Why are you seeking public office?
Here in Colorado, and across our country, we have seen the detriment that comes with Government taking control of our businesses, our schools, our medical needs, and getting involved in parental decisions. People are losing their freedoms little by little, we have a legislature that truly believes that they can make better decisions for people than they can make for themselves, and because of this overreach — people are suffering. Our kids are losing their childhood experiences, businesses are closing, we are unable to participate in the activities we count on to be uplifted like socializing and free worship. It’s time to put the power, the choices and the freedom back into the hands of Colorado citizens, and return the office of public services to actually serving the public.
What will your top three priorities be if elected?
Personal and community safety — working with law enforcement to create effective solutions without jeopardizing the safety of our businesses, schools, homes and families.
Opening our classrooms back up so parents can get back to work and recover from the extensive and unnecessary shut-downs.
Allowing businesses the freedom to determine what health and safety measures make sense for their operations, and getting them back to full capacity.
Do you support some type of public option health insurance or Medicare for All at the state level? If so, which and why? If not, why not?
I do support having a public option — my family has needed to use CHP in the past to assist with medical costs for our children.
I do not support public options that are forced by government to be offered at every medical facility, and imposing large fines on these facilities if they do not adhere to these orders.
Have your views on policing and racism in Colorado changed this year? If so, how?
My views have expanded with the recent events happening across our country. I believe that there are drastic measures that need to be taken to support our law enforcement to make sure they are equipped with the mental and physical resources to carry out their duties at a productive level.
I believe that we need to address the underlying issues that cause disparities between communities — offering greater educational outcomes, transportation options, medical services, and making sure jobs are available.
Vocational training in our high schools for those about to graduate would be a huge step increasing graduation rates, and securing success beyond high school.
Do you place a greater importance on addressing climate change or preserving Colorado’s oil and gas industry? What steps would you take on these issues as a lawmaker?
I don’t believe that preserving our oil and gas industry or addressing environmental issues are mutually exclusive. You can be in favor of both issues, and address them at the same time.
Our oil and gas industry is a leader in innovation, here in Colorado. There are experts in this field who know their profession inside and out, and adhere to strict protocols to ensure the safety of their surrounding areas. At the same time, climate change activists should be partnering with our energy-producing industry to create solutions that make sense, that continue to improve our methods, while maintaining the crucial revenue and economic support that our oil and gas industry provides to our entire state.
Should Colorado consider any new gun laws? If so, which do you support?
Colorado has very strict gun laws, and many are seeing what those look like as gun sales have drastically increased over the last few months. People are realizing that you can’t just go in and purchase a firearm like you would a new pair of shoes. There are background checks in place, and educational opportunities provided to instill safe storage, safe handling, and an understanding of our gun laws. We need to make sure that the laws we have in place are being enforced, and that if there’s an issue of someone being deemed mentally unstable, that the individual is moved away from any object that they could use to cause harm. Our mental health resources need to expand, and we need to work on uplifting our society as a whole, as CO has some of the highest depression rates in the country.
Why are you seeking public office?
I originally ran for the office in 2014 because I felt that Colorado needed to continue to work toward affordable health care, to ensure reproductive justice, protect our clean air and water, and for a fair economy for all. Now, I’m running for my fourth and final term and while these are still important it’s hard to ignore the pivotal moment in history we find ourselves. I will stand on the right side of history to protect the civil rights of ALL Coloradans regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. Racism is deadly and equal justice under the law will go a long way to cure the ills of racism.
What will your top three priorities be if elected?
Continue my work on affordable healthcare and ensuring that Colorado’s voting access will be at the national forefront on secure, accessible, and safe voting.
It’s also time that Colorado addresses the systemic racism embedded in our state institutions and statutes.
Do you support some type of public option health insurance or Medicare for All at the state level? If so, which and why? If not, why not?
I have long supported a single payer system but that was rejected by citizens when Amendment 69 failed in 2016. I will continue to work toward a public option that was started in 2018. A public option will give consumers more choice on the individual health insurance market and I believe that is the right direction for Colorado.
Have your views on policing and racism in Colorado changed this year? If so, how?
My views on racism haven’t changed but what this has shown me is that we have an urgency to address racism. The effects of racism in policing is a deadly combination that can no longer be ignored. I will say that I don’t support “defunding police” but reform is required to root out the racism in policing that is killing our people of color. In 2010, the FBI reported that our nation’s police departments have been infiltrated by white supremacists and members of militias. An updated report by a retired FBI agent this year shows the problem has grown worse. Addressing this is critical.
Do you place a greater importance on addressing climate change or preserving Colorado’s oil and gas industry? What steps would you take on these issues as a lawmaker?
Climate change is man made and must be addressed. Already we are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency. I believe that moving to clean energy is the path and there is no reason that we can’t also create good jobs with a clean energy economy.
I support working with the oil and gas industry to support them if they wish to be a part of that clean energy.
Should Colorado consider any new gun laws? If so, which do you support?
In the 2020 legislative session, there were 2 bills introduced to address gun safety. One was to require reporting of lost or stolen guns and another was to address safe storage of guns to keep them out of the hands of children or those who may be a danger to themselves or others.
Due to the pandemic, our legislative session was cut short and both of these bills were layed over indefinitely. I support bringing both of these common sense gun safety bills back in the 2021 session.
