A statewide initiative to limit bilingual education in Colorado schools is arguably the hottest issue on the November ballot.

But don’t look to Gov. Bill Owens for guidance on the initiative now known as Amendment 31. Attorney General Ken Salazar isn’t taking a position either.

At least, not yet.

Owens “is still studying the proposition,” said his spokesman Dan Hopkins. “He also wants to spend some time talking to folks on both sides of the issue before he decides which position to take.”

Hopkins pointed out that Owens, who has made education a key priority, doesn’t always take a stand on ballot initiatives. But in 2000, Owens announced “reluctant” opposition to Amendment 23, the constitutional change later approved by voters to funnel more money into K-12 schools.

Similarly, Salazar is still studying Amendment 31, a spokeswoman said. The state’s highest-ranking Hispanic politician, Salazar has taken the lead on the issue of bullying prevention. When he visits schools, he often talks about growing up speaking Spanish in the San Luis valley.

Avoiding controversy

Political commentator Floyd Ciruli isn’t surprised by the silence. He suspects that Salazar, a Democrat, is mindful of favorable polls showing some Democrats support the initiative. And he doubts the Republican Owens is enthusiastic about supporting an “imported” initiative, referring to its ties to California entrepreneur Ron Unz.

“It’s a very controversial proposal,” Ciruli said. “It is not unusual for them to try to avoid taking a stand as long as possible.”

Eventually, he expects both men will choose a side. He figures Salazar may find some legal grounds to oppose the initiative.

“Politically, that would minimize the fact that he is probably on the wrong side of the issue for most voters,” Ciruli said.

As for Owens, “While I do believe he will ultimately support this initiative, I don’t think he does it with any particular enthusiasm,” he said. “I think he understands it is a national trend, brought here by somebody else, and will probably pass.”

Speaking his mind

State Board of Education member Jared Polis has little trouble taking a stand.

In an Aug. 16 opinion in the Rocky Mountain News, Polis said rapper Eminem was “one of the most relevant forces today promoting fidelity, safe sex and traditional family values.”

The piece sparked a couple of irate letters to the editor, including one reader who wrote, “It is no wonder that education is in such a mess.”

Polis said he received fewer than a dozen e-mails in response, most of them favorable. In contrast, an earlier opinion he wrote about privatizing the U.S. Postal Service generated hundreds of e-mails, he said.

“Whenever I have the ability to promote dialogue and promote social change, I will do that,” Polis said. “Obviously, any political advisor would say, ‘Keep quiet, why get involved with controversy?’ But at the end of the day, if I have something to say, I say it.”



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