What is the most important issue facing Coloradans today?
Colorado is no longer a safe place to raise a family. We are 47th in the nation in crime, 3rd from the bottom. We are No. 1 in car thefts, bank robberies, and property crimes, and No. 2 in fentanyl deaths. Colorado is in the top five in recidivism rates, and law enforcement says the same bad actors are committing the majority of our crimes. What is worse, is that law enforcement says they do not feel supported by our current leadership. The reason for this spike in crime is soft-on-crime policies, like relaxed bail/bonds and reduced sentencing, that are designed to keep people out of jail.
What are your key goals for the state’s education system in the next four years?
Sixty percent of Colorado’s children are not performing at grade level. Kids who are not reading proficiently in third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. I will fund the student, not the system, through true school choice. I will make sure our kids can learn to read and write by third grade with a common-sense curriculum that is transparent to parents. Politicians need to give power back to parents to make good choices for their kids. I’ll make sure the funding follows the families if they need to make different choices around school.
What are your short- and long-term tactics for improving public safety in the state?
I’m the daughter of a reserve police officer. The answer is a return to law and order. We must reintroduce truth in sentencing and bail reform so these career criminals STAY in jail. We must fire the parole board and replace them with people ready to enforce the law. We must treat open drug use like the crime it is and make possession of any fentanyl a felony. We must end our status as a sanctuary state so that we can stop the flow of drugs into our state. Most importantly, we must support law enforcement with training and recruiting efforts and not demonize them.
What are the best solutions to homelessness in Colorado?
Colorado is ranked 5th in the nation when it comes to our chronically homeless population, and the encampments in our cities are bad for businesses and for the housed and unhoused. As Governor, I will work with cities and law enforcement to enforce camping bans and get illegal drugs off our streets. We must have compassion but, at the same time, respect the property rights of businesses and homeowners. I will work with cities and non-profits to provide residential recovery programs that provide work training and accountability. We must also work to address our state’s mental health crisis so those who are suffering can be treated.
How can Colorado conserve the amount of water it draws from the Colorado River to complement recent lower-basin cutbacks announced by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation?
Water is Colorado’s most important resource. Despite the fact that we have had water problems since 1876, our current leadership is still studying the issue. Studies are not enough; action is needed to protect our water. Our focus must be on expanding and building more storage for water to protect ourselves from drought. The pressure to conserve water must not be put on the backs of the farmers and ranchers who provide food for our communities. I will cut back on the regulations that are preventing us from protecting and conserving the water we need.
What more can Colorado do to prevent and protect itself against wildfires?
This is a challenge that is not going away, and we must act quickly to prevent harmful wildfires. As Governor, I will take the wood out of the fire by removing 1/4 of the standing trees that are dead wood. I will thin out the trees, allow prescribed burns, and promote smart land use and defensible spaces. I will follow the science, not the political science, and will protect our communities and forests from further devastation.
What is the most important issue facing Coloradans today?
As Governor, I’m focused on helping people keep more of their hard-earned money. This includes building on the work we have gotten done to make kindergarten, and soon preschool, free; cap the cost of insulin; and eliminate state taxes on Social Security and small businesses. Additionally, I signed bills to reduce the property tax rate for every property owner for 2023 and 2024, saving Coloradans $1.1 billion. If re-elected, I will work to save people even more money by reducing the cost of major expenses like education and healthcare with a serious focus on housing.
What are your key goals for the state’s education system in the next four years?
There is nothing more important to Colorado’s success than helping students succeed. Data shows that a strong start is critical to closing the achievement gap. Colorado now offers all-day kindergarten and soon universal preschool. We also increased K-12 public school investment by 18% per student or $12,000-$13,000 per classroom, decreasing class sizes and improving teacher pay. I will continue fighting for high-quality education in every corner of the state, delivering on innovative solutions to grow our teaching workforce in rural and underserved communities, and ensuring every Colorado student receives a quality education that enables them to pursue their dreams.
What are your short- and long-term tactics for improving public safety in the state?
I have a plan to make Colorado one of the safest states in the country, and we are already stepping up state support for local law enforcement. Our state is strengthening local police and sheriff departments’ ability to hire, train and retain law enforcement officers. We increased penalties for trafficking fentanyl as well as other serious crimes like sex offenses and catalytic converter thefts. But to truly improve public safety, we must prevent crime from happening in the first place by improving Colorado’s behavioral health response, increasing early intervention and diversion, supporting addiction recovery, and implementing programs to reduce recidivism.
What are the best solutions to homelessness in Colorado?
Homelessness is a matter of statewide concern, and my administration is partnering with cities, counties and service providers to expand evidence-based solutions that reduce homelessness. While cities and local law enforcement must do more to keep our neighborhoods healthy and safe, the key to reducing homelessness is not just housing, but housing with stronger addiction and mental health services. My administration is working on two new regional facilities in the metro area. Lastly, we must provide more affordable housing options so that we prevent people from falling into homelessness and so Coloradans can live near where they work.
How can Colorado conserve the amount of water it draws from the Colorado River to complement recent lower-basin cutbacks announced by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation?
Water is Colorado’s lifeblood. We are incentivizing water-wise landscaping, building water-conscious communities, and increasing reuse practices. We must avoid “buy and dry” schemes that would hurt Colorado’s strong agriculture industry, or pit one part of our state against another. As the state increases our support for upgrades to infrastructure, we are also repairing, replacing and building new water infrastructure and using the best available science to account for every drop of water, and not only make housing more affordable in our state, but also more water efficient.
What more can Colorado do to prevent and protect itself against wildfires?
