What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
1. We need to improve funding for our public education system to specifically hire and retain teachers and to also improve educational outcomes for students throughout the state.
2. We cannot let things sort themselves out, we need to take immediate action to help people keep their hard earned money and thrive by addressing everything from affordable housing to affordable healthcare to our essential public services and build a strong economy for the future.
3. We need to protect and expand our freedoms here in Colorado including the right to an abortion and our right to secure and accessible voting.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
The people of Colorado are struggling to make ends meet. Every senator will need to work together to not only make the day-to-day lives of Coloradans more affordable but to build a Colorado where we all thrive.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
There are many ways we can ease housing costs. We can improve funding to public housing and help put more families in homes. We can eliminate the statewide rent control ban and return that tool to local control to help prevent out-of-control rent. We can work with local government to ease zoning laws and allow for higher-density buildings near public transportation and make more housing available.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
I do not support making possession of fentanyl a felony. This part of the bill does nothing to help stop fentanyl from being manufactured and distributed. It only punishes the people who most need our help and compassion.
Paul Lundeen and Steve Darnell 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.
