What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Women’s right to an abortion in the state constitution, addressing corporations purchasing housing, extended funding for trade programs in our schools.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
Corporations buying up the housing supply, more funding for trade programs in our schools, and PFAS contamination are issues I feel both parties can get behind.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
Honestly, there are plenty of young white males like me. I am nothing special, but I advocate for issues that everyday people are facing in my district and I make an effort to reach across the aisles to those who want to help make a positive difference in the state. I am a mechanic, I am part of the working class that makes this country work. I hear the issues that everyday people need and I am ready to get to work for the people of Colorado.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
There are a lot of things to be done, but a big issue that I am seeing across the state is the number of out-of-state investors who are buying up our housing supply. I think we need to address this first.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
I think that we need to be focused on recovery and not felonies. We should have learned our lessons in the 80’s, with the disastrous war on drugs, that locking people away, giving them a felony, and taking them from their families is not the answer. I do think it is a good idea to have fentanyl testing strips, Narcan, education about the drug, and access to rehab for those that need it.
Scott T. Bottoms and John Kaufman have not returned the questionnaire.
How candidate order was determined: A lot drawing was held at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on Aug. 3 to determine the general election ballot order for major and minor party candidates. Colorado law (1-5-404, C.R.S.) requires that candidates are ordered on the ballot in three tiers: major party candidates followed by minor party candidates followed by unaffiliated candidates. Within each tier, the candidates are ordered by a lot drawing with the exception of the office of Governor and Lt. Governor, which are ordered by the last name of the gubernatorial candidate.
