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Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez launches his campaign for governor of Colorado in this photo from Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, at a news conference at the Capitol in Denver. First came word that the running mate picked by the GOP gubernatorial candidate had compared same-sex marriage to bestiality. Then Beauprez apologized for overstating the abortion rate among blacks. Since late August, it has been one problem after another for Beauprez, a congressman from the Denver suburbs who was once considered the front-runner in the race to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Bill Owens.
DENVER - Conservation groups named Republican Bob Beauprez to their "Dirty Dozen" list Wednesday, the latest development in a Colorado governor's race in which the environment is playing a prominent role.
Tony Massaro of the Washington-based League of Conservation Voters made the announcement during a news conference in Rifle, the heart of one of Colorado's natural gas fields where development is booming.
The two-term congressman's endorsement of tax breaks and exemptions from certain environmental laws for the oil and gas industry were among the votes that earned him his latest placement on the list issued every election year, Massaro said.
Beauprez was on the 2004 list after getting a score of only 10 percent out of a possible 100 percent based on his votes on environmental issues.
Carrie Doyle, director of the Colorado Conservation Voters Campaign, said Beauprez's voting record and opposition to a voter-approved, statewide renewable energy initiative in 2004 led her group's political action committee to back his Democratic opponent, Bill Ritter.
Tony Massaro of the Washington-based League of Conservation Voters made the announcement during a news conference in Rifle, the heart of one of Colorado's natural gas fields where development is booming.
The two-term congressman's endorsement of tax breaks and exemptions from certain environmental laws for the oil and gas industry were among the votes that earned him his latest placement on the list issued every election year, Massaro said.
Beauprez was on the 2004 list after getting a score of only 10 percent out of a possible 100 percent based on his votes on environmental issues.
Carrie Doyle, director of the Colorado Conservation Voters Campaign, said Beauprez's voting record and opposition to a voter-approved, statewide renewable energy initiative in 2004 led her group's political action committee to back his Democratic opponent, Bill Ritter.
"One of the best indications of future performance is past performance and Beauprez's record is not very strong when it comes to energy issues," Doyle said.
The widespread natural gas drilling and possibility of oil shale development have turned energy and the environment into some of the hottest issues in the governor's race. Both candidates are courting hunters and anglers, many of whom have taken vocal stances on protecting wildlife and pristine backcountry.
Some of the loudest debate can be heard in western Colorado, where record gas drilling rates are generating jobs and tax revenue for local governments. The activity is also producing concerns about the potential impacts on the landscape and huge deer and elk herds that draw hunters and tourists.
"I believe people care generally about land, water and clean air, if for no other reason than it's a big part of our economy," said New Castle Mayor Frank Breslin, who also spoke at the news conference.
In August, Beauprez unveiled a plan to offset the impacts of gas development on Colorado's large elk and deer herd and other wildlife. The plan would use some revenue from mineral severance taxes to start a fund to improve and restore wildlife habitat.
The widespread natural gas drilling and possibility of oil shale development have turned energy and the environment into some of the hottest issues in the governor's race. Both candidates are courting hunters and anglers, many of whom have taken vocal stances on protecting wildlife and pristine backcountry.
Some of the loudest debate can be heard in western Colorado, where record gas drilling rates are generating jobs and tax revenue for local governments. The activity is also producing concerns about the potential impacts on the landscape and huge deer and elk herds that draw hunters and tourists.
"I believe people care generally about land, water and clean air, if for no other reason than it's a big part of our economy," said New Castle Mayor Frank Breslin, who also spoke at the news conference.
In August, Beauprez unveiled a plan to offset the impacts of gas development on Colorado's large elk and deer herd and other wildlife. The plan would use some revenue from mineral severance taxes to start a fund to improve and restore wildlife habitat.
Some wildlife and outdoors groups have criticized the plan for focusing on offsite improvements rather than avoiding drilling in critical wildlife habitat.
"Bob Beauprez is the only candidate for governor who's put forward a plan to protect wildlife habitat, specifically in energy-impacted areas, that balances the needs for energy-impacted communities," said John Marshall, Beauprez's spokesman.
Marshall said Beauprez consulted state wildlife officials and western Colorado hunters and anglers about his plan. He characterized the environmentalists criticizing Beauprez as people "who every once in a while put on their blue jeans and try to pretend they're not big city liberals."
"I've spent more time in western Colorado than Congressman Beauprez has," said Massaro, a Glenwood Springs native who formerly headed the Colorado League of Conservation Voters.
Democrat Ritter has touted his credentials as an avid fisherman and has written positions on energy, the environment, concerns of hunters and anglers and wildlife. He has advocated keeping development off 4.1 million acres of roadless national forest land until the state and federal government decide how they should be managed.
"Bob Beauprez is the only candidate for governor who's put forward a plan to protect wildlife habitat, specifically in energy-impacted areas, that balances the needs for energy-impacted communities," said John Marshall, Beauprez's spokesman.
Marshall said Beauprez consulted state wildlife officials and western Colorado hunters and anglers about his plan. He characterized the environmentalists criticizing Beauprez as people "who every once in a while put on their blue jeans and try to pretend they're not big city liberals."
"I've spent more time in western Colorado than Congressman Beauprez has," said Massaro, a Glenwood Springs native who formerly headed the Colorado League of Conservation Voters.
Democrat Ritter has touted his credentials as an avid fisherman and has written positions on energy, the environment, concerns of hunters and anglers and wildlife. He has advocated keeping development off 4.1 million acres of roadless national forest land until the state and federal government decide how they should be managed.
"(Ritter) has criticized the congressman for a number of his positions, including votes that would accelerate oil and gas drilling on the Western Slope," said Evan Dreyer, Ritter's spokesman.
Colorado College political science professor Bob Loevy said energy and the environment are important issues for a segment of the public, but doesn't see them as the main drivers in the election.
"This election is mainly a referendum on the Bush administration and people are not really thinking of the environment as the primary issue in making their decision," Loevy said.
Those issues are fundamental to Jeff Mead, a Grand Junction-area hunting guide who spoke at the news conference. He said he is a Republican, but he doesn't believe Beauprez will stand up to the oil and gas industry.
"On the matter of wildlife in the state of Colorado and wilderness, I have to vote my heart," Mead said. "If the Republicans are not going to vote that way, then I will not vote with them."
Colorado College political science professor Bob Loevy said energy and the environment are important issues for a segment of the public, but doesn't see them as the main drivers in the election.
"This election is mainly a referendum on the Bush administration and people are not really thinking of the environment as the primary issue in making their decision," Loevy said.
Those issues are fundamental to Jeff Mead, a Grand Junction-area hunting guide who spoke at the news conference. He said he is a Republican, but he doesn't believe Beauprez will stand up to the oil and gas industry.
"On the matter of wildlife in the state of Colorado and wilderness, I have to vote my heart," Mead said. "If the Republicans are not going to vote that way, then I will not vote with them."
