Why are you seeking public office?
I am constantly in awe of human ingenuity, and what human beings can achieve — when they are left free to do it. I love American Liberty and the extraordinary legacy it has created for mankind. Yet everywhere I look, I see our liberty disappearing. In a kinder, freer time, I might not be running for office, because my family and my children are the most important things to me, and I want to give them all the best I have to give. But right now that requires that I enter the realm of politics, because politics isn’t just about right now — it’s about the future in which my children will live. It is my duty to secure Liberty to the people — not just in this moment, but for all time.
What will your top three priorities be if elected?
1. Respectfully re-involve our communities in the political conversation. The people I talk to WANT to be involved, they WANT their voices heard. But they have never been invited. I want to bring our State’s legislative issues directly to the people, so that they are never blind-sided by what we are doing, and we always know their perspective. Long-time politicians are somewhat insulated from what it’s like for Americans in day-to-day life. It’s important to stay in touch.
2. Create a “rainy day fund” constitutional amendment to force our government to save in good times as they are meant to do. We were grossly unprepared for this economic downturn, and this can never happen again.
3. Get rid of the Safety Clause. Colorado citizens deserve their constitutional veto power.
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?
No. We have two tests of efficacy when it comes to a healthcare system:
1) the ethical test. Is it right to guarantee healthcare as a right? The fact is that healthcare is the product of human labor, and because of this you cannot guarantee that product as a right unless you are willing to enslave the producer. So: SLAVERY BAD. Government healthcare fails the ethical test.
2) the pragmatic test. Does it work? When judging a healthcare system, you have three factors: quality, affordability, and universality. In a free market, competition naturally draws down cost and improves quality over time. Access also becomes more universal as costs decrease. But when the government gives care away “for free,” it drives costs UP, and quality DOWN. In the end we have universal access to nothing.
Have your views on policing and racism in Colorado changed this year? If so, how?
Yes. I used to think police were targeting black Americans — then I looked at the statistics. We have had exactly 3 borderline black deaths from police contact in the last 10 years. The police in Colorado are overwhelmingly not racist. They are doing a critical and dangerous job, and they are doing it well. They need a bit more faith from us, I think, if we want them to keep doing that job.
Obviously public trust in police has been undermined, as has police trust in elected officials. These are real problems, and we have to make efforts to repair those relationships. Some aspects of community policing — eg making sure police are part of their communities rather than apart from them — could be helpful in restoring public trust.
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?
Per the IPCC, if we stopped using fossil fuels nation wide TODAY, the expected net effect on the climate would be less than 0.02 degrees C over the next 100 years. At the same time, if we stopped using oil and gas, we would see immediate increases in climate related deaths, and immense economic hardship for our poorest and most vulnerable populations. We cannot give up our best tools for promoting human flourishing, particularly when we would get virtually nothing in return. Preserving Colorado’s oil and gas industry IS preserving human life — because there are literally no alternatives (under current technology) that can bear our energy burden.
Should Colorado consider any new gun laws? If so, which do you support?
I think we need to repeal the Red Flag law that Colorado passed last year.
Why are you seeking public office?
It has been an honor to serve as your representative for the past two years and I have worked across the aisle on important issues for our community such as school choice, improving career and technical education, addressing teen vaping, and improving access to mental health services. I am seeking to continue serving as you representative to continue to bring an independent and balanced voice to the legislature that will advocate for our community above partisanship.
What will your top three priorities be if elected?
The challenges imposed by COVID-19 to our economy and our education system will be my primary focus for my next term.
In education, my priority is ensuring families and children are not left behind in the transition to distance learning. The Legislature did nothing to ensure schools were prepared for learning in the fall, which has lead to a patch work of responses that has left many children and families in untenable positions and stymied their educational progress.
In the economic realm, I think it will be critical to provide businesses with flexibility and relief from regulatory burdens in order to prevent as many business failures as possible. I was very disturbed by some of the partisan pieces of legislation passed that will raise taxes, costs and regulations on small businesses.
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?
As someone who was born with a congenital heart defect and had multiple heart surgeries throughout childhood, addressing the rising cost of healthcare is a top priority for me. However enacting a public healthcare option or so called Medicare for all would have devastating effects on the quality of care and particularly on the availability of specialists like cardiologists and surgeons. I would instead suggest bi-partisan solutions like expanding direct primary care models or making health insurance premium payments tax deductible which will give individuals more control over their healthcare options and drive down costs by improving primary care access.
Have your views on policing and racism in Colorado changed this year? If so, how?
The truly horrific instances of police involved deaths around the country has highlighted the need to continue to address systemic racism. While I think there are clear opportunities to provide better training and mental health supports for police, the singular focus on police as bad actors exacerbates the problem rather than addressing it. Rushed bills like SB217 creates tens of millions of dollars in unfunded mandates for data processing, administration, and insurance costs, diverting resources away from things like training and recruitment and do little to address the problem. Addressing racism is going to require a holistic approach, starting with equal access to educational and career opportunities and I will continue to work with across the aisle on these issues.
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 a global issue that must be addressed in a global manner. One of the best things we could do as a state to limit green house gas emissions on a global scale is to increase domestic natural gas production and export it to Asian and African countries to supplant the use of coal fired power plants, which are currently the norm in those parts of the world. The oil and gas industry in Colorado can and should be viewed as an ally in the short and medium term goal of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions until renewable energy alternatives are technologically and economically viable as an alternative.
Should Colorado consider any new gun laws? If so, which do you support?
No, Colorado should be focused on providing better mental health access for people struggling with depression or other mental health issues, not on passing additional laws that punish law abiding firearm owners and do nothing to prevent tragedies such as suicide or violent crimes. I am committed to providing actual solutions to these problems which is why I have been a staunch advocate for better mental health access and treatment.
Why are you seeking public office?
I believe that public service is an honorable profession and that those who have benefited from the resources and opportunities available in our country should give back. I’m running on the promises of the preamble of our constitution to: establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
What will your top three priorities be if elected?
1. Safe schools and neighborhoods, especially in the area of gun violence.
2. Universal access to affordable health care.
3. Social justice and law enforcement reform.
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 support a state public option for health care with the goal of universal healthcare which is not tied to employment.
Have your views on policing and racism in Colorado changed this year? If so, how?
As the wife of a former policeman, I am aware of the dangers that law enforcement faces everyday. This year I have become more aware of the need for better training, more accountability, and better deescalation procedures in policing. I support SB20-217 which was signed into law this year.
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 believe that climate change is an existential threat to our state and the world. Extreme weather and disastrous forest fires in Colorado and around our country are evidence that we must take immediate steps to move from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. I would work to find incentives for companies to convert to renewable energy and to help workers transition to new jobs.
Should Colorado consider any new gun laws? If so, which do you support?
Gun violence prevention is a priority for me as a candidate. I am a gun owner and a member of Colorado Gun Owners for Safety. I believe we should consider a safe storage law, raising the age to buy all guns to 21, and reporting lost or stolen guns.
