National Western Stock Show: Will Aurora give Gaylord Entertainment the right to vote?

What's next? Cows will get to cast ballots in Aurora? The Libertarian Party -- like the National Western Stock Show, an institution that got its start in Colorado -- is concerned that Aurora is about to give voting rights to a corporation: Gaylord Entertainment, the out-of-state company trying to rustle the Stock Show from Denver.

Here's the release from the Libertarian Party of Colorado:

Libertarians Condemn City of Aurora Granting Voting Privileges to Gaylord Entertainment Corporation It's come to the attention of the Libertarian Party of Colorado that the City of Aurora, Colorado is proposing to allow Gaylord Entertainment the right to vote, in addition to the $300 million dollars worth of incentives they plan on giving Gaylord to build their new private hotel complex in the northern part of the city.

The Libertarian Party of Colorado stands firm against corporations voting in elections. "Giving a corporation the right to vote is really a form of fascism. If we allow corporations to vote, there will be nothing to stop corporations from buying and influencing any elections that they choose." said Rob McNealy, Media Director of the Libertarian Party of Colorado.

The pertinent section and clause of the "incentive agreement" is on page 56, section 2 where it states: "WITH RESPECT TO ANY TAXABLE OR REAL PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE AREA OR PROPOSED AREA WHOSE OWNER IS NOT A NATURAL PERSON, ONE NATURAL PERSON WHO IS QUALIFIED TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE AND IS DESIGNATED BY SUCH OWNER TO VOTE FOR SUCH OWNER, WHETHER SUCH NATURAL PERSON RESIDES IN THE AREA OR PROPOSED AREA OR NOT. SUCH DESIGNATION SHALL BE IN WRITING AND FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK. ONLY ONE SUCH PERSON MAY BE DESIGNATED BY EACH OWNER."

The Aurora City Council will be having a hearing about the Gaylord Entertainment deal, and we encourage all citizens concerned about this to have their voices heard by testifying. The public hearing will be held during the upcoming City Council meeting on Monday the 22nd, 2011 at 7:30PM, at the Aurora Municipal Center located at 15151 East Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012.

No cows will be allowed to speak at this cattle call, however.