What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
1. Continuing to work to reduce the cost of housing for both owners and renters (see answer below for more).
2. Continuing to help Coloradans meet the challenges posed by historically high costs through things like tax law changes; less costly higher education options; and addressing healthcare costs.
3. Safeguarding women’s bodily and moral autonomy in Colorado by protecting abortion rights.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
This year I worked with Republicans on accessibility of judicial opinions; transparency of data about county jails; implementing recommendations from the Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice; implementing the transition to a new judicial district for Arapahoe County; reforming our judicial discipline system; supporting crime survivors with brain injuries; increasing funding for crime survivor support programs; cleaning up orphan wells; and adjusting property taxes during high inflation. In prior years as well many more of the bills I’ve passed than not have had bipartisan support.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
My father served in the Army in Vietnam and then worked a 38-year career in life insurance. My mother was a reference librarian and sometime professor of librarian science, and I spent a lot of time in libraries growing up. So I like to say that taught me to work hard, focus on the mission, do your research, and get your facts straight. I try to bring that to doing the job of a state representative. I also think a background in economics and law helps in terms of analyzing bills carefully.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
Every dollar invested through the Division of Housing can see up to 12:1 leverage in terms of tax credit, private, and other financing, so we need to continue to find ways to invest in creation and preservation of affordable housing through these existing but historically underfunded means. Aggressively pursue the land trust concept to take the cost of land out of the equation. Continue to invest in development of technologies like modular and panelized to lower cost of construction. Look at second-order costs of housing like rental application costs and metro district taxation.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
I supported the aspects of HB1326 for tougher penalties for distribution so that people who deal this drug for profit face appropriate punishment; for investment in treatment and harm reduction; for expansion of good samaritan provisions to save lives in overdose situations; for public awareness and education efforts; and for extensive study and analysis so future policy will be based on good data. I have never thought that felonizing possession without intent to distribute is an effective way to help people recover from an addiction to this drug.
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Block any gun legislation. Push for reducing taxes. Reduce government involvement in our daily lives.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
Common ground is anything that promotes individual liberty.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
A desire to reduce government.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
Step back, the government doesn’t need to be setting price controls.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
No, it doesn’t need to be criminalized. Promote treatment.
William Walters 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.
