Senate candidates spar over water projects

Colorado’s Senate candidates are sparring over water and transportation projects and how to pay for them.

Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and Republican Rep. Cory Gardner traded barbs Wednesday over a six-year-old ballot measure about water projects. Both attended the Colorado Water Congress summer conference.

Udall issued a news release criticizing Gardner for supporting a 2008 ballot initiative that would have diverted millions from water projects to fund transportation. Voters rejected the proposal.

Gardner turned the debate back on Udall. He told The Durango Herald that Udall supported a rival ballot initiative that year that would have eliminated a state tax credit to increase severance tax collection. That one also failed.

Gardner also accused Udall of a lack of leadership on transportation, including easing congestion along Interstate 70.