2022 Colorado General

State Rep HD16

CANDIDATES

STEPHANIE  VIGIL

Democratic Candidate Information

Questionnaire was sent to the Candidate both for the 2022 Primary and General Elections, and she never confirmed receipt, though we sought to contact her 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 she is aware and chose not to participate.

 

Campaign Website URL:           www.StephanieVigil.com

Candidate Email Address:        Info@StephanieVigil.com

DAVE  DONELSON

Republican Candidate Information

Campaign Website URL:      www.DaveDonelson.org

Email Address:      DaveDonelson18@gmail.com

Occupation/Vocation:     Colorado Springs City Council

Military Background:      US Army Veteran, former Green Beret

Resident of El Paso County:       30 years, except for military deployments and training

 

Experience

What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Representative that will benefit our state?

I currently serve you on City Council where I have a proven record of leadership. I have been married to my wife for 31 years and we have raised our children in House District 16. I understand the challenges and concerns of parents raising their families. Our state government should not make that harder.

I served my country for 21 years in the Army – as a Special Forces NCO (Green Beret), in military intelligence, and as an Officer and Physician Assistant. I am an Iraq War Veteran. I understand what it means to put others before yourself.

I have been the Center Director of a Men’s Health Clinic and understand the challenges of small business.

 

Vision

What is your vision for being a Colorado State Representative?

Serve the People. That is my vision. Just like when I ran for city council – it isn’t about me. Right now, too many of our elected officials think their job is to impose some kind of agenda on our citizens. That isn’t their job. Their (my) essential job is to provide our citizens with excellent Public Safety, Infrastructure (think roads), and Public Schools – and not violate our constitution while doing it. It is not the government’s job to weaken our police, ignore our roads, and try to undercut parents’ values in our schools.

 

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?

Yes, elections in Colorado should be conducted differently. American citizens have to have confidence in their elections. Requiring voter ID and residential status is a no brainer. Try getting on a plane without ID. If a single-day, in-person voting system consisting of all-paper ballots is “doable” I would support it. The reason why is that it would restore confidence in our election results among our citizens who are skeptical about them. We would be able to address concerns about electronic manipulation of the vote. It would also end ballot harvesting.

 

TABOR

What is your position on the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR)?

I support it. Our state government should not try to circumvent it by calling taxes fees.

 

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?

I am a strong supporter of parental authority in education and school choice. My children attended Corpus Christi Elementary School, and then graduated from Vanguard Charter School or Saint Mary’s High School.

Funding in schools needs to be shifted away from bloated school administrations and used to increase teacher salaries to attract more teachers and compensate them for the critical role they have in teaching our children. Divisive issues like CRT and sexual identity don’t belong in our schools.

 

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 think this question is about the COVID debacle we just went through. On the El Paso County Board of Health I led the fight against mandates and led the fight against a resolution “in support of voluntary COVID vaccinations”. It was a typical government, one size fits all solution (even after it was clear there were serious side effects, and it wasn’t effective at preventing infection). Mandating that citizens had to get that shot, even though they may have had antibodies, was and is wrong.

If we can’t decide what is injected into our bodies, are we really free?

 

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

As a Representative, how would you seek to protect the most vulnerable in our county, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?

On Colorado Springs City Council I successfully led the effort to enact a Massage Therapy Business License. I coordinated with our Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Unit, City Attorney Office, and City Clerk’s office to craft an ordinance which will give us the ability to end the human trafficking and prostitution which has been occurring at Illicit Massage Parlors in our city for decades. The ordinance was approved 9-0 on two separate votes. It will begin to be enforced on 1 September 2022.

I am Pro-Life. I will be an ally for groups working for the protection of the unborn, the elderly, and the trafficked.

 

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)?

I will uphold the constitution. I didn’t serve 21 years in the Army, part of that time as a Green Beret, to be intimidated into giving up our constitutional rights. I will vote against anything which I think violates or undermines any of these rights. I will be proud to sponsor or support bills which promote these rights. I will speak out, as I did on the EPC Board of Health, when I think citizens rights are being violated.

