Pro-Black Hills Energy ad campaign slams Pueblo’s history with animal shelter
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the special election regarding Pueblo's electricity future just days away, advertisement campaigns are taking a different approach, and one is cutting right to the core of the city's competency by harking back to last year's debacle with a local animal shelter.
On May 5, Puebloans will vote on Ballot Question 2A, which would have the city no longer use Black Hills Energy as its electricity provider and instead form a Public Electric Utility. The city's plan is to allow the Pueblo Board of Water Works to take over at the helm of Pueblo's electric utility.
In a new TV advertisement, funded by the anti-public electric utility group Pueblo Cares Issue Committee, voters are being asked to vote no on Ballot Question 2A by an assortment of dogs.
In the TV commercial, dogs are seen barking at voters with subtitles to provide context:
"The city can't run a dog pound. How can they run a utility?? Don't git bit over a takeover. Can't run a dog pound. Can't run a utility. Vote No."
The commercial is referring to the recent troubles at the Pueblo animal shelter. In 2018, Pueblo City Council voted to replace the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) as the vendors of Pueblo's public animal shelter with the 'no-kill' shelter Paws for Life.
Within just a few months of taking control at the shelter, Paws for Life's license to operate the shelter was surrendered over to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. An investigation discovered several alleged instances of animal cruelty, and the director allegedly lied state inspectors during one of the inspections.
HSPPR was re-awarded the license to serve as the shelter's vendor soon after.
But the city technically never ran a dog pound, like the advertisement claims.
“I just thought it was absolutely adorable, and appropriate,” said Pueblo City Council member Lori Winner.
Winner is against leaving Black Hills, and sees similarities between the city’s actions with this issue and the animal shelter.
“City council was hijacked by this group that just wanted PAWS for Life to take over no matter what, no matter the facts. They just wanted that to happen, and City Council caved to that issue," said Winner. "The Mayor and also Pueblo’s Energy Future 2020 have hijacked City Council over this issue."
Meanwhile, Mayor Nick Gradisar argues PAWS for Life and Black Hills Energy are entirely unrelated.
“The point of the commercial is really misplaced," said Gradisar. "The city is not going to run this utility. This utility is going to be run by the Pueblo Board of Water Works, which is an independently elected board wholly separate and apart from the city.”
However, Pueblo Cares Issue Committee fears if voters say yes to leaving Black Hills Energy they issued is forever settled. There would be no way to correct a mess like PAWS for Life.
In a statement to KRDO News Channel 13, HSPPR responded to the claims being made in the TV commercial.
'HSPPR works every day toward fulfilling our mission of a compassionate community where people and pets are cared for and valued. As we can't speak on the topic of city utilities, we cannot offer further commentary at this time.'
