The Gazette Voters Guide 2022

U.S. Senate race ranked among most competitive

BY ERNEST LUNING ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com

The race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Michael Bennet is ranked among the most competitive in the country this year. Going into the elec tion, the chamber is evenly divided, with Vice President Kamala Harris pro viding the tie-breaking vote, so if either party nets one seat, it would shift the balance of power.

U.S. SENATE

Democrat Michael Bennet of Denver, who was appointed to the seat in 2010 and has been reelected twice, is seeking a third full term. Republican Joe O’Dea of Greenwood Village, a construction company owner, is challenging him.

DEMOCRAT

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet Email: info@michaelbennet.com Website: michaelbennet.com Mailing address: Bennet for Colora do, P.O. Box 3078, Denver, CO 80202 Twitter handle: @MichaelBennet Facebook page: facebook.com/mi chaelbennet/ Instagram:instagram.com/michael bennet/ Education: bachelor’s degree in his tory, Wesleyan University; J.D., Yale

What’s the first legislation you’ll introduce if elected?

My first bill will be to repeal the Trump tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations and make permanent the expanded Child Tax Credit, which we passed last year to benefit 90% of Colorado kids, cut child poverty almost in half, and cut hunger by a quarter.

What is your top spending priority?

Over the past 20 years, Washington has spent $5 trillion cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans and corpora tions, and another $5 trillion fighting two 20-year wars in the Middle East. Meanwhile, income inequality rose, economic mobility fell, and our infra structure degraded. Our priority should be creating more economic opportunity and security for working families. The best place to start is making permanent my expanded Child Tax Credit.

Position on energy and climate

For decades, we’ve had an energy policy that’s been bad for consumers, lousy for America’s energy security, and terrible at reducing emissions. It’s subjected families to price spikes at the pump, accelerated climate change, and enriched dictators like Vladimir Putin. We desperately needed change, and the Inflation Reduction Act delivered it. It established a responsible energy policy

that draws on our abundant resources — including solar, wind, and natural gas — to lower costs for families, slash carbon pollution, and secure our ener gy independence.

Position on taxes

Our tax code is a mirror of Washing ton’s misplaced priorities. For 40 years, Congress has cut taxes for the wealth iest people and corporations, hoping they would magically trickle down to everyone else. They haven’t. Instead, income inequality is greater than at any time since the Great Depression. Economic mobility is low. Our democ racy cannot withstand another decade of an economy that doesn’t provide op portunity for working Coloradans.

We began to turn the page on these failed economic policies with the Infla tion Reduction Act, which established a 15% minimum corporate tax to ensure companies like Amazon aren’t paying a lower rate than teachers and firefighters. We have to go further by ending Trump’s tax giveaways for the wealthiest Ameri cans and cutting taxes for working Col oradans, like my expanded Earned In come Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

The Supreme Court’s decision stripped the American people of the first fundamental, constitutional free dom since Reconstruction.

I’m grateful to live in a state where women’s access to abortion is protect ed, but this can’t be a state-level issue. We need to codify abortion access at the federal level so every woman in Ameri ca has the same access to reproductive health care as women in Colorado.

I’ve always stood firm to protect a woman’s right to choose. You cannot say the same for my opponent. He vot

ed for a ballot measure that would have imposed a statewide abortion ban in Colorado with no exceptions for rape or incest. We cannot allow my oppo nent to win and give the Republican Party the majority they need to pass a national abortion ban.

REPUBLICAN

Joe O’Dea Email: info@joeodea.com Website: joeodea.com Mailing address: 4950 S. Yosemite St., Suite F2-225, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Twitter handle: @OdeaForColorado Facebook page: facebook.com/odea forcolorado/ Instagram: odeaforcolorado

What’s the first legislation you’ll introduce if elected?

We need a government-wide focus that embraces American energy production of all kinds — wind, solar, nuclear, nat ural gas and oil. The first piece of leg islation I will pursue would promote a smarter regulatory approach to address the soaring cost of energy that’s driving inflation. We need reforms that leverage innovation to continue to drive down carbon emissions to address climate change. At the forefront of this national push, America needs a bold approach to permitting reform to get all sources of energy producing in a more robust, clean, and sustainable way.

Expanding energy production is one of the most important things we can do to attack America’s inflation crisis. Higher energy prices are the primary driver of inflation, making food, gas, and manufacturing more expensive. We can become a stronger country and help struggling families by reversing Biden’s war on energy. I won’t stop un til we have a government-wide focus —

and permitting reform to back it — that restores American energy dominance.

What is your top spending priority?

With a substantial portion of spend ing cuts, we should drive down the deficit. We need to get the deficit back to pre-pandemic levels, and work in a concerted way to fully balance the bud get over time.

The other part is reprioritizing fed eral spending. We should zero-out the 87,000 new IRS agents and cut the fed eral bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., and make a massive investment in bor der security — including a border wall — and hire more police to protect our neighborhoods and schools instead.

Position on energy and climate

Climate change is real and humans contribute to it. We need a govern ment-wide focus that embraces Amer ican energy production of all kinds — wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas and oil. We need a smart regulatory approach that leverages innovation to continue to drive down carbon emissions to ad dress climate change. At the forefront of this national push, America needs a bold approach to permitting reform to get all sources of energy producing in a more robust, clean, and sustainable way.

Expanding energy production is one of the most important things we can do to attack America’s inflation crisis. Higher energy prices are the primary driver of inflation, making food, gas, and manu facturing more expensive. We can be come a stronger country and help strug gling families by reversing Biden’s war on energy.

Position on taxes

Washington isn’t focused on working people. And those policies have deep consequences. Out-of-control inflation, taxation, and red tape are destroying the value of work in our country. When everything costs more, your paycheck is worth less, and your work is deval ued. That’s wrong. Out-of-control debt at the federal level is a moral issue. We are saddling our kids and grandkids with huge debts that will only be paid for with huge tax increases. Washing ton needs to look at borrowing money the same way a business does and the same way a family does.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I support Roe vs. Wade, and I oppose the Supreme Court’s decision to over turn it. I don’t support a ban on abor tion. I would vote to codify a woman’s right to choose in the first five months of pregnancy, as well as in the case of rape, incest and medical necessity.

THE ASSOcIATEd PrESS FILE

u.S. Sen. Michael bennet, a colorado democrat, left, and Joe O’dea, his re publican challenger.

STATEWIDE: Reelect or replace incumbents

BY ERNEST LUNING ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com

Republicans are hoping to end a drought in major statewide races this year in Colorado, where the GOP hasn’t notched a statewide win since 2014.

GOVERNOR

Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat and former five-term congressman from Boulder, is seeking a second term. Re publican Heidi Ganahl of Lone Tree, a University of Colorado regent at-large, is challenging him.

DEMOCRAT

Gov. Jared Polis

Phone number: 1-970-921-9779

Email: info@polis forcolorado.com Website: polisforcol orado.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 36006, Denver, CO 80236

earn. We’ve proven that this adminis tration can deliver cuts on major costs for Coloradans by capping the cost of insulin, saving families money with free kindergarten, and cutting taxes for thousands of small businesses and completely eliminating state tax on so cial security income for seniors. We will continue to take immediate action to save people money, while reducing the cost of major expenses like education, healthcare, and housing.

Crime is unacceptable and I have a plan to improve public safety across Colorado. We are helping local police and sheriff departments hire, train and retain law enforcement officers, while also increasing penalties for trafficking fentanyl and other serious crimes.

We must also do more to prevent crime from happening in the first place by improving Colorado’s behavioral health response, early intervention and diversion, addiction recovery, and pro grams to reduce recidivism.

continue to use these powerful posi tions as an avenue of political activism. I will also undo as many executive or ders as possible. I will start by ending our health executive order, which was used to lock down and mandate Colo radans.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

Crime, cost of living and kids.

Colorado’s crime wave was brought on by soft on crime policies that prior itize criminals. I will return to law and order by appointing judges who respect truth in sentencing and replacing pa role board members who do not. I will end our sanctuary state status, which will help stop the flow of fentanyl. I will make possession of any amount of this deadly poison a felony. And, I will give law enforcement the resources they need.

VOTER NUMBERS IN COLORADO

A look at the number of active registered voters in Colorado as of Oct. 1. The data is further broken down by number of active Repub lican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters.

• Number of active registered vot ers (all party affiliations): 3,759,999

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 935,045

• Number of active registered Democratic voters: 1,045,459

• Number of active registered unaffiliated voters: 1,710,800

this information is provided by the colo rado Secretary of State’s Office.

Gov. Jared Polis

Twitter handle: @ polisforco and @jared polis

Facebook page:face book.com/PolisForCol orado

Instagram: @jaredpolis Education: bachelor’s degree in poli tics, Princeton University.

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

As governor, I am focused on do ing what’s right for Colorado. We have kept Colorado moving forward through tough times, but there is more hard work ahead, which is why it’s nearly im possible to name one program. Over the next four years, I will keep delivering on the issues that matter most to Colora dans. We will continue to create more opportunities for Coloradans by grow ing good jobs and ensuring people hold onto more of their hard earned money. We will bring housing costs down by re ducing regulations and barriers to new housing. We will continue to strength en our response to wildfires, preserve our clean air and water, and protect our future from climate change. We will protect our families from violence and crime, and continue expanding our freedoms so Coloradans can choose to lead the life each person wants to live. There are more challenges headed our way, but I am committed to making sure Colorado’s brightest days are ahead.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

One of my administration’s top prior ities is cutting costs and helping Col oradans keep more of the money they

Thirdly, we remain committed to our aggressive climate goals, including put ting Colorado on a path towards lower cost, reliable clean energy with a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040. We are working to improve our air quality for Coloradans by spurring the tran sition to lower cost renewable energy, while improving Colorado’s response to wildfires and other climate threats.

REPUBLICAN

Heidi Ganahl

Phone number: 1-720-805-8683

Email: Heidi@heidiforgov.com Website: heidiforgov. com

Mailing address: Heidi for Governor, P.O. Box 754, Fort Lupton, CO 80621

Twitter handle: @ heidiganahl Facebook: facebook. com/heidiganahl Instagram: @heidi ganahl

Education: bachelor’s degree in mar keting, University of Colorado Boulder; master’s degree in health care adminis tration, University of Denver.

I will lower our inflation rate and cost of living by reining in our government bloat and record high spending. I will get our energy workers back to work and embrace an all-of-the above ap proach.

Finally, our kids are in crisis. We need to give power back to parents in a powerful partnership with teachers. We need to ensure transparency in cur riculum. And we need to provide real school choice.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Democrat Phil Weiser is seeking a sec ond term. His Republican challenger is John Kellner, a first-term district attor ney in the 18th Judicial District, cover ing Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lin coln counties.

DEMOCRAT

Attorney General Phil Weiser Email: TeamPhil@PhilforColorado. com

Website: philforcolo rado.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 13644, Denver, Co 80201

Twitter: @pweiser Facebook: facebook. com/PhilforColorado

public safety, and combat fentanyl. My office has held accountable those who harm victims — including drug cartels, human traffickers and clergy who prey on children — and enforced the Victims Rights Act. I also secured over $520 million for Colorado from big pharma ceutical companies to address the opi oid crisis and am working around the state to ensure these funds are invested effectively. I will continue to support improving police recruitment and re tention, providing better mental health services for law enforcement, and im proving officer training, investing ef fectively the millions I fought for at the legislature. And I will continue to ad vocate for and advance responsible gun safety laws — implementing Colorado’s “red flag” law, encouraging safe gun storage, and ensuring domestic abusers cannot access firearms.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

The first thing I will do is replace as many people on the various boards and commissions throughout our state as possible. We have bureaucrats who hate farmers and ranchers sitting on the very boards that oversee those in dustries. We have parole board mem bers who refuse to enforce truth in sentencing and are contributing to our horrible recidivism rate. We cannot

attorney General Phil Weiser

Instagram: insta gram.com/philforcolo rado Education: bache lor’s degree in political science, Swarthmore College in Penn sylvania; law degree, New York Univer sity School of Law.

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

I will work to protect victims, advance

Sunday, OctOber

My top priorities are defending the rights of all Coloradans; improving public safety; and protecting our land, air, and water. First, I will continue to protect consumers and defend our civil rights, including access to affordable, safe abortion care. On protecting con sumers, I have recovered over $230 million for Coloradans defrauded by irresponsible actors, including an $8.4 million action against CenturyLink for misleading fees. On public safety, I will continue to bring complex, organized crime cases, including prosecuting drug cartels, and push for sound leg islation, such as laws passed recently to combat catalytic converter theft and provide resources to fight fentanyl.

2022 | tHe GaZette

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

cu regent

Heidi Ganahl

FROM

Lastly, I will continue to defend our air quality, protect our water, and take on polluters.

REPUBLICAN

18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner

Phone: 1-703-474-8259

Email: info@john kellner.com Website: johnkellner. com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 461798, Auro ra, CO 80046

Twitter: @Kellner forCO

in effect for any amount of fentanyl.

This brings us to the second priority, which is tackling trafficking of fentanyl and addressing the issue of it flowing through our southern borders.

Lastly, I will do all I can to protect our state’s water and our rights to it.

Agriculture and ranching are import ant parts of Colorado’s economic in frastructure and without water, they can no longer produce their crops and livestock. We are facing some big dis cussions when it comes to the Colora do Water Compact in the coming years and it is a priority of mine to continue to learn all I can about it and preserv ing Colorado’s water sources.

SECRETARY OF STATE

And finally modernization. Keeping Colorado’s elections and business ser vices up to date is essential to ensuring they’re both secure and accessible.

REPUBLICAN

Pam Anderson

Email: andersonforsos@gmail.com Website: andersonforsos.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1916, Wheat Ridge, CO 80034

Twitter: @anderson cosos

Facebook: facebook. com/AndersonCOSoS

Instagram: insta gram.com/anderson cosos

in the General Assembly that have in creased the cost of our elections, while taking full credit for the work.

18th Judicial district At torney John Kellner

Facebook: facebook. com/KellnerForColora do Instagram: insta gram.com/johnkellnerco

Education: bachelor’s degree in busi ness administration, finance, Spanish, University of Florida Warrington Col lege of Business; law degree, University of Colorado.

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

My first program when elected will be Building A Safer Colorado For All. Through this, we will fight Colora do’s crime wave, which has hit a 25year high and will work to implement tougher penalties for repeat offenders. We will also stand up for Colorado’s citizens by taking the fight against the deadly poison fentanyl to the federal government, if necessary, regardless of which political party is in power.

We will support our law enforcement officers in giving them access to the best possible training available and we will help Colorado recover from the one hundred million dollars in fraudu lent unemployment claims. Now, hard working Coloradans are forced to foot the bill of replenishing the unemploy ment fund. We will fight to hold the scammers and fraudsters accountable. Together, we will Build a Safer Colora do For All.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

I will fight to turn the Colorado crime wave around through these three pri orities:

Supporting common sense public safety laws. It is not common sense to support any legislation that would decriminalize fentanyl and through these types of failed policies, the fen tanyl overdose rate in Colorado has spiked to the second highest in the na tion. We need to put tougher penalties

Democrat Jena Griswold of Louisville is seeking a second term. Republican Pam Anderson of Wheat Ridge, a for mer Jefferson County clerk, is challeng ing her.

DEMOCRAT

Secretary of State Jena Griswold Phone: 1-720-739-1274 Email: jena@jenaforcolorado.com Website: jenaforcolo rado.com

Education: bache lor’s degree in history, California Lutheran University and University of Colorado Denver; mas ter’s degree in public administration, University of Colorado Denver.

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

Restore confidence and trust for all Coloradans.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 270218, Louis ville, CO 80027 Twitter: @JenaGris wold Facebook: facebook. com/Jenaforcolorado Instagram: insta gram.com/jenagriswold Education: bache lor’s degree in politics and Spanish literature, Whitman Col lege; law school, University of Pennsyl vania.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

Colorado’s elections are the nation’s gold standard for security and access. As secretary of state, I have made vot ing more accessible for all Coloradans, but we must always continue to inno vate. In a second term, I will continue to protect the right to vote of every eligible person and increase election access. We hope to further expand au tomatic voter registration (AVR), which has already registered over 350,000 el igible Republican, Democrat, and unaf filiated voters and increased our elec tion security.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

First, ensuring that Colorado’s elec tions continue to be safe and secure, and that our security evolves with new emerging threats.

Second, expanding voting access. As secretary of state, I will always prior itize ensuring that eligible Coloradans have access to voting.

We need to restore trust in the Secre tary of State’s Office. If elected, my first step I will take will be to establish a professional code of ethics to eliminate the hyper-partisanship and politics that have eroded trust. I will insulate the professional staff from political influ ence and restore focus on the mission of the agency to serve Coloradans as a fair referee without bias. I will increase transparency and eliminate the use of nondisclosure agreements for departing personnel. I will also work in a biparti san way with the Legislature, on behalf of all voters, to pass legislation that will prohibit elected officials from using public funds for ads with any candi date’s image, couched as voter outreach. Finally, I will institute a Citizen Election Academy that will provide Coloradans an opportunity to take some of the same courses that election officials do and incentivize and encourage citizens to learn about and participate in democra cy as a trained election official.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

Increase the reimbursement for fed eral and state elections to the counties that currently are severely underfund ed. The funding amount the secretary of state is supposed to reimburse to counties following each statewide elec tion have not changed since 2012. It is critical to support voters’ choices, ac cess, and integrity by supporting pub lic funding of elections. My opponent promised to address this in 2019. Not only has she broken her commitment to support county and local govern ment for years, but she has also initi ated several underfunded mandates

My opponent has siphoned over $4 million in federal funds (over 50% of the COVID relief funds) for television ads that should be used to directly sup port secure and accessible elections ad ministered by the county clerks. This has either taken the place or delayed critical projects for years. I will audit that spending and realign the priorities away from investment in politics and restoring the mission of accessible and safe elections. I will require and advo cate that no less than 75% of any federal funding are applied directly to support the operations and mandated programs. I will restore stability in leadership for the agency. Over the last four years, there has been three deputy secretaries of state, four chiefs of staff, at least four communication directors, and three leg islative liaisons. This lack of leadership is just one measure of the poor perfor mance that impacts our voters, busi nesses, charities and nonprofits all over the state. As a former county clerk and business owner, I will use my master’s in public administration to bring my proven record of professionalism to pri oritize the focus on the service and mis sion of the agency, and lead with that in mind and not prioritize my political career. I believe the Secretary of State’s Office is a serious job, and is a destina tion, not a steppingstone.

STATE TREASURER

Democrat Dave Young, a former state lawmaker from Greeley, is seeking a second term. Republican Lang Sias, a state lawmaker from Arvada, is chal lenging him.

DEMOCRAT

State Treasurer Dave Young

Phone: 1-970-573-6302

Email: dave@daveyoungforcolorado. com

Website: daveyoung forcolorado.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 58, Greeley, CO 80632-0058

Twitter: @Dav eYoungCO

colorado State Trea surer dave young

Facebook: facebook. com/DaveYoungForCol orado

Instagram: insta gram.com/daveyoung forco

Education: bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Colorado State Universi ty; master’s degree in information and learning technologies, University of Colorado Denver.

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

The first program I will work on will

Pam Anderson

Explainer: judicial retention elections

BY MICHAEL KARLIK michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com

This November, voters statewide will decide whether to retain 135 judges for terms of four to eight years. Unlike other races on the ballot with multiple candidates, judicial retention requires voters to select either “yes” or “no.”

Answers to some questions about retention elections:

Do we elect judges in Colorado?

Not exactly. In many states, people campaign to be judges. Here, the governor appoints judges, and voters decide whether they continue in office after a probationary period.

Judges can serve for as long as the voters continue to retain them, up to the mandatory retirement age of 72.

How long do judges stay in office?

County court judges serve four-year terms. District court judges serve six years. Court of Appeals judges have eight-year terms, and Supreme Court justices, 10 years. There is no limit to the number of terms they can serve.

What if a judge isn’t retained?

The governor gets to appoint a new judge. Citizen-led commissions screen applicants and send a list of finalists to the governor — typically three people. The governor’s office conducts additional screening and interviewing, which results in an appointment.

How do I know if someone is a good judge?

There’s no surefire way, but each of the state’s 22 judicial districts has a performance commission that pre pares a summary of each judge’s work for voters. An additional commission handles Court of Appeals judges and Supreme Court justices.

The summaries, which appear in the Blue Book and online, advise voters whether judges meet or don’t meet per formance standards. The data stem from surveys given to lawyers who appear be fore the judges, surveys to nonlawyers,

courtroom observations and input from chief judges of the judicial districts, among other sources of information.

