ISSUES:
Home Greeting Biography Issues Promise Contact Us


-GROWTH AND PRESERVATION OF OPENSPACE
-CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT
-COLORADO BUSINESS
-TRANSPORTATION
-EDUCATION
-TAXES
-CRIME

GROWTH AND PRESERVATION OF OPENSPACE:
Colorado's front range faces real challenges in managing its booming economy. Our cities and counties lack the tools to effectively deal with the complexities of the problem. As a legislator, I will sponsor legislation that both protects personal property rights and monetary values while giving government the ability to more effectively and equitably deal with growth.

I will work to find creative ways of providing financing and funding sources to be used by municipalities and county governments for the purpose of purchasing development rights, zoning rights and the creation of conservation easements.

I would sponsor legislation that creates "Conservation Zones" in areas experiencing rapid or expansive growth. These zones would offer Colorado farmers agricultural income and property tax incentives to remain on their farms in these designated urban areas. My efforts would be to ease the pressure of development, on our states already struggling agricultural industry.

I will work to create tax and other incentives for our states farmers who create voluntary conservation easements, and refine and simplify our laws regarding the use of transferable development rights. (BACK)

CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT:

My family and I have a history of preservation and environmental advocacy. We worked to turn the lake where we lived into one of Boulder County's first wildlife preserves. I have served as a board member of Trout Unlimited and been involved in other area conservation organizations. I have also served on the board of the Colorado Arts and Crafts Society, an historic preservation organization. As a youth, I raised pheasants as my 4-H project to release back into the wild.

I have worked hard for the advancement of conservation, preservation and our environment. I have dealt thoughtfully and effectively with environmental and conservation issues. I will be a strong voice for the environment, our state parks and public lands. (BACK)

COLORADO BUSINESS:

In prosperous times like these it is easy to forget how fragile our economy can be. Discussions regarding growth and transportation must include careful thought to impacts on Colorado's business climate. I have been a spokesman for small business, and my 26+ years as a Colorado independent businessman and community leader proves my commitment to our state's businesses needs. (BACK)

TRANSPORTATION:

Our overburdened transportation system is in immediate need of improvements and added capacity. Saying this, I do not share the enthusiasm of many for great multi-lane highways with flyovers crisscrossing the Front Range. Don't misunderstand, attention to our overloaded transportation system should be, and is one of my top priorities.

I will make sure that the funding is available to repair and improve our state's aging roads and highways, but I am also dedicated to alternatives including tax incentives for businesses willing to allow a portion of their employees to telecommute and incentives to businesses willing to stagger shift times to coincide with periods of lower traffic density.

I propose that an immediate effort should be underway to define, acquire and protect both light rail and commuter rail corridors throughout the metropolitan front-range for future rail expansion and I would sponsor legislation to do just that.

In Boulder County, I believe that at a minimum Highway 36 and the Diagonal highway should be expanded to include HOV & HOT lanes. (BACK)

EDUCATION:

As a product of Colorado's public schools, I am one of their greatest supporters. As a parent, I am very concerned about the quality of education my daughter will receive and as a Boulder County employer, I believe we must demand the highest quality education possible to ensure the success of our young people.

I believe strongly in the value and strength of our public education system and I believe that parents deserve accountability from their educators. I will not support a school administration or those vested interests that only support the status quo, and refuse to be accountable for the quality of education they provide. I believe in accountability at all levels of government, and especially when the end product is as important as the education of our children.

I am a supporter of Charter schools and commend their commitment to expanded parental involvement. I will support legislation to strengthen the Charter school movement.

I do support tuition tax credits as a matter of fairness, but I will only support them when I am convinced that adequate safeguards are in place to protect the strength and well being of our public schools. I consider competition healthy, but I am convinced a vibrant public school system is essential.

I am excited at the opportunity to play a role in the legislature's quest to improve and reform Colorado's educational system. I will work to increase teachers salaries, and I will do everything I can to improve the quality of education our sons and daughters receive. I want to send a message to the rest of this country that Colorado places our public school system, it's teachers and most importantly our children at the top of its priority list. (BACK)

TAXES:

Colorado's elderly and working poor are being driven from their homes by property tax increases. Increases used in many instances to pay for infrastructure improvements needed, as the result of expansive growth. I will sponsor legislation that offers property and state income tax relief for Colorado's senior citizens. We must find ways to address the costs of growth, and find an equitable means by which growth can pay its own way. (BACK)

CRIME:

All that we believe in, all that we are as a community and state are threatened by the spread of crime. I will support new legislation and demand the enforcement of existing legislation to fight crime and remove criminals from our streets.

We must make every effort to protect our Colorado families. I support funding for rehabilitation programs, but I no longer want to let criminals out early, for lack of beds. I will push to require judges to honor Colorado's three time loser law, habitual criminals should not be walking our streets looking for victims, they should be behind bars. (BACK)