What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Criminal justice reform that respects the need for the safety and well-being of both officers and offenders; amending the Colorado POST statutes to require crisis intervention training for all officers; adopting new and improved standards for all detention facilities and prisons, banning private companies from having a stake in corrections.
Managing the housing crisis through the establishment of a legal right to housing – passing rent stabilization and rent control, holding landlords accountable and removing corporations from profiting from the housing industry and gouging renters.
Addressing the mental health and addiction crises through establishing an inherent right of all to seek and be provided with effective mental health treatment and medication therapy
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
I believe that we can work together to address mental health throughout our state and to provide better resources for our military, first responders, and all citizens overall.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
Youth. We need to stop electing old, outdated and uncaring retirees to the state legislature. The people of Colorado deserve representation that mirrors the demographics of our own state. I am an openly gay man with experience in law enforcement and corrections who understands that the system has to change for the benefit of all.
The youth of our state have been betrayed. It’s time to fix that.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
First and foremost, our elected representatives should stop taking legalized bribes and contributions from private industry, landlords, and affiliated associations that are actively working to price gouge Colorado residents and are lobbying against effective rent control and rent stabilization measures.
We must hold landlords and private industry accountable as hardworking Coloradans are being priced out of their own homes and evicted without just cause. It’s time to pass rent control and rent stabilization, curb the power of HOAs, and ban corporations from monopolizing housing.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
No. HB 1326 was a convenient political ploy by members of both parties to refuse to hold private halfway houses and treatment centers accountable while also felonizing the unknowing possession of fentanyl.
Addicts should not be punished. They should be treated. I will not support measures to further punish users of illegal narcotics; however, I will support measures to increase enforcement against producers and dealers.
Mary Bradfield 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.