Ultimately, they are measured on case management, knowledge of the law, demeanor, communications skills and fairness.

What does it mean to meet or not meet performance standards?

There are numerous questions the commissions answer when determining whether a judge meets standards. For example, did the judge ask understand able and relevant questions in court? Did the judge have control over the

courtroom? During sentencing, did the judge listen to all sides and clearly state the reasoning for the sentence? And did the judge correct issues with their per formance that were noted previously?

How many judges this year didn’t meet performance standards?

According to the performance com missions, all 135 judges on the ballot met performance standards.

Do I vote on all 135 judges?

You only vote on county and district judges where you live and judges with statewide jurisdiction, meaning the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. This year, no Supreme Court justices are up for retention.

How do I know if a judge made bad decisions or misbehaved?

There is no easy way to get that information. Appeals of judges’ deci sions are not all equal. For example, sometimes a judge misapplies law that is clear. Other times, the law is murky and a judge makes their best effort, only to be reversed on appeal.

The Colorado Commission on Judi cial Discipline investigates misconduct complaints about judges, but there is substantial secrecy in the process. Performance commissions may not know that a judge has been privately reprimanded, or that a report has even been made about a judge.

STATEWIDE

FROM PAGE 4

be the Colorado SecureSavings pro gram. This program will help 1 mil lion Coloradans working in the private sector save for a sustainable and dig nified retirement, while saving taxpay ers nearly $18 billion over the next 15 years. We are launching the pilot pro gram this October and will roll out offi cially in January.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

My top priority if reelected is to pro tect taxpayer dollars and ensure we are making smart, safe, and transparent in vestments that help all Coloradans.

Second, is to return more than $1 bil lion in unclaimed property to the peo ple of Colorado. So far in my term, we have returned more than $143 million in unclaimed property to almost 90,000

Coloradans. We accomplished this by clearing the backlog of claims, simplify ing the claims process, and launching a program that proactively returns funds.

And third is to continue to build on the Colorado SecureSavings Program as well as the CLIMBER program, which helps local businesses recover from the pandemic and fight inflation. The program invests nearly $250 mil lion in small-business loans to ensure companies can keep staff, raise wages, and keep their doors open.

REPUBLICAN

State Sen. Lang Sias, R-Arvada

Phone: 1-720-727-1575

Email: siasforcolo radotreasurer@gmail. com Website: siasforcolo rado.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 2646, Denver, CO 80205

Twitter: @LangSias Facebook: facebook. com/siascotreasurer

Instagram: instagram.com/sias cotreasurer

Education: bachelor’s degree, Vas sar College; master’s degree, London School of Economics; law degree, Uni versity of Michigan Law School

What’s the first program you’ll work on if elected?

Single-party rule has driven Colorado’s cost of living far too high. Compared to the beginning of 2021, our average fami ly is paying over $950 more each month, just to maintain their standard of living. That leads the nation. We need checks and balances. I will restore balance to our statewide economic leadership. This isn’t about one program, it’s about lead ership and an efficient mindset that pri oritizes taxpayers.

What are your top three priorities for the office?

1. Work with anyone, from either party, committed to lowering costs for families and small businesses. I’ll advocate for

rigorous cost-benefit analysis of major economic regulations, and transparency and accountability for the actual results of spending. I will also defend our right to vote on tax increases and tax refunds. My opponent used the Treasurer’s Of fice to try and abolish our TABOR tax refunds, including the $750 you just re ceived, forever. I believe TABOR helps hold our politicians accountable.

2. As a PERA Board member, work to improve PERA’s financial position, while balancing the interests of PERA members and taxpayers. I was a lead er in passing 2018 bipartisan reforms that averted disaster for PERA mem bers, taxpayers and the state — re forms my opponent voted against.

The reforms put PERA on a better trajectory, but it will take responsible leadership to achieve 100% funding.

3. Efficiently oversee treasury depart ment programs, focusing on saving tax payer dollars. My opponent has been exaggerating the success and prospects of programs he manages, and has in flated the size of his department by nearly 50% since 2019.

State Sen. Lang Sias

Getty IMaGeS

Meet the candidates for Colorado Senate District 11

BY MARIANNE GOODLAND marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com

The state Senate races profiled in this voter guide are considered to be the most competitive and will determine which party controls the chamber, which is at a 21-14 Democratic advan tage.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 11

The district is in southeastern Colo rado Springs, including the Colorado Springs Airport. This is an open seat. Republican Sen. Dennis Hisey, who was elected to represent Senate District 2 (Fountain) in 2018, moved to Senate District 11 in fall, 2021. The Democrat, Rep. Tony Exum Sr., has served four terms in the state House. The Colora do Independent Redistricting Commis sion rated this district at a 2.4% Demo cratic advantage.

DEMOCRAT

Exum, Tony Sr.

Phone number: 719-661-4910

Email: exum3672@comcast.net

Website: tonyexum.com

Mailing address: 3672 Iguana Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Education: bachelor’s degree in so cial science, University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo).

What will be your first legislation if elected?

I have not yet decided which legisla tion I will introduce first. My top three priorities as a legislator have always been and will continue being: sup porting public education, protecting the environment, and helping low-in come families, people of color, and the elderly live better lives.

I listen when people tell me they want safer schools, better education, environmental protections, police ac countability, and improved elder care, among other things; and I’ve run leg islation addressing those issues. I be lieve my record proves that. I’m run ning again to continue doing this good work.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

I’m on the House’s Education Commit tee because supporting public education is a high priority of mine: making sure our schools are well funded, our teach ers are well-paid, our breakfast and lunch services for students are healthy, affordable, and filling, and our school buildings are well-maintained, safe and secure.

Public K-14 education including tech nical schools and public transportation.

Position on energy and climate

Over the last few years, we in the state Legislature have passed several major pieces of legislation to help combat against both the man-made causes and the disastrous consequences of climate change. Climate change is affecting us now, so we’re investing more into wildfire mitigation, into water conser vation, into environmental protection and preservation, and into energy effi ciency with our buildings, appliances, and vehicles. I’ve helped to pass legisla tion addressing all of these issues. I will continue supporting good legislation to combat climate change, and I look for ward to doing more of this good work in the state senate.

Position on tax hike

To help avoid any future fiscal crisis Colorado may face, I would support reforming TABOR first, before I sup ported repealing it. I would leave in the part requiring voter approval for any tax raise, because I believe we as state legislators should be able to explain and justify to voters any tax increase we need to make for the state. But I would support removing those parts of TABOR which restrict year-over-year financial growth for our state and re strict our state government’s ability to spend collected revenues.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Protecting the reproductive rights of pregnant people is important to me. This is why I’ve supported and voted for legislation protecting a woman’s right to choose. In 2017, I voted for HR 17-1005, a resolution about ensuring access to re productive health care. And in 2022, I not only voted for but I also cosponsored HB 22-1279, the Reproductive Health

Equity Act, which codified into state law that every individual has a fundamental right to use or refuse contraception and every pregnant person has a fundamen tal right to continue the pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion.

REPUBLICAN

Hisey, Dennis

Phone number: 719-351-2121

Email: dennishisey2@gmail.com Website: dennishisey.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 5840, Col orado Springs, CO 80931

Education: attended Oral Roberts University, Oregon State University.

What will be your first legislation if elected?

That happened in 2019, but for 2023 I am looking at some legislation regard ing due process and accountability for law enforcement at the request of sev eral local police chiefs and sheriffs.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Transportation infrastructure; that includes roads, bridges and tunnels. Colorado has fallen behind with a ma jority of our roads and bridges in poor to mediocre condition.

We need to spend transportation dol lars on asphalt, concrete, bridges and tunnels, not on pet projects.

Position on energy and climate

Like every Coloradan, I want clean air, pure water and healthy forest. I also sup port affordable energy for our families and businesses. The two are not mutual ly exclusive. There is a balance to be had and a measured progression that will lead us to a future that includes a healthy economy and a healthy environment.

VOTER NUMBERS IN COLORADO SENATE DISTRICTS

A look at the number of active registered voters in Colorado

Senate Districts 9, 11 and 35 as of Oct. 1. The data is further broken down by number of active Repub lican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters.

Senate District 9

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered vot ers (all party affiliations): 118,365

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 45,014

• Number of active registered Democratic voters: 17,786

• Number of active registered unaffiliated voters: 53,625

Senate District 11

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 86,397

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 19,215

• Number of active registered Democratic voters: 20,794

• Number of active registered unaffiliated voters: 43,949

Senate District 35

• Counties included: Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, El Paso, Elbert, Huerfano, Kiowa, Kit Car son, Las Animas, Lincoln, Otero, Prowers

• Number of active registered vot ers (all party affiliations): 120,249

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 51,755

• Number of active registered Democratic voters: 18,598

• Number of active registered unaffiliated voters: 47,710

This information is provided by the colo rado Secretary of State’s Office.

Position on tax hike

Colorado’s budget has grown signifi cantly faster than the growth of popu lation and inflation.

We need to get our spending under control, not ask the citizens of Colo rado to part with more of their hardearned money.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Abortion is a settled question in Col orado for the foreseeable future due to legislation passed in 2022.

cOurTESy OF TOny EXuM rep. Tony Exum Sr.

cOurTESy OF dEnnIS HISEy Sen. dennis Hisey

State House District 18: Black vs. Snyder

BY DEBBIE KELLEY debbie.kelley@gazette.com

Snyder, Marc (incumbent)

Party: Democrat

Phone number: 719233-1272

Email: marc.snyder. house@state.co.us Website: snyder forcolorado.com

tion so that our community members can feel better about their own fire evacuation plans.

My top spending priorities are wild fire prevention and preparedness and increasing funding for public educa tion, so that our students and teachers have all the resources and support they need.

Shana Black Party: Republican

Phone number: 719-400-9789

Email: shana@winwithblack.com Website: winwithblack.com

Mailing address: 5 E. Bijou St., No. 304, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

I would strive to ensure more educa tion dollars go to teachers, not admin istrators, and ensure first responders are fully funded. I would work to put transportation dollars to roads and bridges, where they belong.

rep. Marc Snyder

Mailing address: 2605A W. Colorado Ave., suite 205, Colora do Springs, CO 80904

Education: bache lor’s degree in econom ics and bachelor’s degree in political science, 1982, Emory University, Atlan ta; J.D. law degree, 1987, Emory Univer sity School of Law, Atlanta

I would like to pass legislation that would improve communications for evacuations in the event of a wildfire. As we have seen in the past couple years, it is absolutely critical that folks know how they need to evacuate and how long it will take them. This legis lation would improve that communica

I fully support a plan that reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and that also supports our economy in Colo rado. We are in a climate crisis and must make changes so we can con tinue to enjoy our beautiful state but also support local economic develop ment.

I support any tax increases that the voters approve of, as stipulated under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

I believe the government has no place in a woman’s doctor’s office when she is making one of the most important decisions of her life. I supported the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which supported Coloradans’ right to make their own reproductive health deci sions, and I will continue to support that goal.

Education: bachelor of arts in economics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; J.D. degree, 2000 cum laude grad uate, University of San Diego School of Law

I have already drafted legislation to repeal the qualified immunity portion of Senate Bill 20-217, which applies to all local law enforcement officers, sheriff’s deputies and Colorado State Patrol officers. We should support law enforcement, which includes qualified immunity for police.

Additionally, fentanyl needs to be re criminalized. People are dying because of the reckless decriminalization the Leg islature passed. Possession of fentanyl should be a felony, not a misdemeanor.

We need to take action to provide energy for the future of the country. I do not believe the too-much-too-soon approach being used now is viable. We need to have a long-range plan that takes into account all forms of energy and their impacts on the environment. We cannot sacrifice one form of energy at the expense of our citizens.

I fully support the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights in our state. I also believe the recent trend to impose “fees,” therefore bypassing TABOR, is inappropriate and needs to stop. These “fees” are nothing more than tax increases in disguise.

Roe v. Wade was not about abortion but about states’ rights. The Constitu tion is clear that issues not specifically addressed in the Constitution go to the states. That is what the Supreme Court decision was all about. And legislation passed in Colorado last session settled the question.

State House District 16: Donelson vs. Vigil

BY DEBBIE KELLEY debbie.kelley@gazette.com

Donelson, Dave

Party: Republican Phone number: 719238-9823

Email: davedonel son18@gmail.com Website: davedonel son.org

Mailing address: P.O. Box 26601, Colora do Springs, CO 80936

We need to consider the effects of taxes and fees and the impact state-im posed mandates can have on prices.

And current test scores show we are not preparing our kids to succeed — let’s give parents and kids more options.

Another fundamental responsibility of state government, transportation, only makes up about 5% of the state budget. Our roads need increased fo cus and funding. Certain areas of the state budget continue to grow rapidly. We need to find ways to better use the money the state already has.

a one-size-fits-all policy imposed from the federal government. Vigil, Stephanie Party: Democrat

Phone number: 719297-3210 Email: info@stepha nievigil.com Website: https:// www.stephanievigil. com

ture that suit our growing population, and continue developing our regenera tive-energy economy.

dave donelson

Education: bachelor of science degree, the University of Nebraska School of Medicine; bachelor of arts de gree in political science from the Uni versity of New Mexico. Also a graduate of the Defense Language Institute, in Monterey, Calif., as a Russian linguist

I want to pass legislation that im proves the lives of regular Colorado families and businesses in the areas of public safety, affordability and schools.

As a Colorado Springs city councilor and the brother of a police sergeant, I know public safety is the first responsi bility of government. Colorado should not lead the nation in auto thefts and bank robberies.

As a Colorado Springs city councilman and member of the Colorado Springs Utilities board, I offer voters experience, leadership and common sense.

All of us want clean air and water, and we need a practical and balanced approach to our energy sources. A cer tain level of renewable energy produc tion makes sense. We must have 100% energy reliability and be careful not to impose requirements on municipalities and other entities that create expen sive, unstable production and trans mission.

As for tax hikes, I oppose them. I also think it makes sense to return the reg ulation of abortion to each state and al low citizens decide, rather than having

Stephanie Vigil

Mailing address: Committee to Elect Stephanie Vigil, P.O. Box 9524, Colorado Springs, CO 80932

Education: not provided

There are several housing-related bills I am eager to draft or collaborate on and that will invest voter-approved funds in meeting the affordable-hous ing crisis.

One bill I will forward is a repeal of the statewide ban on rent stabilization. Local governments should be able to decide for themselves whether such ordinances are in the best interests of their communities.

My top spending priorities are to get teachers paid a thriving wage, invest in housing projects and transit infrastruc

Climate change is not a ‘tomorrow’ problem. It is a ‘today’ problem. We are dealing with a now almost year-round fire season, the Colorado River is in cri sis, and we’re facing aridification of the West due to hotter, drier conditions. We owe future generations a habitable en vironment, and we can do it with a just and equitable transition to all-renew able energy. Fully funding mechanisms like C-PACE will give private home and business owners more options to make this transition.

The Legislature cannot raise taxes, and clear communication and transparency are key to voter-approved tax hikes. Ex pecting people to make consequential decisions without enough information is not the greatest exercise in self-gov ernment, and we can do better.

Also, I am pro-choice, and it is up to states to protect this right to make de cisions about one’s own body and life. I will not support bans or restrictions on reproductive choice and would elim inate the ban on public funds being used for abortion services.

contact the writer: 719-476-1656.

Sunday, OctOber 16, 2022 | tHe GaZette

Shana black

seats up for grabs on Board of El Paso County Commissioners

BY BREEANNA JENT breeanna.jent@gazette.com

Two Democrats are looking to unseat Republican incumbents on the El Paso Board of County Commissioners.

Ryan Lucas, who has worked as a cam paign manager, is challenging incum bent Holly Williams in District 1, includ ing parts of northern Colorado Springs, Monument, Black Forest, and the com munities of Gleneagle and Woodmoor.

Librarian John Jarrell, a senior as sociate in the Pikes Peak Library Dis trict’s creative services department, is challenging incumbent Cami Bremer to represent District 5, which includes much of Colorado Springs.

DISTRICT 1: HOLLY WILLIAMS (R) VS. RYAN LUCAS (D)

Williams, Holly (incumbent)

Party: Republican Phone number: 719385-0722

Email: hollyforcolo rado@gmail.com Website: hollyforcol orado.com

Mailing address: 3472 Research Parkway, Suite 104 PMB 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Education: bachelor of arts degree in American government, 1986, University of Virginia; master of public administration, 2007, University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

El Paso County government is the most fiscally conservative among the top 10 largest Colorado counties, with each cit izen only paying an average of $306 per year for our government. Our quality of life, excellent schools and low taxes will continue to attract individuals to move here. As our community grows, I will continue to increase funding for trans portation infrastructure, support our law enforcement and public safety, increase funding to our county park system, and maintain an efficient government.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

Our most pressing infrastructure need is our road infrastructure, including improvements to major arterials and neighborhood roads. Additionally, road safety and driver speeding has increased the need for more law enforcement.

In the past four years, I have supported increasing the road maintenance budget by $13.1 million in ongoing revenue. This year, I supported dedicating $24 million in one-time revenue for roads. I will con

tinue to support additional ongoing rev enues for roads as well as adding addi tional one-time revenues each year.

As chair of the Pikes Peak Rural Trans portation Authority, I support a proposed renewal of the 1-cent sales tax, which will build the connection of Powers Boulevard from Colorado 83 to Voyager Parkway.

What do you feel should be the county’s top 3 spending priorities?

El Paso County’s most pressing need is continued investment in our road in frastructure.

I hope to increase funding to our coun ty parks and trail system so we can pre serve the natural beauty of our parks.

I will continue to support our law enforcement community, including our sheriff’s deputies and our District Attorney’s Office, so our community re mains safe.

Lucas, Ryan Party: Democrat

Phone number: un available

Email: ryan@ryanlu casforcolorado.com

Website: ryanlucas forcolorado.com

Mailing address: unavailable Education: bache lor’s degree in sociology and anthropology, 2006, Lake Forest College.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

My first priority would be to make next year’s redistricting process 100% transparent.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

• Representation: The county is less than 35% Republican, yet the Board of County Commissioners has been five Republicans for 50 years.

• Dedication: The county needs to focus in on Colorado Springs being larger than Denver in 15 years. We have to bolster public services significantly. And “home rule” is not a responsible solution.

• Vision: We need a very different approach to our growth that focuses development on sustainability, includ ing jobs and infrastructure. We’ve fall en behind in both. Our houses are too expensive and our workforce doesn’t match our jobs. This is why I’ve part nered with other Democrats on the “Cradle of Space Technology” plan.

What do you feel should be the county’s top 3 spending priorities?

Obviously, we have priorities that al

ready exist. Those are still the priori ties, but they need to be tuned to the future. Roads, yes; but with multimodal transit. County employee pay increases, yes; but with improved benefits. And economic development funding, yes; but significantly more.

DISTRICT 5: CAMI BREMER (R) VS. JOHN JARRELL (D) Bremer, Cami (incumbent)

Party: Republican

Phone number: 719963-5543

Email: cami. bremer@gmail.com

Website: camib remer.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 26594 Colora do Springs, CO 80936

Education: master in business administration with an emphasis in marketing, 2006, University of Colora do Colorado Springs; bachelor of arts in journalism, 2002, University of Georgia

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

We don’t need new county programs to grow the government. We must contin ue to demand efficiency and reduction of red tape for the current programs. I will continue the work I did my first term on reducing the hassle and head ache of interacting with the government at all levels, thus allowing business and individuals to thrive where they live, work and play. I will also work to foster positive working relationships with all of the rapidly growing municipalities and communities that make up El Paso County.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

• We need to have tough conversations about the smart and sustainable growth of El Paso County. We must develop and adhere to a long-term plan for roadway, water and land infrastructure.

• We must continue to support our law enforcement, ensuring they have what they need to keep our citizens safe.

• We should continue to cut administra tive red tape, enabling the private sector to create opportunities for housing at dif ferent income levels. This must be paired with an emphasis on economic and work force development (to) ensure the sustain able economic health of our county.

What do you feel should be the county’s top 3 spending priorities?

Funding priorities must align with the needs listed above and be restrict

ed to those services that only the gov ernment can provide. Infrastructure (roads and water), public safety (law enforcement) and efficient, modern ized service delivery should be invest ed in. All the while, we must ensure the state and federal funds coming to the county are efficiently and trans parently used.

