Office and district sought: Congress, District 6
Name: Bill Winter
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Website: www.winterforcongress.com
E-mail: info@winterforcongress.com
Age: 42
Last Degree Earned: J.D. Catholic University of America
Occupation: Attorney
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities; working out and martial arts; reading; movies
Family: Father: William G. Winter, M.D., practiced medicine at VA hospital and taught at UCHSC; mother: Clara Winter, M.D., private practice physician in Denver area.
How long have you lived in Colorado? Where did you live before? I was born in Greeley and grew up in Littleton. After I was discharged from the Navy, I spent several years in Washington, D.C. and in North Carolina. I returned to Castle Rock in 2001.
Last book read: “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien
Major endorsements: CO Professional Firefighters; Veterans for a Secure America.
Why are you running? The voters of CD-6 deserve a Congressman who is dedicated to addressing all issues that are important to them instead of a Congressman who is focused on using his office to advance a narrow ideology.
What are the top three challenges facing Colorado or the institution you seek to represent?
-More that 700,000 Coloradans are without healthcare coverage.
-Our public schools and universities are facing big funding cuts. The federal government has too much control over our schools.
-We will be dealing with a water shortage crisis over the next decade. We must work to preserve and conserve our water today while we still can.
What steps, if any, do you think the federal government needs to take to address the problem of illegal immigration?
I stand by Sen. John McCain’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act that was passed this year in the U.S. Senate. It addressed our national security concerns, with provisions for adding 15,000 Border Patrol agents, 370 miles of fencing as well as a plan for surveillance along the entire border. It sets up a program that will match the demand for foreign workers with employers, legally. It is tough on employers who employ undocumented workers. And it includes a provision for a path to citizenship in which immigrants have to pass a security check and learn the language.
Do you support the continued involvement of American troops in Iraq?
We desperately need a new direction in Iraq. The President’s plan to “stay the course” has led to many American deaths and an unstable Iraq. We must listen to the generals and develop a plan that will quickly secure the peace and bring our men and women home. To do so we must reach out to our allies and rebuild the relationships that were damaged by the Administration’s unilateralist and divisive execution of its foreign policy. With the support of our allies and the creation of worldwide resolve to stabilize Iraq we can make great strides in winning the peace.
