Decision 2020 Your guide to the election
October 11, 2020
Daily Camera PAID FOR BY THE BOULDER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Absolutely everything you need to vote your WHOLE ballot! the 2020 BOULDER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
voter guide
How and where to vote
BOULDER COUNTY
24-hour ballot drop-off boxes
Oct. 9 through 7 p.m. Nov. 3, Election Day Locations: Boulder Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office, 1750 33rd St. Boulder County Courthouse, East Wing Entrance, 2025 14th St. Boulder County Housing and Human Services, 3400 Broadway University of Colorado, University Memorial Center, 1669 Euclid Ave., closest to Euclid Avenue entrance of building. South Boulder Recreation Center, 1360 Gillaspie Drive Avery Brewing, 4910 Nautilus Court N, east parking lot Erie Meadowlark School, 2300 Meadow Sweet Lane; staff/bus parking lot off Front Range Road and Laramie Lane Lafayette Lafayette Public Library, 775 W. Baseline Road Longmont Boulder County Clerk & Recorder/St. Vrain Community Hub (corner of Sixth Avenue and Coffman Street) Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road (on Fairground Lane near the south parking lot) Front Range Community College, 2121 Miller Drive, Classroom Building Garden Acres Park (18th Avenue between Sunset and Juniper streets) YMCA, 950 Lashley St. Louisville Louisville Police Department, 992 W. Via Appia Way
Where does your paper stand?
To read the Daily Camera editorial board’s endorsements in select races and ballot issues this election, visit dailycamera.com/tag/2020-election/.
Lyons Lyons Town Hall, 432 5th Ave. Nederland Nederland Community Center, 750 N. Hwy. 72 Superior Superior Town Hall, 124 E. Coal Creek Drive VOTE CENTERS Services include: ballot-drop-off, in-person voting, request a replacement ballot, voter registration or update registration information, vote using equipment and facilities for people with disabilities. Hours and locations: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31, 7 p.m. Nov. 3, Election Day Phase 1 Open Oct. 19-Nov. 3, closed Sundays Boulder Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office, 1750 33rd St. University of Colorado, University Memorial Center, 1669 Euclid Ave. (limited parking) Lafayette Boulder County Clerk & Recorder, 1755 S. Public Road Longmont St. Vrain Community Hub/Boulder County Clerk & Recorder, 515 Coffman St. Louisville Louisville Recreation Center, 900 Via Appia Way Phase 2 Open Oct. 30-Nov. 3 All phase 1 locations, and:
2 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
Boulder Boulder Meadows, 4500 19th St. East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, 1345 S. Broadway Hampton Inn & Suites, 6333 Lookout Road Lafayette Lafayette Public Library, 775 W. Baseline Road Longmont Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Exhibit Building Front Range Community College, 2121 Miller Drive, Classroom Building YMCA, 950 Lashley St. Phase 3 Open Nov. 2-3 All phase 1 and 2 locations, and: Boulder Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. CU Campus - Williams Village, 500 30th St. Longmont Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road Moose Lodge, 2210 Pratt St Lyons Lyons Regional Library, 451 4th Ave. Nederland Nederland Community Center, 750 N. Colo. 72 Superior Superior Town Hall, 124 E. Coal Creek Drive
WELD COUNTY
24-hour ballot drop-off boxes
Oct. 9 through 7 p.m. Nov. 3, Election Day Locations: Longmont Southwest Weld County Services Complex, 4209 Weld County Road 24½ (Del Camino) Frederick Carbon Valley Recreation Center, 701 Fifth St. Erie Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St.
VOTER SERVICE AND POLLING CENTERS Services include ballot-drop-off, voter registration, in-person voting, requesting mail-ballot replacements. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Oct. 19 through Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Election Day Locations: Longmont Southwest Weld County Services Complex, 4209 Weld County Road 24½ (Del Camino) Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Oct. 30 through Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Election Day Locations: Erie Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Election Day Locations: Frederick Carbon Valley Recreation Center, 701 Fifth St.
ES Although Boulder has made progress on renewables and energy efficiency in parallel with municipalization efforts, 10 years of legal and engineering fees toward the muni itself have yielded no such gains. It’s clear that municipalization is no longer the best way to fight climate change. The City of Boulder and Xcel Energy have negotiated a new green franchise deal, and it’s time to pause the muni and pursue this more effective path to meaningful climate action.
Vote Yes for Boulder’s Great Green Deal VOTE YES FOR CLIMATE Xcel Energy guarantees an 80% reduction (compared to 2005 levels) in greenhouse gas emissions throughout the state by 2030 — and a groundbreaking Energy Partnership agreement will help Boulder reach its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030 with innovative local power initiatives — starting right away!
Ballot Item 2C is a franchise agreement between the City of Boulder and Xcel Energy that would pause municipalization efforts.
VOTE YES FOR SAFETY
Ballot Item 2D extends an existing tax through 2025 to fund local renewable energy programs through a new Energy Partnership. The cost to the average residential customer is 76 cents per month, and part of this revenue helps disadvantaged community members pay electric bills and access renewable energy.
Xcel Energy will commit $33 million to undergrounding power lines — with 50% complete in the first 5 years, reducing the risk of fires and outages.
VOTE YES FOR SAVINGS Boulder will save millions in additional legal and engineering fees — we’ve already spent more than $25 million — and Boulder has five opportunities to exit the deal in the first 10 years if Xcel doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain, 2022, 2024 and 2027 if Xcel does not meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets, and in 2025 and 2030 for any reason we choose (exit to take effect in the beginning of the following year).
Vote down your ballot to YES on 2C & 2D for Boulder’s Great Green Deal CLIMATE • SAFETY • SAVINGS Learn More At: BouldersGreatGreenDeal.org Paid for by the Committee for Boulder’s Great Green Deal Major funding from MAPRagency, Betsy Hand and Arno Niemand
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 3
U.S. Senate John W. Hickenlooper
Democratic candidate John W. Hickenlooper did not respond to requests to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Cory Gardner
Republican incumbent candidate Cory Gardner did not respond to requests to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Daniel Doyle
Approval Voting Party candidate Daniel Doyle did not respond to requests to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Stephan “Seku” Evans
Unity Party of America candidate Stephan “Seku” Evans did not respond to requests to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Danny Skelly
Write-in independent candidate Danny Skelly did not respond to requests to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Michael Sanchez
Independent candidate Michael Sanchez declined to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Bruce Lohmiller
Party: Green Website: Not provided Age: Not provided Family: Not provided How long have you lived in Colorado: Not provided Professional background: Not provided Political/community experience: Not provided Education: Not provided What is your position on the DREAM Act? If elected, what concrete actions would you take to support immigrant communities? “The Goals Act.” Get these people out of harms way
Index
U.S. Senate candidates ................4 2nd Congressional District ........... 6 4th Congressional District ............ 7 Regent of the University of Colorado — CD 2..........................8 State Senate District 17 ............. 8-9 State Senate District 18...............10 State Senate District 23 ......... 11-12 State House District 10..........12-13 State House District 11..........13-14
and then address the other issues. Intervention. This should be a part of our policy. Should the Affordable Care Act remain in place or be repealed? If you want it to remain, are there any improvements you want to make while operating within the current system? If you want to repeal it, what would you replace it with? A trade tax should be in place to fund education and medication policy. If elected, what specific proposals would you support to address climate change? I also have introduced a prototype vehicle “Air Compression Taxi” (India) to the Aspen Ideas Festival. And I am a “point of light” for my “Take A Bite Out Of War” concert series. State House District 12..........14-15 State House District 13..........15-16 House District 33....................16-17 House District 49.........................18 State House District 63................19 Colorado Ballot Items .................20 Boulder County DA .....................21 Boulder County Commissioner District 1.................................21-22 Boulder County Commissioner District 2.................................22-23 Louisville City Council, Ward 3 .... 23
4 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
Raymon Doane
remain in place or be repealed? If you want it to remain, are there any improvements you want to make while operating within the current system? If you want to repeal it, what would you replace it with? The Affordable Care Act should be repealed. In its place, Congress must enact reforms that drive competition and market forces to bring down the cost of insurance, medicine, and care, which is the best way to increase access for American citizens. One solution is to open our markets by removing the protectionism inherent in intellectual property laws. Currently, intellectual property laws grant large pharmaceutical companies longterm patents that allow them to monopolize name-brand medicine and hinder the supply of generic alternatives. When the patents expire, these companies make cosmetic changes to their drugs, allowing their patent to be extended without any competition. This protectionism, coupled with restrictions on importing of drugs, keeps prices artificially high, which negatively impacts the consumer. If elected, what specific proposals would you support to address climate change? We must avoid our impulse to regulate ourselves out of this mess. It is important to recognize that the science of climate change is undeniable, but the social science — namely, the political and economic implications — is a bit fuzzier. There are few guarantees that the tremendous costs associated with broad, all-encompassing regulatory plans, like the Green New Deal, will achieve its intended results. To truly mitigate the effects of climate change, we need to embrace new thinking and technological innovations. Technology, not government, will lead the way.
Superior Board of Trustees ... 24-26 Boulder Ballot Questions ...... 26-27 Longmont Ballot Issues ..............28 Louisville Issue 2A.......................29 St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District Ballot Issue 7A................................................29 Sunshine Fire Protection District Ballot Issue 6A.............................30 Baseline Water District Ballot Issue 6B................................................30 17th District Attorney ............ 30-31
Broomfield Ballot Issues ....... 31-32 Weld County DA ......................... 33 Dacono City Council ............. 34-35 Mead Ballot Issues .....................36 Frederick-Fire Protection District Issue 6B ......................................37 Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District Question 6C .................... 37 Berthoud Ballot Issue 3B.............37 Presidential Election....................38 Election 2020 Ballot Overview ....39
Party: Libertarian Website: doane4colorado.com Age: 30 Family: Single How long have you lived in Colorado: 28 years Professional background: Business analyst for the Colorado Department of Revenue Political/community experience: State Senate District 33 candidate 2016, U.S. Representative candidate 2018 Education: Bachelor’s degree in business from Metropolitan State University What is your position on the DREAM Act? If elected, what concrete actions would you take to support immigrant communities? The DREAM Act is a good example of why we need reform. Due to Congress’s inability to act, there is a significant group of individuals who unfortunately fall through the cracks of our immigration system, without a clear pathway to citizenship. At no fault of their own, these individuals, who immigrated to the U.S. when they were children, cannot legally work or apply for student loans, so they remain in the shadows of our national economy. As a result, an executive order, better known as DACA, was needed to functionally empower these individuals. However, executive action is only as effective and lasting as the administration that enacts it, making it susceptible to reversal when a new administration takes over. And that is what happened. Without functional laws on the books, executive orders like DACA are a BAND-AID on a gaping wound. Should the Affordable Care Act
Vote
NOfor 2C on
People, Planet, Local Power!
CLIMATE: NO to Xcel s fossil-heavy vyy energy gyy mix for likely 20 years. COST: NO to blank check franchise agreement. COMPETITION: NO to monopoly control of our choices. COMMUNITY: NO to inequitable access to renewable energy gy. y
Please vote No on 2C. Climate change is now the biggest crisis our civilization has ever faced. — Bill McKibben, Co-founder, 350.org
Let s decarbonize, decentralize & democratize our energy future: No on 2C. — Zan Jones, Boulder City Council member & mayor (2011-2019)
I oppose 2C it is a vote for burn rning n more fossil fuels & supporting a corp rporation p whose top priority is shareholder profit. — Adam Swetlik, Boulder City Council
No on 2C for Cleaner, Cheaper, More Reliable Energy. Get the facts:
EmpowerOurFuture.org EmpowerOurFuture org
O No on 2C Partners include: Our Indian Peaks Group
International
Paid for by No On 2C for Local Power with major funding from Paul Culnan, Robert Westby, Susan Osborn, Chris Hoffman 2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 5
2nd Congressional District
Joe Neguse
Party: Democratic Website: joeneguseforcongress .com Age: 36 Family: Wife Andrea, daughter Natalie How long have you lived in CD2? 18 years (30 years in Colorado) Professional background: Attorney, former director of Colorado’s consumer protection agency Political/community experience: Former CU Regent for 2nd Congressional District (20092015), cofounder of New Era Colorado, commissioner on Boulder Housing Authority Education: University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A. (summa cum laude); University of Colorado School of Law, J.D. What is the most important issue facing constituents in the 2nd Congressional District, and how will you address it? The public health risks and economic impacts created by the pandemic pose significant challenges. As your representative, I’ve worked to help Boulder County at every turn, fighting to secure economic relief and ensure equal access to health care. We’ve pursued a bold legislative agenda — introducing more legislation than any freshman lawmaker in the country, and passing more bills into law this Congress than any member of Colorado’s House delegation. If given the opportunity, I will continue to address these challenges by leading locally, holding a record number of town halls and leveraging our community’s talent to develop bipartisan solutions. Do you support additional federal coronavirus relief aid for individuals, businesses and
communities? Why or why not? I strongly support additional federal stimulus for families, communities and small businesses, including direct cash assistance payments and funds to support our schools. I have been a consistent champion for the same, and introduced multiple legislative proposals to provide direct aid to small cities and counties, funds to support USPS, our homeless population, food security programs and more, several of which have now passed the House. Coloradans are struggling amid this economic crisis, and we cannot expect them to weather this alone. As Colorado’s only member of House leadership, I will continue to fight for the priorities above. As a U.S. representative, how will you address the impacts and causes of climate change? I firmly believe that climate change is an existential threat, which is why I’ve prioritized climate action during my first term in Congress. Over one-third of the bills I’ve introduced are focused on addressing the crisis, including proposals to invest in regenerative agriculture, expand clean energy, safeguard climate science and conserve our public lands — including the CORE Act, which became the first major Colorado wilderness legislation to pass the House in over a decade. As a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, I brought the committee to Boulder to hear from city officials and scientists and several of my proposals —inspired by constituents in Boulder County — were included in the committee’s report. Many have since passed the House, including our plan to equip communities with resilient infrastructure. If elected again, I would continue legislating aggressively and working to build consensus on bold climate action proposals.
6 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
Charlie Winn
Party: Republican Website: WinnforColorado.com Age: 77 Family: wife and two children Professional background: M.D. with 45 years of practice, retired Navy captain Political experience: None prior Education: M.D. with specialty in radiology, undergraduate degree in radiation physics, fellowship in philosophy, University of Goettingen, Germany What is the most important issue facing constituents in the 2nd Congressional district, and how would you address it? Dealing with the COVID-19 crisis is the issue of greatest concern presently. The disease itself has caused considerable suffering but the response to it has also caused great harm and disruption. Besides the mortality from the disease, there have been excess deaths due to suicide and delayed treatment for other diseases. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director) Dr. Fauci said this would be much like the 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic. I was in med school at that time and understand the natural course of a pandemic. We must take the data and, with this evidence, we can get past this medical crisis and get back to school and
work. Further lockdowns only prolong the pandemic and concomitant suffering. Do you support additional federal coronavirus relief aid for individuals, businesses and communities? Why or why not? The CARES Act and the relief it provided was necessary to deal with the hardships from the lockdowns required to slow the spread and not overwhelm the health care resources. The money allotted has not yet been spent. Further lockdowns are not needed. They will not end this pandemic and will exacerbate the suffering and the non-COVID deaths. We know what we must do: hand hygiene including sanitizers, distancing with appropriate wearing of masks and additional protection for those in our society who are at greater risks. Then open up businesses and school. Additional aid only adds to the debt that our children must pay. As a U.S. Representative, how will you address the impacts and causes of climate change? The question is how to balance protecting this planet while providing the food, water and energy for nearly 8 billion people. We have the technology that includes solar, wind, clean fossil fuel and nuclear power, especially newer fourth-generation plants. There must be open and robust discussion unencumbered by political rhetoric. Congress must work together and build for the future of our planet.
Thom Atkinson
Libertarian Thom Atkinson did not complete the candidate questionnaire.
Gary Swing
Unity Party of America candidate Gary Swing did not complete the candidate questionnaire.
4th Congressional District
Ike McCorkle
Party: Democratic W e b s i t e : ike4co.com Age: 41 Family: A single father of three: Isaac, 14; Danica, 11; Allen, 8. How long you have lived in Parker: Two years Professional background: Served in the United States Marine Corps for 18 years. Political/community experience: This is his first time running
for office. Education: Received a bachelor’s degree in history from Shelton Community College. What’s the solution to wildfires across the state and the West? We must label climate change as the national security risk that it is. It will inevitably affect our food production, we’re already seeing how the ongoing drought is causing difficulties for our farmers. Unfortunately we have already crossed a threshold. Raging wildfires are expected to be a common occurrence, utilizing military resources to combat wildfires may become the
Ken Buck
Incumbent Republican Ken Buck declined to complete the candidate questionnaire.
new norm for the immediate future. That is why we must expedite our transfer to renewable resources. What should be done to provide relief to Coloradans impacted by COVID-19? Providing COVID relief funds to those in economic distress to ensure that they can provide for themselves and their families. We also need to ensure that the eviction moratorium does not expire coinciding with the end of the election. Finally, expanding broadband coverage to rural communities will help boost their local economies, and not leave them stranded with-
out the ability to work from home. How will you advocate for criminal justice reform in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests? We need to ensure police procedure is one of de-escalation. Requiring licensed mental health specialists to be a part of every patrol and to be the first point of contact when responding will drastically reduce unnecessary escalation. The Greeley Police Department for example, has a co-responder program with behavioral health specialists. This program must be expanded and made standard nationwide.
Laura Ireland
Unity candidate Laura Ireland declined to complete the candidate questionnaire.
Bruce Griffith
Libertarian candidate Bruce Griffith did not respond to requests to complete the questionnaire.
YOUR2020BALLOTHASELEVENCRITICALSTATEWIDE BALLOTISSUES,including:
yes ON PROP.113 NationalPopularVote! yes ON PROP.118 PaidFamilyLeave! yes ON PROP.EE E-CigTax=EducationFunding! yes ON AMENDMENTB RepealGallagher! If you leave even one part of your ballot blank, you’re allowing others to choose for you!
VOTE NO on: PROP. 115
Egregious Abortion Ban NOon PROP. 116 Regressive Tax Cut NOon PROP. 117 TABOR 2.0 NOon AMENDMENT76 — Deceptive, Racist, Suppresses Access to the Vote!