Jarrell, John Party: Democrat

Phone number: 1-919-440-2638

Email: johndjarrell@ gmail.com; info@elect jarrell.com

Website: electjarrell. com

Mailing address: unavailable Education: bachelor of arts degree in eco nomics and history, 2010, University of North Carolina-Asheville; master of arts degree in American history, 2016, East Carolina University.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

My first priority will be to reduce the cost of housing across the county by enacting inclusionary zoning policies in areas of new development.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

This office’s top three needs are:

• Ending the one-way relationship with local developers that favors shortterm profits over long-term community growth.

• Representing the 40% of the popula tion whose political views have been re pressed by decades of gerrymandering.

• Blocking a radical board from en acting inhumane policies that are not popular even within their own party, such as converting El Paso County into a “sanctuary county for the unborn” (i.e., restricting abortion access).

What do you feel should be the county’s top 3 spending priorities?

The county is deficient in the follow ing three spending priorities:

• Investing in a robust public trans portation system that will not only bet ter serve the existing community, but will also allow the county to more effec tively develop in new areas.

• Repairing and expanding existing infrastructure without relying on re gressive sales taxes, which put the bur den of taxation on working families.

• Investigating and improving the conditions at the county jail that have led to an inexcusable number of deaths.

Holly Williams

ryan Lucas

cami bremer

John Jarrell

El Paso County treasurer candidates share goals

BY NICK SULLIVAN nick.sullivan@gazette.com

Political newcomer Richard Williams is challenging Chuck Broerman in the race for El Paso County treasurer. Bro erman has held an elected office since 2014 and is serving as county clerk and recorder.

The role of county treasurer is to col lect property taxes and fees and ensure proper distribution.

electronics technology, 1982, Wright State University.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

My first priority is to ensure that property taxes statements are sent out on time in January. The treasurer’s of fice is currently transitioning from a 30-plus-year computer system to an up-to-date system. The new system will come online just as I’m taking of fice, if elected. It is essential the new system work correctly right out of the gate. I’m accustomed to integrating new technologies.

making investments that are safe, liq uid and generate a yield that equals or exceeds appropriate standards. I see this as a tremendous opportuni ty to analyze current practices, mod ernize the technology platform, and improve operational efficiencies to reduce costs.

Williams, Richard Party: Democrat

Phone number: 1-303-772-4062 Email: rlw2nd@ msn.com Website: unavail able no website

Mailing address: 1622 Shasta Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Broerman, Chuck Party: Republican Phone number: 719-459-6065 Email: chuck.bro erman@gmail.com Website: Broer manforTreasurer. com

My additional priorities are: increase property tax payment options; custom er service enhancements; community outreach and education — specially re garding the Senior Homestead Exemp tion program.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

Education: some college What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Mailing address: P.O. Box 49149, Col orado Springs, CO 80949

Education: bach elor of science de gree in business administration, 1994, Regis University; associate of science degree in electromechani cal engineering, Sinclair Community College; associate of science degree in

I intend to be a watchdog on lo cal government spending. I look to streamline processes and increase se curity and accountability for El Paso County’s taxpayer funds by fostering collaboration within the Treasurer’s Office and with other county depart ments.

richard Williams chuck broerman

My first priority is to protect taxpay ers. I will protect taxpayers’ funds by following the authorized policies of

The treasurer is the central bank for the county. Our chief role is the proper collection of taxes and fees so that the Board of County Commissioners has the resources to carry out the essential functions of local government. While the Board of County Commissioners establishes the spending priorities for the county, my opinion of the essen tial priorities for county government are to adequately fund public safety; the maintenance and improvement of roads and infrastructure; and to en sure the smooth flow of commerce.

Check on auditing of all accounts and investments.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

Accountability, monthly e-publishing of accounts, transparency.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

Education; health care; and collec tions of past-due taxes.

VOTER NUMBERS IN COLORADO HOUSE DISTRICTS

A look at the number of active registered voters in Colorado House Districts 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 56 as of Oct. 1. The data is further broken down by number of active Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters.

State House District 14

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 67,227

• Number of active registered Republi can voters: 24,606

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 10,446

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 31,068

State House District 15

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 56,459

• Number of active registered Republi can voters: 17,811

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 9,931

• Number of active registered unaffiliat-

ed voters: 27,427

State House District 16

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 54,959

• Number of active registered Republi can voters: 14,675

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 12,800

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 26,134

State House District 17

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 42,313

• Number of active registered Republi can voters: 7,981

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 11,422

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 21,691

State House District 18

• Counties included: El Paso, Teller

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 60,102

• Number of active registered Republi can voters: 16,078

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 13,824

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 27,490

State House District 20

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 64,466

• Number of active registered Republi can voters: 28,411

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 7,509

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 27,440

State House District 21

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 43,467

• Number of active registered Republi-

can voters: 11,750

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 8,330

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 22,240

State House District 22

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 58,762

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 20,168

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 10,197

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 27,158

State House District 56

• Counties included: Adams, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, El Paso, Elbert, Kit Carson, Lincoln

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 65,672

• Number of active registered Republi can voters: 30,050

• Number of active registered Demo cratic voters: 7,918

• Number of active registered unaffiliat ed voters: 26,542

this information is provided by the colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

Sunday, OctOber 16, 2022 |

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

Getty IMaGeS

Assessor candidates identify office’s top needs

BY NICK SULLIVAN nick.sullivan@gazette.com

As El Paso County Assessor Steve Schleiker campaigns in the race for county clerk and recorder in the No vember election, Republican Mark Flutcher and Democrat Renee Reif are now vying for the position that will change hands for the first time since 2014.

The assessor’s job is to appraise and value properties and determine the amount of property taxes an owner must pay each year.

Flutcher, Mark

Party: Republican Phone number: 719-822-2565

Email: flutcherforas sessor@gmail.com Website: markflutch er.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 62225, Colora do Springs, CO 80962

academies over the years. I plan to enact a program that offers similar outreach. Emphasis will be on the use of assessor data for professionals in addition to ed ucation for property owners for a better understanding of how ad valorem taxa tion works and where the money goes.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

ware licensing, to include the website. These three items are the greatest ex penses necessary for the office to fulfill its statutory requirements. While this spending is not glamorous, one must be pragmatic with the funds provided when holding a constitutional office.

Reif, Renee Party: Democrat

munities that they live and operate in.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Advocates who will advocate for the people, not just wealthy corporations and developers.

2. “Life purpose” — an office that ex ists to serve the people.

Phone number: 719382-9115

Email: reneelreif4as sessor@gmail.com

Website: facebook. com/reneelreif4EPC Cassessor/

Mailing address: 729 Rye Ridge Road, Fountain, CO 80817

Education: bache lor of arts in sociology, 2006, Colora do State University-Pueblo; master’s in public administration, 2011, Keller Graduate School.

3. We must educate and inform the public not only on current policy, but also the specific “how to” and “when to.” I’ve met voters who’ve never heard of this exemption, and a few who’ve heard of it but don’t know the mechan ics of getting access to the Homestead Exemption, the address-confidentiality program, etc.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

Education: certified general in the apprais al license curriculum, 1994, University of Col orado Division of Con tinuing Education; associate’s in science degree in aviation operations, 2005, Community College of the Air Force; bachelor of arts degrees in geography and environmental science, 2007, Uni versity of Colorado Colorado Springs

Mark Flutcher

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

The Sheriff’s Office has offered citizen

An update to the computer-assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) software, a transition to a modern version of a geo graphic information system (GIS), and a satellite service center. A CAMA sys tem is at the heart of the assessor’s du ties to discover, list, classify, and value property. While an excellent tool, the current system relies heavily on coun ty resources to maintain. An outside vendor will maintain the new CAMA system, with developers who support multiple counties in Colorado. The current GIS is no longer supported. Upgrading the county mapping soft ware is required for continued upkeep of cadastral (parcel) maps along with providing a platform for spatial anal ysis. Finally, an additional location for in-person service in Falcon will serve the residents in this ever-expanding area of the county.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

The Board of County Commissioners determines the assessor’s budget. With in this budget, my top three spending priorities are postage, payroll and soft

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

I will put concerted effort into col laborating with legislators to ensure that the Senior Homestead Property Tax Exemption and Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption programs are expanded and funded annually WITH OUT compromising other needs, like police, fire, roads, etc. ... I will collab orate to overturn policies that benefit only the wealthiest residents, as well as developers and corporations that MUST pay their fair share to support the com

1. Advocate for controlling the prop erty tax liabilities of middle-income property owners and individuals with fixed incomes due to disability or medi cal condition (and their caregivers).

2. Advocate for the people, those of any age, and their caregivers, with a variety of disabilities and health conditions.

3. There is an appropriate place for, and amount of tax incentives to offer to developers, businesses and corpo rations, but this should NOT be at the expense of individual, residential prop erty owners. ... We must rejuvenate the ability of individual property owners to leave their home to their heirs, their dependents, those who have nothing more than their house to leave behind.

El Paso County sheriff’s candidates discuss priorities

BY ZACHARY DUPONT zachary.dupont@gazette.com

Two candidates will square off in No vember to become El Paso County’s new sheriff. Republican Joe Roybal, the current undersheriff, will be on the bal lot as well as Democrat John Foley, a former lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

The first program I will implement is the Colorado Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academies. This program will provide additional op portunities for current deputies not POST-certified, increase deputy candi date applications, and ensure a strong, qualified law enforcement workforce sustainable well into the future.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

prioritizing law enforcement activity in areas identified as targets to prevent crime from occurring in the first place. I will maximize the use of the Jail Based Behavioral Health Program of fered to the incarcerated population in our county jail. This program has result ed in a 20%-plus recidivism reduction rate over the general population and these results have been consistent over the last 10 years. Under my leadership, I will increase the participation which will, in turn, provide more protection to our community while demanding the in carcerated population remain productive and accountable while in jail.

community. What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

The top three spending priorities must be increased deputy authoriza tions, facility and equipment for ex panded law enforcement services, and employee wellness.

Roybal, Joe Party: Republican Phone number: 719428-7464 Email: joe@roybal forsheriff.com Website: roybalfor sheriff.com Mailing address: 11605 Meridian Market View, Unit 124 No. 301, Falcon, CO 80831

Joe roybal

First, I have a plan to increase deputy authorizations without raising taxes. I will accomplish this by reducing upper staff-level positions and reducing un necessary professional positions. With deputy positions, I will focus efforts on

Address bad legislation such as reduc ing penalties for fentanyl and efforts to discredit and disarm our police forces. I have experience collaborating with partner agencies and testifying against legislation that negatively impacts our

The increasing population of El Paso County must have an equally increas ing law enforcement presence and ser vice. This requires additional facilities such as the Falcon Substation and the necessary equipment to safely serve the community.

To serve the community at a level de served by the public, the employees of the office must be healthy and thriving.

renee reif

El Paso County Clerk and Recorder candidates share spending priorities

BY MARY SHINN mary.shinn@gazette.com

The El Paso County assessor is tak ing on a former member of the Col orado Independent Congressional Re districting Commission in the race for the El Paso County Clerk and Record er’s Office. The clerk runs elections, issues marriage licenses, and operates the motor vehicle divisions, among other responsibilities.

Schleiker, Steve

Party: Republican Phone number: 719-377-8360 Email: cler kandrecorder@ steveschleiker.com Website: steveschleiker.com

Steve Schleiker

Mailing address: P.O. Box 51373, Colora do Springs, CO 80949

Education: bachelor of science in informa tion technology management, 2003, Colorado Technical University; mas ter of science in executive business administration, 2006, Colorado Tech nical University; master of science in project management, 2006, Colorado Technical University.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

The first program I will enact is real property theft and fraud protection. The frauds that occur today against our seniors, family and neighbors are swindlers attempting to steal property ownership and home equity through home title fraud.

As your clerk and recorder, I will provide El Paso County real property owners theft and fraud protection at zero cost. All property owners will be notified if any kind of deed or lien has been filed on their home, com mercial building or parcel of land. I will ensure you are the responsible party that initiated these changes to your chain of title. Most importantly, I will work diligently with our law enforcement community to investi gate and prosecute cases determined to be fraud.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

As proven, community trust, com munity engagement and election transparency.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

The Board of County Commission ers determines the clerk and record er’s yearly budget, and currently, 75% of the budget is dedicated to salaries, and the remaining 25% is allocated to operations.

I will be focusing on government ef ficiency and fiscal responsibility.

Instead of spending, I will look at ways to save. For example, El Paso County has 458,245 active electors, which costs our Clerk and Recorder $3.46 per active voter, for a total cost of $1,585,527. The state only reimburses our county 23% of this cost. Our upcoming 2022 election has 79 matters to be considered, and 49% of the ballot is composed of state races and questions. I will be asking the state to reimburse taxpayers.

Wilkes, Elizabeth “Lisa”

Party: Democrat

Phone number: Un available Email: ninfo@lisaw ilkes.org

Website: lisawilkes. org

Mailing address: Unavailable

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

To start assembling our county redis tricting members to make sure they represent all of El Paso County.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

To redistrict within the state guide lines to ensure everyone in El Paso County is represented. Secondly, to up date and implement more automation to reduce the workload of staff and give the customer more options. And finally, I’d like to get more of the com munity involved in the election-watch program so that the department can earn back the trust of the community.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

SHERIFF

I will focus on providing the necessary services to ensure employees have avail able resources for themselves and their families.

Foley, John Party: Democrat

Phone number: 719428-1718

Email: foleyforsher iff@gmail.com Website: foleyfor sheriff.com

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Public safety is my No. 1 priority, mak ing a proactive force, responsible to the community, and committed to the U.S. Constitution and Colorado.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Recruitment and retention of sher iff department personnel. Recruitment and retention are fundamentally bro ken in the Sheriff’s Department. As a leader, I will use my decades of experi ence as a senior leader in Army recruit ing to fix this issue.

2. Intelligence-driven crimefighting. My experience as an intelligence offi cer working with the FBI, U.S. Treasury and DEA has directly led to aiding suc cessful counter-drug operations.

3. A systematic review of jail oper ating procedures. As for the jail, it’s turned into the largest mental health facility in Colorado, and this needs to change. We need to get out of the men tal health business and focus on fight ing crimes and illegal drug networks.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Recruitment and retention. I will place a priority on recruiting to make up for the shortfalls in personnel short ages that are causing undue constraints on the department.

2. Build a training culture. We need to emphasize to our deputies that train ing is never completed. I want to nor malize that deputies attend training regularly. This is what elite organiza tions do. It emphasizes the value the command places on the training.

Lisa Wilkes

Education: associ ate’s degree in math ematics, 2021, Pikes Peak State College. Attending Univer sity of Colorado Colorado Springs for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ap plied mathematics.

We need to fund ballot boxes with in walking distances of bus stops and neighborhoods. Second, we should spend money upgrading and optimizing our systems for greater efficiency of both our staff and cus tomers’ experience. Finally, outreach and education, to restore faith in the system as well as reach out to peo ple who think their voices don’t mat ter and so don’t vote. Running for clerk allowed me to see how many of our residents are not registered to participate in our democracy, and I would like to help increase our voter rolls with our constituents.

Sunday,

3. Educational outreach. Many people enter the criminal justice system as ju veniles. Law enforcement officers have approached me about implementing an education-based crime reduction program for school-age youth. I fully support such an initiative.

John Foley

JOHn SteMber, tHe GaZette the el Paso county clerk and recorder’s office.

Teller commission candidates talk pressing priorities

BY BREEANNA JENT breeanna.jent@gazette.com

In the race to represent District 2 on the Board of Teller County Commission ers, Republican incumbent Bob Camp bell faces Democratic challenger Dennis Luttrell this November.

Campbell is a business owner, finan cial planner and former Teller County treasurer, serving from 2010 to 2018.

Luttrell is the Divide Fire Protection District director. From early 2001 to June 2016, he worked in municipal government as the town administrator for the towns of Vineyard Haven, Sherborn and Somerset — all in Massachusetts — and as the city manager of Lebanon, N.H.

Both men also have previously served as Teller County commissioners. Camp bell served on the board from 2003 to 2010. Luttrell served from 1983 to 1990.

Campbell, Bob (incumbent)

Party: Republican Phone number: 719-337-4120

Email: dividetaxfp@ aol.com

Website: Unavailable Mailing address: P.O. Box 668, Divide, CO 80814

our Teller County residents.

• The continual review of the county’s pay and benefit structure to attract and retain the best and brightest profession al employees that provide the services we provide to our citizens.

What do you feel should be the county’s top 3 spending priorities?

GETTy IMAGES

COLORADO VOTER NUMBERS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

A look at the number of active registered voters in the 4th, 5th and 7th Congressional Districts as of Oct. 12022. The data is further broken down by number of active Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters.

4th Congressional District

• Counties included: Ad ams, Arapahoe, Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Car son, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 513,870

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 189,778

• To use our capital expenditures to acquire or construct our own coun ty-owned facilities that will alleviate spending of taxpayer funds being used on leased buildings.

port for wildfire mitigation, countywide. As a former volunteer fighter for both Florissant and Divide fire departments, the county commissioner who created the Florissant/Divide Fire Protection District while overseeing the emergency responses for the county, volunteer serv ing the NO FLO CO Wildfire Mitigation Posse, and current director of the Divide Fire Protection District, I understand the current and long-term need for this countywide effort. I know how to make it happen.

• Number of active registered Democratic voters: 90,821

• Number of active registered unaffiliated voters: 225,007

bob campbell

Education: bachelor of science in business administration, 1981, Northern Arizona Uni versity; CFP Profession al Education Program, 1995, College of Financial Planning; CFP, Certified Financial Planner Des ignation, Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards, 1998 (retired sta tus)

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected to office?

As the incumbent, I plan to contin ue (to) represent all citizens of Teller County, focusing on protection of the health, safety and welfare of the coun ty. This has has been the priority I have had for all the years I have served this community. I have a heart for being a public servant and have exhibited that for most of my adult life.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

• To continue to use my financial exper tise in the county’s conservative budget and financial planning and decisions, for responsible use of taxpayer monies and saving for capital uses/plans.

• Use my knowledge and influence on the several statewide committees, boards and advisory positions that I have been appointed to; and to protect and fight for individual rights and the rural lifestyle of

• Provide the assets needed to be prop erly equipped in communications and management for our ongoing risk of next natural disasters (wildfire) that will help ensure the safety of firefighters, first responders, law enforcement and management staff.

• Ongoing review of services we pro vide to citizens to ensure we are able to provide them in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Luttrell, Dennis

Party: Democrat

Phone number: 719-686-779

Email: dfluttrell64@ gmail.com

Website: reelectlut trell.com

Mailing address: un available

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

Teller County needs fire mitigation and affordable housing. While serving as the community development director for the city of Woonsocket, I used my in novative approach to create affordable housing for the low- to moderate-in come people who are often entry-level public service employees, like teachers. I won the John D. Gunther Award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development on behalf of the city. This city has nearly twice the population of Teller County.

What do you feel should be the county’s top 3 spending priorities?

5th Congressional District

• Counties included: El Paso

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 454,322

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 145,218

• Number of active registered Democratic voters: 85,166

• Number of active registered unaffiliated voters: 213,947

7th Congressional District

• Counties included: Adams, Broomfield, Chaffee, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Lake, Park, Teller, Weld

• Number of active registered voters (all party affiliations): 511,650

Education: bachelor of arts degree in earth sci ence, 1974, University of Vermont; master of pub lic administration course completion, 2005-2008, Bridgewater State College.

dennis Luttrell

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected to office?

Recognizing that it requires at least one other commissioner to enact programs, the first program I wish to enact is sup

Improving emergency services, ad dressing understaffing and improper budgeting in the Sheriff’s and Public Works departments, road improve ments and maintenance, and eliminat ing wasteful spending in office space rentals for county offices. For years, the county has spent tax dollars for office space from the private sector. Com missioners must take a long-range ap proach to this situation. I did so when I previously served, and all county services were housed in county-owned buildings. As a result, we lowered the county’s mill levy. The same should be done today.

• Number of active registered Republican voters: 125,150

• Number of active registered Democratic voters: 140,822

• Number of active registered unaffiliated voters: 236,589

This information is provided by the colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

El Paso County to vote on extending regional roads tax

BY BREEANNA JENT breeanna.jent@gazette.com

Should the sales tax that funds re gional and multimodal road projects be extended another decade?

Voters will decide at the polls Nov. 8 whether to extend the Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authori ty’s 1-cent sales tax to share revenues among El Paso County, the cities of Col orado Springs and Manitou Springs, and the towns of Green Mountain Falls, Ramah and Calhan.

Most of the money goes to the county and Colorado Springs. Fifty-five per cent of the generated revenues pay for one-time capital projects, 35% of the funds go toward maintenance projects, and the remaining 10% to transit.

