Addressing the Issues

Education

Colorado now ranks 13th in regard to education.  While there are shining examples of success, many rural and inner-city districts need additional resources in order to realize their full potential.   Early childhood education has not been a priority and due to the rising costs of programs and the low rate of pay of teachers needs immediate attention.   Both trades and traditional college programs should receive equal grant funding and opportunities

Forest Health, Fire Safety, Mitigation, Wildlife Urban Interface (WUI)

22.6 million acres in Colorado are forested comprising 32 percent of the state with the heaviest burden being shouldered by our rural counties and federal partners.  Our forests are in benign neglect and pose a serious fire hazard to our residents and communities without a reprioritization of resources and effective relationship rebuilding and agreements with our federal partners.   Only by grouping limited resources at the federal and state level will we be able to keep Colorado safe and our forests healthy.  We will build sawmills in critical locations on state land immediately to remove both low-grade slash for mitigation and to scientifically harvest high quality timber.

Budget Deficits

Colorado must have a balanced budget.   Our administration will examine what is important and what is not.   Critical essential services such as law enforcement, firefighting, road and infrastructure, public health and social services must take priority over partisan or extreme programs with little actual benefit to the public at large.

Energy Policy

Colorado has an abundance of energy resources, and our administration will harness the best of each option in a holistic fashion. Wind, Solar and Geothermal are providing a critical component of our energy needs but cannot in of themselves sustain the growing need of Colorado and other energy grid beneficiaries.   Oil, Gas and other fossil fuels need to be sustained along with clean energy systems in the foreseeable future.  Modern modular nuclear power holds considerable promise for Colorado and must be integrated if we are to sustain our current level of use on the grid and in the future.

Law Enforcement

We have seen an increase in assaults against the brave men and women of our law enforcement agencies and a declining respect for their role in Colorado.  This has been caused by the focus on criminals rather than a focus on law abiding residents in our state.  Our administration will change this focus, honoring those that protect us all by letting them do their jobs and reverse statues and policies do not support this end state.

Immigration

Colorado will comply with federal and state laws and will work with local law enforcement agencies in upholding the laws of the land. Sanctuary policies will not be allowed.   Legal immigrants and cooperation with legal immigration systems and policies developed by the federal government will be welcomed and policies complied with.

Equality of Colorado Residents

Our administration will treat all Colorado residents fairly regardless of gender, orientation, race, religion or political affiliation.  We are one Colorado.

Housing

We need to be honest about the role that state government plays in the cost of housing.  The price of building materials, land, interest rates and tariffs all play a role in affordability and the state has little to no control in that regard.   Where the state can play a role is in the commonsense application of building, energy, and WUI codes. Current mandates and overreach by our legislature have resulted in the current non-affordability of housing in Colorado.   Local governments have already streamlined processes including zoning and public processes and the state must re-examine its roll in having caused the current situation.   After that is accomplished, market forces will come into play.   We are already beginning to see a movement by some to leave the state.  The role of government should not be to encourage or discourage people to move to our state – it should be to care for those who chose to live here by providing the essential services and public safety that makes Colorado a desirable place to live.

Public Safety and Crime

There has been a considerable erosion of public safety and an exponential increase in crime in Colorado that must be addressed quickly and effectively.  The focus of this administration will be on the safety of our residents and not on policies which excuse criminal behavior or “de-criminalize” crime.  Illegal drug use, illegal immigration, human trafficking and violent crimes including murder and rape must no longer be tolerated.  Our goal will be to take Colorado from the 3rd most dangerous state in the country to the safest state.  We will work with our federal and local law enforcement agencies and reinstate the rule of law.

Unfunded Mandates

Unfunded Mandates will not be supported by our administration.  Producing bills with no ability to execute them invariably hurt local and municipal governments and make them unable to comply with the statute, policy or law.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

-John Quincy Adams

Water

Colorado is a member of the 1922 Colorado River Compact.   Unregulated growth among the 7 states including Colorado has put a strain on the drainage basin of the Colorado River.  Failure to address this immediately and effectively will have an impact on our ability to control our own future if the Federal Government has to step in.   Unregulated growth in Colorado must be changed into smart growth.  The availability of water and the ability to process wastewater and the potential threat to our ranching and agricultural communities must be considered prior to any additional growth.   Unfettered growth has had negative consequences for Colorado to include a housing shortage and has strained state provided resources and programs as a result of the explosive growth and is unsustainable.

Veterans

Nearly 350,000 veterans live in Colorado.  Additionally, there are 6 military bases in our state.   Our veterans serve at every level of our government, are often leaders in their communities and have a special role to play in our state as examples and along with our military bases have a huge economic impact.   We will do all we can to support them.

Urban-Rural Divide

The rural-urban divide is real in Colorado.  We have seen favoritism displayed to certain locations at the expense of others from mental health services to road improvements.  Our administration will recognize and fully support the needs of all 64 counties and will maintain awareness of the top needs of each county through DOLA oversight, being briefed on a quarterly basis.   This support will be fair and tailored regardless of political affiliation.

Wildlife Management

Our administration understands the North American model, science in the wild and trusts DNR and CPW biologists and wardens to manage our incredible wildlife species.  We are against “ballot box biology” and would seek a constitutional amendment to end that practice.