What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Crime in Colorado is unacceptable. Colorado is now No. 1 in the country for auto theft and bank robberies. We are No. 2 in the nation for overdoses of fentanyl resulting in death. Criminals are robbing banks and stealing cars to support their drug addictions. The decriminalization of fentanyl and other class II narcotics has created this problem.
I would introduce a bill to make possession of fentanyl or other class II narcotics a felony.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
I see several areas where we can collaborate. Currently, in Colorado only 35% of K-12 students in the public school system are reading and writing and calculating at grade level. Our children will not be prepared to think critically and solve new problems in math, reading, and science. I believe all Coloradans want our children to achieve and be independent.
Additionally, I have heard from many voters they are sick and tired of the crime wave hitting their neighborhoods and not having any police to investigate, nor DA that will prosecute the criminals. I hope we can work to support law and order to our communities.
The cost of living in Colorado is unacceptable. We have the highest inflation rate in the nation. We could open up our energy sector to produce oil and gas to sell.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
I will bring pragmatism to the chamber. After reading approximately one-third of the bills that were passed this spring session I see a pattern of a lack of business acumen. As a proven business leader, I have worked with multidisciplinary groups of leaders and I have been very successful in gaining understanding and consensus from these groups to make complex decisions. I believe I can bring this leadership to the assembly.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
Housing costs will remain high as long as the state continues to impose regulations on building and construction.
Housing will be high from our love of open space. We all want our green belts, but in so doing we create less space for housing.
I would recommend that the state repeal or reduce many of the regulations that they have imposed on the homeowners, especially the victims from the Marshall fire.
The building codes have made it very complicated and difficult for people to build or renovate their homes.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
I do not support the current law on fentanyl and other class II narcotics. Please tell me why any individual should have possession of 1 gram of fentanyl, heroin or cocaine?
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Addressing the Front Range’s abysmal ozone air quality. Legislation that fights the climate crisis and helps both rural and urban economies. Improved funding for high school-to-college programs.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
Wildfire mitigation. Disaster resilience and improved response to disasters. Geothermal energy. Investments in broadband and information technology. Electric grid resilience. Helping Colorado’s agricultural industry. Helping veterans. Updating laws for today’s economy and technologies.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
I am one of the few legislators with an engineering degree, who has worked exclusively in technical industries my entire career, first as a design engineer and then in many professional and management positions in small and medium sized businesses and Fortune 100 companies as well as running my own small business. Many of the bills I introduce focus on energy, environment and technology, where I draw on my background to understand the technologies involved in the bills and use data to inform my decisions.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
I both introduced and co-sponsored legislation passed this session that invests in affordable housing, helps residents reduce their utility bills by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, and fosters development of more affordable rental housing throughout the state. Going forward, I think the state can help by educating residents and businesses on the state and federal incentives, tax credits, grant and loan programs now available to them to build more affordable housing stock, reduce their utility bills and weatherize their homes. I recently learned that some residents need help repairing their homes in order to even qualify for weatherization assistance, another opportunity to ease housing costs.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
Yes. While it isn’t a perfect law, it takes action on this critical issue by punishing drug dealers, provides more life saving treatment for people who knowingly or unknowingly ingest this dangerous drug, and more support for those who have a drug addiction problem.
