What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Safeguard our democracy and our personal freedoms against authoritarian attacks; tackle the affordable housing crisis with every tool we have; protect our environment and meet or beat our carbon reduction goals.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
I think we all want to take care of our beautiful state and ensure that we develop gracefully as our population grows. I hope that we can come to some agreement about how to implement that, even when we have to resolve competing priorities. We all deserve a solid foundation in life, and that goes for Coloradans of all races, ethnicities, and identities, no matter who we love, how or if we worship, or where we come from.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
I’m definitely the more down-to-earth choice in this race. I rent my home, I work in the gig economy, I grew up in an impoverished and dysfunctional home, and I was even disabled for a while in my early adulthood. We need more people in our legislature who genuinely know the struggle; those who enrich themselves off of it are already well represented.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
There are definitely some supply side issues we can address, such as establishing best practices in zoning and planning, employing land banking and trusts, and developing the kind of infrastructure that attracts more federal subsidies, such as multi-modal transit. On the other side of the equation, we need the law to work for renters and low-income buyers, and curb the excesses of private equity firms and corporate landlords. We should also repeal the statewide ban on rent stabilization and allow local governments to decide for themselves what is best for their own communities.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
I’m all for more treatment, especially increased access to nalaxone and testing strips. I am less supportive of the stricter rule for possession, which threatens to excessively punish people who use drugs. Voluntary treatment produces better outcomes than coercion. People with substance abuse and addiction are not acting out; they’re hurting, and heaping on felonies and jail time is more likely to worsen matters than to help. We’ve been waging the war on drugs for a good 50 years now, and we haven’t seen positive results. It’s time to adjust our perspective and put human health and dignity first.
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
My top three priorities all focus on issues that affect regular Colorado families and businesses.
1. Public safety: As a Colorado Springs city councilman and brother of a police sergeant, I know this is the first responsibility of government. Colorado should not lead the U.S. in auto thefts and bank robberies.
2. Improve affordability: As a board member of Colorado Springs Utilities I have seen the impact state-imposed mandates can have on prices. We have to consider the effect these price increases have on real citizens.
3. Improve our schools: I want a great school for every kid. Current test scores show we are not preparing our kids to succeed. Let’s give parents more options and prepare our kids for success!
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
1. I have to believe that both parties will want to decrease crime in Colorado. We lead the nation in car thefts and bank robberies. We are #2 in fentanyl overdose deaths. Violent crime has been increasing dramatically. This is unacceptable. I believe both parties will want to pass legislation that improves the safety of our citizens. 2. I also believe both parties will be willing to work together to help decrease the teacher shortage in our schools. One way to address this is to use an asset which we already have – military veterans (of which I am one). Let’s create an alternate certification process for military veterans.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
I have a unique and very broad background, which will bring leadership, experience, and common sense to the Colorado State House. I currently serve on the Colorado Springs city council, the Colorado Springs Utilities board of directors, and the El Paso County Board of Health. I am a physician assistant, and former Center Director of a Men’s Health Center. I was a paramedic. I served 21 years in the Army. I served in the US Forest Service as a trail crewman and Wilderness Guard.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
In medicine we have a saying: “First I shall do no harm”. It would be good for the state legislature to also adopt that motto. We need to be careful that we are not increasing housing costs by imposing standards and requirements that significantly increase the cost of a home – but achieve only a tiny increase in energy efficiency, or force the homebuilder to provide an item that the homebuyer does not want and does not plan to use. I have recently spoken with homebuilders and one of their requests is to simply have a pause in new and increased regulation so they can become accustomed to the recently passed legislation and adapt to it. This seems reasonable.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
The current law is inadequate. The legislature’s reduction in penalty for fentanyl possession is part of a pattern of decreasing penalties for dangerous, and even violent crimes. Our legislature has failed our state by lowering penalties for crimes and we are now witnessing a surge in crime – including violent crime.
John Hjersman has 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.
