2022 Colorado General
State Rep HD14
CANDIDATES
ROB ROGERS
Democratic Candidate Information
Questionnaire was sent to the Candidate both for the 2022 Primary and General Elections, and he never confirmed receipt, though we sought to contact him multiple times and by various methods. Therefore, we do not know if the Candidate is even aware of the opportunity to participate in the Voter Guide, or whether he is aware and chose not to participate.
Campaign Website URL: www.RobRogers.org
Candidate Email Address: Info@RobRogers.org
ROSE PUGLIESE
Republican Candidate Information
Campaign Website URL: www.RoseforColorado.com
Email Address: Rose@RoseForColorado.com
Occupation/Vocation: Attorney
Resident of El Paso County: 2 years
Experience
What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Representative that will benefit our state?
I have significant experience testifying before state legislative committees and regulatory agencies. Most of my work over the past decade has been focused on statewide issues, such as co-leading the ballot initiative for a citizen’s repeal of the National Popular Vote in Colorado. During my 2-terms as a County Commissioner, I held various statewide leadership positions. My statewide work has enabled me to grow my grassroots network and develop relationships across the state with legislative, local government and state leaders. I currently operate my own small business (a law firm) with a practice focused primarily on local government law. I have extensive experience working with federal, state and local governments, as well as understanding many of the funding streams.
Vision
What is your vision for being a Colorado State Representative?
My vision is to consistently engage with my constituents to truly understand the issues that are important to them and hold stakeholder meetings and townhalls so that I communicate directly with the people I serve. Legislation does not happen in a vacuum so it is important to utilize my statewide relationships to get positive legislation that helps our community passed and to gain allies in fighting against harmful legislation. I will also be proactive in informing the grassroots community about opportunities for them to get involved and have their voices heard.
Election Reform
Do you believe that elections in Colorado should be conducted differently? Should voters in Colorado be required to verify their identity and residential status in the respective counties in which they vote? Are you in favor of a single-day, in-person voting system consisting of all-paper ballots? Why or why not?
I believe that voter identification, including the county of their residence, should be required to vote and am against ballot harvesting, as it opens the door to election fraud. I also believe that the voter rolls must be cleaned up so that they are accurate. I support giving people options to vote and allowing them to decide which option works best for them, including mail-in ballots and in-person voting, on paper ballots or on machines that generate paper ballots so people can confirm that their votes were recorded accurately.
TABOR
What is your position on the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR)?
I chose to live in Colorado because of the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights (“TABOR”). I thought any state that allowed their people to vote on tax increases was a free state. It is unfortunate that TABOR is currently being eroded and circumvented by the State Legislature. I have a proven record of fighting for TABOR and against fees disguised as taxes and tax increases.
Education
As a State Representative, what will you do to improve the education of our K – 12 students? What is your position on parental authority in education, including school choice?
As a State Representative, I would support vouchers and believe strongly that money should follow the child. As a mother of a child with special learning needs, I understand first-hand that one size does not fit all in education and I have a record that supports parents advocating for their children in education, parental rights in education and school choice.
Government Authority
Do you believe that the government has the legal power and authority to dictate what a person does with his or her body? If so, how?
I do not believe that the government has the legal power or authority to dictate what a person should do with their body and I support medical freedom. However, I am a devoted Catholic and Pro-Life so I do not support abortions or euthanasia.
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
As a Representative, how would you seek to protect the most vulnerable in our state, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?
As a State Representative, I would vote against abortion laws and the government funding of abortions. I worked for several years to raise awareness locally and statewide about the signs of human trafficking and worked on legislation to help victims, especially those in the child welfare system. I would advocate for resources for increased education and training on human trafficking for parents and our children to help teach them how to stay safe while on the internet. As an estate planning attorney, I have seen elder abuse, both financially and physically, and would look for opportunities to strengthen our current laws and protections for the elderly.
1st Amendment
What will you do as Colorado State Representative to protect our 1st Amendment rights to: the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, peaceably assembly, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, all of which are becoming more difficult to exercise in America (and around the world)?
As a State Representative, I will always fight against censorship in all forms and protect our First Amendment rights. During the Covid- 19 pandemic, as a County Commissioner, I fought hard against closing churches and strongly advocated that they were essential. I worked to re-open churches as quickly as possible after the lock-down. Our re-open plan was the template statewide for re-opening businesses and churches, based on freedom; not force.
2nd Amendment
Do you believe that gun ownership is a civil right, and what are your positions in regards to red flag laws, magazine capacity bans, legislation that regulates gun storage, and permitless “Constitutional carry”?
I have a strong record of fighting to protect our Second Amendment rights and it is a constitutional right. As a County Commissioner, I personally wrote Mesa County’s Pro-Second Amendment Resolution, stating that we not only supported the Second Amendment but would defend our constituents against unconstitutional laws. I was an active proponent of the Cameo Shooting Range, which gave people statewide and nationally, especially our youth, a place to shoot and fought against shooting range closures. I strongly opposed the red flag law and wrote testimony in opposition to it. I am against magazine capacity bans and against storage laws as it limits people’s rights to protect themselves and their families. I am a supporter of permitless Constitutional carry.
Infrastructure Spending
How do you believe that tax revenue in Colorado should be best utilized to improve our infrastructure?
Infrastructure spending, for example investments in transportation and broadband, is within the proper role of government. It is an economic development driver that helps support our existing businesses and attract new businesses to our communities. I have a record of prioritizing existing tax revenue for infrastructure and public safety purposes, such as safe routes to school to protect our children, and finding federal and state funding to leverage existing funds to make tax revenue go further for my constituents.
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Christian voting
Voting is a simple, yet significant way to do something about public policy in our country. As people of faith, we will be held accountable for our actions, as well as our lack of action. (Luke 12:48)
Biblical worldview
By diligently learning, applying, and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives, we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of our culture’s non-biblical ideas.
Vote your values
The issues of the day change. Political parties and platforms change. God’s Word never changes. The vote of every Christian should be based on the principles of Scripture and not persuasive personalities.
Electing righteous leaders
Bad governance and our loss of freedom is the direct result of the church’s failure to disciple. When the citizenry do not seek to be obedient to God’s Law, they vote in wicked and corrupt candidates, who then trample underfoot the God-given liberties of the people.