Why are you seeking public office?
I am seeking public office because I care about children and their families. I want to protect education funding and work toward equity in public schools. I have faced tough times and I understand how Coloradans are struggling to support their families. In the Senate, I will work to rebuild an economy where people can do more than just get by. I believe everyone needs access to affordable healthcare. I am running to provide compassionate leadership and represent the voices of everyone.
What will your top three priorities be if elected?
My top three priorities include protecting and increasing funding for public education while working toward a fair and equitable system where all children will succeed. Second, fighting for affordable, and accessible healthcare that protects coverage for preexisting conditions is a must. A strong focus on an economic recovery with good-paying union jobs where people who work hard can do more than just try to make ends meet. I care about so many other important issues. Like so many people, my top three priorities are education, healthcare and the economy.
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?
Yes, Healthcare is a human right. I support a public option here in Colorado, that also includes an expansion of medicare and medicaid toward vulnerable communities, especially those with low incomes and disabilities.
Have your views on policing and racism in Colorado changed this year? If so, how?
Yes, my views on policing and racism in Colorado continued to change this year as part of a years long journey to learn about and engage with the reality of structural racism in our police, our public schools, and our society at large. We must listen, learn, and put in the hard and often uncomfortable work to address these structures and make Colorado a truly equitable place.
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?
The greatest importance of our lifetime is addressing climate change. It’s also an economic issue; as a lawmaker, I would fully support measures to promote renewable energy right here in Colorado by expanding our tax incentives for the manufacture of the infrastructure required for the transition to renewable energy, as well as the ability for rural landowners to profit off of the placement of wind and solar farms on their land. Renewable energy can not only save our forests and waterways, it can transform and invigorate our rural economies.
Should Colorado consider any new gun laws? If so, which do you support?
Keeping children and our communities safe through common-sense gun legislation is our responsibility. Colorado should require a permit to open carry, just like we do for concealed carry. If a person wants to go into a public place with a gun, they should be required to demonstrate that they can handle it safely and have purchased the gun legally.
Kevin Priola has not returned the questionnaire.