If approved, the 10-year sales tax, which voters first approved in 2004 and extended in 2014, will finance ma jor road projects between 2025 and 2034. Some of those projects include reconstructing North Nevada Avenue; upgrading Marksheffel Road from Woodmen Road to Carefree Circle on the county’s eastern edge; connecting Powers Boulevard from Colorado 83 to Voyager Parkway; and upgrades to Woodmen from Powers to U.S. 24.

Some residents have criticized the poor state of El Paso County’s roads despite previous tax increases intended to finance road upgrades and mainte nance. A county Public Works report

published last August that detailed lo cal road conditions found more than 60% of the county’s paved roads and 45% of its rural roads are in poor shape or need reconstructing.

“We’ve seen how little we get in re turn for our tax increases. Won’t Get Fooled Again,” Jack Edwards wrote in a comment posted to an Aug. 10 Gazette article announcing the question’s inclu sion on the November ballot.

Of the Colorado Springs projects, the plan would spend more than $100

million of the estimated $592 million in capital funding that it is projected to raise over the next decade on recon structing North Nevada Avenue.

Residents have questioned why such a large percentage of the city’s expected future tax collections is planned for work on a 2-mile portion of the road they said wasn’t particularly unsafe or congested.

That project is split into four seg ments on the list voters will review. All four are described as projects that will improve signalized intersections and

provide better transit, bicycle and pe destrian infrastructure to support the North Nevada redevelopment vision.

Dutch Schulz, president of the Old North End Neighbors, told the regional transportation authority’s board in July redevelopment efforts would be more properly funded by a metropolitan dis trict, typically financed by property taxes.

The plan to connect Powers from Col orado 83 to Voyager Parkway was envi sioned as part of a two-part project that would directly connect Interstate 25 to Powers Boulevard on Colorado Springs’ far north side. Bond revenues from Po laris Pointe, a retail complex including businesses like Bass Pro Shops, Mag num Shooting Center and others, are fi nancing engineering on this part of the project, Colorado Springs Public Works Director Travis Easton said. Revenues from bonds and the extended road tax, if it passes, will fund the construction.

The Marksheffel expansion is estimat ed to cost $47 million, and the city’s portion of the extension of Powers is es timated to cost $72 million. The county also expects to contribute $30.9 million of its projected $301 million in capital funding to the Powers extension.

El Paso County’s proposed $473 million budget for 2023 also includes $11.9 mil lion for county road maintenance and improvements — $10 million in one-time funds for road projects and $1.9 million to pay for gravel road maintenance.

Colorado Springs voters to decide on recreational marijuana

BY MARY SHINN mary.shinn@gazette.com

Colorado Springs voters will decide on a pair of recreational marijuana sale questions this fall.

The first question listed as 300 on November ballots asks voters to legal ize recreational marijuana sales and the second question, listed as 301, asks voters to add a 5% tax on those sales to fund services for veterans, public safety and mental health programs.

A “For the initiated ordinance” vote on 300 would allow the 115 medical mari juana shops in town to add recreation al marijuana sales or fully transition to recreational sales. The city will not allow any additional marijuana shops to open.

An “Against the initiated ordinance” vote on 300 would block recreational marijuana sales in town.

A “Yes/For the initiated ordinance” vote on 301 would add a special 5% tax to rec reational marijuana sales and potentially raise $5.6 million in the first year. The city would determine how to distribute the funds to veterans, public safety and mental health programs.

A “No/Against the initiated ordinance” vote on 301 would block a special 5% tax on recreational marijuana sales.

Voters could approve the sale of recre ational marijuana and not the tax.

Proponents collected signatures to place both questions on the ballot and argue the city has lost $150 million in revenue over the past 10 years by not allowing recreational marijuana sales.

Anthony Carlson, a spokesman for the Your Choice Colorado Springs cam paign, noted previously that Colorado Springs voters approved Amendment 64, the measure that legalized recre ational marijuana throughout the state in 2012, and said it’s past time that vot ers decide on local recreational sales.

Mayor John Suthers and some members of City Council have publicly opposed the questions with a few councilmembers voting against placing the questions on the ballot despite valid petitions.

Suthers has argued legalizing rec reational marijuana sales could cost more than it would bring in revenues.

School District 49 might pass a reso lution opposing the questions because

a customer inspects the glassware on sale at emerald Fields, one of Manitou Springs’ two recreational marijuana shops.

it could increase students’ exposure to high-potency marijuana.

School Board President John Graham said students are likely to get access to marijuana in their homes, even though

sales would be limited to those 21 and older. He noted a D-49 student recently brought a parent’s gun to school.

“If kids can get access to guns, kids can get access to drugs,” he said.

tHe GaZette FILe el Paso county voters will decide whether to extend the Pikes Peak regional transportation authority’s 1-cent sales tax that funds regional and multimod al road projects among six local governments.

tHe GaZette FILe

Fountain residents to vote on property tax increase

BY ZACHARY DUPONT zachary.dupont@gazette.com

Fountain residents will vote on a pub lic safety tax this November that would increase property taxes to hire more police officers and firefighters.

According to the city of Fountain web site, the proposed property tax increase would create $1.7 million in dedicated funding each year as a “funding source for the city’s police, fire/EMS services, personnel and programs.”

If the measure passes, property taxes in Fountain will increase. If the ballot measure fails to pass, property taxes in Fountain will remain the same.

The property tax increase, if voters approve it, would “cost a homeowner about $188 annually or $16 per month for a home with an assessed value of $410,000,” according to the website.

Proponents have said the ballot mea sure is needed because of a dramatic population growth projection. An esti

mated 17,000 to 23,000 people are ex pected to move to Fountain “in future years,” the city’s website states.

The rise, the site says, along with an increased crime rate in Fountain and statewide, comes with a need for addi tional resources for the local police and fire departments.

In a previous interview with The Ga zette, Police Chief Chris Heberer said the increase in funding and additional police

officers are necessary to help fight the raising rate of crime as well as requests for services that have driven the number of calls to Fountain police up from about 38,600 in 2020 to about 47,000 in 2021.

“The art is not asking for too much to be respectful, but then asking for enough that it makes a difference,” he said. The Police Department has funding for 61 of ficers and 58 positions are filled, he said.

The city of Fountain conducted a sur vey earlier this spring to determine the community’s approval of the proposed tax increase. While most respondents — 70% — approved, there were some who opposed it.

Those who indicated they would vote against the initiative said in the survey they think the cost of living in Fountain is already too expensive, they distrust how the police may spend the money, and are generally dissatisfied with the Fountain Police Department, survey results show.

“Inflation and can’t afford taxes al

ready assessed. Asking for more money at the wrong time,” one man said in re sponse to why he would vote no on the ballot measure.

“The community doesn’t need more police, it needs more firefighters, men tal health resources and education,” a woman said.

If the ballot measure passes, the city plans to hire six police officers to “sup port increased traffic enforcement, reduced response times, increased po lice presence citywide, and resources dedicated to addressing crimes against children, sex trafficking and financial crimes,” the city website states.

Additionally, if the ballot measure passes it will fund a third full-time ambulance unit, salaries for six new firefighters and paramedics, and addi tional firefighter capabilities. The tax increase would not fund construction of the new fire and police substations the city plans to build by 2025.

Home rule charter, question of self-governance on Monument ballot

BY BROOKE NEVINS brooke.nevins@gazette.com

After months of drafting and input from community members, the town of Monument’s first home-rule charter will go before voters for adoption on Nov. 8.

Monument residents last year voted to change the town’s form of govern ment from statutory rule to home rule and selected nine citizens to form a commission that would draft its homerule charter. November’s ballot lan guage will ask voters if that now-final ized charter should be adopted.

The drafted charter defines how the town would craft local ordinances, collect taxes, make decisions, define zoning, create election laws, obtain judicial procedures, create districts to better represent areas of residents, create economic development oppor tunities, define roads, issue bonds, and give the town more flexibility to solve local problems unrestrained by state requirements.

If passed, Monument would become a home-rule municipality starting Jan. 1.

Charter commission chair Steve King said establishing home rule is important for growing communities like Monument, because it allows them the flexibility to address their own concerns, desires and interests rather than live under state statutes.

The town’s website says home rule would allow Monument to progress “strategically” through “more govern

ment efficiency, more revenue gener ating options and more control over land use.”

Those new revenue-generating op tions are the biggest advantage to adopting the home-rule charter, King said.

“We wanted (government) to be more citizen-based,” he said. “The biggest advantage for the town itself is that it allows us to collect our own sales tax revenue directly.”

Under statutory rule, sales tax collec tion is performed by the state, which decides how much revenue Monument

is entitled to from the collection, King told The Tribune this month. Because of this, the town risks getting “short changed” on collecting its fair share of the taxes with “no real way to challenge or audit” the state’s accounting.

Being a home-rule municipality would allow the town to collect those taxes directly by passing the state “mid dle man,” and other home-rule com munities have noticed an increase in revenue once they moved to home rule, King said.

The town would also be able to cap italize on hotel and short-term rental

traffic by collecting lodging tax, which it is unable to do under statutory rule.

“That gives us other revenue coming in from outside that isn’t from the resi dents’ (taxes),” King said.

After last year’s election, the commis sion “immediately” started meeting once a week for six months, often for hours, and drew from other recently drafted home-rule charters and data from similar Colorado communities like Castle Pines and Centennial, as well as public input from Monument citizens.

“We used other charters that have been in place; we didn’t reinvent the wheel,” King said. “Then we added lan guage that was more tailor-made to our community in addition to what we found from other communities.”

The Monument Home Rule Charter Commission was unaware of any oppo sition to the question.

If the measure does not pass, the commission would remain intact and would have a second opportunity to put the charter on a future ballot, he said. If it were to fail a second time, the draft would be dissolved, and another charter would have to be written for possible adoption at a future date.

“We would remain statutory up until that point,” King said.

The drafted charter is available to read in its entirety on Monument’s website at www.tomgov.com, as well as the Citizens of Monument for Home Rule Facebook page.

JEFF KEArnEy, THE TrIbunE

The sign for Monument Town Hall and Police department

GETTy IMAGES

Palmer Lake to vote on adult-use recreational marijuana sales

BY BROOKE NEVINS brooke.nevins@gazette.com

A ballot question proposing the al lowance of adult-use marijuana sales will go before Palmer Lake voters in the Nov. 8 election.

The measure, if passed, would allow Palmer Lake’s two existing medical mar ijuana dispensaries to convert to selling regulated recreational marijuana.

If approved, the measure would only require a change in town code, which limits legal retail sales to medical marijuana, according to Karen Stuth, a member of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees and the president of the town’s Economic Development Group. Stuth said the code caps the number of marijuana storefronts at two.

The town’s leadership has emphasized that the question of approving marijua na sales is strictly financial, proposed as an option to generate more revenue for the town to prevent it from falling into further financial struggles.

A presentation during a Board of Trustees workshop in June said allow ing marijuana sales would remove the financial burden from property owners by “taxing the commodity that is al ready in” Palmer Lake. Across the state, total recreational marijuana sales far outweigh medical marijuana sales; in 2021, Colorado saw $1.8 billion in rec reational sales and $400,000 in medical

sales, resulting in a record $423,000 in tax revenue from total marijuana sales, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Each of Palmer Lake’s two dispen saries could bring in an estimated $800,000 in gross income in the first year, Stuth said. She said the trustees worked with marijuana industry ex perts and other stores in the county to come to that estimate.

The town coffers’ need for an increase

in its current “meager” sales tax rev enue is dire, and Palmer Lake could greatly benefit from out-of-towners crossing county lines to access recre ational marijuana, Stuth said.

Opponents of marijuana legalization have argued it increases crime and presents a favorable view of the drug to younger people.

“If these are medical pot dispensaries selling what has been decided is called ‘medicine,’ then why also allow them

to sell recreational drugs? Unless what (marijuana) is is not medicine,” said Luke Niforatos, executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a nonprofit political organization that is opposed to marijuana legalization.

Legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana in Palmer Lake would also “change the character of the town,” Ni foratos said. “Does the town want to be come a destination for people to smoke weed? You would be changing the cus tomer base from patients with certain medical needs deemed to be helped by marijuana to anyone who wants to get high. This changes the message you’re sending to young families and kids who live in and visit Palmer Lake.”

The June workshop’s presentation addressed concern over the potential side effects of local recreational sales, saying adult-use marijuana is “intense ly regulated.” Like other municipali ties, the town would have the option to write code addressing and regulating “security, smell, traffic and any other concerns.”

If the measure passes, the stores could convert to selling recreational marijuana as soon as they go through the Marijuana Enforcement Division, a state agency tasked with licensing and regulating the medical and recreation al industries, before bringing the pa perwork to Palmer Lake officials.

Marijuana sales in Cripple Creek? Voters will decide next month

BREEANNA JENT breeanna.jent@gazette.com

Cripple Creek voters will decide next month if they want to legalize the sale of recreational and medical marijuana in city limits.

If voters in the small gold-mining and casino community of around 1,200 res idents approve the initiative, Cripple Creek would be the first Teller County municipality to allow marijuana sales.

Campaign proponents say the mea sure would boost the city’s revenues, which have taken a hit since casinos closed for several months in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s budget depends heavily on reve nue from tourism and its casinos, and money from gaming device fees hasn’t rebounded back to pre-pandemic levels, even though the City Council increased device fees in April.

A boost in Cripple Creek’s coffers from marijuana sales could help fix local roads, sewer and water infrastructure, and could help address parks and recreation needs, among others, Kyle Blakely previ ously said. Blakely is the registered agent of Cripple Creek Wins, a citizen group

that submitted the initiative petition ad vocating for the issue that city leaders ul timately chose to refer to voters.

“This would help diversify the city’s revenue to avoid a situation like in the pandemic, when the casinos had to shut down and the revenues dropped,” Blake ly has said.

Some elected officials in Teller County have spoken against allowing marijuana sales in the city, saying Cripple Creek is too small to address emergency, law en forcement and public health needs they say would follow if voters approved the measure.

Sheriff Jason Mikesell has said allow ing pot sales would increase the need for emergency services response, increase the cost for law enforcement regulation and response, and would increase hos pitalizations.

The Sheriff’s Office is “already dealing with” public safety issues from marijua na, Mikesell has said. “I don’t know how we deal with it exponentially if we’re selling it legalized up here at a much higher dosage than somebody can grow at home.”

Blakely said legalizing pot sales in

reuterS

If voters approve it in november, cripple creek would be the first tell er county municipality to allow mar ijuana sales.

Cripple Creek wouldn’t “significantly in crease the use of cannabis” locally.

“They’re looking at it as if nobody up in that area uses cannabis today,” he pre viously told The Gazette. People he and

other petition-gatherers spoke to who already use the drug say they’re buying it in Pueblo or Manitou Springs, he said.

Allowing sales in Cripple Creek would “provide additional revenue that could provide services to deal with those is sues,” Blakely said previously. “They’re looking at dealing with it now without those revenues.”

Teller County Commission Chairman Dan Williams has said since there is no state regulation on marijuana potency, that could increase the negative health effects some users might experience.

“This is not like (3.2%) beer or 80-proof alcohol,” he told the Cripple Creek City Council during a public meeting in Au gust. “So you have no idea what’s going to happen to the folks that come up here.”

Voters will also have to choose wheth er to approve a proposed 5% excise tax imposed on unprocessed retail and medical marijuana as well as processed products. Funds from that tax are pro posed to go into the city’s general fund, with 25% of all marijuana excise tax rev enue going to promote tourism market ing for the city.

JOe LaFLeur, tHe GaZette the town of Palmer Lake, at the foot of chautauqua Mountain.

UNCONTESTED RACES

EL PASO COUNTY SURVEYOR

Richard Mariotti, Republican Campaign email address: Mari ottiDad@gmail.com

EL PASO COUNTY CORONER

Dr. Leon Kelly, Republican Campaign email address: leon kelly@mac.com Website: drkellyforcoroner.com

TELLER COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER

Stephanie Kees, Republican Campaign email address: steph anie.l.kees@gmail.com

TELLER COUNTY TREASURER

Mark Czelusta, Republican Campaign email address: mark. czelusta@gmail.com

TELLER COUNTY ASSESSOR

Carol Kittelson, Republican Campaign email address: carol kittelson2023@yahoo.com

Website: carolkittelson2023. wixsite.com/website

TELLER COUNTY SHERIFF

Jason Mikesell, Republican Campaign email address: mike sellforsheriff@gmail.com

Website: unavailable Mailing address: P.O. Box 7115, Woodland Park, CO 80863

TELLER COUNTY SURVEYOR

Eric Simonson, Republican Campaign email address: eric@ rampartls.com

TELLER COUNTY CORONER

Stephen Tomsky, Republican Campaign email address: swtomsky@yahoo.com

Lewis Palmer District 38 board says tax hike would help attract, retain top teachers

BY O’DELL ISAAC odell.isaac@gazette.com

In September, Lewis-Palmer School District 38’s Board of Education voted unanimously to place a proposed tax increase, solely for teacher and staff salaries, on the November ballot. If ap proved, it would put teacher pay on par with other districts in the region and make it easier to attract and maintain staff, officials said.

The Monument-based district has con sistently been one of the highest-achiev ing in the state, yet its teacher salaries rank among Colorado’s lowest.

Since the Colorado Department of Education instituted its “Accreditation with Distinction” designation in 2009, Lewis-Palmer has been one of just four Colorado districts to earn that title every year. State performance frame works show that D-38 ranked in the 94th percentile this year.

But the district’s starting teacher sal ary, according to its pay schedule, is about $38,000 a year, making it the lowest-paying district in the region.

Academy School D-20 and Cheyenne Mountain School D-12, which have also earned “Accreditation with Distinction” every year since 2009, show a starting

teacher salary of about $45,000 a year.

“We want to fix that,” D-38 Board of Education Director Ron Schwarz said of the pay disparity. “And we don’t want to put a Band-Aid on the wound. We want to cure the illness.”

The cure, officials say, is in the hands of the district’s stakeholders.

Teachers and community members have spoken passionately in favor of a pay raise at board meetings, but the measure is not without its opponents.

Critics of the measure say it increases the tax burden on Monument home owners, with no “sunset clause,” which means the measure would remain in effect in perpetuity.

“(Opponents of the measure) have a point,” said D-38 spokesman Mark Belcher. “No one likes to pay taxes, and this increase would only put us in the middle of the pack as far as teacher sala ries are concerned. But we’re not looking to be the highest-paying district in the re gion. We’re just trying to be competitive.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Lew is-Palmer High School principal Brid get O’Connor, whose father taught at Lewis-Palmer High School for 30 years. “And this community can afford it.”

According to estimates from the El

Paso County Assessor’s Office, the aver age privately owned Monument prop erty is valued at about $500,000. The proposed tax increase would be just under $52 per year per $100,000 of property value, for an average tax in crease of about $260 per year.

While acknowledging that a tax hike is not the ideal fix, officials said it’s an affordable and just solution for a dis trict that has done more with less for years.

“We have performed tremendously, and we haven’t asked the stakehold ers for any money,” Schwarz said. “And we’ve been fiscally responsible.”

Schwarz cited the district’s partner ship with Schneider Electric to devel op an energy management program that will save nearly $10 million in future utility costs as proof of its sol id financial stewardship. Additionally, by refinancing its existing bonds, the district will save taxpayers $1.9 million through the 2029-2030 academic year, officials said.

“This measure is expressly and sole ly for teacher and staff compensation,” Schwarz said. “Not for principals, not for the superintendent, and not for ad ministrators. Just teachers and staff.”

bEnn FArrELL, THE TrIbunE

Lewis-Palmer School district 38 families gather in front of bear creek Elementary School in August during the traditional student/teacher lineup for the first day of the 2022-2023 school year.

Competitive U.S. House of Representatives races

BY ERNEST LUNING ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com

The congressional races profiled in this voter guide are considered to be the most competitive and could deter mine control of U.S. House, where Re publicans need to flip five seats to take the gavel from Democrats.

3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Incumbent Republican Lauren Boe bert of Silt is seeking a second term. Her challenger is Adam Frisch, a busi nessman and former Aspen City Coun cil member.

The district includes all or parts of 27 counties on the Western Slope and across Southern Colorado, including Pueblo County and the San Luis Valley. Its electorate favors Republicans by 9.3 percentage points.

Democrats: 115,070 Republicans: 149,882 Unaffiliated: 213,276 Total active voters: 487,094

DEMOCRAT

Adam Frisch

Phone: 1-970.355.4833

Email: adam@adam forcolorado.com Website: adam forcolorado.com Mailing address: PO Box 371, Woody Creek, CO 81656

Twitter handle: @ adamforcolorado Facebook page: face book.com/adamforcol orado

Instagram: @adamforcolorado

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, University of Colora do-Boulder.

