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Chris Richardson (i) Republican
Residence: Elizabeth
Profession: U.S. Army Retired
Education: University of Pennsylvania, BSME; U.S. Army Command & General Staff College; Leadership Program of the Rockies
Experience: Colorado state representative; former county commissioner and school board member; retired U.S. Army colonel; experienced in local government, public policy, and regional leadership.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
My goal is a state government that is smaller, more accountable, and more responsive to the people it serves. My top three priorities are:
• First, making Colorado more affordable by protecting TABOR, restraining spending, and reducing taxes, fees, mandates, and regulatory burdens.
• Second, protecting constitutional freedoms, parental rights, property rights, and local control while defending public safety and the rule of law.
• Third, strengthening rural Colorado by supporting agriculture, reliable and affordable energy, rural health care, roads and infrastructure, water, and small businesses.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
I will strive to make Colorado more affordable by reducing the cost and regulatory burden of government while creating a business climate that attracts investment and expands private-sector employment. I support protecting TABOR, restraining spending, reducing unnecessary taxes, fees, mandates, and regulations, and keeping energy affordable and reliable. Housing affordability also requires increasing supply while respecting property rights and local control. Colorado should compete for employers that create high-paying careers with strong benefits by maintaining a predictable tax and regulatory environment, developing a skilled workforce, and investing responsibly in transportation, water, and other infrastructure that supports economic growth.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
While political parties may have very different overall goals, but on specific practical issues individual members can still find common ground without compromising our principles. Every legislator should be able to represent their district and address constituents’ concerns while remaining faithful to the values on which they ran. I see opportunities to work together on housing supply, rural health care, roads and infrastructure, workforce development, small-business growth, public safety, veterans’ services, water, and making government more efficient and accountable. I have proven that progress is possible when we focus on practical solutions and respect legitimate differences.
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?
I will be listening carefully to the candidates for governor as they compete this November, particularly for where bipartisan progress may be possible. One priority is large commercial-truck safety legislation I sponsored that passed the legislature twice with strong bipartisan support but was vetoed twice by Governor Polis. A new administration may provide an opportunity to revisit that issue and other practical reforms that previously stalled at the executive level. I will look for opportunities to advance public safety, affordability, infrastructure, rural priorities, and economic growth while remaining consistent with the principles I was elected to represent.
Amy L. Lunde did not return the questionnaire.
