter to the editor
Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb called The Denver Post editorial urging Michael Bennet to resign from the Senate if he plans to run for governor “ridiculous.” He pointed out that other Colorado politicians — Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. John Hickenlooper, and Attorney General Phil Weiser — also sought higher office while still serving in elected roles, and The Post didn’t demand their resignations.
However, all of the examples Webb cited involved candidates who launched their campaigns within a year or two of the end of their terms, which is fairly standard. In contrast, Michael Bennet announced his gubernatorial run on April 11 while still holding nearly three years and nine months of his Senate term. That’s what truly stretches credibility — it’s not the editorial, it’s Bennet’s timing that’s the real overreach.
Kathryn Holland, Littleton
Still struggling from the effects of childhood measles
Now we have measles in Colorado. I am 93 years old, and for 87 years I have struggled to see and hear due to damage from the measles. It was the start of Christmas vacation at the Brighton Grade School and I was 6, excited about Santa Claus when I got the measles. I went back to school late in April, thin, completely deaf in my right ear with damage to the other ear and one eye.
In my years as a university professor, I had students who were also dealing with measles damage. Most coped, some did not.
I have friends who say they don’t know what’s in the vaccines and don’t want to inject some foreign substance. I’m not a pharmacist or a physician, and I don’t know what’s in them either, but I trust the years and years of research by experts who affirm vaccine use. And even more, I trust the results — measles is defined as a dread disease that is easily prevented with two shots being 97% effective. Until this outbreak measles was considered to be eliminated in Colorado.
It breaks my heart that people won’t protect themselves and their children and grandchildren by getting the easily available, safe and effective shots. Years later, I still have vivid memories of what it was like to be so sick you didn’t care whether Santa Claus showed up or not.
Nancy Pike Hause, Estes Park
Rockies need to look outward for scouting help
Does Bill Schmidt, the Rockies GM, really believe that firing the previous hitting coach and bringing in Clint Hurdle will turn around the team’s pathetic start to the season? That is asking Hurdle to squeeze blood from a turnip (the team’s lineup).
There is clearly a lack of major league talent on this team and the teams of the previous two 100-loss seasons. Schmidt was the head of scouting for the Rockies from 1999 until 2021, when he became the GM. Could a look in the mirror give him an idea of why this team is lacking talent? However, the owners of the team saw fit to elevate Schmidt to the GM position — talk about loyalty and promoting from within. In the case of the Rockies, a mediocre team, promoting from within is merely continuing that mediocrity. But does the future look any brighter?
The director of professional scouting is none other than one of owner and CEO Dick Monfort’s sons. Yes, loyalty does rule in Rockies’ country. I do hope that Clint Hurdle’s hiring as hitting coach turns the franchise around. But I’m not holding my breath.
Jeffrey Sandman, Centennial
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