What’s the first legislation you’ll introduce if elected?

My first legislation would focus on protecting CD3’s waters and water sheds. We need to provide the resourc es for local authorities to manage forest and watershed health, expand storage capacity, and prevent outside forces from making decisions about the fate of Colorado’s water.

What is your top spending priority?

My spending priority is funding to manage forests and watersheds, keep them healthy, expand storage capacity, and deal with the consequences of the drought through increased conserva tion and water infrastructure.

Position on energy and climate

I support an all-of-the-above energy policy. Colorado produces the cleanest energy with the highest environmental

standards, and we should continue to be an energy leader. We also need to address emissions, and should work to transition to lower carbon fuel sources, be it natural gas and renewables, going forward.

Position on taxes

We need to keep more money in peo ple’s pockets by lowering the tax bur den on lower and middle class Ameri can families. I support policies like the Child Tax Credit in the American Res cue Plan that let parents keep more of their hard-earned dollars and cut child poverty rates in half. We also need to streamline our nation’s tax code to make it easier for families and busi nesses to file taxes and keep more of their paycheck.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

No American’s freedoms should be dependent on which state or ZIP code they live in. I believe Congress should enshrine the protections of Roe vs Wade in federal statute to protect re productive rights and private health decisions.

REPUBLICAN

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert

Phone: 1-202-225-4761

Email: info@lau renforcolorado.com

Website: laurenfor freedom.com

Mailing address: PO Box 752, Rifle, CO 81650

Twitter: @lauren boebert

Facebook page:

facebook.com/laurenboebert

Instagram: @laurenboebertco

Education: Attended Rifle High School

Boebert’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Democrat Brittany Pettersen of Lake wood and Republican Erik Aadland of Pine are running for the open seat, which has been represented since 2007 by Democrat Ed Perlmutter, who is re tiring after this term.

The district includes all or parts of Jefferson County, Broomfield and six counties as far south as Custer County, plus tiny slivers of a few surrounding counties. Its electorate favors Demo crats by 6.9 percentage points.

Democrats: 140,822 Republicans: 125,150 Unaffiliated: 236,589 Total active voters: 511,650

DEMOCRAT

State Sen. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood

Phone: 1-720-8371562

Email: info@brit tanypettersen.com Website: brittanypet tersen.com

of Denver.

What’s the first legislation you’ll introduce if elected?

Our number one priority must be protecting our democracy because we cannot work on the urgent needs of our country without it. I will sup port the passage of the Electoral Vote Count Act and For the People Act. We saw significant vulnerabilities in our system when the Jan. 6th insurrec tion attempted to overturn a free and fair election, and we must address these gaps to ensure a functioning democracy. My next priorities will be continuing to help our state recover from the pandemic and the economic fallout.

What is your top spending priority?

We must continue focusing on help ing families address rising costs by investing in critical services so many people rely on like early childhood education, child care services, high er education, workforce training in critical shortage areas, housing sup ply and access to capital for small businesses. In order to continue to address our supply chain issues that have led to rising costs, we need to continue to invest in moving goods and services and bringing manufac turing jobs back to the US. I will also fight to protect Social Security and Medicare for our seniors.

Position on energy and climate

Climate change is one of the great est threats we face, and I am com mitted to championing legislation to help communities deal with the current impacts of the climate crisis and ensure we mitigate its worst ef fects. I support a rapid transition to renewable energy like wind, solar, geothermal and other emerging clean technologies. I believe the federal government must play a role in build ing the energy grid needed to support our state’s future energy and trans mission needs.

Position on taxes

State Sen. brittany Pettersen.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 150887, Lake wood, CO 80215 Twitter handle: @ pettersen4co

Facebook page: face book.com/brittanypet tersenforcolorado

Instagram: instagram.com/brittany pettersen

Education: Bachelor’s degree in po litical science, Metro State University

The wealthiest and largest corpora tions continue to avoid paying taxes while the rest of us are stuck footing the bill. As a state senator, I worked to close offshore tax havens for corpora tions who were dodging taxes to give millions back to our public schools. I will continue to fight for tax fairness to support working families and invest back in our schools, roads, and small businesses.

adam Frisch

Lauren boebert

tHe aSSOcIated PreSS

the House of representatives side of the u.S. capitol in Washington.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade:

I believe that deciding if and when someone wants to start a family is one of the most personal decisions to make and nobody, especially politicians, should make that choice that belongs between a woman and her doctor. Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, we have seen the world cruel world Republicans have created with the dire impacts of draconian abortion bans. I have worked to increase access to contraception and protect abortion rights here in Colora do, and in Congress, will vote to protect those rights for everyone.

REPUBLICAN

Erik Aadland

Phone: 1-720-464-4488

Email: staff@aad landforcolorado.com

Website: Aadland ForColorado.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 630552, Little ton, CO 80163

Twitter: twitter.com/ AadlandforCO Facebook page: facebook.com/aadland forcolorado

Instagram: instagram.com/aadland forcolorado

Education: Bachelor’s degree in phi losophy, U.S. Military Academy; Mas ter’s degree in depth psychology, Paci fica Graduate Institute.

What’s the first legislation you’ll introduce if elected?

I want to introduce legislation requir ing the federal government to operate on a balanced budget. Resolving our debt and spending crisis, while protect ing essential programs such as Social Security and Medicare, is crucial to the future of our country.

What is your top spending priority?

I will advocate for Congress to recom mit to public safety. This starts with securing our southern border and stop ping the flow of deadly Chinese-man ufactured fentanyl into our commu nities. In addition, we must deal with out-of-control crime by restoring re spect for law enforcement and ending all attempts to defund the police.

Position on energy and climate

We must protect our environment while restoring sound energy policy and American energy independence. If we steward our natural resources responsibly, we can seek sustainability without diminishing national security,

the economy, living standards, or glob al power and competitive advantage.

Wise use of existing sources of energy, coupled with well-researched, mar ket-proven emerging technologies, will enhance lifestyles for everyone while preserving our planet for future gener ations.

Position on taxes

We must lower taxes, not raise them. History shows that lowering taxes is a proven boost to the economy. Lowering taxes keeps money in the hands of the people who earned it so that they can decide how to best spend their hardearned dollars. It acknowledges the truth that while individuals and busi nesses are incentivized to spend their money wisely, government is not.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Important and life-changing deci sions should be made at the individual level. Congress should take no action at all regarding abortion at the federal level. I will not support any federal leg islation on abortion whatsoever.

8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Democrat Yadira Caraveo of Thorn ton and Republican Barb Kirkmeyer of Brighton, both state lawmakers, are running in the newly created district, which was added to Colorado’s delega tion due to population growth follow ing the 2020 Census.

The district covers parts of Adams, Weld and Larimer counties, including Thornton, Northglenn, Commerce City, Berthoud, Brighton, Johnstown and Greeley. It favors Democrats by 1.3 per centage points.

Democrats: 114,419 Republicans: 101,154 Unaffiliated: 195,591 Total ac tive voters: 419,684

DEMOCRAT

State Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton

Email: info@carave oforcongress.com Website: caraveo forcongress.com

Mailing address: PO Box 953, Eastlake, CO 80614

Twitter handle: @ yadiracaraveo Facebook page: facebook.com/caraveo forcongress

Instagram: @carave oforcongress

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Regis University; MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

What’s the first legislation you’ll introduce if elected?

I will focus on legislation that helps working families make ends meet. I’d

like to introduce a bill to cap sky high prescription drug costs, like I was able to do in Colorado by creating a pre scription drug affordability board that caps the costs of the most expensive prescription medications.

What is your top spending priority?

My priority is to lower costs for work ing families. I will focus on closing tax loopholes to keep billionaires and huge corporations accountable, while continuing to find ways to help mid dle class families save money so that working parents don’t have to choose between taking care of their kids and making ends meet.

Position on energy and climate

The key to my approach is balance and moderation. I believe in climate change, and I believe we need to pur sue an all of the above policy approach to energy. Thousands of families in CD-8 are employed by the energy in dustry, and thousands are also affected by the realities of climate change. I’ve worked to give localities more say in what types of industry they want near homes and schools. In Congress, I’ll work to make sure we don’t lose cur rent jobs and prepare our kids for high paying renewable energy jobs.

Position on taxes

We need to level the playing field by ensuring the ultra-wealthy and large corporations are paying their fair share of taxes. In the legislature, I’ve cut tax es for working families and small busi nesses, and returned cash to the pock ets of Coloradans during an expensive summer.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Congress should restore the right to an abortion established under Roe v. Wade into federal law. Government should never make private medical de cisions that should only be between a woman and her doctor.

REPUBLICAN

State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton

Phone number: 1-720-556-3294

Email: information@ kirkmeyerforcongress. com

Website: Kirkmeyer forCongress.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 468, Fort Lup ton, CO 80621

Twitter: twitter.com/ Kirkmeyer4CO

Facebook page: face book.com/KirkmeyerforCongress

Instagram: instagram.com/kirk meyerforcongress

Education: Bachelor’s degree in physical education, University of Colo

rado Boulder.

What’s the first legislation you’ll introduce if elected?

I would like to help overturn Joe Biden’s executive orders punishing energy workers, particularly the ban on oil and gas exploration on federal lands.

What is your top spending priority?

My priority is to stop deficit spend ing and start cutting the national debt. Runaway spending is fueling inflation and burdening future generations with massive debt, to the tune of $90,000 for every man, woman, and child in America. That’s just wrong. As Weld County Commissioner, I led an effort to zero out debt while cutting taxes. I’ll take that same zeal for balanced bud gets to Congress.

Position on energy and climate

Supporting American energy develop ment and energy independence on the one hand and protecting the environment on the other are not mutually exclusive goals. The United States (and Colorado) have drastically reduced greenhouse gas emissions in recent decades. We should be proud of that. But there is no upside to shutting down American oil and gas development and making America de pendent upon foreign energy. I will work to promote development of all forms of American energy.

Position on taxes

Tax rates should be as low, flat, and stable as reasonably possible to help foster economic and job growth in the United States. I am not generally sup portive of industry or company specific tax credits and carve outs that benefit certain companies at expense to others.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I’m proud to support a ban on abor tion after 15 weeks, with an exception for when the life of the mother is at stake. It’s just common sense. And it’s a clear contrast with my opponent, who has shown no willingness to back down from her extreme position supporting abortions, including taxpayer funding of abortions, up until the moment of birth.

State rep. yadira caraveo

State Sen. barb Kirkmeyer.

Erik Aadland.

GETTy IMAGES

State Senate candidates share their priorities

BY MARIANNE GOODLAND marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com

The state Senate races profiled in this voter guide are considered to be the most competitive and will determine which party controls the chamber, which is currently at a 21-14 Democrat ic advantage.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 3

The district is wholly contained with in Pueblo County.

The incumbent is Sen. Nick Hin richsen (D) who was appointed in February to fulfill the unexpired term of Senate President Leroy Garcia, who took a job with the Pentagon. The Col orado Independent Redistricting Com mission rated this district at a 5.1% Democratic advantage.

Democrats: 37,657 Republican: 25,985 Unaffiliated: 43,721 Total ac tive voters: 109,352

DEMOCRAT

Hinrichsen, Nick Phone number: 1-720-346-2652 Email: nick@nick forcolorado.com Website: nickforcolo rado.com Education: Bache lor’s degree in political science and govern ment; Master’s degree, University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

I will look to amend the school finance act to better account for transportation barriers, which will increase funding for District 60; and to assign Urban/ Rural/Intermediate status based on pupils per square mile, rather than the overall number of pupils, which will in crease funding for District 70.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

I successfully fought for an addi tional $36 million in public safety in vestments last year. I’ll continue to prioritize public safety, schools, and economic development investments.

Position on energy and climate

I fully support an approach that re sponsibly transitions from fossil fu els to renewable energy sources. This transition should be built on incen tive-based policy that returns the eco nomic benefit of clean energy usage to the consumer, rather than strict man dates. Our current solar energy incen

tives for homeowners are a prime ex ample of energy policy done right. We have more work to do in expanding incentives to the wind and geothermal markets.

Position on tax hike

We need to lower taxes for mid dle-class families and small businesses. That’s what I did last year, when I ran a bill that created a $100 million sales tax exemption for family restaurants hit hardest by the pandemic, and the bill that created the Colorado Cash back program that sent $750 checks to single-filers, and $1,500 to joint-filers.

For the average Colorado Family, that’s $422 more than they would have re ceived under TABOR.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I believe a woman should have the right to make her own medical deci sions without government interfer ence. I am proud to have co-sponsored the Reproductive Health Equity Act.

REPUBLICAN

Varela, Stephen

Phone number: 1-719-252-3170

Email: Info@vote4varela.com

Website: vote4varela.com

Mailing address: Committee to

Elect Varela for SD 3, 1022 Fortino Blvd., PO Box 9532, Pueblo, CO 81008

Education: Bache lor’s degree in sociol ogy, minor in Chicano studies, Colorado State University Pueblo logo; Master’s degree in so cial work, University of Southern California.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

I would like to carry legislation to re peal the newly enacted taxes on gaso line and delivery services, such as Ama zon and Door Dash. Inflation is hurting Pueblo families, and I want to do every thing I can to reduce the cost of living.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Clearly, fully funding our law en forcement and criminal justice sys tem is job one for state and local governments. The current crime wave is putting the safety of Colora do families and their property at risk. We have to stop the revolving door that allows career criminals and fen tanyl dealers back onto our streets.

That starts with fully funding a welltrained police force.

Position on energy and climate

I support Colorado energy develop ment and common-sense environmen tal protections. These are not mutually exclusive goals. Let’s get Colorado’s en ergy workers back on the job and help America become energy independent once again. At the same time, Colorado has reduced its greenhouse gas emis sions substantially in recent decades. That’s great news! I am confident that innovation and technology will result in affordable, clean alternatives in the future. But current expensive, job-kill ing regulations that send Colorado’s oil and gas jobs overseas are deeply mis guided.

Position on tax hike

I oppose tax hikes. Colorado’s budget has grown by 20% in just the past few years, yet crime is on the rise, our roads are crumbling, and we’re not paying teachers enough. We need to better pri oritize our spending.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Abortion policy in Colorado should

Stephen Varela

Sen. nick Hinrichsen

tHe denVer GaZette the state capitol building.

STATE SENATE

be decided by the voters, not the poli ticians. This is too divisive an issue to be subject to the whims of a new leg islature every two years. I will oppose changes to Colorado abortion poli cy unless they are subject to a vote of the people in the form of a ballot measure.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 8

The district covers northwestern Col orado and the north-central mountain counties, including Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Mof fat, Rio Blanco, Routt and Summit. This is an open seat. The Colorado In dependent Redistricting Commission rated this district at a 6.6% Democratic advantage.

Democrats: 25,688 Republicans: 28,409 Unaffiliated: 52,614 Total ac tive voters: 108,674

DEMOCRAT

Roberts, Dylan Phone number: 1-970-846-3054‬

Email: dylan@dylan roberts.org Website: dylanrob erts.org

rep. dylan roberts

Mailing address: Dylan Roberts for Colo rado, PO Box 3542, Ea gle, CO 81631

Education: Bache lor’s degree in political science and environmental studies, Boston Col lege; Law degree, University of Colo rado Law School.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

If elected to the Colorado Senate, my first pieces of legislation will be fo cused on finding a sustainable source of funding for affordable housing de velopment and protecting our water.

On housing, I will draft a bill that builds on the historic work we did this past session to invest state dol lars into local workforce housing projects by incentivizing changes to land-use and zoning and ensuring the state can be a capital partner in local projects. On water, in the face of drought and federal scrutiny of the Colorado River, we need to incentiv ize more conservation.

I plan to introduce legislation that will allow water rights holders to in vest in conservation efforts while not putting the entirety of their water rights at risk. We need to give our ag riculture community the tools and re sources they need to maximize their water rights and conserve water for the future.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

While budget decisions are challeng ing, affordable housing development will be my top spending priority.

We just led the largest single-year in vestment in affordable housing last year and we cannot let up now. The magni tude of the affordable housing crisis is felt across the state, and Coloradans and our local communities need sustainable, lasting and transformational funding to address the housing crisis. While the Legislature cannot solve the housing cri sis on its own, we need to continue our historic progress making investments to wards increasing our housing stock, ex panding housing development tax cred its, and incentivizing local communities to rework their land use, zoning, and building codes to spur more affordable housing development.

Position on energy and climate

In SD8, we rely on our environment and water to power our tourism and outdoor recreation based economy, so mitigating the impacts of climate change is of utmost importance to our long-term vitality. We also have been one of our state’s main energy produc ers through coal, oil and gas which is undergoing a transition in our region. We can do both: protect our climate and benefit economically from energy

development in our region.

As a current representative of a tran sitioning community (Hayden), and if I win this race, the Senator for many transitioning communities in Northwest Colorado, I plan to continue making an equitable and locally-focused transition for our communities a main priority. Just this year, I led the way in passing funding for just transition and worker supports (HB22-1394), which delivers $15 million to communities impacted by the energy transition to help fund capital projects, worker support programs, and econom ic diversification efforts. In 2021, I led HB21-1324 which will allow green energy jobs to be created right in the same com munities where coal jobs currently exist.

Position on tax hike

Throughout my legislative career, I’ve made it a priority to lower taxes for working families, individuals, and small businesses.

I’ve led the way passing legislation cutting taxes for small businesses and individuals to jumpstart rural business development, eliminating property tax es for child care facilities, and creating sustainable funding for housing and workforce development through a bill that allows counties to decide how to spend their lodging tax revenues. Tax increases, per TABOR, have to be ap proved by the voters and cannot be raised unilaterally by the legislature.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

As a father, husband, attorney, and citizen, I am deeply troubled by the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. Not only did this decision put this essential health care service into the hands of the states, it opened the opportunity for the Supreme Court to come after our other personal freedoms like mar riage equality, the right to contracep tion, and our very democracy itself.

This decision outlines the stakes of this election: the State Legislature is now the body that makes decisions about our per sonal freedoms. If elected, I will continue to stand up for a woman’s right to choose and our other personal liberties without government interference or restriction.

REPUBLICAN

Solomon, Matt

matt@ MattSolomon.CO Website: Solomon ForColorado.com Mailing address: PO Box 5341, Eagle, CO 81631

Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology, Wof ford College.

Matt Solomon

cHrISTIAn MurdOcK, THE GAZETTE FILE

The colorado capitol building.

STATE SENATE

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

Legislation that I would focus on once elected will be aimed at diver sifying our energy needs and working to bring a more diverse array of ener gy sources, such as nuclear, to areas of Colorado where coal and oil/natu ral gas jobs have left, to help revital ize the economies in these areas and help Colorado reach its sustainability goals.

I have also been working with leaders in EMS (Emergency Medical Service) to draft legislation that supports and protects the industry and its profes sionals. Finally, I have been working with teachers and educators to develop innovative ideas to support our educa tion system.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

We need to focus on being fiscally responsible. As Senator Bob Rankin offers, “practice evidence-based spending.” We need to be prudent and judicial in how we spend tax-payer dollars.

Additionally, I will be focused on en suring the revenue sources we current ly have are sustainable and not hurting the people and businesses in Colorado. It is high-time, we ensure Colorado is not writing checks it cannot cash with out creating new burdensome “fees” or raising taxes that only hurt the people of Colorado.

Position on energy and climate

I think the key is for us to find equita ble policy that supports environmental and economic sustainability without prejudicial arbitrary or unattainable short-term goals that jeopardize our ability to provide affordable and reli able energy to the citizens of Colorado.

Let’s set a standard, based on science and fact, then work together, utilizing all of the energy sources at our dispos al to meet this goal, including: nuclear, oil, natural gas, coal, solar, wind, water, hydrogen, geothermal, etc.

Let’s bring industry and consumer advocates to the table, so everyone can participate in the process of creating sustainable standards that not only protect the environment and our way of life, but that can actually produce tangible solutions — with plans and not just a date.

