From The Pueblo Chieftain (Patrick Malone):
On water, Tancredo called for a balance between rural and urban interests in the state. He said conservation is a necessity. Maes said more water storage options are needed, and exploring the leasing of water rights that might deter sales that diminish the fabric of rural areas. He favors encouraging that water be kept in the part of the state where it originates.
Hickenlooper took a global view of water in Colorado. “I understand there are a lot of arguments about who owns the water in Colorado,” Hickenlooper said. “There are thousands of lawyers that make a living on it in court. Metaphorically, I think you could say the waters of Colorado belong to all of Colorado. If agriculture is the muscle of Colorado, water is the lifeblood.” He noted that he appoints the Denver water board. “We have been able to cut the consumption of water by 20 percent in the Denver metro area. If you’re selling millions of gallons of water, you have to replace the water in the pump. I say perhaps what makes Denver Denver is that it’s in Colorado, and that we should make sure every drop of water in the Arkansas (River) stays there. “We import so much of our oil, just think about if we start importing our food. We have to make sure that resource is protected. “We have to make sure that the ones with resources don’t buy off the weakest in the herd. I think by collaborating, we can solve this.”
More 2010 Colorado elections coverage here.