 

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 am a NRA life member, concealed carry permit holder, member of a shooting club, former Green Beret and serve on the board of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition. Would you like to guess my position on 2A issues? The problem isn’t law abiding citizens with 30- round magazines, it is criminals with any weapon – a knife, hammer, or gun. We need to stop reducing penalties for crimes, and punish criminals for breaking the law. Regulating gun storage turns honest citizens into criminals.

 

Infrastructure Spending

How do you believe that tax revenue in Colorado should be best utilized to improve our infrastructure?

When I ran for city council the top two priorities for me were public safety (police and fire), and infrastructure. There are only a few things that most citizens really want their government to focus on – but those are two of them. It is like focusing on blocking and tackling in football – the fundamentals bring success. We have to make infrastructure – roads, bridges, dams, airports, wastewater, etc. a top priority.

Currently our government is focused on too many other issues – like decreasing penalties for criminals, and trying to force cities, businesses and individuals to adopt green energy options. We have to stay focused on delivering the fundamentals.

 

JOHN  HJERSMAN

Libertarian Candidate Information

Campaign Website URL:     www.HjersmanForHouseDistrict16.com

Email Address:       JCHjersman@gmail.com

Occupation/Vocation:       Retired Merchant Mariner

Military Background:      USNR Hon Discharge

Resident of El Paso County:       9 years

 

Experience

What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Representative that will benefit our state?

As head of the engineer department of merchant vessels, I am experienced in using PC programs to track and report tasks and processes. I am experienced in working with and directing diverse personalities to achieve goals. I have always supported the principles upon which this nation was founded. Therefore, I favor limited government and maximum, responsible personal liberty.

 

Vision

What is your vision for being a Colorado State Representative?

My cherished goal is to repeal ineffective past laws and vote against all bills whose impetus appears to be emotional or dogmatic rather than logical and responsible. Fiscal responsibility.

 

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?

Voting should be conducted in person by citizens with valid photo identification. Whether by paper or electronics would depend upon a thorough independent audit of any electronic system being considered for balloting. Universal mail-in balloting is too vulnerable to being corrupted by organized ballot harvesting.

 

TABOR

What is your position on the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR)?

It is Coloradans’ best defense against irresponsible spending by the state government. I enthusiastically support it.

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?

School choice is high on my priority list. Parents have the last word in educating their family, in my opinion. My goal would be to loosen the grip of the US Department of Education on our local schools.

 

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?

Not in most cases. However, I believe that government has the responsibility to judiciously quarantine certain contagions to protect the rights of others.

 

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

As a Representative, how would you seek to protect the most vulnerable in our county, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?

In my opinion, the unborn are the responsibility of the person carrying the embryo and her medical advisor. The government has no legitimate role therein. If by trafficked, you mean virtual slaves, then of course they deserve protection. If you mean people engaged in sex work of their own free will, I believe in free enterprise. The first protection for the elderly should come from their families. Lacking that, there is a role for charitable organizations, not necessarily governmental ones, although there should be provisions to help those with no other support.

 

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)?

Everything in my power! In the interest of separating church and state, I would support the withdrawal of tax exemptions from churches. I would thereafter support a church’s right to take a stand on political issues.

 

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”?

Gun ownership is a civil right. Red flag laws are usually unconstitutional infringements on a right that is not to be infringed. Magazine capacity bans are ineffective attempts to infringe that which is not to be infringed. Gun storage legislation is unenforceable until it’s able to be used to abuse an individual who has every right to make his own decisions. An armed society is a polite society.

 

Infrastructure Spending

How do you believe that tax revenue in Colorado should be best utilized to improve our infrastructure?

Our roadways are the state’s most massive infrastructure. The technology exists to recycle auto tires and incorporate them into road surfacing compounds. The initial outlay is more but its longevity pays off. It is crucial that the compounding is designed for the seasons to which the road will be exposed. The experiment in “the gap” by CDOT failed due to applying the wrong compound, resulting in inadequate traction in winter weather.

 

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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.