2024 General Election
EL PASO COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY JD4 CANDIDATES
EPC DA JD4 General Election Candidates
Listed in Ballot Order
THE TOPICS
& QUESTIONS
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Candidate Information
House District:
Campaign Website URL:
Email Address:
Occupation/Vocation:
Military Background (if any):
Years Resident of El Paso County/District Represented:
Your Experience, Priorities, and Vision
What experience (personal, professional, other), priorities, and vision do you have for the elected office that you seek that will benefit your constituency?
Crime
What are your overall thoughts about crime in both Colorado and El Paso County, and how can all three branches of government better approach making our communities safer?
Ethics and Accountability
What are your beliefs on ethics, accountability, and transparency in government as they relate to the position that you are seeking? How would you ensure your team maintains ethical standards in all prosecutions?
Fair and Impartial
What strategies would you employ to ensure fair and impartial prosecution, balancing the need for justice with the rights of the accused in a case? How would you handle a situation where you believe the defendant is innocent, but the evidence points towards their guilt?
Protecting the Vulnerable
If elected, how will you seek to protect the lives of the most vulnerable in our community, including the unborn, victims of trafficking and abuse, senior citizens, and those experiencing mental illness?
Immigration
Do you believe that illegal entries into the U.S. have led to problems for our region? If so, what would you do if elected to improve the situation? Also, what is your view of sanctuary cities/counties?
1st Amendment
If elected, what will you do to protect your constituents’ rights to freedom of religion, speech, peaceable assembly, and petitioning the government for a redress of grievances?
2nd Amendment
What is your position on gun legislation regarding topics such as mandatory gun insurance, an increased minimum age to purchase a gun, so-called “assault weapons” bans, and creating various new “sensitive spaces” (additional “gun-free zones”)?
Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism
Over the past year there has been a sharp rise in the expression of anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism both across our nation and in Colorado, especially among youth. What do you view as the cause(s) of these sociopolitical issues, and what if anything should be done to address them?
Election Security and Confidence
Do you believe that elections in Colorado should be conducted differently? (For example, should people be required to show proof of citizenship and residency for registering to vote in Colorado, and should Government-issued identification be required to vote?) If elected, what specifically will you do to both assure election security and improve voter confidence?
High Profile Cases
Can you discuss a time when you had to handle a case with significant public interest or scrutiny? What is your approach to dealing with high-profile cases that attract media attention?
MICHAEL ALLEN
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Republican Candidate Information
Campaign Website URL: www.MichaelAllen4DA.com
Email Address: Michael@MichaelAllen4DA.com
Occupation/Vocation: District Attorney, 4th Judicial District
Military Background (if any): US Navy Veteran
Years Resident of El Paso County/District Represented: Colorado native, resident in El Paso County since 2011
Your Experience, Priorities, and Vision
What experience (personal, professional, other), priorities, and vision do you have for the elected office that you seek that will benefit your constituency?
I have been a prosecutor for 20 years and have worked tirelessly to hold evil doers accountable for the crimes they commit. Through the years, I have seen what works and what doesn’t work and I strive to enact policies and initiatives that best address the needs of our community. As an example, I have a 100% conviction rate on homicide cases and have twice been named Homicide Prosecutor of the Year in 2015 and 2017.
The District Attorney’s Office, under my leadership, routinely leads the state in jury trials, prosecutions of career and violent offenders, and securing restitution for crime victims. At the same time, we work hard to give second chances to those who deserve the opportunity.
Crime
Crime: What are your overall thoughts about crime in both Colorado and El Paso County, and how can all three branches of government better approach making our communities safer?
Evil never rests, and the best defense against those who choose to do evil in our community is committed, professional prosecution. I know how to achieve justice having worked in prosecution since 2004 and here in the 4th Judicial District since 2011.
All of Colorado has experienced a surge in crime thanks to “criminal justice reform” efforts from the legislature and governor’s office. In recent years that “reform” has resulted in decriminalization efforts that have left Coloradans increasingly vulnerable to crime. The DA’s office, under my leadership, leads the state in our fight against crime – we refuse to compromise on public safety.
We need to restore balance in state government to reverse the negative impacts of “criminal justice reform.”
Ethics and Accountability
What are your beliefs on ethics, accountability, and transparency in government as they relate to the position that you are seeking? How would you ensure your team maintains ethical standards in all prosecutions?
As District Attorney I have worked hard to hold the entire office to a high ethical standard to ensure that we are accountable to the community we serve. I ensure strong ethical standards are maintained by requiring year-round training for all staff.
I have also committed to improve transparency into the criminal justice system and the District Attorney’s Office. In 2022, I launched a first of its kind transparency effort when I unveiled our data dashboards. This gives citizens unprecedented insight into the work we do every day. The data is highly accurate, is available 24 hours a day, and it replicates in real time so that the most up-to-date data is always available.
Fair and Impartial
What strategies would you employ to ensure fair and impartial prosecution, balancing the need for justice with the rights of the accused in a case? How would you handle a situation where you believe the defendant is innocent, but the evidence points towards their guilt?
The US and Colorado Constitutions require fairness and impartiality of government and specifically of prosecutors. I work closely with leaders in law enforcement to ensure law enforcement is trained on relevant laws and that they have appropriate access to our attorneys during investigations. This ensures that suspects constitutionally protected rights are observed, while also building a case that can survive the rigors of the court system.