Position on tax hike

As your senator, I swear an oath to the constitution and the laws of our great state. This includes the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights. To me, any new fee, disguised

as a tax, or tax needs to be presented to the voters for their approval. We have gotten away from following the law in the name of political expediency and scoring pet project victories. I hope to end this practice as member of the General Assembly.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

My position on Roe v. Wade is one of acceptance. A decision was made by the Supreme Court and the State of Colorado signed into law legislation au thorizing abortions. My personal belief is that an abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. That being said, I support a women’s right to choose — regarding all medical decisions in her life.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 11

The district is located in southeast ern Colorado Springs, including the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport. This is an open seat. Republican Sen. Dennis Hisey, who was elected to rep resent Senate District 2 (Fountain) in 2018, moved to Senate District 11 in fall, 2021. The Democrat, Rep. Tony Exum, Sr., has served four terms in the state House. The Colorado Inde pendent Redistricting Commission rated this district at a 2.4% Demo cratic advantage.

Democrats: 20,794 Republicans: 19,215 Unaffiliated: 43,949. Total ac tive voters: 86,397

DEMOCRAT

Exum, Tony Sr. Phone number: 719661-4910

Email: exum3672@ comcast.net

Website: tonyexum. com

Mailing address: 3672 Iguana Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Education: Bache lor’s degree in social science, University of Southern Colo rado.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

I have not yet decided which legisla tion I will introduce first. My top three priorities as a legislator have always been and will continue being: support ing public education, protecting the environment, and helping low-income families, people of color, and the elder ly live better lives. I listen when people tell me they want safer schools, better education, environmental protections, police accountability, and improved el der care, among other things; and I’ve run legislation addressing those issues. I believe my record proves that. I’m running again to continue doing this good work.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

I’m on the House’s Education Com mittee because supporting public edu cation is a high priority of mine: mak ing sure our schools are well funded, our teachers are well-paid, our break fast and lunch services for students are healthy, affordable, and filling, and our school buildings are well-maintained, safe and secure.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Public K-14 education including technical schools and public trans portation.

Position on energy and climate

Over the last few years, we in the state legislature have passed several major pieces of legislation to help combat against both the man-made causes and the disastrous consequences of climate change. Climate change is affecting us now, so we’re investing more into wildfire mitigation, into water conser vation, into environmental protection and preservation, and into energy effi ciency with our buildings, appliances, and vehicles.

I’ve helped to pass legislation address ing all of these issues. I will continue supporting good legislation to combat climate change, and I look forward to doing more of this good work in the state senate.

Position on tax hike

To help avoid any future fiscal cri sis Colorado may face, I would sup port reforming TABOR first, before I supported repealing it. I would leave in the part requiring voter approval for any tax raise, because I believe we as state legislators should be able to explain and justify to voters any tax increase we need to make for the state. But I would support removing those parts of TABOR which restrict year-over-year financial growth for our state and restrict our state gov ernment’s ability to spend collected revenues.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Protecting the reproductive rights of pregnant people is important to me. This is why I’ve supported and voted for legislation protecting a woman’s right to choose. In 2017, I voted for HR17-1005, a resolution about ensuring access to reproduc tive health care. And in 2022, I not only voted for but I also cosponsored HB22-1279, the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which codified into state law that every individual has a fun damental right to use or refuse con traception and every pregnant person has a fundamental right to continue

Sunday,

the pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion.

REPUBLICAN Hisey, Dennis

Phone number: 719351-2121

Email: dennish isey2@gmail.com

Website: dennish isey.com

Mailing address: PO Box 5840, Colorado Springs, CO 80931

Sen. dennis Hisey

Education: Attended Oral Roberts University, Oregon State University.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

That happened in 2019 but for 2023 I am looking at some legislation regard ing due process and accountability for law enforcement at the request of sev eral local Police Chiefs and Sheriffs.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Transportation infrastructure — that includes roads, bridges and tunnels. Colorado has fallen behind with a majority of our roads and bridges in poor to mediocre condition. We need to spend transportation dollars on as phalt, concrete, bridges and tunnels, not on pet projects.

Position on energy and climate

Like every Coloradan I want clean air, pure water and healthy forest. I also support affordable energy for our families and businesses. The two are not mutually exclusive. There is a bal ance to be had and a measured pro gression that will lead us to a future that includes a healthy economy and a healthy environment.

Position on tax hike

Colorado’s budget has grown signifi cantly faster than the growth of popu lation and inflation. We need to get our spending under control, not ask the cit izens of Colorado to part with more of their hard-earned money.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Abortion is a settled question in Col orado for the foreseeable future due to legislation passed in 2022.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 15

This district includes Larimer Coun ty, west of Fort Collins, including the towns of Estes Park and Loveland; and Boulder County west of the city limits of Boulder, including Lyons, James town and Nederland. The incumbent is Sen. Rob Woodward, R-Loveland.

rep. tony exum, Sr.

STATE SENATE

The Colorado Independent Redistrict ing Commission rated this district with zero advantage for either party, the only seat in the General Assembly so rated.

Democrats: 30,232 Republicans: 33,255 Unaffiliated: 55,041 Total ac tive voters: 120,681

DEMOCRAT Marchman, Janice Phone number: 1-970-690-1747 Email: janiceforcolo rado@gmail.com Website: janice forcolorado.com Mailing address: 2037 Vancorum Circle, Loveland, CO 80538

Education: Bache lor’s degree, industrial and systems engineer ing, Georgia Institute of Technology.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

The first piece of legislation I plan to introduce will tackle homeowners’ insur ance for those living in the Wildland-Ur ban Interface. As wildfires have grown

more destructive and frequent, many living in the WUI are struggling to afford homeowners’ insurance. Insurance com panies have raised the rates for those liv ing in places like Estes Park, Lyons and Nederland to the point where people who’ve lived there for many years are no longer able to insure their homes against wildfire damage. Instead, they are forced to settle for renters’ insurance, which only covers their belongings and not the home they’ve lived in for years or de cades. My first bill will extend insurance coverage so insurance providers will no longer be allowed to effectively deny coverage to those living in our mountain communities.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

My top spending priority is public edu cation. Colorado’s public schools are con tinually underfunded, which has led to our state being 45th on education spend ing, 43rd in per-pupil funding, and 49th in teacher wage competitiveness. This effects the quality of our children’s edu cation, their future career prospects, and Colorado’s ability to maintain a compet itive workforce and economy. Our state budget is a moral document that reflects what the legislature’s priorities are. Time and time again, the voters have support ed increasing our school’s budget, but lawmakers have prevented these funds from going to our schools where they belong. I want to bring the discussion

of our state’s education funding back in front of the people so those most effected by these decisions can have their voices heard.

Position on energy and climate

With worsening wildfires, droughts and heatwaves, I support investing in alternatives to fossil fuels, as well as just-transition programs to support workers and communities during this process. Renewable energy from solar, wind, hydrogen and geothermal are key to keeping our air and water clean and preventing the worst effects of cli mate change. In the effort to transition to renewable energy, we cannot forget the workers in our current energy in dustries. Any policy seeking to invest in renewable energy must also invest in thorough transition and training pro grams so workers, and the communi ties built around these industries, will continue to have the economic security these industries provided.

Position on tax hike

As the cost of living has risen, work ing and retired families have struggled to afford housing, healthcare, and ba sic necessities. Raising taxes on the working and middle class will only serve to make Colorado’s cost of liv ing more unattainable. Tax increases on the ultra-wealthy and large corpo rations would help alleviate some of this pressure. A tax system that makes the wealthy pay their fair share would

allow for a reduced tax burden on middle-class Coloradans and support investments into our community that would benefit us all.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I am a strongly in support of a wom an’s right to choose and the preser vation of the right to safe and legal abortion access. The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that placed the legal ity of abortion access in the hands of each individual state has put millions of women without access to reproduc tive healthcare. I am running to make sure that doesn’t happen here in Colo rado as well. I will always support leg islation that protects people’s personal reproductive freedoms and the right to bodily autonomy.

REPUBLICAN Woodward, Rob

Phone number: 1-303-866-4853

Website: Woodward ForColorado.com

Mailing address: 200 E. Colfax Ave., State Capitol Building, Denver, CO 80203

Education: Bache lor’s degree in finance, Colorado State Univer

FrOM cOLOrAdO cHAnnEL VIdEO

State senators debate into the evening hours on Monday, June 7, 2021, in the final days of the 2021 session.

Sen. rob Woodward

Janice Marchman

sity; Master’s degree in finance, DePaul University.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

Expand my SB22-118 to encourage Geo thermal Energy because recent policy decisions are driving up costs to Colora do working families, and these decisions could have devastating consequences.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

The state government’s core responsi bilities — public safety, infrastructure, and education — need better funding.

Position on energy and climate

We should encourage technologies that increase efficiency to drive down costs and environmental impact, with out simply shifting production to other countries.

Position on tax hike

Colorado government revenues are skyrocketing at a pace much faster than the wages of Colorado working families. Inflation, fees, and regulations are driv ing up the real tax burden, especially for those who can least afford it.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Didn’t answer, but voted against the 2022 legislation affirming the right to abortion in Colorado.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 20

This district is the northern half of Jefferson County, with Evergreen at the south end of the district and the west ern half of Lakewood. This is an open seat. The Colorado Independent Redis tricting Commission rated this district at a 7.1% Democratic advantage.

Democrats: 34,020 Republicans: 30,397 Unaffiliated: 57,693 Total ac tive voters: 124,120

DEMOCRAT

Cutter, Lisa Email: Cutterforcolorado@gmail. com

Website: cutter forcolorado.com

Education: Bache lor’s degree in market ing, Metropolitan State University of Denver.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

I’ll continue to pursue legislation to

ensure healthy forests and mitigate and recover from wildfire.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

It is critical that we end the Budget Stabilization Factor and support our educators and public schools.

Position on energy and climate

Environmental issues have been a key part of my platform as a Jeffco legis lator. I’ve worked to protect Colorado’s land, air, and water and passed bills to support efforts to prevent wildfires and help families and businesses who have suffered from wildfire damage. I believe we need to focus on cleaner en ergy sources, but we must also provide resources and opportunities for any workers that are impacted by the reduc tion of our reliance on the oil industry so we keep Coloradans employed with good paying and stable jobs.

Position on tax hike

I take every tax increase that comes before me very seriously. With the ris ing cost of living, most Coloradans are feeling their wallets tighten. I know that we must find a balance of fund ing crucial services, like quality public education and mental health services, without putting too much of a burden on everyday Coloradans.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I have and will always support the freedom to choose. I proudly support ed and passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act last legislative session to guarantee safe abortion access for pregnant people. The government has no business making healthcare deci sions on pregnancies. If elected in No vember, I will join efforts to expand on our protections for abortion access and healthcare workers who provide these services.

REPUBLICAN Walsh, Tim

Phone number: 1-720-869-9228

Email: Tim@Tim WalshforColorado.com

Website: TimWalsh forColorado.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 261179, Lake wood, CO 80226

Education: Bach elor’s degree in civil engineering, United States Military Acad emy at West Point; Master’s degree in construction management/civil engi neering, Stanford University.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

Recriminalize (refelonize) fentanyl.

Fentanyl is poison, and it’s killing far too many Coloradans. The 2019 law decriminalizing fentanyl was a terrible mistake. Fentanyl is also a major con tributor to the crime wave and increase in homelessness due to addiction issues. What is your top spending priority for the year?

Fully fund our police. Skyrocketing crime is one of the most pressing issues facing our state, and it’s something the state legislature, working with local governments, can do something about. Keeping Coloradans, our schools and our neighborhoods safe is a core func tion of state government.

Position on energy and climate

Energy development and protecting our environment need not be at odds. In recent decades, Colorado’s green house gas emissions have dropped significantly. We should be proud of that. And let’s continue to do our part. As State Senator, I will contribute my Senate salary to planting more trees in suburban Jeffco. At the same time, Colorado can help contribute to Amer ica’s energy independence and gener ate more clean, affordable energy. We should get Colorado’s energy workers – whether its oil and gas, solar, wind –back to work.

Position on tax hike

I oppose tax hikes and will work to pro tect Coloradans’ Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) tax refunds. Colorado’s budget has grown substantially – about 20% in just the past 4 years. What have we gotten in return? Not better roads. Not better teacher pay or better performing schools. Not safer communities. The re ality is Colorado’s budget challenges are a result of over-spending and misplaced spending, not undertaxation.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Abortion policy in Colorado should be decided by voters, not politicians. I will oppose any changes to abortion policy that are not subject to a vote of the people. We simply cannot allow such a divisive subject to be subject to the whims of a new crop of politicians every two years.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 24

This district is in west Adams County and includes the cities of Thornton and Federal Heights. This is an open seat. The Colorado Independent Redistrict ing Commission rated this district at a 9.1% Democratic advantage.

Democrats: 38,231 Republicans: 20,240 Unaffiliated: 44,869 Total ac tive voters: 95,156

DEMOCRAT Mullica, Kyle Phone number: 1-303-847-2225

Email: Jbraughton@ kylemullica.com Website: KyleMulli ca.com

Mailing address: 2200 E. 104th Ave., Suite 203, Thornton, CO

Education: Bache lor’s degree in real es tate/finance, University of Denver.

rep. Kyle Mullica

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

My first priority, if elected to office, will be to pick up where I left off as a state representative. I will dedicate my time in the Senate to continuing to fight for, and give a voice to the people of Adams County. Drafting legislation that focuses on: Lowering the cost of living, protecting women’s rights, im proving our transportation infrastruc ture and expanding access to health care.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

I think we need to focus on spending Colorado’s tax dollars on programs and systems that improve the lives for the people of Colorado. Whether that be dedicating funds to mental health, pro posing grants to lower the cost of hous ing, or investing in our public saftey and ensuring that the men and women who serve our communities have the resources they need to successfully do their job.

Position on energy and climate

I am a firm believer that our environ ment is our greatest resource here in Colorado. I have a proven track record of voting to pass legislation that pro tects our environment and bringing people together to solve what are often difficult problems to solve.

Position on tax hike

Tax increases are a serious matter. As elected officials we must ensure those tax dollars are spent in the most responsible and productive way. I have fought hard during my time as a Representative to ensure that our tax dollars go to just that, includ ing record investments in affordable housing, workforce development for healthcare workers and mental healthcare.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I believe that it is a woman’s right to choose what she does or doesn’t do with her body. Reproductive healthcare including access to abortion is health care, and limiting access to either is

tim Walsh

rep. Lisa cutter

STATE SENATE

detrimental to the health of women and that is unacceptable.

REPUBLICAN

Potter, Courtney Phone number: 1-303-720-9649 Email: Courtney@ courtneyforcolorado. com

Website: Courtney forColorado.com Mailing address: PO Box 373, Eastlake, CO 80614

Education: Bache lor’s degree in consumer merchandis ing/retailing management, Johnson & Wales University; Master’s degree in business administration, Johnson & Wales University.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

I am the mom of three children ages 2, 10 and 12. Every day I see the results of the stress our children are facing, as crimes have increased, parents strug gle to make ends meet and children fall farther behind academically. In fact, suicide rates among teens in Colora do increased by 58% in the last three years, making it the cause of one in five adolescent deaths. One of my first piec es of legislation will be to support ad ditional and immediate mental health supports to keep our children safe and alive.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Being fiscally conservative, my top spending priority is to ensure we are being good stewards of taxpayer funds. This will families and seniors to have as much money in their hands as possible in order to invest in their own futures.

When allocating state budget funds my top spending priority will be to ensure education dollars are making their way to classrooms and not being spent ex panding administrative overhead.

Position on energy and climate

Recent policy decisions in Colorado have forced up the prices of gas and energy. Many are already struggling to make ends meet and sadly as win ter approaches budgets will get tight er as energy costs increase. I support an “all of the above” energy policy. Moving too quickly from oil and gas will decimate families’ ability to make ends meet. I look forward to support ing oil and gas as well as solar, wind, hydro and nuclear energy to ensure a

smooth transition which protects our environment but not at the expense of families’ income or ability to live in Colorado.

Position on tax hike

Most Coloradans I meet at the door are already struggling to make ends meet. Recent policy decisions adding “fees” like the delivery fee, are mak ing it less affordable to live here and have resulted in a state budget that has grown nearly 30% over the last four years. I don’t know any house hold where the income grew any where close to 30%. I would oppose any efforts to increase taxes, impose “fees”, or reduce mandatory refunds, as Colorado families struggle to make ends meet. The State needs to tighten its belt just as families have struggled to do.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

As a mom who has experienced heartache in trying for our amazing children, this issue is very personal to me. The recent Supreme Court deci sion sent decisions on abortion back to states. Colorado’s legislature had already passed laws making abortion a right in Colorado and legal in the state. I oppose late term abortions with exceptions for the life and/or health of the mom.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 27

This district is in south and parts of central Arapahoe Count, excluding Au rora, and a small portion of Douglas County. Its eastern boundary is the Ki owa/Bennet Rd. This is an open seat. The Colorado Independent Redistrict ing Commission rated this district at a 4.7% Democratic advantage.

Democrats: 30,176 Republicans: 27,797 Unaffiliated: 52,020 Total ac tive voters: 111,680

DEMOCRATIC

Sullivan, Tom Phone number: 1-720-217-2764

Email: tom@sulli vanforcolorado.com

Website: sullivan forcolorado.com

Mailing address: PO Box 461331, Aurora, CO 80046

Education: Bach elor’s degree in jour nalism and accounting, Metropolitan State College of Denver.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

While gun violence prevention is my singular legislative focus, I did get into politics because my son was mur dered at the Aurora theater shooting,

and ran Colorado’s Extreme Risk Pro tection Order as our first piece of leg islation in the State House. As a State Senator, I plan to continue my lead ership on that issue and run a bill I tried to run in the house raising the minimum age of Assault Rifle Pur chase from 18 to 21.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Education is my top spending prior ity. We cannot continue to underfund our public schools, and threaten our kid’s futures.

Position on energy and climate

I have stood up for a healthy envi ronment as a state representative and will continue to work to protect Colo rado’s air, water and natural heritage as a state senator. I helped pass bills to support efforts to prevent wild fires and help families and business es who impacted by wildfire damage. To meet the challenge of the climate crisis we must support and focus on delivering a cleaner energy future and waste reduction, while also pro viding the resources and opportuni ties for workers that are impacted by the reduction of our reliance on the oil industry so these hard working Coloradans stay employed with good paying, stable jobs.

Position on tax hike

As a postal worker for nearly 30 years and a life long union member, I understand what it is like to be a working person. Championing labor and economic rights for working peo ple, getting them what they deserve, keeping cost low, has driven my leg islative work these last four years, along with making sure each one of us feels safe in our homes and public places. With that being said I take ev ery tax increase that comes before me very seriously, and want to emphasize that working and middle class fami lies should never bear the burden of a tax hike, and should only see benefits to their quality of life when such mea sures are called for. The wealthiest among us must pay their fair share and help us fund our crucial com munity services like public education and mental health services.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I have and will continue to fight for a woman’s freedom to make choic es over her own body and future. I proudly supported and helped pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act. As a State Senator, I will remain ded icated to expanding on our protec tions for abortion access and health care workers who provide these services.

REPUBLICAN Kim, Tom

Phone number: 1-303-468-0324

Email: tomkim@ tomkimforcolorado. com

Website: tomkim forcolorado.com

Mailing address: 16350 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 108-212, Foxfield, CO 80016

Education: Bache lor’s degree in econom ics, University of Utah; Law degree, Master’s degree in business adminis tration, Santa Clara University.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

To address the recent bills that have softened penalties for criminals. With out safe communities, the rest of my agenda is less feasible.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Refocus our budget on our state gov ernment’s priorities — especially edu cation and infrastructure.

Position on energy and climate

I believe that we can optimize our state policies toward both, simultane ously. I believe in U.S. energy indepen dence and utilizing all of the technol ogy we have to generate energy. We enjoy our way of life because of the availability of affordable, and clean, energy.

I think that our energy policy can be harmonized with a balanced approach toward protecting our climate. I’m an avid outdoorsman and our outdoor environment is very important to me. However, I favor policies that are bal anced and sensible.

Position on tax hike

I’m not sure I understand the con text, but generally, I disfavor addition al taxes and would work to make our government’s use of its tax revenue as efficient as possible. I believe that a balanced budget and low tax growth, if any, are achievable and are not mu tually exclusive.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

The people of Colorado have spoken and decided on abortion. In 2022, our State Legislature passed legislation on the abortion question, which I think went too far. I do favor some state law restrictions on voluntary abortions during the final weeks of gestation.

I believe we need to make sure health and safety resources are available for women, so they understand all risks and options.

courtney Potter

rep. Tom Sullivan

Tom Kim

State House races among the most competitive

BY HANNAH METZGER, DEBBIE KELLEY, O’DELL ISAAC AND MARY SHINN

Gazette

The state House races profiled in this voter guide are projected to be among the most politically competitive of the 2022 election, based on the estimated competitiveness from the Independent Redistricting Commission’s report and the most recent active voter registra tion numbers from Oct. 1 provided by the Secretary of State.

