With midterm elections approaching, Colorado voters are awaiting the outcome of what looks to be one of the closest races: the 7th Congressional District, which could go to either Ed Perlmutter or Rick O’Donnell.
Of all 435 national congressional districts, there is no other district that has voters that compare to Colorado’s 7th. According to 9 News, the Secretary of State’s office reports 113,346 Republicans, 121,779 Democrats and 123,403 unaffiliated voters living in the 7th District, which includes Aurora, Lakewood, Golden and Westminster.
Perlmutter, the Democratic candidate and a CU alumnus, said, “It’s time for a change.” If elected, he will not only bring change to the 7th District, but also to Congress and to students.
“One-party control has led to one-way thinking,” Perlmutter said. “Voters need to make a clear choice for a better future.”
Perlmutter said one of his goals is to bring back checks and balances to change the focus from the wealthiest 1 percent to the hardworking citizens that make up the 7th Congressional District.
With three daughters in Colorado schools, Perlmutter said his other main concern is education.
“I will fight for K-12 and higher education and make sure we have great and competitive education programs,” he said.
If elected, Perlmutter will take the seat left open by Bob Beauprez, the 2006 Republican candidate for Colorado governor. Beauprez voted with the president 99 percent of the time, Perlmutter said, and this concerns him.
“This is something I will not do,” Perlmutter said. “I will be an independent voice. There may be instances when I support Democrats and others when I support the Republicans.”
One issue Perlmutter said he differs from Republicans in is stem cell research. His support for stem cell research is one of the platforms that sets him apart from his opponent, Rick O’Donnell, he said.
“The (stem cell research) bill shows so much promise for people with diseases like diabetes and epilepsy,” Perlmutter said.
Perlmutter said that his daughter is epileptic, which has pushed him to support and “seek science to make peoples lives better.”
O’Donnell did not return phone calls to address Perlmutter’s statements.
Perlmutter will host a fundraiser on Wednesday at the Oxford Hotel in Denver with Bill Clinton to raise money and rally.
“We need to continue to raise money so our campaign can stay up on TV and make sure that everyone gets out there and votes,” Perlmutter said.
Although part of Wednesday’s fundraiser will help to continue to broadcast Perlmutter commercials on TV, Perlmutter said he isn’t a supporter of campaign commercials.
“The commercials are distorted and dramatic,” he said.
Perlmutter said he is so shocked at times by the personal attacks from O’Donnell on commercials that he forbade his daughters from watching TV until the elections are over.
“I hope that people will see the truth in these personal attacks,” Perlmutter said.
Perlmutter was on campus two weeks ago at a rally with the CU Democrats.
“I have all the time in the world for CU,” he said.
Perlmutter received both his undergraduate and law degree from CU, and was twice elected as class president. He also took part in the student Senate, softball and the tae kwon do club.