Candidates, ballot issues, ballot drop locations, & MORE at: bocovoter.org H bocodems.org PAID FOR BY THE BOULDER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 7
Regent of the University of Colorado — CD 2
Callie Rennison
Party: Democratic Website: callie4cu.com Age: 56 Family: Spouse: Dave Vaughan; cat: Pente; lilac-crowned Amazon parrots: Clover, Grace, Gabbie and Dewey How long have you lived in CD2? 12 years Professional background: Department of Justice statistician, assistant professor at the University of Missouri – St. Louis; professor at the University of Colorado Denver in the School of Public Affairs. Political/community experience: Board member, Breaking Silence, 2015-Present Education: Ph.D. in political science, University of Houston; M.A in political science, University of Houston; M.A. in sociology, University of Houston; B.S. in psychology, University of Houston What is the most important issue facing the University of Colorado system and how will you address it as a regent? Without question, the most important issue facing CU is affordability and accessibility. Regents must partner with state legislators to rid the state of TABOR and Gallagher. Regents must work as a team to educate the public about the damage that TABOR and Gallagher have done to higher education funding and how that is tied to high tuition costs. Every regent decision needs to be made with an emphasis on keeping costs down and prioritizing academics and research. We must remove upper and middle management positions that are not supporting the system’s mission, and we must consolidate
and/or remove poorly performing or duplicative units. The Board of Regents is a historically partisan board, with notable votes along party lines. Do you support the board’s partisan nature? Why or why not? The partisan influence of past regent decisions has been detrimental to the CU system and the people in it. It has eroded the public’s trust in the regents, and harmed the board’s legitimacy. I commonly hear people are tired of political bickering when there are real problems requiring real attention, leadership and solutions. Regents should make decisions in the best interest of students, staff and faculty in the system, as well as community members — regardless of partisan leanings. Regents should be focused solely on making CU the best it can be, making it affordable and accessible, making it work for everyone, supporting people in the system and providing Colorado with the educated workforce it requires. How can the Board of Regents best navigate the coronavirus pandemic? The coronavirus pandemic is characterized by unknowns, making it a challenging situation to manage. The Board of Regents must ensure the campus leadership is guided first by the principle of keeping students, staff, faculty and community members safe and healthy. Decisions related to the coronavirus must be made using scientific knowledge from experts. The board needs to ensure campus leadership is operating with much greater transparency and trust given many in the CU system and community members feel budget health has taken precedence over individual health.
Dick R. Murphy
Republican Dick R. Murphy did not complete the candidate questionnaire.
Christian Vernaza
Libertarian Christian Vernaza did not complete the candidate questionnaire. 8 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
State Senate District 17 Sonya Jaquez Lewis
Party: Democrat Website: sonyaforcolorado.com Age: No response Family: Married to Allison, a hospice nurse How long you have lived in Boulder County? Since 1997. Professional background: Pharmacist, educator, current state house representative Political/community experience: Boulder County Resource Conservation Board, past president of Out Boulder. Sonya sponsored key laws like Importation of Prescriptions Act, an electric vehicle tax credit and COVID-19 laws for child care expansion and business relief. She passed oil and gas rules for citizen safety first. 2019 National Toll fellow and top new legislator. Education: BS Biology and Pharmacy, Masters in Business Administration Has the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic changed your views about the role of government? How so? Government must be able to act quick in a community emergency. In 2013, Boulder County had one of the worst floods in state history and as a board of health member, we provided life-saving services for hundreds of county residents. This pandemic strengthens my belief that we need a fiscally strong and stable government to assist everyone regardless of education level, income status and who they are, where they live and work. Reducing our state budget could have caused more sickness and death. We need a state senator who will stand up and protect the innovative and proven programs we have in Boulder County. Some parts of District 17 are home to constituents who do not support oil and gas explo-
ration and production near their homes, but are regularly dealing with ongoing activities across the county line in Weld, Adams and Broomfield counties. Do you believe the overhaul of the COGCC as mandated by SB 181 is sufficient to meet these concerns or do you believe there is more work for the Legislature to do on this issue? Please explain. I am an oil and gas-impacted Coloradan. In 2017, my wife and I learned that our home would be in the fracking zone for oil and gas production in eastern Boulder County. There was going to be a large production pad 500 feet from our home. Several studies have shown there are toxic effects with living, working or going to school near oil and gas development. I helped write some of the new regulations that put citizen safety first and restructure the COGCC. I applaud the recent rule-making that mandates greater setbacks and more air and water protections. The rulemaking is not done, so I believe there could be more work to do for the Legislature depending on the final rules. What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? We are in a global pandemic where cases continue to rise and we are above 2,000 deaths in Colorado. The COVID-19 downturn has had a severe economic impact on eastern Boulder County. We must continue to use science and data to guide our policy decisions. From the beginning, federal misinformation and lack of a national plan has caused community divisiveness and a worsening of the ill effects of this pandemic. I believe we must continue the plan of action, that the governor and the Legislature have enacted. We need to support state funding by voting down the ineffective and poorly designed Propositions 116 and 117 and pass much needed local government support by voting yes on Amendments B and EE.
State Senate District 17
Matthew D. Menza
Has the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic changed your views about the role of government? How so? Now fall 2020 and with over 200plus executive emergency order mandates, many are asking when does the state return to normal governance? New CDC numbers indicate the death rate and risk is much lower than originally theorized. The current statistics do not justify continued mandates. Therefore, how much power do we yield to one person in the name of public health and safety? Small business owners have stated they will not make it until December under current orders. We need elected officials that can properly balance safety with our liberties and consider the second order affects such as economic collapse and mental health concerns. No one argued with the original premise of the lockdowns, now the science is in and we need more autonomy to make decisions that will help our family and businesses recover and once again thrive. Simply, there needs to be limits to any
emergency orders. Some parts of District 17 are home to constituents who do not support oil and gas exploration and production near their homes, but are regularly dealing with ongoing activities across the county line in Weld, Adams and Broomfield counties. Do you believe the overhaul of the COGCC as mandated by SB 181 is sufficient to meet these concerns or do you believe there is more work for the Legislature to do on this issue? Please explain. Oil and gas provides the energy demands to the 5.6 million residences of Colorado, provides 34 billion in revenue, and 150,000+ jobs to Colorado. It is the only source that can provide our energy demands. Colorado air quality year after year is improving. Where is the risk from the oil and gas industry? A binary “no” to oil and gas makes a nonsensical argument, will increase energy cost and unemployment significantly. As an environmentalist and engineer, let’s cultivate the STEM com-
munity in Colorado to look at more realistic paths for alternative energy solutions through technology ranging from superconductivity, fuel cell, fusion, supercapacitors, lithium-polymer energy storage to name a just few. The path to sustainable, carbon-neutral future is not through denying our reality, but instead focuses on the evolution of energy sources in a focused “energy race” that will bring meaningful solutions to our environmental concerns. What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? The most pressing issue right now is mental health. We are No. 1 for teen suicide and No. 7 overall in the nation. Funding was cut on mental health initiatives in June at the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic. This made no sense, so increasing funding to mental health initiatives should be priority No. 1.
at BVSD How long have you lived in Boulder County: 16 years Party: Green Professional background: Website: faceattorney b o o k . c o m / Political/community experiOconnorforSD17/ ence: Legislative experience and Age: No response author and sponsor of statewide balFamily: Married to lot initiative to raise severance tax Mary who is Boulder on oil and gas native and works as a Education: BA and JD para-educator with BVSD with 12Has the state’s response to the year-old daughter Teagan, a student coronavirus pandemic changed
your views about the role of government? How so? Yes. State government failed the people. Needed a much stronger government response to pandemic. Some parts of District 17 are home to constituents who do not support oil and gas exploration and production near their homes, but are regularly dealing with ongoing activities across the county line in Weld, Adams and Broomfield counties. Do you
believe the overhaul of the COGCC as mandated by SB 181 is sufficient to meet these concerns or do you believe there is more work for the Legislature to do on this issue? Please explain. Absolutely. Need a ban on fracking. What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? Poor air quality and fracking ban.
Party: Republican Website: www.matt h e w m e n z a forcolorado.com Age: 46 Family: Husband and father of five. How long you have lived in Boulder County: 46 years Professional background: Served 20 years as a naval officer, Navy test pilot, combat veteran including Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Political/community experience: 20 years of service to our country, manager of large, complex STEM programs makes me more than qualified to serve as a state senator. Education: Undergraduate degree from CU Boulder in mechanical engineering, masters in systems engineering, Navy postgraduate school
Andrew J. O’Connor
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 9
State Senate District 18 Steve Fenberg
Party: Democrat Website: stevefenberg.org Age: 36 Family: Wife Lindsay; daughter Isa, 9 months; and dog Ellie How long have you lived in your district: 18 years Professional background: Served as the founding executive director of New Era Colorado for 10 years. Small business owner of Bread Bar, a cocktail bar in the historic mining town of Silver Plume. Political/community experience: In addition to running New Era Colorado, I’ve been involved in nonprofits and efforts ranging from international development to election reform. Education: CU Boulder, BA in environmental policy How will you use your position as a state senator, if elected, to support the University of Colorado Boulder through the coronavirus pandemic as decreased enrollment has negatively affected its funding? The most important way I can help CU Boulder is to help find new funding sources for financial sustainability. This means advocating for additional federal higher ed relief, closing state tax loopholes in order to increase funding for CU Boulder in the general fund budget, and working with CU Boulder to identify new models for 21st century education. Additionally, I’ll continue to prioritize legislation and budget items that provide COVID testing and public health resources for CU Boulder as it navigates the pandemic. With that said, I’ll also continue to push CU Boulder to take the crisis more seriously and to take swift action to enforce public health
orders on and off campus. Has the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic changed your views about the role of government? How so? Government is the term we use for the things we must do together rather than as individuals. The coronavirus pandemic is a prime example of why public health must be fully funded and prioritized as a government function and not left to rely solely on individuals. I believe the single biggest reason why this pandemic has been so bad in our country is because the federal government didn’t have a national strategy on testing and treatment. We’re all in this together and we will either succeed or fail based on if the public health experts are able to recommend and enforce strong public health orders based on science, not politics. Climate scientists have pointed to this summer’s wildfires as evidence that humancaused global warming has begun changing the climate. What are your goals for the Legislature to slow and reverse climate change? We’ve passed landmark legislation over the past two years, such as comprehensive oil and gas reform, setting concrete emission reduction goals in state law, and advancing renewables and electric cars. However, we must do so much more. I’ll be prioritizing policies to advance the electrification of our homes and businesses, removing barriers to more robust rooftop solar and storage, and establishing a regional transmission organization in order to better move renewable energy from the sunny and windy parts of our state to the population centers. Colorado cannot let up and we must continue to push the envelope to set a model for the nation.
10 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
Peg Cage
Party: Republican Website: www.GovernmentOFthePeople.us Age: 61 Family: Living the American Dream; married 40 years, raised two children, and have two grandchildren. How long have you lived in Boulder County? For 34 years, SD18’s Boulder, mountains, and prairie have been home, and Longmont 16 years. Professional background: A machinist, electrical technician, office worker, and nurse’s aide, I’ve renovated homes, started businesses and strengthened organizations. Political/community experience: I’ve volunteered as President of Longmont Republican Women and Chairman of Boulder County Republicans. Education: Graduated Boulder High, studied at CMC Leadville, had on-the-job training, and seek educational opportunities. How will you use your position as a state senator, if elected, to support the University of Colorado Boulder through the coronavirus pandemic as decreased enrollment has negatively affected its funding? I would work to free the University, including its associated medical school and hospital system, from the political and monetary forces that are keeping them tied to the false narrative that COVID is still an unknown threat and lockdowns are a reasonable response. CU students are now literally hostages to the dictates of a “Public Health Order,” under threats of “criminal prosecution, suspension from school and possibly expulsion.” Instead of being pushed further into mental anxiety and economic hopelessness, they should be celebrating the nearly 100% COVID survival rates of that age group and that they are attaining the “herd immunity” necessary to mitigate the virus. CU has a
unique opportunity to lead by example the benefits of Republican’s values of personal responsibility, acts of charity, free market ingenuity, self-reliance, and joyfully working together to attain a positive goal — the American Dream. Has the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic changed your views about the role of government? How so?: No. I have long believed that the role of government is to provide only the legislation, enforcement guidelines, and system necessary to uphold liberty and justice for all, in a society where all people are created equal and citizen’s inalienable rights are honored. We are seeing the exact opposite of that under the tyrannical rule of our fully Democrat-controlled state government. The lockdown of our society may have been a legitimate response to the new and unknown threat but the continuation of panic has been used to divide people into “essential” and “non-essential,” Black and white, and having lives that matter or not. Law breakers and illegal aliens have been elevated above law enforcement officers and citizens. This kind of divisiveness can be remedied with responsible government representatives who value the people of Colorado, not the agendas of our current politicians. Climate scientists have pointed to this summer’s wildfires as evidence that human-caused global warming has begun changing the climate. What are your goals for the Legislature to slow and reverse climate change? I would question the narrative before proposing life-altering legislation. It is imperative to prevent humans from making our planet uninhabitable, and as such I support rewarding clean energy, responsible forestation, farming, and ranching practices, and safe electrical transmitting systems. Laws should be fair and universally applied, and criminals should be quickly punished to the full extent of those laws.
State Senate District 23 Barbara Kirkmeyer
Party: Republican Website: www.KirkmeyerforColorado.com Age: 62 Family: Two daughters both married; six grandsons all living in Weld County Where in District 23 do you live and how long have you lived there? Unincorporated southern Weld; 38 years Professional background: Small business owner 15 years; dairy farmer/ranching 27 years Political/community experience: Weld County Commissioner; Gov. Bill Owens Cabinet; Director
Colorado Emergency Management and numerous boards, commissions and coalitions including State Transportation Advisory Committee: NW United Credit Union; Boys & Girls Club; State Human Services Board; and 911 Board Education: Bachelor’s degree, CU Boulder; teaching certificate How does your prior professional experience best position you to serve as state senator for District 23? My experience and accomplishments as a small business owner, a dairy farmer, the emergency manager for Colorado, running a state department and being a county commissioner set me apart from my opponent. My record as a Weld County Commissioner tells the story. I run toward a challenge, not
away from it. I want to take my record of leadership in Weld County to the state Capitol to build a bright future for Colorado. Single-party, Denver-centric interests currently dominate at the state Capitol and jeopardize our state’s economic and fiscal future. I will continue to work to defend the interests of northern Colorado communities — by promoting consensus, where possible, with vigor. I will be a check and balance on the current Legislature’s overreach. How do you think the pandemic has most adversely affected people in District 23? If elected, what will you do to help them overcome those challenges? No more lockdowns! They are not effective and causing mental health issues, along with job loss and busi-
r e d l u o B y e H
nesses closing. We need to get out of the mindset that an open economy is incompatible with public health. It’s not what we do that jeopardizes health and safety. It’s how we do it. Safely operating schools in person should be a top priority Tell readers about your stance on Colorado gun laws. How will you balance individual rights with protecting people from gun-related tragedies? There is no tension between individual rights and protecting people from gun crimes. Guns belong in the hands of law-abiding citizens. At the same time, I believe we need tough penalties on those who use a gun in the commission of a crime.
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State Senate District 23 Sally Boccella
Party: Democratic Website: www.sallyforcolorado.com/ Age: 51 Family: Married, two children Where in District 23 do you live and how long have you lived there? Johnstown Professional background: Currently I am a substitute teacher. My background includes marketing, film production and broadcasting. Political/community experience: I serve on three Weld RE-5J School District committees and have been a constituent advocate, bringing constituents together with their elected officials. Education: I am a first-generation college graduate from University of Colorado Boulder earning a bachelor of arts in distributed studies with an academic focus on political science and philosophy. How does your prior professional experience best position you to serve as state senator for District 23? I have a very diverse professional background, which gives me a unique perspective. Being a nontraditional student and a first-generation college graduate I was able to develop new relationships that expanded my view of the world and the challenges that people face based on their socioeconomic situa-
tions. How do you think the pandemic has most adversely affected people in District 23? If elected, what will you do to help them overcome those challenges? COVID-19 has brought many existing inequities into light. We have inequity in education, income opportunity and healthcare that have been devastating to our society. We can make those changes one step at a time. We desperately need high-speed internet for everyone, a just transition for workers, and affordable health care for all. I believe that together we can accomplish these steps toward creating a system that works for all Coloradans. Tell readers about your stance on Colorado gun laws. How will you balance individual rights with protecting people from gun-related tragedies? In Colorado, we value our rights and our responsibilities. I am committed to supporting common sense gun safety policy and protection of the Second Amendment. These do not have to be mutually exclusive. I am in favor of commonsense gun safety measures including universal background checks, magazine limits, and the Extreme Risk Protection Orders law. I supported the efforts of the Legislature this session to require reporting of missing or stolen firearms and proper gun storage. Common sense gun legislation strengthens the Second Amendment.
12 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
State House District 10 Edie Hooton
Party: Democratic Website: ediehooton.com Age: 63 Family: Jim Hooton, husband; Ned Hooton, son; Ginny Hooton, daughter How long have you lived in Boulder County: 23 years Professional background: Special Assistant to U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel, Fairbanks field office. Legislative aide to state Sen. Bettye Fahrenkamp, Alaska Legislature; government affairs offices, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Philadelphia Electric Company; small business owner. Political/community experience: Two-term state representative, House District 10; former President and VP, Democratic Women of Boulder County: Democratic precinct captain; board member, Colorado Children’s Alliance. Education: Masters in public policy, University of Pennsylvania. What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? We had major problems with housing instability before the pandemic, but now we’re nearing crisis status. Top problems include unemployment/underemployment making it tough to pay mortgages or rent; high local costs of rent, including manufactured home lot rent; difficulties finding nearby affordable housing; and homelessness among parents and children. No single plan will fix our problems. I co-sponsored state bills that provide affordable housing grant funding, and sponsored three bills, now law, that significantly enhance protections for mobile home owners — one allowing them to collectively purchase and manage their park. Colorado has a serious homeless youth problem — 53,000 Colorado students in 2019 were identified as homeless. We know actual numbers are much higher. I sponsored legislation to
establish a grant program supporting Colorado’s homeless youth providers which was withdrawn due to COVID-related bills, but I will bring it back in 2021. What do you think the role of government should be in coronavirus response going forward? We’re in an emergency and badly need a coordinated national response, to include: availability of testing supplies; ensuring health care and other critical facilities have PPE; attention to data and data transparency; identifying areas with critical shortages and addressing them; devoting resources toward research and development on vaccines and treatments; and making sure strategies like wearing masks and social distancing are respected and followed. The same general ideas could apply at the state level, though the federal government has vastly greater financial capacity. In the case of equipment/facility needs, government spending is appropriate. For public health strategies, governments might need to pass legislation or issue executive/public health orders. Communication and public education are essential. What sort of environmental issues do you think Colorado should be taking on in the coming years? The recent fires gave us a brutal reminder that we can’t ignore climate change and air quality. We should continue de-carbonizing electrical generation, electrify building infrastructure to transition away from natural gas, expand electric vehicles and infrastructure, expand green building and energy efficiency, protect natural lands for carbon sequestration, and invest in alternative transportation including transit, bike, and pedestrian facilities. I’m sponsoring a bill to allow individual communities like Boulder to purchase renewable energy on the wholesale market. We also must protect our air and water from pollution, through legislation where necessary.