While Democrats aren’t at risk of losing control of the state House — enjoying a whopping 41-24 majority — Republican candidates have a shot at flipping a substantial number of seats to create a nearly evenly split Legislature.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 19

The district is in Boulder County and Weld County, including Dacono, Fires tone and Frederick, and parts of Erie, Longmont and Northglenn.

Democrats: 15,643 Republicans: 16,355 Unaffiliated: 30,335 Total ac tive voters: 63,449

While technically an open seat, the race includes Republican Rep. Dan Woog, drawn out of his District 63 after being elected in 2020. The Democratic candidate facing Woog is Jennifer Lea Parenti, an Air Force veteran who ran unopposed in her primary. The Colora do Independent Redistricting Commis sion rated this district at a 1.5% Repub lican advantage.

REPUBLICAN

Woog, Dan Phone number: 1-970-658-0255

Email: woog forhd19@gmail.com Website: woog forhd19.com

Mailing address: P.O. BOX 254 Erie, CO 80516

Education: Bache lor’s degree in kinesiol ogy, Arizona State Uni versity.

Woog’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

Parenti, Jennifer

Email: info@parenti forcolorado.com

Website: parenti forcolorado.com

Education: Bach elor’s degree in engi neering sciences, U.S. Air Force Academy; Master’s degree in software engineering, Naval Postgraduate School; Master’s

degree in military arts and sciences/po litical-military affairs, USAF Air Com mand and Staff College.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

Campaign contribution limits for statutory town elections and other rac es not currently addressed under Colo rado election law.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Public K-14 education including tech nical schools and public transporta tion.

Position on energy and climate

I favor a deliberate and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.

Position on tax hike

Increase taxes on top earners, no new taxes on the working class.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I strongly favor reproductive freedom and keeping government out of health care decisions.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 25

Based in Jefferson County, the district includes all of Morrison and a portion

of Littleton.

Democrats: 16,737 Republicans: 19,721 Unaffiliated: 32,223 Total ac tive voters: 69,752

In a rare situation, the race for Dis trict 25 features two current lawmakers. Democratic Sen. Tammy Story and Re publican Rep. Colin Larson, who were both drawn out of their respective dis tricts. The Colorado Independent Redis tricting Commission rated this district at a 1.8% Republican advantage.

REPUBLICAN

Larson, Colin Phone number: 1-303-866-2927

Email: colinforcolo rado@gmail.com Website: colinforcol orado.com

Mailing address: 200 E. Colfax Ave., Room 307, Denver, CO 80203

Education: Bache lor’s degree in political science and history, Colorado College.

Larson’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

Story, Tammy Phone number: 1-720-292-9861

Email: story@story4co.com Website: story4co.com

Mailing address: P.O. BOX 1114, Conifer, CO 80433

Education: Bache lor’s degree in commu nicative disorders, East Tennessee State Univer sity.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

My first legislation will focus on pol icy that provides voice for those who face overwhelming threats to their well-being.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

A well-funded, accessible public ed ucation system is foundational to de mocracy which is why it should remain a top spending priority for the state. Highly qualified and well compensated educators are the most critical element to students’ personal educational suc cess. Ensuring a supportive learning and teaching environment is essential.

Position on energy and climate

Climate change is the most serious existential threat of our time. We must reduce the use of fossil fuels and rap

tHe denVer GaZette

Members of the colorado House of representatives gather at their desks for the day’s session May 21 at the state capitol in denver.

State rep. dan Woog

Jennifer Parenti

State Sen. tammy Story

State rep. colin Larson

idly build out the use of clean energy options. The world’s most respected cli mate scientists believe the effects of cli mate change are negatively impacting our air and water quality, agricultural production, forest health, biodiversi ty, weather, frequency and intensity of storms, public health, economy and the well-being of the human race.

Position on tax hike

Coloradans want great schools, quali ty roads, beautiful parks, mental health services and first responders. Collect ed tax revenue is utilized by state and local governments to pay for these es sential public services. All corporations and individuals should contribute their fair share to the well-being of our col lective communities.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

It is imperative that we protect repro ductive freedoms by ensuring bodily autonomy and personal medical deci sion-making authority. All Coloradans should have access to the full spectrum of affordable healthcare options, in cluding abortion and other reproduc tive healthcare.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 28

The district is wholly contained in Jefferson County and includes a por tion of Lakewood.

Democrats: 15,991 Republicans: 16,102 Unaffiliated: 28,529 Total ac tive voters: 61,635

District 28 has the closest party split on this guide, with Republicans out numbering Democrats by only 111 reg istered voters. The race features two newcomers, Democrat Sheila Lieder, a member of the Tri-County Workforce Development Board, and Republican Dan Montoya, a Marine Corps veteran. The Colorado Independent Redistrict ing Commission rated this district at a 2.3% Democrat advantage.

REPUBLICAN

Montoya, Dan Email: Dan@Mon toyaForColorado.com

Website: mon toyaforcolorado.com

Mailing address: P.O. BOX 621914, Little ton, CO 80162

Education: Sheridan High School. Montoya’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

Lieder, Sheila Email: sheilaforcolorado@gmail.

com Website: lieder forcolorado.com

Mailing address: P.O. BOX 620373, Little ton, CO 80162

Education: Certifi cate in political science and government, Na tional Labor College.

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

I believe making the “Homestead Act” portable would help lower the cost of living for seniors across Colorado. We should also find a way to ensure retir ees are able to stay in their homes or access affordable housing.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

Colorado must continue to focus on getting the rising cost of living under control for middle class families. Using tax refunds and getting cash into mid dle class family’s hands like Gov. Polis and the Democrats in the legislature did is exactly how we should approach any additional money we have access to in the budget.

Position on energy and climate

I will work with all our colleagues to en sure we responsibly grow our economy while tackling the challenges of climate change, with a just transition for jobs.

Position on tax hike

I would oppose any effort to raise tax es on middle class families in Colorado. However, we should close corporate tax loopholes and crack down on greedy companies that exploited the pandemic by gouging prices and raising the cost of living for all Coloradans.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I support any effort to protect a wom an’s right to make her own health care decisions.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 38

The district is in Arapahoe and Jef ferson counties, including all of Bow Mar and Columbine Valley, and parts of Centennial and Littleton.

Democrats: 17,120 Republicans: 17,828 Unaffiliated: 29,034 Total ac tive voters: 65,073

Incumbent Democrat Rep. David Or tiz is running for reelection in the new ly redrawn district, facing Republican Jaylen Mosqueira, a legislative aide who ran unopposed in his primary.

The Colorado Independent Redistrict ing Commission rated this district at a 2.9% Democrat advantage.

REPUBLICAN

Mosqueira, Jaylen

Email: connect@ jaylenforcolorado.com Website:jaylenforcol orado.com

Mailing address: P.O. BOX 3393, Centen nial, CO 80161

Education: Bachelor’s degree in political sci ence, Metropolitan State University of Denver. Mosqueira’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

Ortiz, David

Phone number: 1-720-788-6273

Email: reportiz@da vidortizcolorado.com Website: davidortiz colorado.com

Mailing address: P.O. BOX 3842, Centen nial, CO 80122

Education: Bache lor’s degree in interna tional affairs and busi ness administration, University of St. Thom as (Texas)

What will be your first legislation if elected to office?

One of my first pieces of legislation is to make cost-saving and energy-effi cient home upgrades more available to working- and middle-class households. This will not only improve our transi tion to greener energy, but will also al low Colorado residents to save money on their energy bills.

What is your top spending priority for the year?

My top spending priority is always for education. We must make sure that our teachers receive adequate and fair pay, that our students get mental health re sources in school in order to succeed, and that we maintain a high quality of educational materials that our students are taught.

Position on energy and climate

Climate change is one of the most critical and time-sensitive challenges that we face as a planet and also pos es significant national security issues. We need to make sure that we take effective, meaningful action to com bat climate change that does not sig nificantly impact Coloradans’ wallets and our small businesses.

We must be smart about our invest ments in green energy while provid ing adequate support by those that might be most impacted by the tran sition to renewable energy.

Position on tax hike

I am not in favor of raising taxes on our working families and small busi nesses. In fact, for both years of my first

term I got tax cuts for small business es across the state to the tune of $700 million.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

We must protect women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive health care choices for all pregnant people. That choice must always rest between pregnant people and their doctors.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 61

The district is in Arapahoe and Doug las counties, including portions of Au rora and Centennial.

Democrats: 16,437 Republicans: 16,785 Unaffiliated: 29,246 Total active voters: 63,320

An open seat with less than 350 voters separating the Republican and Dem ocrat populations, the race features Democrat Eliza Hamrick, a former high school teacher, and Republican Dave Woolever, an Air Force veteran and college professor. The Colorado In dependent Redistricting Commission rated this district at a 0.5% Democrat advantage.

REPUBLICAN

Woolever, Dave Website: dave4hd61.com

Education: Bache lor’s degree in educa tion, Shepherd Univer sity; Master’s degree in adult and continuing education, East Caroli na University; Master’s degree in U.S. and Eu ropean history, Univer sity of Colorado in Col orado Springs.

Woolever’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

Hamrick, Eliza

Phone number: 1-720-805-5063

Email: eliza@eliza forcolorado.com Website: elizaforcol orado.com

Mailing address: 6477 S. Jericho Way, Centennial, CO 80016

Education: Attend ed the University of Arizona.

Hamrick’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 59

House District 59 includes a portion of Montezuma County, and La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan counties in the southwest corner of the state.

A longtime Durango resident, state Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, is facing a newcomer to the communi

dave Woolever

State rep. david Ortiz

Sheila Lieder

dan Montoya

Jaylen Mosqueira

Eliza Hamrick

ty, Shelli Shaw, in the race.

Democrats: 20,853 Republicans: 17,782 Unaffiliated: 28,519 Total ac tive voters: 68,458

REPUBLICAN

Shaw, Shelli

Phone number: 1-832-954-5159

Email: shawhd59@ gmail.com

Website: shawhd59. com

Mailing address: 959 Sierra Drive, Du rango, CO 81301

Education: Unavail able.

Shaw’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

McLachlan, Barbara

Phone number: 1-970-749-5683

Email: barbaraforcolorado@gmail. com

Website: barbaramc lachlan.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 234, Durango, CO 81302

Education: Bache lor’s degree in technical journalism, Colorado State University; Bach elor’s degree in English and teaching certifi cate, Fort Lewis Col lege; Master’s in Learning and Teach ing, Regis University.

What is the first legislation you plan to enact if elected to office?

My first piece of legislation is creating a K-12 Water Literacy resource bank to encourage the next generation to un derstand, conserve and protect our wa ter. It will combine programs already in use to ensure all Colorado children have access to the education.

What is your top spending priority if elected?

My top spending priority is paying off the Budget Stabilization Project, money we have owed our schools since 2009. Educators and students have suffered needlessly without that money.

Position on energy and climate

Climate and energy affect our every day lives in more ways than ever before. I want to work with, not against, the energy community to find solutions, including renewables, to our climate change issues.

Position on tax hike

We can’t raise taxes as a legislature. When we need something done that re quires more money, we need to ask for a vote or find a way to squeeze our tight budget. The budget is not very flexi ble, so we work within its constraints. When we must add to one departmen tal budget, we always need to subtract from another.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I trust women to make the best de cisions about their own bodies and health, in conjunction with their doc tor, their partner, and their faith. The government should not have a role in those choices.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 16

House District 16 is contained entire ly in El Paso county and covers the cen tral section of Colorado Springs.

The contest pits Colorado Springs City Councilmember Dave Donelson, a Republican, against Stephanie Vigil, a Democrat and community organizer.

Democrats: 16,170 Republicans: 14,597 Unaffiliated: 25,730 Total ac tive voters: 54,412

REPUBLICAN

Donelson, Dave

Phone number: 719-238-9823 Email: davedonelson18@gmail.com Website: davedonelson.org

Mailing address: P.O. Box 26601, Colora do Springs, CO 80936

Education: bache lor of science degree, University of Nebras ka School of Medicine; bachelor of arts degree in political science, University of New Mex ico; Russian linguist graduate, Defense Lan guage Institute.

What is the first legislation you plan to enact if elected to office?

I want to pass legislation that im proves the lives of regular Colorado families and businesses.

1. Public Safety. As a Colorado Springs city councilman and brother of a po lice sergeant, I know this is the first responsibility of government. Colorado should not lead the U.S. in auto thefts and bank robberies.

2. Improve affordability. As a board member of Colorado Springs Utilities, I have seen the impact state imposed mandates can have on prices. We have to consider the effect these price in creases have on real citizens.

3. Improve our schools. I want a great school for every kid. Current test scores show we are not preparing our kids to succeed. Let’s give parents more op tions and prepare our kids for success!

What is your top spending priority if elected?

Elected officials should be cautious and responsible when spending our citizen’s hard earned money which they have been forced to pay to the state in the form of taxes and fees. Certain areas of the state budget continue to grow rapidly. Health care is now 36.2% of the budget, K-12 education (19%) and higher education (15%) make up a com bined 70% of the budget! Something which you may think of as a fundamen tal responsibility of our state govern ment - transportation (roads) makes up only about 5% of the state budget. I cer tainly think our roads need increased focus and funding and will also want to look for ways to improve the quality of life of our citizens in the three areas I listed above - public safety, schools, and affordability. We need to look at finding ways to better use the money the state already receives rather than increasing taxes or fees.

Position on energy and climate

As a member of the Colorado Springs Utilities Board of Directors, I am part of an organization which is planning for increasing energy needs, and changes in our climate. There are three things I believe I offer the voters of HD 16: lead ership, experience and common sense. We need a strong grounding in common sense when thinking about energy and our climate. All of us want, and deserve, a clean environment — water and air in particular. We all want clean energy production. However we need to have a practical and balanced approach to our energy “portfolio” or sources. A certain level of renewable energy production makes sense — pushing it beyond that can lead to serious problems, as they are experiencing in California. We can’t allow that to happen in Colorado. We must have 100% energy reliability. Our state government must be careful not to impose requirements on municipali ties and other entities that create a very expensive, unstable energy production and transmission system.

Position on tax hikes

I’m against them.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

The recent Supreme Court decision regarding Roe v. Wade did not restrict or make abortion illegal. It returned regulation of abortion to each individ ual state. Many legal scholars feel that based on our Constitution it should have always remained at the state lev el. I think that makes sense. Different states have very different cultures. Cal ifornia and Massachusetts are very dif ferent than Utah and Alabama. I think it makes sense to allow the citizens of those states to decide how they will regulate abortion. I would rather have

the citizens of Colorado deciding than a one size fits all policy imposed from the federal government.

DEMOCRAT

Vigil, Stephanie

Phone number: 719-297-3210

Email: info@stephanievigil.com

Website: stephanievigil.com

Mailing address: Committee to Elect Stephanie Vigil, P.O. Box 9524, Colorado Springs, CO 80932

Education: Unavail able.

What is the first legislation you plan to enact if elected to office?

There are several housing-related bills

I am eager to draft or collaborate on and that will invest voter-approved funds in meeting the affordable-hous ing crisis. One bill I will forward is a repeal of the statewide ban on rent stabilization. Local governments should be able to decide for them selves whether such ordinances are in the best interests of their commu nities.

What is your top spending priority if elected?

My top spending priorities are to get teachers paid a thriving wage, invest in housing projects and transit infrastruc ture that suit our growing population, and continue developing our regenera tive-energy economy.

Position on energy and climate

Climate change is not a ‘tomorrow’ problem. It is a ‘today’ problem. We are dealing with a now almost year-round fire season, the Colorado River is in cri sis, and we’re facing aridification of the West due to hotter, drier conditions. We owe future generations a habitable en vironment, and we can do it with a just and equitable transition to all-renew able energy. Fully funding mechanisms like C-PACE will give private home and business owners more options to make this transition.

Position on tax hike

The Legislature cannot raise taxes, and clear communication and transparency are key to voter-approved tax hikes.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Expecting people to make consequen tial decisions without enough infor mation is not the greatest exercise in self-government, and we can do better. Also, I am pro-choice, and it is up to states to protect this right to make de cisions about one’s own body and life. I

Sunday, OctOber 16, 2022 | tHe GaZette

rep.

barbara McLachlan

Shelli Shaw

dave donelson

Stephanie Vigil

will not support bans or restrictions on reproductive choice and would elim inate the ban on public funds being used for abortion services.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 18

House District 18 encompasses Tell er and El Paso counties and includes Manitou Springs and part of Colora do Springs, as well as Cascade-Chipita Park, Green Mountain Falls and Rock Creek Park.

Incumbent Democratic state Rep. Marc Snyder, the former mayor of Manitou Springs, takes on Republican challenger Shana Black, a Manitou Springs attorney, and Libertarian challenger Greg Lauer, an Army veteran and defense contractor.

Democrats: 15,430 Republicans: 17,619 Unaffiliated: 27,297 Total ac tive voters: 61,756

REPUBLICAN

Black, Shana

Phone number: 719-400-9789

Email: shana@winwithblack.com

Website: winwithblack.com

Mailing address: 5 E. Bijou St., No. 304, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Education: Bachelor degree in eco nomics, University of Nevada, Las Ve gas; J.D. from Universi ty of San Diego School of Law.

What is the first legislation you plan to enact if elected to office?

I have already draft ed legislation to repeal the qualified immunity portion of Senate Bill 20217, which applies to all local law en forcement officers, sheriff’s deputies and Colorado State Patrol officers. We should support law enforcement, which includes qualified immunity for police. Additionally, fentanyl needs to be recriminalized. People are dying be cause of the reckless decriminalization the Legislature passed. Possession of fentanyl should be a felony, not a mis demeanor.

What is your top spending priority if elected?

I would strive to ensure more educa tion dollars go to teachers, not admin istrators, and ensure first responders are fully funded. I would work to put transportation dollars to roads and bridges, where they belong.

Position on energy and climate

We need to take action to provide energy for the future of the country. I

do not believe the too-much-too-soon approach being used now is viable. We need to have a long-range plan that takes into account all forms of energy and their impacts on the environment.

Position on tax hike

I fully support the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights in our state. I also believe the recent trend to impose “fees,” therefore bypassing TABOR, is inappropriate and needs to stop. These “fees” are nothing more than tax increases in disguise.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade was not about abortion but about states’ rights. The Constitu tion is clear that issues not specifical ly addressed in the Constitution go to the states. That is what the Supreme Court decision was all about. And leg islation passed in Colorado last ses sion settled the question.

DEMOCRAT

Snyder, Marc

Phone number: 719-233-1272

Email: marc.snyder. house@state.co.us Website: snyder forcolorado.com

Mailing address: 2605A W. Colorado Ave., suite 205, Colora do Springs, CO 80904

Education: Bache lor’s degree in econom ics and political science, Emory University; J.D. from Emory University School of Law.

What is the first legislation you plan to enact if elected to office?

I would like to pass legislation that would improve communications for evacuations in the event of a wild fire. As we have seen in the past cou ple years, it is absolutely critical that folks know how they need to evacu

ate and how long it will take them. This legislation would improve that communication so that our commu nity members can feel better about their own fire evacuation plans.

What is your top spending priority if elected?

My top spending priorities are wild fire prevention and preparedness and increasing funding for public educa tion, so that our students and teach ers have all the resources and support they need.

Position on energy and climate

I fully support a plan that reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and that also supports our economy in Colo rado. We are in a climate crisis and must make changes so we can con tinue to enjoy our beautiful state but also support local economic develop ment.

Position on tax hike

I support any tax increases that the voters approve of, as stipulated under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

Position on abortion after Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade

I believe the government has no place in a woman’s doctor’s office when she is making one of the most important deci sions of her life. I supported the Repro ductive Health Equity Act, which sup ported Coloradans’ right to make their own reproductive health decisions, and I will continue to support that goal.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 13

Spanning two congressional dis tricts as it stretches from Colorado’s northern border south to Salida, House District 13 encompasses Chaf fee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park and Summit counties and the communi ties of Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Frisco and Buena Vista.

Democrats: 17,303 Republicans:

18,657 Unaffiliated: 31,545 Total ac tive voters: 68,850

REPUBLICAN

Buckley, David

Phone number: 1-720-878-8145

Email: david@buck leyforhouse.com

Website: buckleyfor house.com

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1757, Krem mling, CO 80459

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Regis University.

Buckley’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

McCluskie, Julie

Phone number: 1-303-866-2952

Email: Mc CluskieforCO@gmail. com

Website: mc cluskieforco.com

Education: Unavail able.