As climate and natural disasters intensify, my administration will continue to strengthen Colorado’s wildfire prevention, preparedness and response to protect families and property. With a new statewide dispatch center, major upgrades to our aerial firefighting fleet, and an additional $145 million invested in firefighters, equipment and departments, Colorado is better prepared than ever before to fight active wildfires. Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our response and recovery while undertaking the most expansive wildfire mitigation efforts in Colorado’s recent history to build stronger and more effective community-level and home-level fire defense.
What is the most important issue facing Coloradans today?
Preservation and conservation, in water, design and environmental hope for climate change transformations, experiments and infrastructure. The economy gave cash back to every taxpayer (a refund) that was pumped back into the strong economy that Colorado is enjoying with a foreseen continuation, with other types of Universal Basic Income to assist veterans, single parents and less fortunate. Workforce housing, affordable and homeless assistance to a home. Fossil fuels must come to terms with what is happening and how we all can take a lead to a more sustainable future, and a smooth transition to flow.
What are your key goals for the state’s education system in the next four years?
Pay teachers to stay and support building a community that appreciates the vocation. Physical education is gutted and should re-emerge as dance, in all its wonderful cultures, that can teach basics, awareness and diplomatic dancing around the issue. Fittest state doesn’t make us healthy. Our health needs to be first, and the children who need to be fed, nurtured and be whole in how to maneuver the 21st Century; we need to progress, while preserving those communities for our connection to the ancestors. Broadband complete with focus on production of programs.
What are your short- and long-term tactics for improving public safety in the state?
Opportunities to strengthen relations, work with the social programs available.
Maintain funding and build Cadets of Color, for the new approach to policing. Honor the first responder/Chief/elected Marshal for Denver, W.E.Sisty, with a mountain. He served our State as the first responder for animals and people. City safety is so important for the tourism/hospitality that we offer. Some towns are in a crisis, with staffing or abandonment. The State can offer more with federal funds for recidivism, no private prisons. Develop education about civics, law enforcement and drivers ed. Yes, slow down, respect our State Patrol.
What are the best solutions to homelessness in Colorado?
House them. Open closing schools for families, and prevention with resources for individuals. Get them the help they need. Support the small business and resident that has grievances, but do it with compassion, empathy and now UBI.
Fiorino for Colorado has promoted since 2006. When forced out, by owners/landlords, medical, other bill collections, loans, foreclosure, unforgivable, Addictions, Mental illness, Domestic violence and Suicide and pressure on the Care Giver,
Our Youth and Veterans. Houston has confirmed our Plan. This solution may come up short for those who wish to not have help or government assistance. One on One is the answer. More mentors who have been there, need to be heard, support and respected. Anyone? Federal grants are ESSENTIAL , matching for dollars.
How can Colorado conserve the amount of water it draws from the Colorado River to complement recent lower-basin cutbacks announced by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation?
From the tap (use only what you need, and cherish it), filtering is a necessity, while waste is a manageable resource; a phase-out of the fracturing, like COCs & HFCs, will also be necessary as Colorado will lead in this transformation; as it has. Agriculture will need to make changes to crops, livestock and the watershed for the fish and wildlife.
What more can Colorado do to prevent and protect itself against wildfires?
Mitigation and removal of fuel. Beetle kill trees were part of the Fiorino for Colorado agenda since 2006, as it became a priority, and furniture. Out-of-state smoke affects us, as they too burn. We bought a tanker and share with them a very effective tool, but more will be needed as the fire force, also first responders, find themselves in demand. The campfire may just be a memory, but only you can prevent forest fires.
What is the most important issue facing Coloradans today?
The cost of living. Inflation has caused the exorbitant pricing of necessities such as food and gas. Coloradans need to feel financially secure in their immediate needs being met.
What are your key goals for the state’s education system in the next four years?
I am profoundly eager to cultivate an education system that allows every single student to learn to the best of their ability. My primary goal is for Colorado families to have the flexibility of equal access to any type of learning environment (whether that be public, charter, online, home school, or some combination of these) so that each unique child has the optimal chance to thrive in their learning. I will work to end the disparity in school funding that disadvantages the members of so many communities, minorities, and social classes.
What are your short- and long-term tactics for improving public safety in the state?
We can find substantial long- and short-term benefits from getting police more involved with their communities and fostering a positive relationship between the police and the people. This will primarily come from generating mutual trust between safety officers and civilians through community education and reliable avenues of communication.
What are the best solutions to homelessness in Colorado?
Non-profit organizations are our most valuable resources for our homeless brothers and sisters but they cannot efficiently serve our communities with the current level of government involvement. Non-profits are uniquely qualified to lead in ending homelessness because of the goodness and kindness of those doing the work. However, their altruistic endeavors are hindered by governmental regulations. This cannot continue if we hope to end homelessness.
How can Colorado conserve the amount of water it draws from the Colorado River to complement recent lower-basin cutbacks announced by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation?
For far too long, Colorado Homeowners Associations have employed wasteful measures for the sake of property value and cash flow. These small empires have demanded aesthetic perfection from homeowners which has subsequently harmed our water independence just to keep lawns green and sightly. Cracking down on HOA regulations that require excessive and non-vital water usage is the quickest and simplest way we can conserve water and progress toward energy independence and environmental stability.
What more can Colorado do to prevent and protect itself against wildfires?
Diligence in mitigation is key to protection. Simple measures such as regular brush trimming near and around houses can proactively save many lives. We need to provide abundant and secure ways for the disposing of cigarettes and employ water-conserving measures to help diminish the effects of drought. Continuously educating students and families about fire hazards and safety precautions will also play a foundational role in preventing wildfires. Finally, we need to direct more funding to trained wildfire investigators in order to hold fire-starters accountable and find patterns in wildfire causes in order to prevent them from happening again.
Danielle Neuschwanger has not returned the questionnaire.