State House District 10
Ken Stickney
Party: Republican Website: www.ken4hd10.org Age: 70 Family: Wife, Jane Rubinstein. How long have you lived in Boulder County: 34 years. Professional background: Software engineering and management. Political/community experience: Boulder County Republican precinct captain, Boulder caucus Republican House. District 10 secretary, 2020 Boulder County Republican caucus leader (CU Boulder). Education: BA Amherst College; MS University of Massachusetts What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your
plan to solve it? My district includes most of the commercial and light industrial center of the city of Boulder. The shutdowns put in place to combat the coronavirus are crippling many small businesses, particularly the restaurants, which are a vibrant part of our downtown and a strong tourist draw, which leads to follow on opportunities for the other small businesses. This affects the owners, their employees, and property owners, depriving them of sustainable income. It is estimated that 62% of restaurants in Colorado will close in five months. If elected I will fight for accelerated use of the current state relief funds, shutdown policy based on hospitalization and not case numbers, and state tax and fee relief for small business owners. What do you think the role of government should be in coro-
navirus response going forward? Government should facilitate the introduction and distribution of approved vaccines as soon as possible, prioritizing people at risk from the virus because of other health issues. It should ensure that hospitals and health care workers are properly equipped to handle hospitalizations and nursing home outbreaks. It should ease restrictions on those unlikely to be seriously infected. It should accelerate the removal of restrictions on businesses. It should recommend to school districts a return to partial in-person learning at a minimum. It should rapidly distribute the remaining relief funds as they have been earmarked, and consider temporary additional relief so long as it incentivizes business owners and employees. What sorts of environmental
issues do you think Colorado should be taking on in the coming years? Water use, water quality, and forest management are the issues that are not at top of mind for most Coloradans but will become more critical as our population continues to increase. Water use by an increasing Front Range population will compete with agricultural and wildlife needs, so careful planning and increased conservation by residential and agricultural stakeholders will be key. As our water comes primarily from mountain runoff, the continued development of mountain communities needs to be balanced with preserving water quality. Wildfires are a real threat to life and property, so we need to work more closely with the federal government to engage in aggressive clearing of ground fuels from our national forest and wilderness areas.
es to large companies. I’m working to help these businesses on licensing, employment, and landlord issues they face. Our lower-income families need additional resources and assistance while we reboot schools and the economy. We need to make it easier, not harder, for our energy and agriculture industries in the county to grow, too. What’s your stance on housing issues in Boulder County? How will you work to address homelessness and help provide more affordable housing options?
Boulder County has created many of the issues with housing and homelessness by limiting growth and the type of structures built. Our land use policies must reflect the need for innovative housing. As a part of rebooting our economy, we need to employ our homeless. Many of them have vital skills that businesses need. Shelters are a transitional solution while they can start producing an income so they can afford to move into their own home. Boulder County and Longmont must get innovative.
State House District 11
Mark Milliman
Party: Republican Website: millimanforco.com Age: 57 Family: Divorced, two children — one son and one daughter How long have you lived in Boulder County? 17 years Professional background: Electrical engineer Political/community experience: Prior state activist for National Motorists Association, precinct lead for Boulder County elections Education: Bachelor’s in electrical engineering, Iowa State University; master’s in electrical engineering, Carnegie Mellon University What’s been the focus of your campaign and how will that translate to the issues you will tackle first, if elected? This election is unlike any other election we have had in our lifetime. It is not about the typical partisan issues often bantered around. It is about restoring and rebuilding our community after the devastation our governor and Legislature has caused to our people and economy. Over 10,000 small businesses will
never open in our state again, while the large companies continue to thrive. Many people are still unemployed or underemployed, and they are in fear of losing their homes. Their children are not receiving the quality education promised by school districts. Low-income and minority households are suffering the most from the governor’s unilateral decision of who opens and who doesn’t. The mental health impact of these closures has had a greater impact on the community, especially the children, than COVID-19. What’s your plan to help the local economy as businesses and families grapple with impacts from the coronavirus? Fully reopening our schools is key to reopening and rebuilding our local economy. I’ve been working with the St. Vrain Valley School District, providing them with fact-based research and analysis to safely and fully reopen. The district provides many services beyond education that enables parents to be able to work while their children are educated. I will continue my support so parents can get back to work. We need to lift the onerous restrictions preventing our small businesses from reopening that give preferenc-
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2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 13
State House District 11
State House District 12
Karen McCormick
Tracey Bernett
Party: Democratic Website: karenforco.com/ Age: 63 Family: Husband – Gregg Perry, Kids: Kendall Perry, Erin Perry, Camryn Perry How long have you lived in Boulder County: 26 years Professional background: Veterinarian, small business owner Political/community experience: Nonprofit boards of ViDAS, Project VETS, Rotary member, volunteer English language teach for immigrants with Intercambio, Citizens Climate Lobby member, Former Congressional Candidate in 2018 for CD04 Education: Bachelor’s in agriculture University of Florida; doctor of veterinary medicine University of Florida, certified veterinary acupuncturist Colorado State University What’s been the focus of your campaign and how will that translate to the issues you will tackle first, if elected? The reason I am running for state house is to work to make the lives of Colorado families better. My focus is on mitigating the effects of climate change to protect our health and the future of our food source. We can do this and create new jobs to stimulate our economy. I plan to work to make healthcare access easier and more affordable for everyone. We also need to find more secure funding mechanisms for our public education system and for infrastructure projects across our state. What’s your plan to help the local economy as businesses and families grapple with impacts from the coronavirus? I want to continue to look at ways
to remove barriers to innovation so that small businesses can more easily adapt to this new way of reaching customers. I will stand behind science- based data showing simple steps such as wearing masks, staying at least 6 feet apart, washing our hands frequently can absolutely prevent spread of a pandemic. I plan to work to fund testing sites, fast turnaround tests, contact tracing and implementation of providing the vaccine when it is available. By doing all of this we can protect people thereby giving people more confidence to engage in economic activity. We must also address the barriers that families are experiencing for their kids to be fully engaged through online schooling. What’s your stance on housing issues in Boulder County? How will you work to address homelessness and help provide more affordable housing options? I support the Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership’s plans to increase the inventory of affordable housing through a variety of measures. I support helping people experiencing homelessness into housing first and funding the wraparound services to assist folks in finding stable employment, mental health services, food and childcare, etc. I want to explore ways to repurpose older buildings to be developed into affordable housing units and to create financing for innovative tiny home projects for new homeowners to be able to build equity from a reasonable starting point. It is important to me that we provide more options so that people can live closer to where they work. If we want to continue to have a vibrant community it is critical that we are not a city where workers have to commute in from surrounding towns.
14 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
Party: Democratic Website: traceybernett.com Age: 65 Family: Husband Frank Bernett, daughter Allison Bernett, son Frank Bernett How long have you lived in your district: 24 years Professional background: President, Bernett & Associates consulting firm, digital equipment corporation, Ford Aerospace, Bechtel Power Corporation Political/community experience: Chairman, Butterfly Pavilion board; president, OUR Center board; vice chair, Sustainable Resilient Longmont board; policy analyst, CO State Representative Mike Foote and CO State Senator Faith Winter Education: BS with honors Cornell University, College of Engineering; MBA Harvard University Has the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic changed your views about the role of government? How so? I have always believed the role of government is to protect and enhance the lives of its citizens. This means protecting their health and safety; safeguarding them from fraud, abuse and unfair business practices; helping the most vulnerable get back on their feet; and fostering a vibrant economy and standard of living. During times of crisis, it is imperative that the government have frequent communication with the public on the status of the crisis and how we can come together as communities to help each other, help citizens and organizations in need, and enact emergency measures as necessary to protect the health and safety of its citizens. Some parts of District 12 are home to constituents who do not support oil and gas exploration and production near their homes but are regularly dealing with ongoing activities across
the county line in Weld, Adams, and Broomfield counties. Do you believe the overhaul of the COGCC as mandated by SB 181 is sufficient to meet these concerns or do you believe there is more work for the Legislature to do on this issue? Please explain. I live about two miles from a proposed fracking site, so this issue is very important to me, especially since my kids and I have asthma. SB 181 is a good first step, however regulations must follow through in the spirit and intent of SB 181. I believe the 2,000-foot setback is appropriate given the science- and Colorado Health Departmentbased data but am concerned about recent backsliding by the COGCC on this rule. Also, the 2000-foot setback does not address many other concerns, such as the cumulative effect of oil and gas production on air and water quality, abandoned wells, and the safety of oil and gas workers. I plan to closely monitor the actions of both the COGCC and Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) and stand ready to introduce additional legislation if required to protect our communities from oil and gas and preserve the health and safety of all Coloradans. What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? I believe the current pandemic is a window into what our world will look like if we do not address the climate crisis. As we emerge from the pandemic, I want to invest in what I’m calling the “sustainable infrastructure of the future,” by putting people back to work in good-paying clean energy jobs improving the energy efficiency of buildings, schools and residences, electrifying public and private transportation and buildings, building a 100% renewable electricity grid, modernizing and improving the resiliency of our electrical grid, carbon sequestration, and building more resilient communities.
State House District 12 Eric J. Davila
ence: 5 years director of the Liberty Road Show for BoCo GOP Party: Republican Education: UCLA Website: www.eric4hd12.com Has the state’s response to the Age: 52 coronavirus pandemic changed Family: Married your views about the role of govwith two daughters, ernment? How so? 10 and 13 Yes, it exposed how vulnerable How long have our freedoms are to the will of the you lived in your administration during a declared district: 13 years state of emergency. Professional Some parts of District 12 are background: Administrator last 10 home to constituents who do years, formerly an IT executive not support oil and gas exploraPolitical/community experition and production near their
homes but are regularly dealing with ongoing activities across the county line in Weld, Adams, and Broomfield counties. Do you believe the overhaul of the COGCC as mandated by SB 181 is sufficient to meet these concerns or do you believe there is more work for the Legislature to do on this issue? Please explain. No, SB 181 should be repealed. It goes around the will of the people when they voted down Prop 112 in 2016. This is obvious to everybody including the governor since (Jar-
ed) Polis is slow-walking implementation and will not implement or enforce the new law any time soon. What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? Rapid expansion without building up the infrastructure first. Put a halt to all new construction until the developers pay for and build the required expansion of the infrastructure.
caused by our government’s actions or inaction. We need to open the economy now. An estimated 60% of businesses closed by the lockdown will never reopen. In the wake of the pandemic, how do you think Colorado should be helping its residents? New studies coming out in the last two days (Brown University, The CDC) that confirm old studies, that the survival rates for all ages up to 70 are over 99%. In my opinion, these lockdowns are being done for political reasons and should be ended. There are plenty of examples of other states, such as South Dakota, and even Colorado’s rural counties that show these extreme shutdowns were never a good idea anyway. It’s time to open our economy back up. What sort of environmental issues do you think Colorado should be taking on in the coming years?
Of the many issues affecting Colorado, there’s a completely local issue that is getting very little attention. The Gross Reservoir Expansion Project. If it happens, it will be the largest construction project ever done in Boulder County. The dam would be increased by 180 feet, 600,000 trees removed, 5 years of 24 hour per day of semi-truck trips, 24 hour per day grinding, blasting and bright lights able to be heard and seen from Boulder. It’s being done by the Denver Water Board, which doesn’t even need the water, they’re just takin advantage of federal funding. The water is supposed to come from the Colorado River, which is already oversubscribed. This will be an environmental nightmare for Boulder County if it happens. It’s coming up for approval soon by our County Commissioners. Please encourage them not to approve the 1041 permit.
State House District 13
Kevin Sipple
Party: Republican Website URL: www.KevinSipple.com Age: 64 Family: Both parents, three brothers, two sisters, dog How long have you lived in your district: Since 1969 Professional background: Businessman – founder; Eldorado Artesian Springs, Inc. Municipal management. Expertise with regulatory agencies, EPA, FDA, CDPHE. Political/community experience: Volunteer: Placement Alternatives Commission, 1992 to 2002, appointed board managing seven social services programs designed to keep families together. Sheriff’s Office victim advocate 2001 to present, providing assistance to victims
of crimes, personal tragedies and natural disasters. Organizations: COVA, SPCC. Republican Party, 2012 to present. Education: Southern Hills, Fairview, CU Boulder What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? The most important issue for the whole state right now is the economy. The state budget is showing a $3.3 billion shortfall. The Legislature’s special session this summer was to figure out what part of the budget to cut, and they couldn’t agree on any significant savings. Some of what was cut makes no sense, like for example mental health services. There can be no worse time in our history to cut costs on mental health than during the current mental health crisis caused by months of isolation, failing businesses, school closures, all
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 15
State House District 13
House District 33
Judy Amabile
Matt Gray
Party: Democratic Website: judyamabile.com Age: 62 Family: I have three adult sons who live in Boulder. Two of my four siblings also live in Boulder. How long have you lived in Boulder County: Since 1975. Professional background: Cofounder and president, Polar Bottle. Political/community experience: Past: Daily Camera Editorial Advisory Board, Boulder Chamber Board, Boulder Economic Council Exec Committee. Current: Community Affairs Council, Mental Health Colorado Board, Boulder County National Alliance for Mental Illness Board, Good Business Colorado Founding Board Member. Education: BA and MBA – University of Colorado Boulder. What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district and what is your plan to solve it? Addressing the causes, and mitigating the effects, of climate change is the number one issue in my district. Access to quality, affordable health care and the crisis working people face are also urgent matters. For more details on my approach to
solving these issues, please read my Climate, Health Care and Economic Plans on my website. In the wake of the pandemic, how do you think Colorado should be helping its residents? Protecting our health and safety is first. We must continue social distancing, mask wearing, testing, and contact tracing until a vaccine is widely available. We must continue to provide economic support to those who need it while we work hard to open our economy in safe and smart ways. We should do everything we can to keep people in their homes and keep businesses operating by providing assistance and working with landlords and mortgage holders. What sorts of environmental issues do you think Colorado should be taking on in the coming years? Colorado must lead on environmental issues. We have to address climate change, water and air pollution, and at-risk animal species. We must quickly move to reduce our carbon footprint by increasing our renewable energy resources, implementing clean energy and water conservation strategies, electrifying our vehicles and buildings, and ending our dependence on fossil fuels. We can show the world the way forward.
James E. Gilman
Libertarian candidate James E. Gilman did not respond to requests to complete the candidate questionnaire.
16 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
Party: Democratic Website: matthewgray.us Age: 40 Family: Wife Katie, daughter Ellie, 7, and son Theo, 4. How long have you lived in Broomfield: 14 years Professional background: In addition to serving in the Legislature, I work as a public finance attorney helping communities fund infrastructure. Previously served as a prosecutor in Broomfield. Political/community experience: State Representative for the past four years. Before that chaired the Broomfield Board of Equalization and was vice chair of the Adams County Youth Initiative. Education: BAs in political science and philosophy and a juris doctorate. What are your short-term and long-term goals to improve transportation in Broomfield? As chair of the House Transportation Committee, I think about
this every day. At the state level, the solution involves modernizing our revenue structure to move beyond just our gas tax revenue that has been stagnant since 1992. That will require new political will and new bipartisan action because we’ve been stuck in a rut for a while in this area. If that doesn’t work, the other option is to move forward more regionally, where Broomfield/Boulder/Adams and any other willing communities take care of things ourselves. What sets you aside from your opponent? I don’t know my opponent so I can’t speak about her. I have a four year track-record of delivering bipartisan successes at the Capitol ranging from increased school funding to oil and gas issues to assisting businesses and workers who are staring down our current unemployment crisis. What steps would you take to bring down the cost of health care? The best path is making sure everyone is covered. If we’re all in it together, the costs are spread more broadly and they go down, plus we meet our moral obligation to make sure everyone is cared for.
House District 33 Mindy Quiachon
Party: Republican Website: MindyForColorado.com Age: 41 Family: Married with three kids ages 16, 10, 3. How long have you lived in Broomfield: 20 years Professional background: Hospitality, business, sales, current small business owner. Political/community experience: Philanthropist since childhood. Started an after school dance program at an inner-city school during the late ’90s when music/performing arts programs were being eliminated in schools. Worked at a school teaching illiterate kids how to read. Volunteers at food banks and community outreach programs. Serves on the Broomfield Housing Advisory Committee. Education: B.A., Southern Illinois University What are your short-term and long-term goals to improve transportation in Broomfield? Meeting the regional transportation needs in House District 33 is one of my top priorities. I will first and foremost be a steward for taxpayer dollars that have already been paid into transportation for the last decade. HD33 constituents have been paying into FasTrax for more than 10 years and there is little to show for their investment. I will ensure regional equity on transportation funding and the completion of transportation projects. Transportation needs have shifted over the last 20 years, and I will look to innovation and investment in current and emerging infrastructure to increase
safety, improve efficiency, ease congestion, and help our environment. As a state representative I will prioritize Colo. 7 as a transportation artery between Boulder and the I-25 corridor. What sets you aside from your opponent? I offer a fresh voice and leadership to the people of HD33. My opponent campaigns to suburban soccer moms. I am a suburban soccer mom who cares about the health and safety of my children. My opponent claims to advocate on behalf of women. I am an empowered woman. My opponent positions himself as friendly to the small business community. I am a small business owner and know the struggles of meeting a payroll. I am fighting to take care of and protect our freedoms and the future of my kids, family and the residents of HD33. I will represent the entire district and will fight for the needs of the people in HD33, not special interests under the gold dome. What steps would you take to bring down the cost of health care? Quality and affordable health care options are essential for Colorado families. I will offer free market options with diverse competition to lower drug prices, premiums and deductibles. I will challenge the status quo and break down barriers to allow coverage across state lines. I will protect those who have protected our freedoms by providing the best quality care for our military veterans. Coloradans should have access to purchase the best possible insurance to fit their own personal needs. There will be no one left out based on preexisting conditions, including the most vulnerable among us and especially our senior citizens.
