What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
PERA preservation; teachers wages; healthcare access and affordability.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
Controlling access to assault weapons for people under 21 years of age; moratorium on introduction of wolves in Western Colorado; wildfire preparations; water preservation especially for agriculture.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
Experience in healthcare administration and education. Have special interest in rural healthcare especially mental health. Also in cost of prescription drugs.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
Reward contractors who build affordable housing upon the completion of the project.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
Yes!
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Protecting West Slope water and our farmers and ranchers, along with pushing back on wolves.
Getting rural Colorado roads repaired and developing an alternative to I-70 in Glenwood Canyon.
Creating an environment for economic success by being tough on crime, providing access to affordable healthcare in rural Colorado, reducing taxes and fees to combat increases in cost of living, and ensuring better educational outcomes so businesses and individuals can achieve their full potential.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
In 2022, I ran more bipartisan bills than any other member of the Colorado House of Representatives. The secret is crossing the aisle, not compromising on core values, but knowing members are human and separating policy from personalities. I see common issues in areas of transparency, water conservation, broadband and telecommunications development for rural Colorado, making rural healthcare accessible and affordable, improving our roads, etc.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
Members in the House of Representatives on both sides have regarded me as a statesman, intellectual, and willing to rise above the fray. I am genuine. I care passionately about Western Colorado and our state as a whole. My education in British and American law and my deep interests in legal history and academic research have proved valuable in the General Assembly. I have also made it a point to get to know members and educate them on what is important in rural Western Colorado.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
Allow the free market to work and stop manipulating the type of housing and how much rent is or deed restrictions on equity.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
I was one of the three Republicans in the House of Representatives to vote for the Fentanyl Bill and ensured its passage. It is not the ideal bill, but it did change the cut points to allow our prosecutors to put drug dealers in prison for a long time and provides funding for overdose medication and education persuading Coloradans, especially kids, not to use blackmarket drugs. Ideally I would like to have seen possession as a felony and a ‘wobbler’ in place to force users into drug rehab. Upon completion of rehab the felony would have wobbled down to misdemeanor.
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.