McCluskie’s campaign didn’t re spond to our questionnaire.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 26

House District 26 includes all of Mof fat County, Rio Blanco County and Routt County, and all of Avon, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff and Vail in Eagle County.

The race features former Democrat Savannah Wolfson, who switched par ties after her family was robbed, and Meghan Lukens, a social studies teach er from Steamboat Springs. Wolfson defeated Glenn Lowe in the Republi can primary in June. Lukens ran unop posed in the Democratic primary.

Democrats: 17,303 Republicans: 18,657 Unaffiliated: 31,545 Total ac tive voters: 68,850

REPUBLICAN

Wolfson, Savannah

Email: wolfson@sa vannah4hd26.com Website: savannah 4hd26.com

Education: Unavail able.

Wolfson’s campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

DEMOCRAT

Lukens, Meghan

Email: meghan@ meghanlukens.com Website: campaign. meghanlukens.com Education: Unavailable.

Lukens’ campaign didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

rep. Marc Snyder

david buckley

rep. Julie Mccluskie

Savannah Wolfson Meghan Lukens

GETTy IMAGES

Shana black

Candidates vie for Monument Board of Trustees, mayor

BY STEPHANIE EARLS stephanie.earls@gazette.com

Five seats are up for grabs in the town of Monument this November, including the position of mayor held by Don Wil son, who is not running for reelection, and four spots on the Board of Trustees.

Trustees Redmond Ramos, Darcy Schoening and Ron Stephens face a full slate of challengers — Sana Abbott, Marco P. Fiorito, Jason Gross, Kenneth Kimple and Steve King — in their bids to keep their nonpaid seats on the town’s seven-member governing body.

Monument Trustees Mitch LaKind and James Romanello face off for mayor.

The mayoral candidate wo receives the highest number of votes will be elected to a term of four years. Three trustee candidates who receive the first-, second- and third-highest num ber of votes will be elected for a term of four years. One trustee candidate who receives the fourth-highest number of votes will be elected to a two-year term.

Mayoral candidates

LaKind, Mitchell

Phone number: 719-822-4865

Email: mitch@ mitch4monument.com Website: mitch 4monument.com

Mailing address: 1060 Night Blue Circle, Monument, CO 80132

Education: U.S. Navy and Arizona Army Na tional Guard leadership programs; MCSE+Mes saging certification, University of Phoenix.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Working with the Board of Trustees, I would like to establish official Design Re view and Economic Development com mittees — the committees would work with the town and existing businesses or attract new businesses to create and re tain local jobs, create a more robust local tax base, and revitalize areas that are in need. Top of the list would be redevelop ing historic downtown and revitalizing the businesses along 105. The commit tees would also work with developers to ensure that current and future develop ment projects preserve the intent of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Update the town’s Comprehensive Plan. Due to substantial growth, it is time to update the plan and review it annually with key stakeholders.

2. Adopt a code of conduct manual and review and update rules as necessary to

ensure town meetings are run efficient ly, transparently and responsibly.

3. Review and modernize all town codes, specifically ensuring land use codes align with the Comprehensive Plan.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Water. The board should approve the creation and joining of a regional water authority. The authority will join multiple water districts that will be responsible for connecting to a water delivery system.

2. Roads. The town requires funding to redevelop Jackson Creek Parkway and Old Denver Road to support the Monument Junction and Conexus de velopment projects.

3. Parks. Underfunded for many years, the Board of Trustees should support the funding for a parks master plan.

Romanello, James

Phone number: 1-661-877-7311

Email: jromanel lo818@gmail.com

Website: Romanello formayor.com

Mailing address: 6745 Rangewood Drive No. 102, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Education: bachelor of arts, investment ad viser

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Work on a renewable water solution.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Rational, reasonable leadership.

2. Helping guide the town in finishing developable areas.

3. Water solutions. Hiring/maintain ing staff.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Paying our staff competitively in or der to keep them.

2. Water maintenance solutions.

3. Roads/infrastructure.

Trustee candidates Abbott, Sana

Phone number: 1-303-519-3042

Email: sanabot2022@gmail. com Website: face book.com/profile.

Mailing address: 17063 Buffalo Val ley Path, Monument, CO 80132

Education: bachelor’s of science in information technology, Arizona State University.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Before I’d enact anything, I would review town documents and get those reviewed and updated as soon as pos sible. I would start with the Compre hensive Plan, as well as the town or dinances.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Be discerning about development. The Board of Trustees should be more discerning and encourage any develop er to have a public forum with its citi zens regularly.

We need to find out the impacts of traf fic, noise pollution, town safety and wa ter consumption prior to any approvals.

2. Regularly review town documents and update as needed.

3. More transparency. If I get elected, I will be diving in deep to make sure all protocols are being followed properly.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Public safety needs to be a priority and grow as our Monument communi ty grows. Our police force also needs the proper equipment each year and appropriate training.

2. Water issues need to be addressed and the town needs to be sure of how much water we have going forward in the future and that town water is safe for residents to consume.

3. Roads and Infrastructure im provements need to continue. Several sidewalks have been put in the down town areas and look beautiful, this ef fort needs to continue and will need funding.

Gross, Jason Phone number: 719217-7605

Email: ja songross48@gmail. com

Website: facebook. com/JasonGrossFor Monument Mailing address: 224 Oxbow Drive, Mon ument, CO 80132

Education: bachelor of science in sociology, Brigham Young University; master of science in management, tech nology emphasis, Bridgewater State University; master of military opera tional art and science, Air Command and Staff College, Montgomery, Ala.

Sunday, OctOber 16, 2022 |

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

I will review our zoning plan and de cisions to ensure they are in step with residents’ desires for the town’s future.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Trustees who do the homework to carefully review development projects, spending and thoughtfully weigh alter natives.

2. Respectful dialogue and consider ation of all concerns.

3. Outreach to neighboring communi ties and partners in northern El Paso County. The town of Monument borders are smaller than most people think. We are adjacent to multiple communities and unincorporated areas whose ac tions impact our town. Development, water and other infrastructure needs are costly and future planning should examine how we might work together to address cost and regional growth.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Carefully review our spending to ensure it is appropriate.

2. Obtaining sustainable water sup plies and ensuring town infrastructure is adequate.

3. Ensure we have high-quality staff to run town operations through appro priate compensation and benefits.

Kimple, Kenneth

Phone number: 719619-6944

Email: kenneth.kim ple@gmail.com Website: kimple 4monument.com

Mailing address: 16151 St. Lawrence Way, Monument, CO 80132

Education: master of science in aeronautical science; bachelor of sci ence in professional aeronautics with dual minor in aviation safety and air port management, Embry-Riddle Aero nautical University.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

A more robust and definitive ap pointment vetting process to fill the vacant Board of Trustees seat imme diately, in lieu of the town spending $12,000 to hold a special election. Ensuring the right person is selected to represent the residents, town and its future is crucial. Specific, detailed questions should be incorporated. I’d

Mitch LaKind

James romanello

Sana abbott

Jason Gross

Kenneth Kimple

introduce two things: First, the devel opment of a measurable and impact ful strategic plan for the town, align ing with the community’s priorities and expectations of principled and steady progress without putting at risk the things that make Monument such a special place to live. Second, modernizing the town’s outdated Comprehensive Plan.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

Focus on enhancing Monument’s appeal as a small town in the orbit of larger urban/city environments to the north and south of us by honoring tra ditional values, environmental unique ness, stability, sustainability, and flexi bility in preparing for the future.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Targeted collaborative economic development (smart growth), includ ing small businesses. Promote the long-term financial sustainability of the town infrastructure, environment, and social resources.

2. Continue to improve the public health, well-being, and safety of our town.

3. Enhance and maintain current in frastructure while preparing the town for emerging trends that increase pub lic safety and quality of life.

King, Steve Phone number: 1-303-726-8369 Email: steve@Steve ForMonument.com Website: SteveFor Monument.com Mailing address: 255 McShane Place, Monument, CO 80132 Education: business and construction man agement

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Changes to the rezoning and PUD ap proval criteria to define the importance of the Comprehensive Plan. We need to have an extensive review of the Com prehensive Plan so these projects are more in line with what citizens desire. The plan review process allows for a disregard of the Comprehensive Plan. That needs to change, and the citizens shouldn’t need to constantly oppose rezonings of PUD applications. This process should be more consistent and dependable with stricter guidelines. It is my top priority.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Suggesting that a planning depart ment always be required, with a pro fessional planning director. Initiating better development review through refining the municipal codes. Setting a limit on high density projects.

2. The town needs to have an unin terruptable water supply for the west side, and to secure renewable water rights before the cost of those rights are prohibitive.

3. Assuming the home rule charter becomes law, there are steps required to fully implement the charter, and that should become a priority. Citizen-based government is important to us all, and the citizens should be at ease, knowing their elected officials are their advo cates. This is a process all local govern ment should strive for.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Establishing a new Planning depart ment, providing a review of development codes and the Comprehensive Plan.

2. Completing Jackson Creek Parkway and Old Denver Road before any addi tional development can be occupied, along with Baptist at Falcon Commerce Center.

3. Securing water rights, and/or an un interrupted flow from a renewable water source on the west side.

Ramos, Redmond (incumbent) Email: RRamos@TOMGov.org Website: Redmon dRamos.com Education: Navy Fleet Marine Service School for combat medicine.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Create a design review board. I would like to create a position that would give more specific rules and direction on development in Monu ment. I believe this would help our rap id unchecked growth issue.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Fighting unchecked rapid growth.

2. Creating a design review board to help keep the character and feel of our small town.

3. Water.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Police/schools.

2. Water.

3. Preservation of our land. Schoening, Darcy (incumbent) Phone number: 1-630-796-5885

Email: Schoening darcym@gmail.com Website: darcy 4Monument.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 2163, Monu ment, CO 80132

Education: bachelor of science degree, crim inal justice, political science

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

I am extremely protective of families in Monument, including my own, so crimi nals need to understand that Monument is not a city where they will be coddled. We will continue to implement more pro grams that make criminals think twice about victimizing Monument families.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

The top priorities for Monument are cost of living, crime and development. Every level of government plays a part in the cost of living, and it’s my duty to ease those burdens for Monument fam ilies. Smart and intelligent development is one mechanism to ease some of those burdens. I continue to guide Monument development in a manner that makes our Monument families proud while creating long term revenue and building strong reserves for generations to come.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

Schools, public safety and water are our top priorities. We need to make sure Monument isn’t just a commuter town. Monument will be a place where families love to live and everyone wants to work or visit. I fight hard for smart development, a hard stance on crime, and strong schools and infrastructure, which will position Monument well for today’s families, my children and my future grandchildren.

Stephens, Ron (incumbent)

Phone number: 719-487-9924

Email: ronste phens902@gmail.com Website: stephens formonument.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 2071 Monu ment, CO 80132

Education: master of science in computer science.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

To continue the water project upgrade. What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

Water infrastructure; police; hiring

and keeping quality staff. Fiorito, Marco P.

Phone number: 1- 910-578-8858

Email: votefiorito@ gmail.com

Website: marcofor monument.info

Mailing address: 15759 Ann Arbor Way, Monument, CO Education: Master of Arts, history, University of Colorado Colorado Springs; Bachelor of Arts, history, Virginia Tech.

Marco P. Fiorito

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected to office?

The first program I will push hard is a renewable water purchasing program to give the Town of Monument safe, se cure renewable water access at buildout, closely followed by an infrastruc ture program to bring our renewable water to our residents. It is imperative for the Town of Monument to have its own water and not rely solely on well water. Leasing water is also not a viable long-term solution because we would be at the mercy of another water pro vider and their water restrictions.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Renewable water rights and infra structure

2. A resident-informed strategic vi sion for commercial and residential development

3. The ability to recruit and retain cit izen-focused staff that can translate the strategic vision into reality.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Renewable water rights and infra structure

2. Old Denver Highway expansion

3. Police substation on the east side of I-25.

Steve King

redmond ramos

darcy Schoening

ron Stephens

JEFF KEArnEy, THE TrIbunE Monument Town Hall.

Palmer Lake candidates face off for mayor, trustee seats

BY STEPHANIE EARLS stephanie.earls@gazette.com

The town of Palmer Lake is governed by an elected, unpaid seven-member board, including the mayor, who serves a two-year term, and six trustees, who serve four-year terms. In November’s election, incumbent Mayor Bill Bass fac es challenger and current Trustee Glant Havenar, while five candidates — Shana Ball, Kevin Dreher, Matt Stephen, Den nis Stern and Lindsey Zapalac — vie for three open trustee seats.

Mayoral candidates Bass, Bill

Phone number: 719440-8858

Email: wtbassco@ proton.me Website: unavail able.

many departments’ ability to provide more services for the same budget we have historically offered. This also tax es our natural resources and our water supply.

Our town is fiscally challenged, and we must craft solutions that bring rev enue from tax-earning businesses and support economic development. We must focus on creating organic pros perity from within, with less reliance on grants or the initial money bump supplied by housing developments. We must have a strong focus and spotlight on economic development and organ ic growth, especially in our downtown district.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

bill bass

Education: bachelor of science in organiza tional leadership, CSU Global

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Hopefully one, or both, of the ballot measures we’ve put before the voters to increase revenues will pass. In which case I would work with town staff to be gin more capital improvement projects.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Additional revenue to equip and retain our fire and police departments, and other staff.

2. Implementation of projects from two studies recently completed on wa ter and drainage improvements.

3. Increase efforts at economic devel opment.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Infrastructure

2. Improvements to roads

3. Drainage and water. Havenar, Glant Phone number: 1-303-246-4552

Email: ghavenar@ palmer-lake.org Website: glantfor mayor.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 276, Palmer Lake, CO 80133

Education: bachelor of arts, English and history.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Growth has taxed our resources and

1. First and foremost, we must repair and restructure our town water fund, enabling it to become self-sustaining. Water is paramount to life in Palmer Lake.

2. Greater code enforcement, appro priate licensing for all our short-term rental properties, and the preservation and stewardship of our lands, open spaces, parks and trails. We need to complete the code recodification pro cess and make sure our code complies with Colorado statutes and federal laws.

3. Finally, we must revive the com missioner system, which allows our citizens an open channel for commu nication.

What do you feel should be your town’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. We have many fiscal issues to face, including our available water supply.

2. The need to repair our water deliv ery and drainage systems,

3. More budget to keep our roads in good repair, and managing the extreme traffic we have experienced to our lake the past few years.

Trustee candidates: Dreher, Kevin

Phone number: 719313-8161

Email: kdreherfor PL@gmail.com

Website: Unavailable Mailing address: P.O. Box 1502, Palmer Lake, CO 80133

Education: bache lor’s degree in business management, Colorado State University.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Fiscal stability has to be our first issue.

cOurteSy OF aLeXuS brOWn Firworks explode at the Festival on the Fourth in Palmer Lake.

As the cost to do business has increased and our town and surrounding com munities have grown, it has stressed Palmer Lake’s ability to provide the services we depend on. These services include water, streets, police and fire. We have to have a better source of tax revenues instead of relying so heavily on the service industry.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Most important is fiscal stability. We can do better and must if our town is going to survive and thrive.

2. Second would be to make sure we have a safe and secure water system. We have to make sure our water re source is managed properly to ensure it continues to be a reliable source for future generations.

3. Third is code enforcement. Cur rently the Palmer Lake Police Depart ment is asked to do code enforcement. Their job is keeping our town safe. We have codes on the books that need to be cleaned up and clarified and the codes we have need to be enforced.

What do you feel should be the town’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Road and drainage management; we have some roads that need some at tention and there are serious drainage problems.

2. Police and fire: They need to be funded correctly to do their jobs while keeping in mind what the town needs.

3. Water: Our most important long term resource. We better take care of it

Glant Havenar

Kevin dreher

PALMER LAKE

and make sure it is sustainable.

Stephen, Matt

Phone number: 719-339-8765

Email: mascircle@gmail.com Website: Unavailable. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1282 Palmer Lake, CO 80133

Education: some college

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

Palmer Lake faces large financial challenges. The voters will decide what revenue the board will have to spend on various needs.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. I believe the Board of Trustees will have to be very thoughtful, creative and innovative to move the town forward in a sustainable way.

2. I would like to see the town engage more with the neighboring communi ties to the benefit of all.

3. The board should look closely at the recently updated master plan as it reflects the vision of Palmer Lake that the citizens support.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Palmer Lake should ensure its pub lic safety

2. Build a secure fiscally sustaining water district

3. Focus on building infrastructure in stead of repairing it.

Stern, Dennis

Phone number: 719-290-2000

Email: denbwana@yahoo.com Website: unavail able.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 557, Palmer Lake, CO 80133

Education: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department licensed B-1 general contractor; some college, Biola, La Mirada, Calif., Control Data Computer Sys tems Analyst Institute, Anaheim, Calif.; Central High School, Austin, Minn.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

The first order of business as a new ly elected trustee, along with the other members of the council, will be to enact a budget for the coming year. Palmer Lake is certainly facing some hard choices re garding prioritizing the funds that will

be available to us. My hope and aim is to find ways to do more with less and avoid additional tax increases if possible.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. First and foremost, representing the voice and preferences of the citizens of Palmer Lake with wise, common sense solutions to the many challenges we are facing.

2. Secondly, keep the unique char acter and spirit of Palmer Lake intact while encouraging smart growth for the continued fiscal health of our com munity into the future.

3. Lastly, reinstituting the commis sioner system the council used to em ploy, which will create more channels of communication between our citizens and those in governance.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Water needs to be top of list, regard ing both self sustainability and the in frastructure for delivery.

2. Safety and security for the citizens of Palmer Lake, meaning sufficiently funded and present fire and police re sponders.

3. Our road infrastructure, which is closely related to our need to control drainage, needs adequate funding and modification to handle our increased traffic demands.

Zapalac, Lindsey Phone number: 1-432-386-7840 Email: l.zapalac12@ gmail.com Website: unavail able.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1673, Palmer Lake, CO 80133 Education: master of business adminis tration, Sul Ross State University; bachelor of business administra tion, Sul Ross State University.

What is the first program you plan to enact if elected?

One of the ballot measures Palmer Lake residents will vote on this fall is whether to allow the sale of retail marijuana at the two existing medical ly licensed businesses in town. If this passes, the Board of Trustees will need to work cohesively to come up with solutions and enact ordinances that minimize the impact of the increased business and traffic along the 105 corri dor and within our community.

What do you feel are this office’s top 3 needs?

1. Finding creative solutions that generate additional tax revenue that

won’t place a heavy financial burden on residents.

2. Long-term sustainability plan for our lake, parks, open spaces, trails and reservoirs.

3. Growth in this area is imminent. We need a thoughtfully crafted ap proach to economic growth that focus es on locally owned/small businesses that contribute to and preserve our small town aesthetic.

What do you feel should be this office’s top 3 spending priorities?

1. Investing in our roads, overall in frastructure (sidewalks, parking, storm water drainage, etc.) and repair/protec tion/conservation of our water supply.

2. Revitalization of our downtown corridor and lakefront.

3. Public safety, more specifically en suring our fire department has the tools and resources necessary given the extreme wildfire risk surrounding Palmer Lake.

Ball, Shana

Phone number: 719-310-8836

Mailing address: 204 Vale St., Palm er Lake

Webpage: facebook.com/Shana BallasTrustee

The Gazette did not have responses from Ball by time of press, but she ad dressed her priorities if elected to the board in a post on her Facebook cam paign page:

“As trustee for the town of Palm er Lake, I would first like to work on economic development for our town. I feel that economic development is the backbone of our community. I am cur rently a board member for the Palmer Lake Economic Development Group (PLEDG), where many great people are

coming together to create great ideas that will help boost economy in Palmer Lake. As a trustee, I could help many of these ideas come to fruition!

“Second, I think everyone probably knows public safety is very dear and near to my heart. I will forever love our Fire Department and what it has done for our community. As the fire chief, I started 24-hour shifts at the station to increase response times and thus create the ability to accept volunteers who lived outside Palmer Lake. I increased training requirements, built relationships with other fire and police departments and started the department onto the path it is on today. As a trustee I will continue to support these two departments and help them to be able to provide the best ser vice possible to our citizens.

“Third is the continuation of support for our newly developed master plan. The Planning Commission and several volunteers have put many, many hours into developing an outstanding master plan for our town. I would like to keep the plan in the works of our future for Palmer Lake and generations I leave behind.”

dennis Stern

Lindsey Zapalac

JEFF KEArnEy, THE TrIbunE Palmer Lake Town Hall and the town administrative offices.

THE WASHInGTOn EXAMInEr