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ALSO ENDORSED BY U.S. Representative Joe Neguse, Colorado Speaker of the House KC Becker, Senate Majority Leader Stephen Fenberg, House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, Representative Edie Hooton, Representative Jonathan Singer, Attorney General Phil Weiser, Boulder County DA Michael Dougherty, Sheriff Joe Pelle, Josie and Rollie Heath, RTD Board Member Lynn Guissinger, CU Regents Linda Shoemaker and Lesley Smith, Boulder City Council Members Aaron Brockett, Rachel Friend, Junie Joseph, Adam Swetlik, Mark Wallach, Sam Weaver, Bob Yates, and many others!
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House District 49 Yara Zokaie
Party: Democrat Website: www.yaraforcolorado.com Age: 28 Family: Husband; two sons, Remy, 3, Roman, 1 Time in area: Windsor resident for four years Professional background: Tax attorney Political/community experience: I am not a politician, but I have been involved in the community — both in my work as a tax attorney for local businesses and as a mom to young kids. Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology, law degree, master’s degree in the laws of taxation What are the most important issues facing the Colorado Legislature in the next two years, and how would you propose to address them? The biggest issue we face as a state in the next two years is recovering from the economic impact of coronavirus. So often in times of economic downturn, we negotiate on the backs of those most detrimentally impacted. These vulnerable groups include middle- and low-income families, small businesses and working-class folks. It is time that we prioritize these groups. We also must invest in our public schools, which have been hit hard by this crisis. What should be the Legislature’s role in addressing the coronavirus pandemic and assisting in the recovery — balancing residents’ and businesspeople’s civil rights with the need to protect people’s
health? To address the economic conditions caused by the pandemic, we must be responsive to the problems our communities are facing. This includes providing aid to individuals and small businesses, increasing unemployment benefits and putting in place a temporary eviction moratorium during the period of recovery. We must also ensure that no one is left with financial difficulties due to medical treatment related to COVID-19. If we want to come out of this economic crisis with the same Colorado communities we know and love, we need to ensure that no one is left behind as we work to address the underlying problems that the crisis has exacerbated. I know that we can get through this difficult time together, but we must have elected representatives who listen to the people, not giant corporate and lobbyist donors. That is why I am 100% grassroots funded. To what extent is systemic reform needed in policing? What role should the Legislature play, beyond the recently passed Senate Bill 217? It is clear that a large portion of our population believes that systemic reform of policing is necessary. It is our job as leaders to listen when our constituents demand action, and I am proud that Colorado passed Senate Bill 217. The Legislature must also monitor how this bill works in practice and close any loopholes that may be used. To the communities that have been harmed by improper policing, I wholeheartedly promise to listen to your voices and take action when needed.
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Mike Lynch
School, Bradley Commander School master fitness trainer. Age: 51 Political affiliation: Republican Family: Wife Alex; daughter CarCampaign website: Lynchly, 14; son Spencer, 15 ForColorado.com Time in area: Wellington resident; in What are the most important the district for 19 issues facing the Colorado Legyears islature in the next two years, Professional and how would you propose to background: Foraddress them? mer Army officer, Due to the coronavirus shutbusiness owner downs in the state mandated by our Political/community experigovernor, we will be experiencing ence: TEDx talk on lost wax castquite a budget shortfall for our ing; military academy selection state. This will require some very boards for Sen. Ben Nighthorse careful budgeting for the essential Campbell, Congresswoman Mariduties of our government, which is lyn Musgrave, Congressman Cory to provide infrastructure and safety Gardner, Sen. Cory Gardner; candifor our citizens. Due to our unprecedate for Colorado State Senate dented growth in population, infravacancy; board member of Lovestructure is more important than land Downtown Working Group; ever. board of directors for Redeemer What should be the LegislaLutheran Church; board of directure’s role in addressing the cortors for Project Smile; board officer onavirus pandemic and assistfor Larimer County Republican Paring in the recovery — balancing ty; member of Larimer County residents’ and businesspeople’s Rural Land Use Board; member of civil rights with the need to proNorthern Colorado Veterans Plaza tect people’s health? Board; alumni president New MexiThe state needs to continue to co Military Institute class; vice presprovide accurate information to the ident of West Point alumni class; people. This is a test in personal recreational youth soccer coach; responsibility. Give us the informaLego robotics coach; member of tion, and if you are at risk, isolate; if Roundup Riders of the Rockies; you are not, go about your life. Leadership Program of the Rockies Reopen the state immediately. graduate. To what extent is systemic Education: University of Chicareform needed in policing? What go – Booth School of Business, role should the Legislature play, MBA candidate (left program for beyond the recently passed job), 1999; University of Colorado Senate Bill 217? Boulder, Master of Public AdminisI think the awareness campaign tration, 1996; United States Military we have underway will help get the Academy at West Point, bachelor of “bad apples” exposed. SB 217 will science, 1993; New Mexico Military help in accountability, and additionInstitute in Roswell, Associate of al attention should take care of the Arts, 1989; United States Army at rest. Fort Benning, Ga., Airborne
State House District 63 Dan Woog
the coronavirus. How should Colorado meet its transportation needs in the coming years? Colorado needs to prioritize transportation improvement needs over other frivolous expenses. We need to allocate necessary funding to roads and transportation needs. What should the Legislature get done in the coming session that was not finished in the previous session? There was some damaging legislation passed last session which will have a negative effect on small business recovery. We need to revisit those bills that will harm recovery such as House Bill 20-1420 and State Bill 20-205. These bills will create more difficulty for small businesses and employees to recover from the consequences of our state wide shut-in. We must prevent further economic devastation and allow an easier path for businesses and Coloradans to thrive financially.
Gen Schneider
How should Colorado meet its transportation needs in the coming years? In the long-term, we need to focus on public transportation that can link communities. In my area, many people drive 30 minutes or more for work or college. We have no public transportation, and this is causing clogged roadways. To help achieve this, we need to make Colorado Department of Transportation’s accounting system transparent and understandable for the public. Without this step, they will not have the public trust that is needed for such a large project. What should the Legislature get done in the coming session that was not finished in the previous session? Unfortunately, in the coming years, the Legislature will have to focus on funding and keeping our state afloat. While we all have lofty goals, the pandemic and resulting economic crisis has created a situation where we will have to work hard and be creative just to keep our schools funded. Taxation, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and the Gallagher Amendment will be the top issues for the foreseeable future.
Party: Republican Website: www.woogforweldhd63 .com Age: 42 Family: Married to Rianne, father to Anniston and Caden How long you have lived in Erie: 13 years Professional background: Owner of a real estate firm Political/community experience: Former Erie Planning and Zoning Commissioner and Trustee Education: Bachelor of applied science from Arizona State University How will you advocate for constituents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19? We need to allow Coloradans to get back to work. I will support initiatives to fully open up more businesses and minimize restrictions in order to advocate for those who have been financially impacted by
Party: Democratic Website: genforhd63.com Age: 45 Family: Married 19 years, mother of twins How long have you lived in Dacono: 12 years Professional background: Certified Veterinary Technician Political/community experience: Dacono City Council member from 2012 to 2015, Dacono Planning Commission from 2019 to present, Dacono Police Advisory Board from 2016 to present Education: Associate in Arts in Veterinary Technology from BelRea Institute, Associate in arts in Political Science from Front Range Community College, Political Science degree from the University of Colorado Boulder How will you advocate for constituents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19? I want to help individuals and small businesses by creating a rent/mortgage moratorium on the banking level. This would need coordination with local and federal agencies. COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic, and relief needs to come from all levels of our government.
Joe Johnson
Party: Libertarian Website: None Age: 56 Family: Single How long have you lived in Frederick: Since 2003 Professional background: Director, Partnership Development Political/community experience: Former Trustee, Town of Frederick Education: High School How will you advocate for constituents who have been financially impacted by COVID19? COVID is a serious disease and it is important that we work together to contain it and avoid its spread. However, the economic devastation borne upon Coloradans as a result of the shut down will have lasting effects years or even decades into the future. Political solutions are rarely the correct answer, and this has proven true in this case. Roughly 70% of all COVID deaths are among those age 70 years or above. Removing young, healthy citizens from the workforce has caused more harm than good. We must work together to reopen business in Colorado to rebuild our economy, while drastically cutting spending to reduce debt acquired during COVID. This does not mean that we should not take this disease seriously. We can protect the elderly and vulnerable while opening our economy.
How should Colorado meet its transportation needs in the coming years? My No. 1 issue is preventing politicians from spending the tax money spent by Colorado citizens for our highways on everything but our roads. There is plenty of money for our infrastructure, however, it is spent on everything except our infrastructure. We must keep taxes collected for transportation separated from the general fund. Additionally, just because someone is elected does not make that person an expert on any given issue, and this is felt nowhere more than transportation. If elected I will work to keep politics out of transportation, and give the taxpayers who pay for transportation more for their money. What should the Legislature get done in the coming session that was not finished in the previous session? From increasing the costs of medical care in Colorado via the unfunded paid family medical leave bill and the public health insurance option adding red tape and costs, to making it harder to protect children from being forcibly injected with mercury and preventing citizens from quickly arming themselves in the event of a home invasion, there was very little the 2020 legislative session took up that was not repellant to anyone who values liberty. One possible exception being the elimination of the death penalty. Like COVID, this year’s legislative session marks the year as a low spot on the history books for Colorado.
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Colorado Ballot Items Amendment B
Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR20-001 Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates Referred to the voters by the state legislature Without increasing property tax rates, to help preserve funding for local districts that provide fire protection, police, ambulance, hospital, kindergarten through twelfth grade education, and other services, and to avoid automatic mill levy increases, shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution to repeal the requirement that the general assembly periodically change the residential assessment rate in order to maintain the statewide proportion of residential property as compared to all other taxable property valued for property tax purposes and repeal the nonresidential property tax assessment rate of twentynine percent?
in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution and a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning voter-approved changes to limited gaming, and, in connection therewith, allowing the voters of Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek, for their individual cities, to approve other games in addition to those currently allowed and increase a maximum single bet to any amount; and allowing gaming tax revenue to be used for support services to improve student retention and credential completion by students enrolled in community colleges?
funding for programs that currently receive revenue from tobacco taxes, with the state keeping and spending all of the new tax revenue as a voter-approved revenue change?
Proposition 113
Senate Bill SB19-042 National Popular Vote Shall the following Act of the General Assembly be approved: An Act concerning adoption of an agreement among the states to elect the President of the United States by national popular vote, being Senate Bill No. 19-042?
Proposition 114
Initiative #107 - Restoration of Grey Wolves Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes Proposition EE concerning the restoration of House Bill HB20-1427 gray wolves through their Cigarette Tobacco and reintroduction on designated Nicotine Products Tax lands in Colorado located Referred to the voters by west of the continental divide, the state legislature Shall state taxes be increased and, in connection therewith, requiring the Colorado parks by $294,000,000 annually by and wildlife commission, after Amendment C imposing a tax on nicotine holding statewide hearings House Concurrent liquids used in e-cigarettes and using scientific data, to Resolution HCR20-1001 and other vaping products implement a plan to restore Bingo Raffles Allow Paid that is equal to the total state and manage gray wolves; Help and Repeal Five-Year tax on tobacco products prohibiting the commission Minimum when fully phased in, from imposing any land, Referred to the voters by incrementally increasing the the state legislature tobacco products tax by up to water, or resource use Shall there be an amendment 22% of the manufacturer’s list restrictions on private to the Colorado constitution price, incrementally increasing landowners to further the plan; and requiring the concerning the conduct of the cigarette tax by up to 9 commission to fairly charitable gaming activities, cents per cigarette, compensate owners for and, in connection therewith, expanding the existing losses of livestock caused by allowing bingo-raffle licensees cigarette and tobacco taxes gray wolves? to hire managers and to apply to sales to operators of games and consumers from outside of Proposition 115 reducing the required period the state, establishing a Initiative #120 - Prohibition of a charitable organization’s minimum tax for moist snuff on Late-Term Abortions continuous existence before tobacco products, creating an Shall there be a change to the obtaining a charitable gaming inventory tax that applies for Colorado Revised Statutes license? future cigarette tax increases, concerning prohibiting an and initially using the tax Amendment 76 abortion when the probable revenue primarily for public gestational age of the fetus is Initiative #76 - Citizenship school funding to help offset at least twenty-two weeks, Qualification of Electors Shall there be an amendment revenue that has been lost as and, in connection therewith, a result of the economic making it a misdemeanor to the Colorado constitution impacts related to COVID-19 punishable by a fine to requiring that to be qualified and then for programs that perform or attempt to perform to vote at any election an reduce the use of tobacco a prohibited abortion, except individual must be a United and nicotine products, States citizen? when the abortion is enhance the voluntary immediately required to save Amendment 77 colorado preschool program the life of the pregnant woman Initiative #257 - Local Voter and make it widely available when her life is physically Approval of Gaming Limits for free, and maintain the threatened, but not solely by a
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More online Find detailed explanations of individual state measures online at dailycamera.com/ tag/2020-election.
psychological or emotional condition; defining terms related to the measure including “probable gestational age” and “abortion,” and excepting from the definition of “abortion” medical procedures relating to miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy; specifying that a woman on whom an abortion is performed may not be charged with a crime in relation to a prohibited abortion; and requiring the Colorado medical board to suspend for at least three years the license of a licensee whom the board finds performed or attempted to perform a prohibited abortion?
Proposition 116
Initiative #306 - State Income Tax Rate Reduction Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes reducing the state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%?
Proposition 117
Initiative #295 - Voter Approval Requirement for Creation of Certain FeeBased Enterprises Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes requiring statewide voter approval at the next evenyear election of any newly created or qualified state enterprise that is exempt from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado constitution, if the projected or actual combined revenue from fees and surcharges of the enterprise, and all other enterprises created within the last five years that serve primarily the same purpose, is greater than $100 million within the first five fiscal years of the creation or qualification of the new enterprise?
Proposition 118
Initiative #283 - Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning the creation of a paid family and medical leave program in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, authorizing paid family and medical leave for a covered employee who has a serious health condition, is caring for a new child or for a family member with a serious health condition, or has a need for leave related to a family member’s military deployment or for safe leave; establishing a maximum of 12 weeks of family and medical leave, with an additional 4 weeks for pregnancy or childbirth complications, with a cap on the weekly benefit amount; requiring job protection for and prohibiting retaliation against an employee who takes paid family and medical leave; allowing a local government to opt out of the program; permitting employees of such a local government and selfemployed individuals to participate in the program; exempting employers who offer an approved private paid family and medical leave plan; to pay for the program, requiring a premium of 0.9% of each employee’s wages, up to a cap, through December 31, 2024, and as set thereafter, up to 1.2% of each employee’s wages, by the director of the division of family and medical leave insurance; authorizing an employer to deduct up to 50% of the premium amount from an employee’s wages and requiring the employer to pay the remainder of the premium, with an exemption for employers with fewer than 10 employees; creating the division of family and medical leave insurance as an enterprise within the department of labor and employment to administer the program; and establishing an enforcement and appeals process for retaliation and denied claims?
Boulder County District Attorney
Michael Dougherty
Party: Democratic Website: michaelforboulderda.com Age: 49 Family: Wife (Antonia) and 12-year-old twins How long have you lived in Boulder County: 11 years Professional background: Elected District Attorney in 2018. Co-chair Sentencing Reform Task Force. I served as a prosecutor and leader in the Manhattan DA’s Office, Colorado AG’s Office, and the DA’s Office in Golden. Political/community experience: My entire career has been in public service. I serve on the Boards of Voices for Children and the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance. I volunteer with Cultivate. Education: Graduated Community College, followed by Cornell University and Boston University School of Law. What is the biggest issue your office will have to address going forward? The pandemic and racial inequities must be addressed by the justice system. I am committed to learning from these challenges and making real progress. We are dealing with the case backlog caused by the pandemic, while also seeking to build on our Restorative Justice and Diversion Program, including our Mental Health Diversion Program. Through our efforts, we seek to enhance community safety and improve the justice system. What lessons do you think your office and the court system can take away from how it has handled the pandemic? There are positive lessons to be learned from the impacts of the pandemic. When the pandemic first hit Colora-
do, our office proactively engaged in efforts to protect victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and child abuse. Our office remained open throughout the pandemic, partnering with outstanding women and men in law enforcement to preserve community safety. We quickly moved to virtual appearances for nearly all court settings except for trials. We are far ahead of other jurisdictions in these efforts and we should allow for virtual appearances to continue. Additionally, in an effort to limit the spread of the virus within the jail and the community, we took decisive action to reduce the jail population without causing significant risk to public safety. In response to the forced experiment of the pandemic, there have been real successes that we will carry forward. The pandemic has, also, highlighted the incredible dedication of the DA staff. I am extremely fortunate to work with such an outstanding group of public servants. With racial justice a big issue, how do you think your office can respond to the problems Black, Indigenous and people of color face? When I became DA in 2018, my office identified racial justice as a priority. We expanded our Immigrant Protection Program, introduced a Bias & Hate Crimes Initiative, and are working closely with community groups and law enforcement to better serve marginalized groups and BIPOC. Our office also is partnering with the VERA Institute of Justice on a deep-dive data analysis to identify racial inequities. We were one of three DA’s offices in the entire country selected for this partnership. Furthermore, we work with other organizations on efforts to end mass incarceration and practices that unfairly penalize vulnerable communities and BIPOC. For updates on our efforts, please visit the District Attorney website.
Boulder County Commissioner District 1 Claire Levy
Party: Democratic Website: claireforbouldercounty.org Age: 64 Family: Husband, two daughters, one greyhound How long have you lived in Boulder County? Thirtyfour years Professional background: Licensed attorney, former executive director of Colorado Center on Law and Policy Political/community experience: PLAN Boulder County, 2000-2003; past board member of Boulder Arts Academy and Boulder Ballet; precinct committee person; Boulder County Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee; Boulder County Housing Authority; City of Boulder Planning Board; Colorado Legislature, House District 13; Board of Boulder Housing Partners Education: B.A. Carleton College; J.D. Case Western Reserve University What county government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? I will have my first opportunity to consider this question in the budget process for 2022. It would be reckless to suggest reducing or eliminating services before I have had an in-depth look at what is or is not effective. I have experience through my service on the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee with scrutinizing programs and budgets and using staff analyses and data to analyze effectiveness. I will seek data-driven justification for all programs during the next budget cycle so funds are dedicated to effective programs and services that address the needs and priorities of county residents. What county government services, programs or projects need to be increased or added, if any?
