Housing
We have a real issue in Arapahoe County where housing inventory vs. demand has created a crisis for affordable housing. When I moved to Colorado in 2013, houses in my neighborhood could be purchased by working families with decent jobs. Today, the same neighborhood would be unaffordable for most new families. This is already having an impact on our community and is an issue that will most shape our district in the next 10 years.
Seniors who raised families here can’t afford to downsize due to property tax burdens on inflated property costs, people who work in our community can’t afford homes here, and children that grew up here move to other areas due to the price of housing.
It’s so important that we get this right. My “mission” for housing in District 37 is to work on incentives that expand housing inventory – more places to live at affordable prices. We need to build a wider variety of housing projects that create a mix of dense use, affordability, and responsible transportation. My ideas for this are more sites like “Southglenn,” but affordable and ownable. In order to attract this, we need to deal with existing “Defects Laws” that have scared developers away, and incentivize affordable housing. This issue impacts every resident of the district and has to be a top priority.
Additionally, we need to expand Homestead Exemption and provide other tax relief for people who have owned their homes in our communities for many years and reduce the burden on downsizing or moving.
Another area that I plan to tend to in 2024 are consumer protection issues that are impacting homebuyers such as delayed closings (for profit), and adjustments to our “Defects Laws” that stifle building new housing.
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Education
Colorado in 2020 allocated $11,602 in state and local funding per student, ranking it in the bottom half of states in per-pupil spending (according to data the Colorado School Finance Project pulled from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau). That was $1,892 below the national average of per-pupil spending that year. We’ve found ourselves in a hole that could be caving in with other financial challenges on the horizon. For instance, marijuana tax collections are plummeting, cutting a key funding source for school construction needs. We also see changing tides with property taxes that will further reduce money earmarked for education. These rapid changes create additional complexity to “how do we fund education.”
The legislature is poised in 2024 to tackle “fully funding education” which is a very exciting step, but could also be devastating if it’s short sighted or treated as a “fix.” It is critical that we maintain a safety-net and keep our eyes on funding education without excuses.
It’s not just “about the money.” Education needs and schools look much different than they did 20 years ago. With better understanding of mental health and educational health, as well as a focus on security – things are changing and it’s important that we’re keeping up.
I will fight for educators and students to keep education a top priority.
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Human rights & social justice
Women’s Rights, Abortion Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights, Accessibility Rights, Worker’s Rights – these are all massively important issues that focus on the core of humanity. I feel that it’s our responsibility to ensure that people have what they need and it’s our job in society to allow people equal access and provide freedom to thrive.
Protecting rights to exist, function, and choose our own paths are for me the reason for governing. We form laws to support a communal society that works.
Women, as well as gay, trans, and disabled people have come late to the game for politics in this country, and we’re still playing catch-up in many areas. All people should be treated equally in our workplaces, schools, and communities. Likewise, people with disabilities deserve equal access. So while my view about human rights is fundamentally the same across various issues, I recognize that underserved and under-represented communities need priority in order to balance the scales. If elected, I promise to keep a primary sponsorship available every session to deal with important social issues and accessibility.
I’m also a serious advocate for criminal justice reforms that address issues related to systemic inequalities.
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Healthcare
I believe that healthcare is a fundamental right for all humans. Everyone deserves to be well and make informed choices about how they deal with their health. This means everyone: women, trans, men, people who want to have babies, people who don’t, people who want lifesaving measures if their bodies stop working, and people who choose to responsibly end their lives with the aid of medicine.
Fighting with insurance companies is a universal truth for most Americans. We’re required by law to maintain health coverage, but in many cases it just doesn’t work. I’m not aware of anyone who has used our medical systems that have described their experience as easy to navigate and manage. Restrictive plans, confusing coverages, open enrollment periods that force you to choose quickly, lack of options or portability – these issues impact every class of people. It’s insane to me that we pay the insurance industry billions in administrative costs per year and they somehow made things so complicated that we may never escape it.
I’m interested in supporting a workable universal healthcare option for all Coloradans. I’m also firmly in the fight to protect abortion rights, gender affirming care, and people’s right to work out their healthcare with their doctors vs. politicians or insurance companies.
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Good government
Join me in creating a government that is transparent, inclusive, and committed to serving the best interests of all citizens. Together, we can build a community where good governance is at the forefront of our priorities.
I am also firmly committed that we have decorum and civility in the State House and that it’s treated as the people’s workplace.
Transparency and accountability: I’m a longtime advocate for transparency in government operations, ensuring that citizens have access to information about decision-making processes and public expenditures. You’ll always see me support measures that enhance accountability, such as regular audits of government agencies and officials.
Inclusive decision-making: I believe that public participation in the decision-making process through town halls, public forums, and citizen advisory boards is responsible governing.
Ethical leadership: Integrity in public service is the foundational basis for workability. Doing what we say, while emphasizing zero tolerance for corruption. I support strong ethics laws, including disclosure of financial interests and conflicts of interest, and I believe that in Colorado we are doing a good job with this.
Efficient and effective government: “Red-tape” is my favorite enemy. I love streamlined bureaucratic processes that make government more efficient and accessible. I think in this day and age we should focus on technology adoption to improve service delivery and facilitate citizen engagement. I hope in my lifetime that elections, for instance, are as simple as online banking.
Campaign finance reform: Influence of money in politics is a real and necessary part of our current political process, and it’s important that we ensure fair representation. I’m a firm believer in transparent funding mechanisms for political campaigns.
Collaboration across party lines: Foster a spirit of bipartisanship to find common ground on issues that affect the well-being of citizens.
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Public safety
As someone who proudly serves as a police officer for departments all over our state, I am uniquely positioned to understand and advocate for the critical role law enforcement plays in ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities. Policing, at its core, is a service dedicated to protecting the fundamental rights and security of every resident. I recognize the significance of building trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community we serve.
My experience informs my commitment to advancing progressive policies that prioritize community-oriented policing, transparency, and accountability. By investing in comprehensive training programs, supporting mental health initiatives, and promoting fair and just policing practices, we can create a law enforcement system in Colorado that is not only effective but also respects the rights and dignity of all individuals.
I am dedicated to ensuring that our state’s law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to carry out their duties effectively. This includes advocating for fair compensation, access to cutting-edge technology, and support for programs that strengthen the relationship between police officers and the communities they serve.
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Environment
My approach to the environment revolves around a commitment to sustainability, conservation, and equitable resource management.
Air quality: Air quality in our area is some of the worst in the country – not every day, but enough to cause serious health issues. Although much more can be accomplished to reduce pollution, one area we can impact quickly and efficiently is indoor air quality.
Conservation: I advocate for robust measures to address climate change, including transitioning to renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions, and I support policies that preserve and protect natural ecosystems, endangered species, and biodiversity.
Water: I believe in ensuring equitable access to water resources for all communities, prioritizing sustainable use to meet the needs of both urban and rural areas, and promoting water conservation and responsible agricultural use.
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Centennial Airport
An item of concern that wasn’t on my radar until I was elected is the local concern regarding the operations at Centennial Airport. I have been “learning as I go” for everything from flight paths and noise to environmental issues. As a State Government, we have limited opportunity to impact this space since this is largely a Federal issue, but we’re not powerless to take meaningful action to incentivize our airports to be great neighbors (which they are generally interested in being).
Centennial Airport is the busiest General Aviation airport in the nation and the most active airport for General Aviation training in our state.
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