Office and district sought: State House Representative, District 39
Name: Rep. David Balmer
Party affiliation: Republican
Website: www.davidbalmer.com
E-mail: dbalmer@cherokeefund.com
Age: 44
Family: Married to wife, Karen; one daughter, Laura (age 13)
Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., 1984); Wake Forest Law School (J.D. 1988); Various Army Training Schools
Occupation: Senior manager, Cherokee Investment Partners. I have worked for Cherokee for 13 years. Cherokee specializes in the acquisition and clean-up of environmentally contaminated properties. Military Background: I am a Major in the U.S Army Reserve. I have served in deployments to Bosnia and Afghanistan.
Hobbies: Running, hiking and snowshoeing
How long have you lived in Colorado? Where did you live before? I have lived in Colorado for 10 years. In 1996 my company, Cherokee, transferred me to the Denver office. Prior to 1996, I lived in North Carolina.
Last book read: More Patriot Hearts by Coffey
Civic Involvement: From 1998 to 2006, I served on the Board of Directors of Warren Village, a Denver non-profit community for 93 previously homeless single mothers. I also tutored an inner-city boy through the Bridge Project. I served for three years on the Accountability Committee for Fox Hollow Elementary School, part of Cherry Creek Schools. In 1999, I was honored with the Denver Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award, which recognizes Denver’s top 40 young business leaders.
Major endorsements: Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry; Colorado Association of School Executives
Why are you running? I have proven that I can get things done in a bipartisan manner. I was the prime sponsor of six House bills and the House sponsor of two Senate bills. All eight bills passed the Democrat-controlled Legislature and were signed into law by the governor. Only a handful of Representatives accomplished 100 percent passage.
In 2004, I personally knocked on over 6,000 doors in my successful campaign. This year, I personally have knocked on over 5,000 doors. Door-to-door affords me an opportunity to listen to the concerns of my constituents.
What are the top three challenges facing Colorado or the institution you seek to represent?
a) Illegal immigration: I supported the package of bills in the July special session
b) Parental involvement in our schools
c) Allowing free enterprise environment for our economy to continue to grow
What is your top priority in the next session if you should win? I intend to focus on several issues including increasing parental involvement in our schools, defending our free-enterprise system, protecting parks, cracking down on illegal immigration, fighting identity theft and protecting homeland security.
What proposal in the last session did you oppose the most? The so-called “Wal-Mart bill” which would mandate that 27 large companies in Colorado spend at least 11 percent of revenues on health care or pay the state taxes instead.
What proposal in the last session did you agree with the most? My state parks bill for which I received an award. Of course, I’m biased.
