Face The State Staff Report
State Rep. Alice Borodkin, D-Denver is making a bid for Sen. Ken Gordon’s Senate seat this November and has taken the unusual step of writing her primary opponent and fellow Democrat, Joyce Foster, a personal letter.
BorodkinState of Colo.
In the letter, obtained by Face The State, Borodkin confronts Foster about her son, David Foster's, lobbying ties and the impact they will have if she is elected, citing a handful of examples in which Foster would have had to excuse herself from voting if elected during the current session. Borodkin writes that she raises these issues because she believes “the people of SD-35 have the right to know all the information about respective stands on issues and who we will be beholden to."
“Instead of running on her own legislative record — which is certainly deeply troubling — Alice has chosen the route of trying to discredit her Democrat primary opponent by feigning concern regarding potential ethical questions," said Ryan Call, Vice-Chairman of the Denver County GOP. "Perhaps Alice needs to be reminded that it is Joyce Foster on the ballot, and not her friends or relatives."
Borodkin told Face the State that she is not trying to intimidate Foster or tell her not to run. "I just want to know, will she vote on these bills?" Borodkin asked, "It's a question that's been bothering me since she announced that she would run."
Referencing a memo from state Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, that deals with ethics in the legislature, Borodkin jabs at Foster in the letter saying, “I am enclosing a copy of Senator Tupa’s letter because I am assuming you have not seen it – not being a member of the legislature – though I assume your son, being a chief lobbyist may have.” Tupa's wife is a Republican lobbyist and he consequently excuses himself from any vote that could turn into a potential conflict of interest.
“The allegation that, if elected, Mrs. Foster would be required to recuse herself from “hundreds of bills each year” is laughable, and is nothing more than an election-year stretch," said Call, "The voters will immediately see through this weak and disingenuous attack.”
In Colorado's citizen legislature, where many members are related in one way or another to lobbyists, conflicts of interest are not uncommon. Former Speakers of the House Chuck Berry and Doug Dean were also married to lobbyists, and former Rep. Anne Ragsdale also managed to successfully serve even though her daughter was a lobbyist.
Foster served for 10 years on the Denver City Council, has been endorsed by her term-limited predecessor and raised $52,456. Borodkin, prohibited from soliciting contributions from lobbyists during the legislative session, has raised just $2,331. On her campaign Web site, Borodkin is introduced to viewers as "one tough woman," and a "tough cookie," proclaiming that she's "involved, proactive and fights for what she believes are (sic) the best solutions to Colorado's problems."
Borodkin has not received a response to her letter and says she does not expect one. Foster did not return calls before press time.