Being bombarded by political ads? A word of caution -- many ads today are paid for by small special interest groups called 527s and are, by law, not approved or even viewed by the candidates prior to their release. Too many are purposely designed to mislead by a manipulation of "the facts". These ads keep us from truly knowing the candidates and their position on crucial issues. Sometimes they sink so low as to include the candidate's home phone number.

You may have received an ad in the mail from a 527 group criticizing State Representative Debbie Benefield's position on HB05-1124, a bill concerning qualifications for in-state college tuition. This ad proclaimed that Benefield "voted to reward illegal immigrants with in-state tuition". Important to note is the fact that HB05-1124 was indefinitely postponed, or "killed in committee", in 2005. The bill included NO reward for illegal immigrants as it allocated NO additional funds. It would have limited in-state tuition qualifying students to those who had attended school in Colorado for at least 3 years, who graduate or earn a GED, and who file to become a permanent resident of Colorado.

What Benefield does support is opportunity, the opportunity for all children who attend school in Colorado to further lift themselves up through an affordable college education. She supports Colorado students paying in-state tuition.

Sometimes even ads that are designed to help a candidate do more harm than good. On the same day the above ad was delivered, another arrived from a 527 group supporting Benefield. Unfortunately, this ad used an image offensive to some. As a volunteer for Benefield's campaign I am confident that she would not have chosen or approved the image of a sumo wrestler to depict a lobbyist. Debbie Benefield embraces the diversity of House District 29. The ads prepared and authorized by her campaign are positive promotions of her positions on important issues, as well as her desire to be re-elected in order to continue to represent the residents of House District 29.

Please take a few extra minutes this year to read the fine print on every political ad you see and ask yourself some important questions. Who paid for it? Does it really represent the candidate? Are the facts presented taken out of context? Get to know the candidates before you vote. Reach out to Representative Benefield and find out who she is and what she believes. Go to www.debbiebenefield.org, and if you still have questions, send her an email or write her a letter. Once you learn that she will listen to your concerns and fight for our best interests, give her your vote.

Cindy Kirby