Colorado鈥檚 economy and job growth are already shaping up to play a central role in the November gubernatorial race. Both candidates are using their own figures to assess how the state is faring as it recovers from the recession.
According to non-partisan legislative economists, the state鈥檚 economy is gaining steam. Governor John Hickenlooper is quick to point out that at 5.8 percent, the unemployment rate is the lowest it鈥檚 been in years.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all on the same side when it comes to creating jobs, and how do we do that most effectively," asked Hickenlooper. "How do we create an environment, communities, an ecosystem where there鈥檚 enough capitol, the workforce is reading and trained?"
Hickenlooper has made it a major focus of his administration to try and foster a welcoming place for entrepreneurs. He created the Colorado Innovation Network or COIN, a privately funded entity that aims to bring together businesses and academia to create new ventures. He鈥檚 also behind efforts to build a new and startups.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to create an environment, an ecosystem, where entrepreneurs are celebrated,鈥� said Hickenlooper. 鈥淏ob Beauprez comes with the perspective that everything government does is pretty much wrong. There鈥檚 a difference there, that being said, once the election is over, I think Republicans, Democrats and Independents, everybody鈥檚 got to work together.鈥�
Republican gubernatorial challenger Bob Beauprez, the former two-term congressman, acknowledged the state is on an upward economic trajectory 鈥� but said he wants it to be even better.
鈥淲hen did good become good enough? I mean even the raw number 5.8 percent unemployment, five years into a supposed economic recovery? We ought to be talking full employment right now. We ought to be talking an economy that鈥檚 growing twice the rate it is right now. But if you ask people what鈥檚 holding us back they鈥檒l tell you鈥� government,鈥� Beauprez said.
Colorado State University Political Science Professor John Straayer said he thinks economic attacks against Hickenlooper could be a tough sell for Beauprez to make, in part because the state鈥檚 economy .
鈥淭hings really look pretty good. I think the argument serves Hickenlooper better than Beauprez,鈥� said Straayer. 鈥淵ou could also argue whether or not the economy is improving whether Hickenlooper did that. I think it鈥檚 always reasonable to ask whether or not the chief executive all by himself or herself, is responsible for either an uptick or a down tick in the economy. There are so many other factors that complicate that.鈥�
Beauprez is also criticizing Hickenlooper for keeping unnecessary regulations on the books and pushing for stricter rules against the oil and gas industry, such as efforts to . Overall there is little daylight between the two when it comes to oil and gas policy. Both and each is a strong advocate for responsible drilling and fracking.