Increasing any funding will depend on whether funds are available given the uncertain impact of COVID-19 on county revenue. If they are, Boulder County residents are asking for more funding for affordable housing, child care assistance and mental health services. The pandemic illustrates the need to fully fund our public health department and be sure we are addressing the social determinants of health. I would also increase funding for legal services attorneys for qualifying residents to help them with eviction and foreclosures, debt collection, child custody and other family law issues, and the variety of legal issues people with lower incomes face in challenging economic times. In other areas, I would like to see progress on residential road resurfacing and addressing both inter-county and regional transportation needs, moving forward with building retrofits for energy efficiency and installing solar panels, and funding community justice, restorative justice and pre-trial diversion programs. What particular points of view or policies would you bring to the Board of County Commissioners? I am an environmentalist and an advocate for racial and economic justice. Addressing racial and economic justice requires work across many systems such as criminal justice, education, and health and human services. I have worked to increase state funding for affordable housing and will continue that advocacy as well as for increased opportunities for home ownership. Other priorities include protecting the eco-systems and wildlife habitats on county open space; fostering an agricultural economy that is vibrant, and both environmentally and economically sustainable; increasing recycling and composting; and increasing the availability to county residents of renewable energy and electric vehicles at an affordable price.
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Boulder County Commissioner District 1
Cinda Kochen
Party: Republican Website: kochen2020.com Age: 72 Family: Married, three children How long have you lived in Boulder County? Forty years Professional background: Educator preschool to graduate level college; author “The Baby Swim Book,” CEO The Shower Scene. Political/community experience: Daily Camera Editorial Advisory Board; liaison to two Democrats and two Republicans at Colorado Legislature; past vice president of Boulder Valley Education Association; finalist for Boulder Valley Impact on Education; instrumental in passage of the Colorado Handicapped Children’s Education Act Education: Ph.D in reading plus emotional, behavioral, developmental, and learning disabilities What county government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? Elimination of programs and services is one of the most difficult jobs of a commissioner because it means employees lose jobs and the community can’t access programs they may rely on. I’m sure there are programs that are no longer useful, but because I don’t have access to the commissioner’s budget or departmental reports, I couldn’t say with any degree of certainty which programs that might be. Questions to ask are how many people are using certain programs? Are some programs served by other county, state, federal or private agencies? Is there a better way of organizing a department to meet needs? What county government ser-
vices, programs or projects need to be increased or added, if any? I definitely see the need to increase programs for mental health and would like to see the commissioners set up more satellite centers to serve mental health needs throughout our large county. It’s hard enough for people with mental health needs to overcome the inertia and stigma to actually seek help. To make things worse, people who don’t live near the mental health centers in Lafayette, central Boulder or Longmont may be reluctant to take the time to travel to these locations. There are decentralized models of mental health delivery that the county should look at. That would be more equitable. The needs of our county’s people change through time. For example, thirty years ago, people had little need for internet access, but with COVID more citizens and students work remotely and depend on reliable internet. The rural and mountain areas don’t always have that access. Adding that as a need to Boulder County’s infrastructure is an idea we have to look at. What particular points of view or policies would you bring to the Board of County Commissioners? Idealistically, I’m an optimist who sees the glass as half full and pride myself on being open-minded. I would regularly travel to the different parts of the county, including plains, cities, small towns, farms, unincorporated areas, retail centers, and manufacturing businesses, to find out what our citizens are thinking and needing. From the poorest county resident to the richest, Boulder is amuck in brilliant minds. They should be the most valued of our many natural resources.
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Boulder County Commissioner District 2
Marta Loachamin
Party: Democratic Website: marta2020.org Age: 46 Family: Two boys How long have you lived in Boulder County: Off and on since 1992 Professional background: Banking, finance, real estate, teaching, consulting Political/community experience: Variety of community boards, both national and local companies and nonprofits Education: Bachelor’s degree CU Boulder, ethnic studies; master of arts degree University of Phoenix, secondary education What county government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? Due to COVID-19 we will be in a position to determine this exact question as reductions to costs will occur. I am not aware of where those reductions or eliminations are at yet and will work with county staff, as experts, to determine what those may be. What county government services, programs or projects
need to be increased or added, if any? I believe that we need to continue work and build long term partnerships that include mental health, regenerative agriculture and increased housing options. After campaigning for the last 23 months I am still curious about what needs are out there not being met to know what needs to be added. A few that I have learned more about and plan to focus on are options for cooperative ownership models and programs that will support our local economy as we begin to find economic opportunities moving forward. What particular points of view or policies would you bring to the Board of County Commissioners? My experience working with community members as a financial and social justice advocate over decades creates a unique perspective on how we begin to build systemic change. Most Boulder County voters are worried about health, housing, climate or the economy. As a self-employed business woman I will use community based expertise and a valuable skill set to continue creating policies that develop community engagement and input opportunities for residents.
Boulder County Commissioner District 2
Louisville City Council, Ward 3
James Crowder
Kyle Brown
Party: Republican Website: crowder4commissioner.com Age: 76 Family: Married, with three grandsons and a granddaughter on the way. How long have you lived in Boulder County? Since 1978 Professional background: I served Boulder as a real estate broker till I started Crowder Mortgage in 1984 Political/community experience: I have no experience as a politician. I have experience in public administration as the CFO for the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments. I am a member of the Lyons Audit Committee. Education: B.S. in international trade at Texas Tech University with majors in accounting and economics. What county government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? Before considering changes to county services or programs, I would want to conduct several town halls. I would want to know which are important to them. It is in the nature of bureaucracy for there to be an accretion of programs and services because they are often not reviewed for effectiveness or necessity once established. After my listening sessions, I would dive into a careful review of every service and program provided by the county to see how well they fit the stated needs of the general community and that all of these services and programs are offered countywide and in proportional relationship to the popula-
tion in the various communities and unincorporated rural areas. I would certainly take a hard look at Housing and Human Services. This department consumes more than 30% of total county budget, which leaves less for transportation, public safety and other more vital services. What county government services, programs or projects need to be increased or added, if any? Road maintenance is at the top of my list of county services that can and definitely should be improved. The county has chosen not to maintain roads in the rural subdivisions. Many of these roads were built more than 40 years ago and dedicated to the county when completed. Roads need to be milled and resurfaced every 20 years or so. Just patching them and occasionally scraping the snow off is not enough to prevent serious deterioration and ultimate failure. That the county has this policy is a breach of trust. The folks that live in these communities have been paying ever-increasing property taxes since they built their homes all those years ago. I have heard from many that they wish roads were the top priority even if money is not available for other programs. What particular points of view or policies would you bring to the Board of County Commissioners? I believe we need government, just not too much government. Our county government should provide for the public safety, transportation, effective administration of elections and the public records. Beyond that, the role of county government should be in alignment with the stated needs of the folks that live here. If one of those is lower property taxes, that can be accomplished by reducing spending.
Website: kyleforlouisville.com Age: 38 Family: Spouse and two kids How long have you lived in Louisville: 24 years Professional background: Health care and public service Political/community experience: City Council since January 2020, Local Licensing Authority 2018-2019, board member of local health care nonprofit, senior advisor for Colorado Governors and U.S. Senators Education: Fireside Elementary, Louisville Middle School, B.S. from Georgetown. Doctorate from Harvard in genetics Why have you chosen to run for Louisville City Council, Ward 3? I am running to continue to use my background in health care and public service to help our community respond to the COVID pandemic. As I have done so far on council, I will continue to focus on supporting residents and businesses that have been hardest hit by this crisis. I will also continue to make Louisville more sustainable, taking meaningful climate action by working to provide the city with 100 percent renewable energy. In these difficult times, my background in health care and public service gives me the skills to best help our community respond to and recover from this
crisis. What are your short-term goals for dealing with the lack of affordable housing in Louisville? Boulder County housing markets, on their own, will not be able to provide meaningful affordable housing options. As we implement our comprehensive plan, we should focus additional attention to how our regulations affect all people and their housing options. Council should consider new city ordinances that can hold developers accountable for creating affordable housing in our city. What changes would you like to see Louisville make to become more diverse and inclusive? Louisville should continue to root out explicit and implicit bias throughout our city. For example, real affordable housing options can help make Louisville a more diverse, inclusive and equitable community and city council should consider new ordinances that will help promote affordable housing options. I fully support the police reform legislation passed at the state level and I am pleased to see our police officers implementing this groundbreaking law. We can and should continue to evaluate our police practices while better engaging our community to understand how explicit and implicit bias is disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous and people of color throughout our city.
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Superior Board of Trustees Mark Lacis
Website: marklacis.com Age: 41 Family: Married to my wonderful wife Chris and blessed with 8-year-old twin boys How long have you lived in Superior: Since 2014 Professional background: I am an attorney and partner in a Denver law firm, where I handle commercial litigation and land use cases. I also serve as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer. Political/community experience: Superior Board of Trustees (2016-present); Superior Planning Commissioner (2014-2016) Education: B.A. in Political Science, Rutgers College; J.D., Seton Hall University Why have you chosen to run for the Superior Board of Trustees? We moved to Superior for its excellent schools and amazing parks and trails. But we stayed because we fell in love with Superior’s small-town sense of community. I’m committed to preserving our quality of life and keeping Superior one of the best places to live and raise a family. What separates you from your opponents? Experience, leadership and community engagement. During my first term, our town faced a number of challenges, but we also accomplished many great things. We passed tough oil and gas regulations that put protecting public health and the environment first. We made the largest open space acquisition in town history. We brought new businesses to town and hired an economic develop-
ment consultant to assist with business development. We cut property taxes. We created new community events, new parks and are in the midst of opening a long-wanted community center. As Trustee, I’ve worked to increase community engagement, improve communication and better push information out to residents. I provide monthly town updates via my blog, regularly engage on social media, meet with residents through my “Lowdown with Trustee Lacis” program and implemented weekly town emails that preview upcoming meetings and recap past ones. But there is still much to be done. We need to navigate the health and economic challenges caused by COVID-19. We need to ensure that Superior is an inclusive community where everyone feels welcomed and valued. We need to see through to the completion of Downtown Superior with the vibrant Main Street that this town was promised. We need to continue to prioritize protecting public health and the environment. The list of issues goes on and I’m committed to tackling them. What do you think is the best path for Superior to take to increase its commercial footprint? We need to stand firm on the commitments made by the developer of Downtown Superior who promised a Main Street filled with commercial shops and restaurants. We should continue working with our economic development consultant to implement incentive programs to attract new businesses to Superior and fill vacancies in the Superior Marketplace and elsewhere. We also need to preserve anchor retailers like Target and Costco, since more than 70% of our sales tax dollars come from just five businesses.
Gladys Forshee
Superior Board of Trustees candidate Gladys Forshee declined to complete the candidate questionnaire.
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Paige Henchen
Website: www.paighenchen.com Age: 35 Family: Husband Mike, 4-year-old daughter Cassidy, 9-month-old son Teddy How long have you lived in Superior: Four years Professional background: Management consulting / executive coaching Political/community experience: Board member, Resource Central. Partner, Social Venture Partners of Boulder County. Church finance and stewardship committees Education: B.A. in Economics – Yale; MBA – Stanford Why have you chosen to run for the Superior Board of Trustees? I am running for Trustee because I want children in our community to grow up in a thriving town. As Trustee, I will advocate for all members of our community — homeowners, renters and people who work here. I am focused on affordable housing, environmental sustainability, a strong tax base and diversity and inclusion. What separates you from your opponents? I believe all of this year’s candidates would be excellent Trustees. The difference is in our priorities. First, I will prioritize housing. I will work to improve housing affordability through new housing development, redevelopment of existing properties and preservation of historic homes. I will sup-
port the implementation of a new fee on development toward a dedicated affordable housing fund. Second, I will prioritize our environment, especially when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and improving our air quality. For example, I believe all new residential construction should be required to have adequate EV charging infrastructure. I also support the expansion of alternate transportation infrastructure (e.g., bike lanes and bus routes) and transit-oriented development, which will reduce car traffic. I will help preserve our dedicated open spaces and work to prevent oil and gas development. Finally, it’s vital that our town be safe, welcoming and inclusive for all members of our community. I will support the creation of a new town advisory committee on diversity, equity and inclusion to provide opportunities for town residents to engage on this topic. What do you think is the best path for Superior to take to increase its commercial footprint? As a businesswoman, I understand the importance of a strong commercial tax base to support the fantastic town amenities we love. I will support our small businesses and our Chamber of Commerce. I will support efforts to draw strong businesses to the Downtown Superior development and the Superior Marketplace. I will also be realistic about the impacts of changing retail landscape on our area and strive to put forward workable solutions that will result in commercial development in a reasonable time frame, which may require flexibility.
Superior Board of Trustees
Tim Howard
Website: www.TimforSuperior.com Age: 58 Family: My spouse Heidi, my children Jesika, Ryan, Skylar, Maya and Hailey and my Australian Cobberdogs Maggie and Sydney How long have you lived in Superior: Eight years Professional background: Entrepreneur; Investment Banker focused on healthcare mergers and acquisitions Political/community experience: Co-founder of Safe Superior Citizens Action group to fight against oil and gas well pads in Superior; Board member of LOGIC Education: B.S. in Physics – Ursinus College; MBA – The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Why have you chosen to run for the Superior Board of Trustees? I believe the next several years are going to present significant challenges to Superior and other communities across Colorado. We have to do more to protect residents from deteriorating air quality and the continued threat of oil and gas drilling under Rocky Flats. I also believe that we need to embrace a bold vision in terms of reaching 100 percent renewable energy within
the next five years. Lastly, I believe that my experience in finance and negotiating deals can help Superior navigate the changing economic situation we will be facing. What separates you from your opponents? I believe that all of the candidates are committed to doing what they believe is best for the town. I think my differentiation comes down to priorities — I am focused on helping transform Superior into a leader in the county and state in terms of sustainability, health and safety protections, rethinking economic development and transforming from a nonparticipant to a leader in prioritizing attainable housing options. What do you think is the best path for Superior to take to increase its commercial footprint? Superior needs to be planning for the commercial reality of tomorrow, instead of trying to build-out a commercial blueprint of yesterday. In order to realize a thriving Downtown Superior, we need to re-imagine what success looks like — a cluster of quality restaurants, an anchor office building or two that is built for a hoteling workforce who takes advantage of the ideal work from home environment offered by Superior. Additionally, looking at how we can build commercial space suited for use by home based solepreneurs on an ad hoc basis. We also need to “de-Gallagherize” to reduce risk to commercial tenants.
Chris Ochs
Website: www.SuperiorChris.com Age: 49 Family: Never married, no kids. I have four sisters and a 3-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Dude How long have you lived in Superior: First moved here in 2006. Total years in Superior – 11 years Professional background: Software sales – 20 years Political/community experience: High school ASB (Associated Student Body). None as an adult Education: B.A. – Spanish, University of Houston. MBA – UCLA Anderson School of Management Why have you chosen to run for the Superior Board of Trustees? I’ve lived in Superior for 11 years and I’ve seen our town become a fantastic, maybe the best, place to live within the state of Colorado. I’d like to see the town retain the reasons why we all moved here — safety, open space, living environment, etc. — as our town continues to grow and evolve over the next few decades. As we are at an inflection point with our town, the next five to seven years are going to dramatically shape what direction we head. I would like to have a direct influence on this direction and give town residents who feel similarly a voice. What separates you from your
opponents? I don’t know. I have met three of the six candidates, and only briefly. It would be inappropriate to make comments without really knowing them. We will all still be neighbors on Nov. 4! I do know we all share a similar passion for the town, and that’s a very good thing. I would like to think though, my strength would be to take a long-term approach to any proposed planning, development, or policy implementation and take a fiscally conservative approach to any spending that might impact our property taxes, lose precious open space or cause us to be in a less-than-optimal financial position in the shortterm, 1 to 2 years, future with the current state of the economy. What do you think is the best path for Superior to take to increase its commercial footprint? Superior needs to ensure our current business partners are happy and that we retain them long-term. Superior also needs to make sure we have the best possible business environment to attract new commercial opportunities. Whether that is geographic desirability for retail, commercial or events, residential support for restaurants, shops or walk-in commercial stores, or even creating a fantastic office/campus environment for getting tech businesses to relocate from Boulder or Denver. Regardless, as Superior has limited space and we can’t make mistakes, there will need to be in-depth diligence done before taking any action.
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Superior Board of Trustees
Boulder Ballot Issue 2B
Kevin Ryan
No eviction without representation
Website: Facebook: @Kevinfortrustee Age: 52 Family: Wife Christy with three children, Conor, Colin and Kate ages 16, 14 and 13 How long have you lived in Superior: 15 years Professional background: Healthcare executive with a background in strategy and corporate development Political/community experience: I have been a Trustee since 2016. Prior to that I was an advocate for important issues including traffic safety, financial stewardship, smart growth, open space acquisition and the creation of a community space Education: B.S. in Business Administration – University of Delaware, 1990 Why have you chosen to run for the Superior Board of Trustees? We have made tremendous progress over the past four years, but the job is not yet done. In the short term, I am very concerned about the health and well-being of our citizens. Superior must work with our neighboring communities to adopt a regional approach on health issues — particularly for protections against fracking and the threat of COVID-19. Longer term, Superior must remember that our dependency on big box stores from a revenue/tax perspective puts us at a significant disadvantage. We can be grateful for these retailers for now
but must recognize that there is a future without them. We must continue to invest in economic development and make sure that the business community knows that Superior is “Open for Business” and not just a bedroom community. What separates you from your opponents? I am an experienced leader and proven official who will continue the trend of smart development with an eye towards public safety and the diversification of our tax base beyond big box stores. We need elected officials who can partner with developers when appropriate but are not afraid to push back when necessary in order to ensure the vision sold as Downtown Superior can be executed. What do you think is the best path for Superior to take to increase its commercial footprint? I have a three-part plan for expansion of our commercial footprint. First, as mentioned above, we need to increase our budget for economic development with a full-time resource dedicated to growing our commercial footprint while supporting our existing businesses. Second, we should differentiate Superior from neighboring communities by building sufficient vertical parking Downtown; solving for the “last mile problem” in public transportation and by offering tax incentives where appropriate. Finally, we need to focus on state collaboratives with organizations like the Metro Denver Area Economic Development Corp to help attract prime businesses of any size to our community.
