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Daniel Frick Republican
Residence: Fort Collins
Profession:
Education: MBA, BS in Business
Experience: Air Force veteran (aircraft maintenance), marketing professional, trained in multiple leadership styles (including servant leadership)
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
My top priorities are criminal justice and mental health reform that prioritizes victims and accountability, protecting parental and family rights so parents/guardians, not government, make decisions about their children’s upbringing and education, and trimming excess and wasteful spending so Colorado can live within its means and remain financially healthy. These issues directly affect the safety, freedom, and affordability of life for families in our state and my district.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
I would support cutting state income and property tax burdens so families keep more of what they earn, streamlining permitting and zoning rules that drive up housing costs, and reducing the heavy regulatory load on small businesses that get passed on to consumers. Affordable energy from reliable sources like nuclear and natural gas is also essential because high utility bills hit working households hard. Government should stop adding layers of mandates and fees that make everything more expensive and instead focus on policies that let Coloradans build, work, and live without constant cost increases.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
There is common ground on reducing government waste and improving outcomes in areas that affect every family, regardless of party. We can work together on practical mental health and caregiver support reforms that cut bureaucracy while helping people who genuinely need it, on fixing basic education so kids learn to read and do math, and on streamlining rules that drive up housing and energy costs. Coloradans expect results on affordability and safety. I will look for partners who share those goals even when we disagree on other issues.
A new governor will take office next year. What opportunities are there for legislation or other changes that did not gain traction under Gov. Jared Polis?
A new governor opens the door for legislation that stalled under the current administration. We have a real chance to advance meaningful tax relief and spending restraint, strengthen parental rights in education and health care, push victim-centered criminal justice reforms with higher accountability for serious offenders, and reduce the regulatory barriers that raise housing and energy costs. These are practical priorities that affect everyday Coloradans and deserve a fresh look now that leadership is changing.
Andy Boesenecker (i) Democrat
Residence: Fort Collins
Profession: State Representative, House District 53
Education: Bachelor of Music, Western Michigan University (2001), Master of Divinity, Iliff School of Theology (2012)
Experience: Incumbent State Representative since 2021 and Speaker Pro Tempore, former clergy and public school teacher, with nonprofit experience and a proven record of legislative leadership.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
Cost of Living: Lowering costs remains a top priority. My record includes the HOME Act, opening underutilized public and nonprofit land for housing, SB26-001 to expand workforce and middle-income housing, and protections for mobile home park residents.
Health Care: I’ll continue fighting to lower health care and prescription drug costs. I’ve led on SB25-045, studying a universal single-payer system, and SB26-167 to help lower prescription drug costs.
Transportation: Colorado needs safer roads, reliable transit, and passenger rail. I’ve helped lead that work through SB24-184, advancing Front Range Passenger Rail, and I’m committed to seeing that work through.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
Housing affordability has been one of my top priorities since I was first elected. I’ve worked to increase the supply of homes people can afford while protecting the housing we already have. That includes passing the HOME Act to open underutilized land for housing, strengthening protections for mobile home park residents, removing barriers to modular housing, and supporting more workforce and middle-income housing. There isn’t one bill that will solve Colorado’s housing crisis. We need to build more homes, preserve affordable options, protect renters and homeowners, and make it possible for working families to live in the communities they call home.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
The majority of bills signed into law each session have bipartisan support. While there are significant and important differences between the majority and minority parties about the role and scope of government and how best to address the challenges facing our state, there is also plenty of common ground. My constituents expect me to work with anyone and everyone to solve problems and find opportunities for collaboration. At the end of the day, the challenges facing Colorado families aren’t partisan. People expect their representatives to roll up their sleeves, work together where we can, and deliver results. I’m committed to doing just that.
A new governor will take office next year. What opportunities are there for legislation or other changes that did not gain traction under Gov. Jared Polis?
A new administration creates an opportunity to build on our progress while taking on important work that remains unfinished. Affordability has to remain a priority, including affordable housing, expanding pathways to homeownership, and lowering costs for working families. We also cannot ignore the need to protect our immigrant communities, stabilize our Medicaid system, and address the impacts of data centers on our communities and resources. The legislature is ready to take on these challenges, and I look forward to working with our next governor to build on our progress and move Colorado forward.
