Minority leaders hear case for anti-affirmative action measure

Supporters and opponents of a ballot initiative that would end state-sponsored affirmative action programs made their cases to hundreds of minority-owned business leaders this morning.

The presentations on Amendment 46, which voters will consider in November, came at the 14th annual minority-owned business breakfast organized by ColoradoBiz magazine.

Amendment 46 would ban race and gender preferences in state contracting, hiring and education. California businessman and affirmative action foe Ward Connerly is backing the initiative and similar measures in other states.

Jessica Peck Corry, executive director of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative - the campaign behind Amendment 46 - told minority businesspeople the ballot measure would create a "color-blind" system for hiring and awarding contracts and financial aid.

She said racial classifications are becoming outmoded in a society where interracial marriage is becoming more common.

"Colorado is too diverse racially to simply put people in these stagnant race boxes," said Corry (who also contributes to "Diary of a Mad Voter" on PoliticsWest.)

But Patricia Barela Rivera, district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration and an Amendment 46 opponent, garnered applause when she took the podium and urged those in the room to fight the measure.

"It's Colorado's anti-equal opportunity amendment," Rivera said of the measure.

The proposal would result in huge setbacks for minorities and women in contracting and public education, she said.

"If it wouldn't have been for affirmative action, I wouldn't be where I am today," Rivera said.

Opponents are pushing counter proposal to Amendment 46 that has similar wording but which critics say still would allow most forms of affirmative action. Proponents of that measure have until Aug. 4 to submit the 76,047 valid signatures of registered voters to get the measure on the November ballot.

Rivera urged those attending the breakfast to sign petitions to put in on the ballot. Petition circulators were in the audience to collect signatures.