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What it asks: “Shall the City of Boulder’s taxes be increased annually by one million, nine hundred thousand ($1,900,000.00) (first full fiscal year increase) commencing on Jan. 1, 2021, and by whatever additional amounts are raised annually thereafter from an excise tax to be paid by landlords on dwelling units with rental licenses in the amount of $75 per year, with the tax rate increasing every year thereafter at a rate that does not exceed the Colorado consumer price index on each rental license for a dwelling unit that is issued by the city; and in connection therewith, shall all of the revenues collected be used to fund: the administrative cost of the tax, and thereafter to establish, run and fully fund a program to provide legal representation to tenants who face the loss of housing in eviction and administrative proceedings; provide a tenant’s legal services and assistance coordinator to administer the program; create a tenants’ committee comprised of five members paid a $1,000 per year stipend; and provide rental assistance for persons that are vulnerable to eviction; and shall the full proceeds of such taxes at such rates and any earnings thereon be collected, retained, and spent, as a voter-approved revenue change without limitation or condition, and without limiting the collection, retention, or spending of any other revenues or funds by the City of Boulder under Article X Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?” What it means: Landlords
would pay an annual $75 excise tax per property with a rental license to fund a program that would provide free legal representation to tenants facing eviction. The measure also would create a tenants’ committee and provide rental assistance to those vulnerable to eviction. The city of Boulder estimates that this measure, if approved, would increase the city’s taxes by $1.9 million in the first full fiscal year. What supporters say: With more than 1,000 renters being summonsed to eviction court annually, Boulder County is facing an eviction crisis. Homelessness also is on the rise. Both have been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, an expensive housing market and the closure of a homeless shelter earlier this year. No Eviction Without Representation would fully fund a program to support all tenants facing eviction regardless of income, immigration status or any other factor. Supporters say evictions have harmful, long-term effects, including homelessness. They believe providing legal representation would offer tenants time, including time to find another living situation. What opponents say: If passed, the measure would increase costs for landlords and put the burden on property owners. Opponents think it would be more effective to first put the money toward rental assistance. There is no sunset on the measure so it will not be subject to reevaluation.
Boulder Ballot Question 2C
Shall the city enter an agreement with Public Service Co. What it asks: “Shall the City of Boulder grant a franchise to Public Service Company of Colorado to furnish, sell and distribute gas and electricity to the city and to all persons, businesses, and industries within the city and the right to make reasonable use of all streets and other public places and public easements as may be necessary as
described in Ordinance 8410?” What it means: Boulder would enter into a 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel Energy that would allow the company to sell gas and electricity to the city and all residents, businesses and industries within the city. If passed, it would end the city’s effort to create a municipal electric utility.
Boulder Ballot Question 2D
Repurpose the utility occupation tax
What it asks: “Without raising the tax rate shall the existing Utility Occupation Tax, which in 2021 and 2022 will be in the amount of $2,076,181, be extended from a current expiration date of December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2025, and be repurposed to pay all costs associated with the formation of a municipal electric utility and to be used to fund projects, pilots, initiatives and research that support the city’s clean energy goals in the context of the city’s racial equity goals and the community’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement such as: Providing energy-related assistance to disadvantaged members of the community, including support for utility bill payments and access to renewable energy; Improving system reliability and modernizing, and supporting clean energy-related businesses, including, without limitation, new approaches in electrification of buildings and transportation, enhancement of resilience; Implementing a partnership agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado; and Increasing access to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions Only if a majority of registered electors approve a Franchise Agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado at the November 3, 2020, Election, and shall the increased and extended portion of the tax be subject to the same terms and conditions as the original tax and all earnings thereon (regardless of amount) consti-
tute a voter approved revenue change, and an exception to the revenue and spending limits of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution?” What it means: The utility occupation tax will be extended from the end of 2022 to the end of 2025 and used to pay for the costs associated with forming a municipal electric utility. It also will go toward funding projects to support Boulder’s clean energy and racial equity goals. This measure, which results in more than $2 million in 2021 and 2022, would only go into effect if voters agree to the franchise agreement with Xcel Energy that’s been proposed in ballot measure 2C. What supporters say: The measure would support Boulder’s clean energy goals and provide energy assistance to low income residents. The money would be used to repay $1.4 million borrowed from the general fund while the city was exploring a municipal utility. The utility occupation tax amounts to about 76 cents on the monthly bill of the average residential customer. If 2C fails, then this measure becomes moot. What opponents say: This measure gets rid of funding for any future work on creating a municipal utility, and opponents say it would weaken the ability to enforce the franchise agreement. Opponents have little trust in Xcel and believe the company will have less motivation to perform once the threat of municipalization is removed.
What supporters say: The settlement would speed up the city’s progress toward its climate goals and will save Boulder money on litigation costs associated with municipalization. The franchise agreement would mean modern grid planning for Boulder and allow it to meet its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030. The agreement includes
assurances that Xcel would reduce its 2005 carbon emission levels by 80% by 2030. Boulder could opt out for any reason on the fifth, 10th and 15th year of the agreement. What opponents say: Boulder should pursue a local utility and continue its quest to operate its own electric utility. If the agreement doesn’t work, municipalization could be challenging to restart. The final cost of the agreement with Xcel is unknown.
Boulder Ballot Question 2E Direct election of the mayor
What it asks: “Shall Article II, Sections 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, and 15 of the Boulder City Charter be amended to provide for the direct election of the mayor by ranked choice (instant runoff) voting?” What it means: Boulder voters would elect their mayor through ranked-choice voting rather than by Boulder City Council vote. This method asks voters to rank candidates by preference and awards the seat to the candidate who receives 50% or more of the vote. If no candidate has 50% of the vote, the person with the fewest votes will be eliminated and the votes are redistributed to each voter’s No. 2 choice. What supporters say: Supporters think switching to a direct election would allow Boulder voters a say in the mayoral election. The structure would be more democratic. What opponents say: Incorporating ranked-choice voting into the current system would be challenging for county staff. The county told the Camera it would need to develop and test new systems to account for the candidate elimination process, tie-breaking procedures and ballot layout.
Boulder Ballot Question 2F Expanding the Boulder Arts Commission
What it asks: “Shall new Sections 135 and 136 be added to the City Charter pursuant to Ordinance 8405 to increase the size of the Boulder Arts Commission to seven members, allow for continued service by existing Arts Commission members, provide for staggered terms for the new members and for filling of vacancies?” What it means: The volunteer Boulder Arts Commission would expand to seven members from its current five. A municipal charter provision limits the size of boards and commissions to five members. What supporters say: Increasing the number of commission members is meant to better distribute the workload, which has increased since City Council boosted arts funding. Approval would apply solely to the Boulder Arts Commission. What opponents say: There has been no formal opposition to this issue.
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City of Longmont Ballot Question 3C
Water system improvements bonds
What it asks: Shall the City of Longmont be authorized to borrow up to $80,000,000 for the purpose of financing water system improvements, including but not limited to the Nelson Flanders Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project and replacement of aging water system infrastructure like treated water storage and raw and treated water transmission lines; and shall the borrowing be evidenced by bonds, loan agreements, or other financial obligations payable solely from the City’s water utility enterprise revenues and be issued at one time or in multiple series at a price above, below or equal to the principal amount of such borrowing and with
such terms and conditions, including provisions for redemption prior to maturity with or without payment of premium, as the City may determine? What it means: Longmont is asking voters’ authorization to sell up to $80 million in bonds — backed by a five-year schedule of water rates City Council has already approved, are already in place and that will remain in place regardless of the outcome of the vote on this ballot question — to finance a variety of improvements to the city’s system of delivering raw water to its treatment plant, expanding that treatment plant, improving treated-water storage facilities and the system for
Paid for by the Committee for Our Best Longmont
transmitting treated water to homes and businesses. What supporters say: Using bonding and debt servicing spreads out the cost of needed infrastructure improvements over time to avoid rate spikes, which keeps rates more predictable for users. Bond financing results in user rates that are initially lower than if cash were used to fund the improvements and distributes costs more equitably across both current and future residents. Bond financing allows the City of Longmont’s Water Utility to make improvements in the near future, rather than waiting until funds become available. Many of these improvements are required by federal regulations such as the Safe Drinking Water Act. Shortterm, less-expensive repairs are
unlikely to adequately extend the life of the water infrastructure system at the level required by regulations. What opponents say: Residents will pay more over time due to the bond interest. Although cash funding the improvements would result in higher rates for several years, the long-term rate impact would be lower because there would be no bond interest to be paid. The City should not go into debt to fund projects of this type; other sources of funding should be found. The COVID-19 pandemic has made life unpredictable; now is not the right time to issue these bonds. Short-term, less expensive repairs may extend the life of the water infrastructure system.
City of Longmont Ballot Question 3D
Property leases charter amendment
It’s Not Political, It’s Good Government Good For People Good For Local Businesses
visit ourbestlongmont.org to learn more SUPPORTED BY: Elliot Moore, Conductor Longmont Symphony Orchestra
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Joseph Zanovitch, Executive Director of HOPE
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What it asks: Shall the City Of Longmont Home Rule Charter be amended by revising Section 12.4 of the Charter to allow for leases of city property for up to 30 years? What it means: Currently, the City of Longmont’s municipal charter only allows it to lease city-owned property for 20 years. If Ballot Question 3D is approved, the city could lease its property for up to 30 years. What supporters say: By empowering the city to execute longer leases it could better negotiate public-private partnerships that might make it possible to develop and operate facilities the city cannot afford on its own — such as a new performing arts and cultural center and a convention center. What opponents say: Shorter leases provide the city with more opportunity to leverage the increasing value of land in Longmont. Additionally, opponents say public-private partnerships often result in subsidies that should be discouraged.
Louisville Issue 2A
Disposable bag tax
What is asks: “Shall city of Louisville taxes be increased by $2,000,000 in the first full fiscal year and by whatever additional amounts are raised annually thereafter, by imposing, effective January 1, 2022, a new tax on disposable bags provided to a customer by a retailer at the rate of up to twenty-five cents ($0.25) per bag, with the tax revenues being used to pay for or reimburse the city for direct and indirect costs incurred for administering the tax or expended by the city for other sustainability-related initiatives and programs; with the amount of the tax being allowed to be increased or decreased without further voter approval so long as the amount of the tax does not exceed $0.25 per bag, in accordance with any ordinances hereafter approved by the City Council of the City of Louisville; and with the city council being authorized to make such changes to the Disposable Bag Tax Program as may be implemented by ordinances hereafter adopted by the city council, including changing which retailers must collect the tax, providing for or repealing exemptions from the tax or tax credits, or changing the rate of the tax, so long as the tax does not exceed twentyfive cents ($0.25) per bag; and shall the city be authorized to collect and spend such revenue as a voter approved revenue change under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, and shall Ordinance No. 1797, Series 2020, which imposes the tax, be approved?” What it means: This ballot issue proposes an increase in city taxes by $2 million in the first full fiscal year by imposing a new tax on disposable bags provided to a customer by a retailer of up to 25 cents,
effective Jan. 1, 2022. The tax would be applied to all retailers in Louisville for all paper and plastic disposable bags at checkout. The tax amount collected will be divided with 10 cents going to the retailer and 15 cents going to the city. The 10 cents will be used by the retailer for educational information about the tax, provide required signage, train staff, improve or alter infrastructure for administering the tax, remit tax to the city and improve infrastructure to increase bag recycling. The 15 cents collected and remitted by the city will be used for costs related to administration of the tax or other sustainability-related initiatives and programs. The amount of the tax can be increased or decreased by city council, but will not exceed 25 cents per bag. What supporters say: Implementation of the tax will encourage residents to bring their own reusable bags. The tax would promote recyclable substitutes and replacements of single-use and throw away items, such as plastic bags. The use of reusable bags would reduce waste and encourage sustainability in the city of Louisville. Stores could save money by decreasing or eliminating the need to provide singleuse bags. Bag tax remittance would provide lower-income households with distributional benefits. What opponents say: The disposable bag tax amount of 25 cents is higher than Boulder’s 10 cent charge. The tax could force customers to purchase reusable bags. Costs to purchase reusable bags will put financial strains on lower-income households who do not already have reusable bags. Administration of the tax comes at the cost to commercial entities.
St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District Ballot Issue 7A Mill levy increase What it says: Shall St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy district taxes be increased up to $3,337,003 and by such amounts as are generated annually thereafter, by an additional tax levy of 1.25 mills (which increase amounts to approximately $9 in 2021 for every $100,000 in residential home value), for a period of ten years, in order to implement the district’s water plan, which includes: protect water quality in drinking water sources; maintain healthy rivers and creeks; safeguard and conserve drinking water supplies for local communities and local food production; protect forests that are critical to water supply and reduce the risk of wildfires; with oversight by the appointed board of local residents and subject to annual independent audits published on the district website; and shall the revenues from such increase be collected, retained, or spent as voter approved revenue changes and as an exemption to the limits which would otherwise apply? What it means: The St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District is proposing a 10-year mill levy to add 1.25 mills to the current mill levy of .156. The increase would provide $3,337,003 to the district, starting in 2021. The current mill levy provided roughly $421,000 in 2020. The proposed increase would mean an increase in the annual property tax bill to $9 in 2021 for every $100,000 in residential home value, according to Water Education Colorado. The funds would be earmarked for the district’s five-point Water Vision and Action Plan, which were outlined as: maintaining healthy rivers and creeks; storing water for dry years; growing local
food, the district is teaching farmers and ranchers conservation, water rights and ditch management; safeguarding and conserving drinking water and protecting water quality and sources for drinking. The St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy is a local government, nonprofit agency that serves Longmont and the surrounding land area that drains into both the St. Vrain and Left Hand Creeks, according to its webpage. What supporters say: Water is a necessary life ingredient. The proposal was designed with the looming threats to water quality and quantity in mind, according to the St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District’s webpage. The funds would help to meet those threats more promptly. Proactive creek improvements and wildfire prevention cost less than disaster recovery. Voters would have to re-approve the tax in 10 years, so if it doesn’t meet their expectations, it can be voted down next time around, the webpage says. What opponents say: Some believe that creeks should flow freely and that the proposal, if approved, will result in increased storage, according to the webpage. Additional opposition suggests that a more long-term approach can be taken to envision the district’s plan and that there are other means of funding, like cost-shifting and grants. Forest health and creek-side restoration do some of the work and projects that the district has envisioned. Finally, opposition says that this is not a small tax increase. Those with a $500,000 property will pay $44.64 per year.
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 29
Sunshine Fire Protection District Ballot Issue 6A
Gallagher revenue stabilization
What it asks: “Shall Sunshine Fire Protection District be authorized to increase or decrease its current and all future general mill levies only if, on or after Nov. 3, 2020, there are changes in the method of calculating assessed valuation, including but not limited to a change in the percentage of actual valuation used to determine residential assessed valuation due to Article X Section 3 of the Colorado Constitution (commonly known as the Gallagher Amendment), so that, to the extent possible, the actual tax revenues generated by such mill levies are the same as the actual tax revenues that would have been generated had such changes not occurred.” What it means: The Gallagher Amendment is a state Constitution measure adopted in 1982 that limits the growth of the overall amount of property taxes on homes collected across the state. If this measure is approved, it would allow the district
to raise its mill levy when the residential assessment rate is lowered, and fall back if the rate were to rise. What supporters say: The measure would stabilize the revenue generated for the fire district. The fire district is not seeking a tax increase, but is seeking the authorization to adjust its mill levy to keep the property tax revenue it will otherwise lose as a result of the reduction in the residential assessment rate. What opponents say: The measure will potentially reduce the tax relief of the Gallagher Amendment by increasing the amount of property taxes paid on residential properties. Homeowners will lose the potential benefit of any further reductions in the residential assessment rate that might occur. Nonresidential property owners might see a net increase in property taxes, as they will not see a corresponding decrease in the assessment rate for their property.
Baseline Water District Ballot Issue 6B Elimination of term limits
What it asks: “Shall the limitation on terms of office imposed by Article XVIII, Section 11, of the Colorado Constitution be eliminated for directors of the Baseline Water District?” What it means: Rather than a two-year consecutive term limit, this measure would allow a person to continue to serve as long as they continued to be elected.
What supporters say: Lifting term limits would allow qualified candidates to continue to serve, which could be helpful in positions in which experience and expertise might be valuable. What opponents say: Lifting term limits would allow a person to continue to hold office for a lengthy period of time, which could possibly limit new voices and ideas.
30 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE
17th District Attorney Tim McCormack
Party: Republican Website: McCORMACKforDA.com Age: 55 Family: Married with 3 children. How long have you lived in Brighton: 21 years Professional background: In 1992 prosecutor in Sheridan, Wyoming. In 1999 went to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. In 2005 became Chief Trial Deputy. In 2017 went to the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Political/community experience: Domestic Violence Task Force, former Community Corrections Board Member, former President of Brighton High School Athletic Booster Club, original member of Guys Who Give (Adams County). Education: Degrees from Colorado State University and Creighton School of Law Why are you running for 17th Judicial District Attorney? I am running because my top priority is public safety. As the most experienced prosecutor, attorney and criminal justice candidate in this race, I will use my proven track record to return experience, unbiased decision-making, ethics and servant leadership back to this office. I will restore and lead with integrity. I have dedicated my 28year career to public service and keeping communities safe. I can make a difference in communities and have established and fostered collaborative relationships with all components of the criminal justice system. I want to return integrity and honesty the office enjoyed under great leaders like Bob Grant and Don Quick. How do you plan to handle officer involved shootings, including charging decisions,
and how would that process differ from current practices? There is a long-standing multiagency law enforcement investigative team designated as the 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Investigation Team. The CIIT works under the direction of the district attorney’s office and will assist any law enforcement agency within the district in the investigation of officer-involved shootings or officer-involved critical incidents. This eliminates the officerinvolved agency from the responsibility to conduct the investigation on its own officer. The goal of the CIIT is to promote transparency, objectivity, eliminate biases and strengthen the public’s confidence through an independent fact-finding investigative team. A thorough review by the district attorney’s office will ensue. I will swiftly and thoroughly investigate these types of cases to determine if criminal charges are warranted. If charges are not filed, I will make the investigation and findings publicly available. I will strongly advocate for the Aurora Police Department to commit to participating in, and being a part of, CIIT. What steps would you take to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system? There is no place for racial disparity in our country, especially in the criminal justice system. As district attorney, I would mandate that any decisions made be based on the seriousness of the crime, facts of the case, amount of evidence available to prove guilt and the prior criminal record of the offender regardless of race or gender. The implementation of education and a resolute focus on training attorneys, staff and law enforcement to identify racial disparity and once identified, exclude it from consideration in filing decisions, charges, plea dispositions and sentencing recommendations to the courts.