As District Attorney, I ensure we are guided by the law and evidence while we exercise our discretion. It is our duty as prosecutors to refuse to file a case if there is insufficient evidence and to dismiss a case when the interests of justice demand such action.
Protecting the Vulnerable
If elected, how will you seek to protect the lives of the most vulnerable in our community, including the unborn, victims of trafficking and abuse, senior citizens, and those experiencing mental illness?
As District Attorney, I oversee prosecution units that serve the most vulnerable. The Special Victims Unit prosecutes child and adult sex assault and other related cases, as well as elder abuse, human trafficking, and failure to register as a sex offender. The Organized Crime Unit prosecutes large scale organized crime, and drug cartel related cases. These two units, in collaboration with community partners, lead our specialized effort at serving vulnerable victims.
I have also prosecuted a case involving violence against a pregnant woman, that included an attempt to kill her unborn child. That case presented unique challenges that were overcome in trial and the offender is currently serving a life in prison without parole sentence.
Immigration
Do you believe that illegal entries into the U.S. have led to problems for our region? If so, what would you do if elected to improve the situation? Also, what is your view of sanctuary cities/counties?
The President has chosen to leave the border largely uncontrolled, leaving American citizens at risk. Elected leaders who designate their cities as sanctuary cities only further encourage illegal border crossings. Cartels and human trafficking organizations have taken advantage of this vulnerability by preying on people trying to reach the United States and by flooding our country with deadly fentanyl. We are experiencing the effects here in El Paso and Teller County, and the best example of that impact is the hundreds of people who have died from fentanyl that is brought here by Mexican drug cartels.
As District Attorney, my office has led the state in our fight against cartels and fentanyl death dealers by achieving lengthy prison sentences.
1st Ammendment
If elected, what will you do to protect your constituents’ rights to freedom of religion, speech, peaceable assembly, and petitioning the government for a redress of grievances?
During the COVID pandemic there were impacts on the 1st amendment across the country and locally. Most concerning involved states restricting the ability of churches to hold services while allowing marijuana shops and liquor stores to remain open and operating with minimal restrictions. There were also efforts to encourage the DA’s office to prosecute businesses who chose to open. I resisted those efforts by refusing to criminalize business owners who chose to open their doors.
As District Attorney I will protect people’s 1st Amendment rights. At the same time, I will also prosecute when appropriate instances where “peaceable assembly” devolves into lawless rioting and property destruction.
2nd Amendment
What is your position on gun legislation regarding topics such as mandatory gun insurance, an increased minimum age to purchase a gun, so-called “assault weapons” bans, and creating various new “sensitive spaces” (additional “gun-free zones”)?
The 2nd Amendment is a cornerstone of our social contract with our government. Each person has inherent human dignity that includes the right to self-defense. Legislative efforts that attack the 2nd Amendment are misguided, and only serve to make victims of crime more vulnerable to violent criminals. I have opposed legislative efforts like those mentioned here, including testifying against them in the Colorado legislature.
At the same time that the state government has attacked lawful gun owners, they have made it easier for violent criminals to legally possess firearms.
As District Attorney, I have also refused to file homicide or other criminal charges where it is clear that a law-abiding citizen was exercising their right to defend themselves or others.
Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism
Over the past year there has been a sharp rise in the expression of anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism both across our nation and in Colorado, especially among youth. What do you view as the cause(s) of these sociopolitical issues, and what if anything should be done to address them?
As a veteran of the United States Navy, I cherish our relationship with Israel. They remain our strongest ally in the Middle East.
Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism have been on the rise and have only risen sharply since October 7, 2023, when Hamas viciously attacked innocent Israeli citizens. Since that attack, we have seen unlawful takeovers of college campuses across the United States, and shameful responses from college administrators. People of good conscience must speak against Anti-Americanism and Anti- Semitism at every opportunity, while working to engender patriotism.
As District Attorney, I am committed to protecting our way of life. If hate crimes are committed against any group or place of worship, we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
Election Security and Confidence
Do you believe that elections in Colorado should be conducted differently? (For example, should people be required to show proof of citizenship and residency for registering to vote in Colorado, and should Government-issued identification be required to vote?) If elected, what specifically will you do to both assure election security and improve voter confidence?
Our form of government relies on fair election processes and outcomes that reflect the will of The People, and it is up to elected leaders to ensure the results are accurate.
As District Attorney, I work closely with the Clerk and Recorders in both El Paso and Teller Counties to ensure the integrity of our election process and accuracy of outcomes. That includes conducting criminal investigations and prosecutions when voter fraud occurs. Unfortunately, our election laws have been eroded over time, making it harder to prosecute voter fraud. I would prefer in-person voting that includes ID verification. To achieve that goal and to strengthen our election laws, we need to elect strong legislators that will be committed to that effort.
High Profile Cases
Can you discuss a time when you had to handle a case with significant public interest or scrutiny? What is your approach to dealing with high-profile cases that attract media attention?
I have been the lead prosecutor on two high-profile cases and successfully navigated the pressures those cases present by achieving maximum prison sentences in both. I am currently the lead prosecutor on another high-profile case that is still pending. Cases like these attract intense media coverage.
My approach is to provide as much information as possible to ensure the public is kept abreast of important developments, while also protecting our ability to successfully prosecute the case. This approach also involves providing much needed support to victims and other impacted groups to ensure they have a voice in the prosecution effort. Ultimately, victims in cases, whether high-profile or routine, deserve a prosecutor committed to achieving justice on their behalf.
JEREMY DOWELL
Democratic Candidate Information
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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
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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.