17th District Attorney
Brian Mason
Party: Democratic Website: BrianMason.us Age: 44 Family: Wife, Fernanda, and three children. How long have you lived in Westminster: 8 years Professional background: Worked at the DA’s office for nearly 14 years. Prior to that, worked in Clinton White House, worked as an aide to a senior member of Congress, and served as an American Fellow in the German Foreign Ministry and the German Parliament. Political/community experience: Active church member and supports A Precious Child. Education: Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and law degree from University of Colorado Law School.
Why are you running for 17th Judicial District Attorney? I am running for district attorney to keep Broomfield safe, to make our criminal justice system better and to be a leader of integrity for the DA’s office, our community and our state. I have devoted nearly 20 years to public service, including nearly 14 years as a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office. I currently serve as Chief Trial Deputy in our office and supervise 30 attorneys there. My number one priority as district attorney is community safety. To that end, I will focus on the most dangerous offenders. I will prioritize the prosecution of violent crimes, sexual assault, human trafficking and hate crimes. I will fight for the most vulnerable including domestic violence victims, children and the elderly. I will also work to make our criminal justice system better by addressing the inequities in our system.
The single most important character trait of a district attorney is integrity. My philosophy is this: “Do the Right Thing. At all Times. In Every Case.” Doing the right thing means protecting the community while pursuing justice in every case. And that’s precisely what I pledge to do. How do you plan to handle officer involved shootings, including charging decisions, and how would that process differ from current practices? I will vigorously investigate all officer-involved shootings and will insist on an investigation by an independent, multi-agency team separate from the agency whose officer was involved in the incident. We will be transparent about the investigation itself as well as charging decisions that are made. And, when appropriate, I will refer such cases to the grand jury or even an outside prosecutor to ensure public confidence.
What steps would you take to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system? Racism, discrimination and social injustice have plagued our country since its founding and it is perpetuated in our criminal justice system. Addressing racial disparities is, therefore, one of my top priorities. As the next district attorney, I will: •Work towards ending the school-to-prison pipeline •Invest in diversion programs and specialty courts as alternatives to incarceration •Mandate annual implicit and explicit bias training •Evaluate our charging decisions to eliminate any racial discrimination •Create a civilian review board to increase transparency •Invest in schools, senior centers and other community partners to prevent crime and reduce recidivism.
In the last few years, Broomfield has discussed the importance of mental health, affordable housing and access to healthcare. Tax money generated from the sales will primarily go to fund those services in the Broomfield Health and Human Services, along with substance abuse education efforts, ensuring all of Broomfield benefits. While medical marijuana would not be taxed at an additional rate, residents who have been diagnosed with chronic pain, cancer, AIDs, HIV, Alzheimer’s, Hepatitis C and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would benefit from the measure by having safe and local options for alternative medicine. Broomfield voters can reverse a decade of bans on this industry by voting to support this tax measure. A series of regulations for the numbers and locations of marijuana businesses will be developed. What opponents say: This tax measure would allow council to raise the special tax on retail marijuana up to 10% without the future vote of the people. Taxpayers
should always be allowed to vote when council is asking for their money to fund a special interest. The question allows the tax revenue to be spent for “other general purposes” which increases the city budget for any purpose the council chooses. Opponents say the question is deceptive because it does not ask whether marijuana sales should be allowed in Broomfield. In 2010 Broomfield citizens voted against allowing medical marijuana business in Broomfield. Opponents say that marijuana sales will reduce the quality of life because of more traffic, which will lead to more accidents, longer drive times and more people driving under the influence. They cite that 27% of Colorado marijuana users admit to driving under the influence on a daily basis, with 69% saying they have driven under the influence. An environment with retail marijuana sales is not an environment that people want to raise their children in, opponents say.
Broomfield Question 2A Marijuana sales tax
What it asks: “Shall the City and County of Broomfield’s sales taxes be increased by $3.5 million annually in the first fiscal year starting January 1, 2021, and by such amounts as are raised annually thereafter by imposing a new sales tax of 4% of the sale price of retail marijuana, retail marijuana products, and retail marijuana accessories, if the prohibition on retail marijuana stores is allowed to expire on February 1, 2021, with such tax to be in addition to the application of the City and County of Broomfield’s sales tax, with the rate of the sales tax being allowed to be increased by the city council without further voter approval so long as the rate of taxation does not exceed 10%, and shall the revenue received by the City and County from the collection of the sales tax revenues be used to fund Broomfield Health and Human Service programs and other general purposes of the City and County as a voter approved revenue change, and with the resulting tax
revenue being allowed to be collected and spend notwithstanding any limitations contained in Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?” What it means: Voters are asked to approve a 4% special sales tax on top of the city and county’s regular sales tax, and authorize an increase up to 10% without a future vote of the people. The special sales tax revenue may be used for Health and Human Service programs as well as other general purposes of the city and county. What supporters say: In 2014, a majority of Broomfield voters approved Amendment 64 to allow the regulated and taxed sale of retail marijuana. Passing this measure is expected to generate the revenue necessary to fully support the robust regulation of the Broomfield market and the necessary enforcement to restrict access for those individuals under the age of 21.
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Broomfield Question 2B Revenue stabilization for property tax
What it asks: “Shall the City and County of Broomfield be able to annually adjust its future mill levies for tax collection year 2022 and thereafter for the purpose of maintaining property tax revenues that would otherwise be lost as a result of adjustments, if any, made to the ratio of actual valuation used to determine assessed valuation for residential property pursuant to the Gallagher Amendment to the Colorado Constitution, so that the actual property tax revenues generated by the city and county’s mill levies are equal to the property tax revenues that would have been generated had such adjustments not occurred, with all adjustments and expenditures subject to annual financial audit, and shall the City be authorized to collect, retain and spend all revenues collected as a result of such adjustments as a voter approved revenue change and an exception to the limits that would otherwise apply under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law? What it means: It would authorize the city to annually adjust its future mill levies for tax collection year 2022, and beyond, to maintain
property tax revenues that would otherwise be lost as a result of adjustments, if any, made to the ratio of actual valuated used to determine assessed value for residential property pursuant to the Gallagher Amendment. What supporters say: Constitutional amendments have resulted in forcing a continued reduction in the residential property tax rate and the resulting revenues which pay for services like social, library, recreation, senior, capital improvements, roads and sustainability. Before 1992, counties floated mill levies to stabilize revenue, but the frozen residential/non-residential ratio is decreasing assessed values of houses and jeopardizing services. In 1982, residential property comprised 45% of the state’s property tax revenue. Today, residential property value constitutes about 80% of the actual market value of all property in the state. Residential property value growth has outpaced non-residential property value growth but the 45%/55% formula forces continued revenue reduction. As residential property tax revenues decrease, local governments may decrease funding for vital ser-
vices. There is an unsustainable, declining revenue stream to support county roads, fire districts and local school districts. Additionally, with the commercial rate frozen at 29%, small businesses are bearing the lion’s share of the tax burden. Commercial and industrial property owners bear four times more property tax burden than residential property owners. Until the total residential property value in Colorado ceases to grow faster than the total commercial property value, the Gallagher Amendment will continually force downward the Residential Property Tax Assessment Rate, which will continually erode local property tax bases. Voting to approve 2B allows Broomfield to stabilize property tax revenue to maintain current service levels. What opponents say: If approved it would give Broomfield City Council the ability to increase Broomfield’s local property tax mill levy not just one time, but forever, by a simple vote of the council. The ballot question will hurt home affordability for Broomfield home owners, families, seniors and renters. If approved, and Colorado’s state level residential property tax rate is decreased, the city and coun-
ty of Broomfield would impose a higher local property tax mill levy on its citizens compared to other North Metro municipalities. Opponents say the wording is confusing, over complex and misleading. It is worded to downplay how it intends to maintain and increase the amount of the property taxes collected by the city and county of Broomfield. The language includes confusing conditions dependent on the outcome of other ballot questions aiming to change the Colorado Constitution. The language fails to describe the mechanism, formula, or variables that could be used by the city and county of Broomfield to determine the amount of property taxes it would need to collect through increasing the local property tax mill levy. It states that the city and county of Broomfield would have the right to keep and spend all property taxes collected, even if they are in excess of what is projected to be collected. A no vote means taxes and revenue will be subject to any statewide Gallagher dictates. This could result in reduced taxes, but it could also mean reductions in K-12 education, police and fire, and municipal services for residents.
extraction of minerals so extraction would be considered a change of use of open space, according to the city’s memo. It would make the use of open space for extraction subject to the same procedures as other changes of use. What supporters say: The way things stand now, Open Space lands, public roads and rights of way, utility lines or transmission
devices, allow oil and gas drilling (fracking) to use “the extraction of minerals” as a way around existing rules, thus permitting drilling on open space land. This ballot measure would remove the existing exception which allows for drilling on Broomfield open space. What opponents say: A no vote will continue to allow drilling on open space.
Broomfield Question 2C
Oil extraction on open space
What it asks: “Shall Section 18.3 of the Charter for the City and County of Broomfield, which sets forth restrictions on the sale of municipally owned real property and changes in use of open space property, be amended to remove the language excepting mineral
extraction from the definition of change in use and thereby allowing the extraction of minerals to be considered a change in use of Open Space, subject to all applicable requirements?” What it means: Broomfield would remove the exception for
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Weld County District Attorney
Michael Rourke By Jadyn Watson Fisher Greeley Tribune
District Attorneys have a lot of power in the local criminal justice system. Decisions made by the DA’s office can impact communities and families for decades. This is something the current Weld County office takes seriously. Michael Rourke, Weld County district attorney, is running for his second term in the position. He started the job after being appointed in 2014 by former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to replace Ken Buck, now a U.S. Congressman. Residents elected Rourke to his first full term in 2016, and in 2020, he is unopposed for the general election. Rourke is running again, because being the DA is the “best job in the world.” His office, he said, gets to do good for the county. “That doesn’t just mean sending people to jail, sending people to prison, because that’s not what this job is about,” Rourke said. “It’s real-
ly looking at how we can try to make this community safer and handle every case the right way, for the right reason, to get the right result. That’s different for every case.” In some cases — such as crimes against children, murder, shootings or sexual assault — prison time may be the right sentence. These are the cases that consume the most time, resources and that the public expects to be handled with “the most strenuous prosecution there is,” he said. The county is also working to hold people accountable if they cause traffic fatalities. Weld County leads the state in automobile-related deaths. Rourke understands, however, that jail doesn’t have to be the punishment for everything. Sometimes people make mistakes. The county offers programs — which may include community service, classes or counseling — for first-time, lowlevel offenders that are not expected to reoffend. “There are other folks, juveniles oftentimes, do something stupid
like steal a candy bar from a 7/11 or grocery store,” Rourke said. “They don’t need to be in the criminal justice system, so we utilize our diversion program.” Diversion programs for youth and adults typically include community services, classes, counseling or a combination of activities. The program is often recommended for people who committed a low-level crime for the first time and are not expected to reoffend. Rourke said he knows the position comes with a “great amount of power” and wants to use it responsibly. The DA’s office does not charge someone with a crime unless there is a “reasonable likelihood of conviction at trial,” even though charges can be brought if there is probable cause. There must be enough evidence that the office believes it can prove a person committed a crime. Larger cases also go through several steps of evaluation to ensure Rourke and the other attorneys are comfortable bringing charges against a person. “We bend over backwards to
make sure we never charge someone with a crime who is not guilty. I think a prosecutor’s worst nightmare is to prosecute an individual that they think has committed a crime only to find out later that they were innocent,” Rourke said. “We never want to put an innocent person in prison. We have a lot of checks and balances to do so.” Rourke, though unopposed, wants voters to know he has experience working on a wide range of cases and believes in being a positive figure in the criminal justice profession. “I live here. I’m raising my family here, and I can’t think of a more important job than the one that I have, working with law enforcement to try and keep this community safe,” Rourke said. “This has been an incredible honor to serve this community. I’m very proud of what I do. I’m very proud of my office … After the election is over, I can promise the folks of Weld County that we’re going to do this again for another four years and hold ourselves to that high standard that we’re very proud of.”
Today’s paper Find profiles of candidates for Weld County Commissioner-At-Large, Weld County Commissioner District 1, Weld County Commissioner District 3, County CouncilAt-Large and County Council District 1 in the pages of today’s Times-Call.
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 33
Dacono City Council Kathryn Wittman
Website: None. Age: 67 Family: Husband, Rickey Wittman; one son, one daughter, one grandson, four granddaughters, and three great-granddaughters. How long have you lived in Dacono? 29 years Professional background: Marketing and management; corporate, estate planning, immigration law, Securities and Exchange Commission law experience Political/Community Experience – Served as Dacono Council member since 2016. Volunteered on the Board of Adjustment, the Planning Commission and the Liquor Authority. Board member of Denver Regional Council of Governments, Weld County Board of Adjustments, and I-25 North Coalition. Education: Associate’s degree in Marketing and Management What city government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? There are no city government services, programs or projects that need to be reduced or eliminated at the present time. What city government services, programs or projects need to be increased or added, if any? The addition of city personnel needs to be increased to handle the current and growing needs, of the city’s administrative services. The community development office
needs additional staff to specifically address the needs of new businesses wishing to locate in Dacono. This department is underserved and in need of assistance, with knowledge of companies wishing to bring their business to the City. This needs to be addressed in order to have smart growth allowing residents services in Dacono to address their individual needs. At the present time, citizens of Dacono have to travel outside of Dacono to obtain these services — i.e., grocery stores, pharmacies, doctors, dentists, personal services — as well as a myriad of varied businesses to enable Dacono to sustain independence from other cities/towns possessing varied businesses. An open, unbiased attitude should prevail in all matters to allow Dacono to grow enough to be self-sustainable. Another issue is to take back control of city facilities — i.e., the BMX Track, and the Clem DeFour Baseball field — which should have never been “given up control of” since the city still is responsible for the costs of maintaining these facilities. Schools for our children need to be made available for K-12 students located within the city limits of Dacono. What particular points of view or policies would you bring to the Dacono City Council? The continuance of a strictly bipartisan government without political mindsets trying to dictate personal interests. The whole of the residents of Dacono is what our position on City Council is to address, not just one or two specific areas.
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Kevin Plain
Website: None. Age: 48 Family: Married with two adult children How long have you lived in Dacono? 15 years Professional background: Manager for a major software company – Operations / R&D Political/community experience: Carbon Valley Emergency Management Agency – Planning Team; Dacono Planning Commission; Dacono Urban Renewal Authority; former Dacono City Council Mayor Pro Tem; Kenneth Homyak PK-8 School in Dacono – Design Review Board; Carbon Valley Music Festival, volunteer for 12 years; various church related, including trustee Education: Computer science What city government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? The Dacono city staff and City Council closely watch the city’s budget and are involved in all major expenditures. They have done a great job avoiding unnecessary spending in all things large and small. As a result, Dacono is financially sound. I plan to keep it that way if my dear friends and neighbors in Dacono decide to place me on the City Council. I served on the Dacono City Council back during the Great Recession
and worked closely with fellow council members and city staff to bring Dacono through those tough times. We are all collectively going through rough times again and I want to help my community in every way that I can. What city government services, programs or projects need to be increased or added, if any? City services can and should always be reviewed and improved. I served on the City Council when we installed the splash pad and started our city’s music festival. I think what Dacono needs more than anything now is a school of our very own from the St. Vrain Valley School District. I worked with Weld-8 to get us a school. I believe we can do it again with St. Vrain. We also need to encourage more restaurants and retail business in Dacono while supporting and encouraging our existing business owners with good city leadership and sound policy. What particular points of view or policies would you bring to the Dacono City Council? Wherever I go and in whatever I do, I always try to bring moderation, leadership, selfless service, and thoughtful planning. I would strengthen our community by finding consensus on the difficult issues, challenging the status quo, and making sure we have a council and city staff that continues to work hard for all of us. I love Dacono and I will always seek ways to serve.
Dacono City Council Adam Morehead
Website: Facebook.com/ adammoreheaddaconocitycouncil Age: 51 Family: Wife, Sarah Morehead, and two adult boys How long have you lived in Dacono? Four years in December Professional background: Twenty eight years total in law enforcement. Five-plus years with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, and 23 years with Colorado Department of Corrections, Division of Adult Parole. Currently employed with Department of Corrections in team leader position. Political/community experience: Many law enforcement committees and associations but no political office at this point Education: B.A. psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill What city government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? After carefully reviewing the city’s budget, it appears we are well funded and most expenditures appear to be in Dacono’s best interest. We have a surplus in the General Fund and a budget that is under projected revenue in 2020. 2021
may be a challenging year with possible funding decreases. Cuts may be necessary or projects delayed, depending on the financial health of the city. If budget cuts are necessary, I would not support this affecting essential services. What city government services, programs or projects need to be increased or added, if any? Being in law enforcement for 28 years, I feel strongly that we should support our local officers. We also need to engage our community through education and outreach, making our homes and businesses as safe as possible. Many city roads and streets are in need of paving and repair. This would be an ongoing project. With population growth comes the need for additional K-12 resources. Supporting responsible growth meets the need of providing K-12 schools within the City of Dacono. What particular points of view or policies would you bring to the Dacono City Council? Being new to politics, I will bring a fresh perspective to the board. I will work hard to responsibly increase residential and business growth in Dacono. The City Council should not be an impediment for growth in Dacono and should actively create and attract more opportunities for residents and business.
Debbie Nasta
Website: None. Age: 61 Family: Husband Jorge Nasta; son Jonathan, daughter Cynthia and her husband Clint Hayes, two grandchildren. How long have you lived in Dacono? Ten years Professional background: Thirty years as a public servant, working Public Safety 9-1-1; recently returned to 9-1-1 in the private sector. Political/community experience: Dacono Council Member 2014-2017; re-elected 2017. On Dacono Council have served as a director of the Denver Regional Council of Governments; Chair of Urban Development Authority of Dacono, and Mayor Pro Tem. Education: Bachelor of science in cognitive science, computer science/artificial intelligence. What city government services, programs or projects need to be reduced or eliminated, if any? None, the City of Dacono runs a tight, lean government. What city government services, programs or projects need to be increased or added, if any? As our city grows, the demand for services and number of citizens
grow, we need to be cognizant of how much our staff has on their plate to carry out their duties and support the city manager as he evaluates position expansions as needed. We need to work at getting more businesses in our city, we are a gateway off of I-25, even though we don’t have a lot of citizens or rooftops, we have the traffic that would stop at the businesses. We need to continue to manage smart growth, whether it’s new homes, new businesses, water, oil and gas. What particular points of view or policy would you bring to the Dacono City Council? I ran for re-election because at this juncture in the state of our country, our state, our city, we need some stability, some continuity. Yes, some positions in the political structure benefit from new faces, but Dacono is currently in the midst of growth and acquisitions that have required a large learning curve from the Council members: oil and gas; building requirements, water rights/acquisition. I would like to utilize the knowledge I’ve gained while on Council to see these projects to fruition. The members on Council now are a good balance of characters that keep other agendas in check so that the best interests of the City of Dacono and its citizens are accomplished.
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Mead Ballot Issue 2D Street improvements tax increase What it asks: Shall the town of Mead taxes be increased by $1,452,000 annually (which amount represents estimated revenues in 2021, the first full fiscal year of collection) and by whatever amount is generated thereafter by an additional sales and use tax imposed at a rate of 1.2%, beginning Jan. 1, 2021, to pay exclusively for street improvements and street maintenance in the town of Mead, and shall the tax revenues collected: be retained in a segregated account separate from all other own financial accounts, and; be used only to
pay for street improvements and street maintenance in the town of Mead and never be transferred into the town general fund or used for any purpose other than street maintenance and repair and shall such tax revenues be collected, retained and spent as a voter approved revenue change under Article X, section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, notwithstanding any revenue or expenditure limitations contained in the Colorado constitution or any other law? What it means: This proposal, dubbed “Strictly Streets” asks for a
1.2% increase in Mead’s sales and use tax to generate roughly $1.4 million annually to to be used exclusively for the street improvements and street maintenance. If approved by voters, the money will be kept in a segregated account that is dedicated to the streets. The streets are currently rated at 67 out of 100 and considered fair. What supporters say: Mead’s Town Board of Trustees voted unanimously Sept. 14 on a resolution to support the proposal. The resolution said that, as is, Mead’s street conditions will continue to get worse and become more costly to fix. Additionally, street ratings in the next five years are projected to
be poor and in the next 10 years are projected to be in very poor condition. The town currently spends about $400,000 on street maintenance. To keep roads in fair condition, the town says it needs an additional $1.4 million annually. What opponents say: Residents and non-residents who purchase from Mead businesses would have to pay more when they purchase goods and services, if the proposal is approved by voters. When buying a vehicle, residents would have to pay more in sales tax, too, according to cons outlined on the town’s finance page.
Mead Ballot Issue 2E
Tax increase to fund police department
What it asks: Shall the town of Mead taxes be increased by $907,500 annually (which amount represents estimated revenues in 2021, the first full fiscal year of collection) and by whatever amount is generated thereafter by an additional sales and use tax imposed at a rate of three quarters of one percent (0.75%), beginning Jan. 1, 2021, to pay exclusively for support of the Mead Police Department, including: Adding personnel, training and equipment to the Mead Police Department to support proactive, community policing efforts and enhance public safety, the continued funding of school resource officers for Mead schools, and providing 24/7 police services and
emergency response, and shall the tax revenues collected: Be retained in a segregated account separate from all other town financial accounts, and be used only to pay for support of the Mead Police Department and never be transferred into the town general fund or used for any purpose other than support of the Mead Police Department, and shall such tax revenues be collected, retained and spent as a voter approved revenue change under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, notwithstanding any revenue or expenditure limitations contained in the Colorado Constitution or any other law? What it means: Ballot measure 2E, known as the “Purely Police”
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proposal, asks for the approval of a sales and use tax increase that will generate funds dedicated exclusively to fund the Mead Police Department. The .75% increase is projected to generate $907,500 in the first fiscal year of collection. Funding will provide money to add personnel, training equipment, support proactive community policing efforts, enhance public safety and allow for the continuation of 24/7 police coverage and emergency response. The money collected would be in its own account and be separate from all other town financial accounts. If approved, the measure would begin Jan. 1, 2021. What supporters say: The Mead Town Board of Trustees voted unanimously Sept. 14 to pass a
resolution in support of the proposal. According to the resolution, if the town continues its operations as is, the police budget is projected to triple in 10 years and take up half of the town’s general fund and require other area service cuts. The current roughly $1.58 million budget is about 21% of the town’s overall budget. In addition, the money would allow Mead to grow its police force and school resource program and invest more in training and equipment. What opponents say: Residents and non-residents who purchase from Mead businesses would have to pay more when they purchase goods and services, if the proposal is approved by voters. When buying a vehicle, residents would have to pay more in sales tax, too, according to cons outlined on the town’s finance page.
Frederick-Fire Protection District Issue 6B
Revenue stabilization
What it asks: “Shall FrederickFirestone Fire Protection District be authorized to increase or decrease its current and all future mill levies if, on or after November 3, 2020, there are changes in the method of calculating assessed valuation of one or more property class, including but not limited to a
change in the percentage of actual valuation used to determine residential assessed valuation due to Article X Section 3 of the Colorado Constitution (commonly known as the Gallagher Amendment of 1982) or for any other reason such as action by the Legislature, so that, to the extent possible, the actual tax
revenues generated by such voterapproved mill levies are the same as the actual tax revenue that would have been generated had such changes not occurred? What it means: This ballot issue proposes the fire protection district have the ability to change the district’s mill levies, or the tax rate that is applied to the assessed value of a property, if the method in calculating the valuation changes.
What supporters say: The proposal would stabilize revenue generated for the district and allow the district the ability to budget accordingly. What opponents say: Those who own property in the district do not want the tax rate on their property to potentially increase.
Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District Question 6C Restructuring the district What it asks: “Commencing January 1, 2021, shall the FrederickFirestone Fire Protection District eliminate its current structure of having five separate director districts (“wards”) which will: •Eliminate the ongoing cost of organizing and compiling ward-specific elector lists and hosting wardspecific elections in every fire district election, making more
taxpayer dollars available for emergency services; •Minimize confusion for the electors; •Allow all eligible citizens in the fire district the opportunity to run for any of the five director positions; and •Allow all eligible electors in the fire district the opportunity to vote for all open director positions, rath-
er than be restricted to voting only for a director from one district (“ward”)? What it means: The district would end the current separation into five wards with five ward-specific directors to streamline the district, allowing citizens to run for any position and voters to vote on all open positions. What supporters say: The initiative would save tax dollars by ending the current ward model that requires elections in each ward.
Those voting would not have to worry about the specific wards. Anyone interested in a director position can run, regardless of the location, and voters can vote for all open positions. What opponents say: Removing the five designated wards and directors would mean the director position would not be bound by a geographic area. Anyone in the district would have the ability to run for one of the five director positions.
Berthoud Ballot Qustion 3B
Muni broadband, phone service and TV What it says: Affirming the Town of Berthoud’s right to provide internet, telecommunication, and cable television services. Without increasing taxes, shall the citizens of the Town of Berthoud re-establish the Town’s right to provide all services restricted by Title 29, Article 27 of the Col-
orado Revised Statutes, described as “advanced services,” “telecommunications services,” and “cable television services,” including any new and improved broadband and high-speed internet services and facilities based on future technologies, either directly or indirectly, with public and/or private sector
partners, to residents, businesses, schools, libraries, non-profit entities and other users of such services? What it means: Before a municipality such as Berthoud can offer internet, telephone or television services, state law requires the majority of voters to pass a referendum.
Passing the ballot question would allow the town to research and potentially offer those services to residents in the future. What proponents say: There are no organized groups supporting this measure. What opponents say: There are no organized groups opposing this measure.
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 37
Presidential Election
Both candidates may be ‘super-agers’, study finds
By James Rainey Los Angeles Times
The presidential candidates and their supporters will likely keep belittling the other guy as a doddering old fool, but a group of geriatric experts say in a new paper that both President Trump and challenger Joe Biden appear to have the physical and cognitive tools to make it through four years in the White House. In fact, the two candidates’ relative good health and other advantages — parental longevity, access to top-notch health care and abstinence from smoking and drinking — suggest both men are likely to become long-living “super-agers,” who thrive well into their 80s, or beyond, according to a draft report written by three medical doctors and four researchers with expertise in public health, survival analysis and statistics. Three of the authors of the paper — Stuart Jay Olshansky, a public health professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Bradley Willcox, director of research in the Department of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Hawaii’s medical school; and UCLA Professor Hiram Beltran-Sanchez, an authority on the demographics of aging — wrote previously about how presidents tend to outlive average Americans. While the candidates are unusually healthy for their age, Biden is projected to live longer because of his routine fitness regimen, compared with Trump’s relatively sedentary lifestyle and obesity, according to the paper, which is set to be published in the September/October edition of the Journal on Active Aging. The journal bills itself as “an indispensable tool for professionals who are dedicated to older adults living as fully as possible regardless of age.”
Jim Watson / Getty Images
A group of geriatric experts say in a new paper that both President Trump and challenger Joe Biden appear to have the physical and cognitive tools to make it through four years in the White House.
Using actuarial analysis and publicly available data on the health of the two men, the authors project Biden has a 95% chance of surviving a four-year term, while Trump has a 90% chance of completing a second term. “It is our conclusion that chronological age is not a relevant factor for either candidate running for President of the United States,” the authors wrote. “Both candidates face a lower than average risk of experiencing significant health or cognitive functioning challenges during the next four years.” The paper’s projections were based on medical reports issued by the two politicians, public details about their personal habits and statistical models that predict longevity. There is no public record of either Trump, 74, or Biden, 77, completing a comprehensive cognitive exam. Because no such exam has been reported, the researchers concluded that their personal physi-
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cians have no concern about their mental capabilities. (Trump has boasted about passing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, but it is only a screening test. There is not a single test for dementia, the authors note.) “We don’t know, for certain, if anything was held back or not, so we have to operate under the assumption that their physicians are releasing accurate information,” said Olshansky, the study’s lead author. Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, said Biden and Trump had performed at an “exceptionally high level” cognitively, for men of their age, during their public appearances in the last year. As white men with high incomes and access to the best doctors, the president and the former vice president have advantages over many other Americans, the paper says. Both had the additional bonus of having one parent live into the 80s
and the other into the 90s. The study projects Biden’s life expectancy at 96.8. It projects Trump will live to 88.6. Barzilai reached similar findings to those made by two other physicians who reviewed the records independently and wrote their own summaries: the University of Hawaii’s Willcox and Dr. Paola Rode, a former assistant clinical professor at the Tufts School of Medicine. Like virtually all septuagenarians, the presidential candidates have lived through health challenges. In the late 1980s, Biden suffered cerebral aneurysms that had to be surgically repaired. More than 30 years later, he shows no ill effects, the paper said. His most routine health concern is heart arrhythmia, albeit with no alarming side-effects. Trump’s major health challenge is his weight, 244 pounds on his 6-foot-3-inch frame. That compares with Biden’s 178 pounds, at just under 6 feet. Trump has a bodymass index of more than 30, which is considered obese, while Biden’s body-mass number is 24.4, which “places him in the lowest mortality risk group,” the paper says. The president’s extra weight puts him at risk of developing Type-2 diabetes, according to the authors. The good news for Trump is that a fix — eating healthier and exercising more — is within his control. Lead author Olshansky urged the 2020 candidates and their supporters not to “weaponize” the issue of age. Even though the campaign will end with the election of the oldest president in history, that should not be considered negative, argued Olshansky. “We see chronological age as a topic of discussion time and again during elections,” he said, “even though scientific and medical evidence tells us that biological age is far more important.”
ELECTION 2020 BALLOT OVERVIEW U.S. Senate
(Vote for one) 9 John W. Hickenlooper 9 Cory Gardner 9 Daniel Doyle 9 Stephan “Seku” Evans 9 Raymon Anthony Doane 9 Danny Skelly 9 Bruce Lohmiller 9 Michael Sanchez
2nd Congressional District (Vote for one) 9 Joe Neguse 9 Charlie Winn 9 Thom Atkinson 9 Gary Swing
4th Congressional District (Vote for one) 9 Ike McCorkle 9 Ken Buck 9 Bruce Griffith 9 Laura Ireland
State House District 12
Weld County District Attorney
State House District 13
Weld County CommissionerAt-Large
(Vote for one) 9 Tracey Bernett 9 Eric J. Davila
(Vote for one) 9 Kevin Sipple 9 Judy Amabile 9 James E. “Jed” Gilman
State House District 33
(Vote for one) 9 Matt Gray 9 Mindy Quiachon
State House District 49
(Vote for one) 9 Yara Hanlin Zokaie 9 Mike Lynch
State House District 63
(Vote for one) Regent of the 9 Dan Woog University of Colorado 9 Gen Schneider — Congressional 9 Joe Johnson District 2 Boulder County (Vote for one) District Attorney 9 Callie Rennison 9 Dick R. Murphy 9 Christian Vernaza
State Senate District 17
(Vote for one) 9 Sonya Jacquez Lewis 9 Matthew D. Menza 9 Andrew J. O’Connor
State Senate District 18
(Vote for one) 9 Steve Fenberg 9 Peg Cage
State Senate District 23
(Vote for one) 9 Barbara Kirkmeyer 9 Sally Boccella
State House District 10
(Vote for one) 9 Edie Hooton 9 Kenneth J. Stickney
State House District 11
(Vote for one) 9 Mark Milliman 9 Karen McCormick
(Vote for one) 9 Michael Dougherty
Boulder County Commissioner — District 1 (Vote for one) 9 Claire Levy 9 Cinda Kochen
Boulder County Commissioner — District 2 (Vote for one) 9 Marta Loachamin 9 James T. Crowder
Lousville City Council-Ward 3 (Vote for one) 9 Kyle Brown
Superior Town Board
(Vote for no more than three) 9 Mark Lacis 9 Gladys Forshee 9 Paige Henchen 9 Tim Howard 9 Chris Ochs 9 Kevin Ryan
Broomfield DA
(Vote for one) 9 Tim McCormack 9 Brian Mason
(Vote for one) 9 Michael J. Rourke
(Vote for one) 9 Paul N. Echternacht 9 Perry Buck
Weld County CommissionerDistrict 1 (Vote for one) 9 John Shull 9 Mike Freeman
Weld County Commissioner District 3 (Vote for one) 9 Michael Welch 9 Matthew Hess 9 Lori A. Saine
County CouncilAt-Large (Vote for one) 9 Elijah Hatch 9 Andrew L. Clark
County CouncilDistrict 1
(Vote for one) 9 David M. Huntwork 9 Rupert Parcment
Dacono City Council
(Vote for no more than two) 9 Kathryn Wittman 9 Kevin Plain 9 Adam Morehead 9 Debbie Nasta
Colorado ballot measures
Amendment B — Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR20-001 - Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates Amendment C — House Concurrent Resolution HCR20-1001 - Bingo Raffles Allow Paid Help and Repeal Five-Year Minimum Amendment 76 — Initiative #76 - Citizenship Qualification of Electors Amendment 77 — Initiative #257 - Local Voter Approval of Gaming Limits in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek Proposition EE — House
Bill HB20-1427 - Cigarette St. Vrain and Left Tobacco and Nicotine Hand Water Products Tax Conservation Proposition 113 — Senate District ballot issues Bill SB19-042 - National Issue 7A: Mill levy increase Popular Vote 9 Yes Proposition 114 — 9 No Initiative #107 - Restoration of Grey Wolves Sunshine Fire Proposition 115 — Protection District Initiative #120 - Prohibition on ballot issues Late-Term Abortions Issue 6A: Gallagher Proposition 116 — Initiative #306 - State Income revenue stabilization 9 Yes Tax Rate Reduction 9 No Proposition 117 — Initiative #295 - Voter Baseline Water Approval Requirement for District ballot issues Creation of Certain FeeIssue 6B: Elimination of Based Enterprises term limits Proposition 118 — 9 Yes Initiative #283 - Paid Family 9 No and Medical Leave Insurance Program Broomfield County
Boulder ballot issues
Issue 2B: No eviction without representation 9 Yes 9 No Question 2C: Public Service Company Franchise 9 Yes 9 No Question 2D: Repurpose the utility occupation tax 9 Yes 9 No Question 2E: Charter amendments related to direct election of the mayor 9 Yes 9 No Question 2F: Charter amendment related to the Boulder Arts Commission 9 Yes 9 No
Longmont ballot issues
Question 3C: Water system improvements bond 9 Yes 9 No Question 3D: Property leases charter amendment 9 Yes 9 No
Louisville ballot issues Issue 2A: Disposable bag tax 9 Yes 9 No
ballot issues
Question 2A: Marijuana sales tax 9 Yes 9 No Question 2B: Revenue stabilization for property tax 9 Yes 9 No Question 2C: Oil extraction on open space 9 Yes 9 No
Mead ballot issues
Issue 2D: Street improvements tax increase 9 Yes 9 No Issue 2E: Tax increase to fund police department 9 Yes 9 No
Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District ballot issues Issue 6B: Revenue stabilization 9 Yes 9 No Question 6C: Restructuring the district 9 Yes 9 No
Berthoud ballot issues
Question 3B: Muni broadband, phone service and TV 9 Yes 9 No
2020 VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 39
Restore Balance to Boulder County Free Thought. Free People. Free Boulder.
Vote to Restore Your Freedom of Personal Choice
Vote for Our Constitution! No on Prop 113 will Protect Colorado's Vote
For questions or help getting to a drop box for your ballot, call 303-443-6606
Our Vulnerable Citizens Cannot Afford Tax Increases or New Government Programs
Vote Yes to lower your taxes (Prop 116) Vote Yes to require consent on new exorbitant fees (Prop 117) Vote No on Mandatory Paid Leave (Prop 118) Vote No on tax increases or continuations and harsh regulations including Louisville 2A, Boulder 2B, Water Conservancy Issue 7A
40 • OCTOBER 11, 2020 • 2020 VOTER GUIDE