While there is always room for improvement, we are fortunate that CSPD has always been one of the most transparent and generally trusted agencies in the law enforcement world. Our violent crime rates are relatively low compared to other cities, but there are still many areas of concern including property crimes. A major factor at play is the lax approach from state leadership that undermines respect for the rule of law and fosters a permissive environment in which criminal activity can spread. Law enforcement is one of the core functions of government, so ensuring adequate funding for that purpose must be the highest priority, even if it comes at the expense of other programs.

The primary role of city government is to establish and maintain a favorable business climate where employers see a cost-effective place to conduct business and a place where their employees want to live. We must continue to attract good paying jobs in the technology and defense sectors. Because Colorado Springs is a great place to live, we will continue to grow and must provide a range of housing for the people who live (and want to come) here. Growth needs to be responsible, reasonable, predictable, and sustainable. We must encourage smart growth to guide development to appropriate locations for expansion and construct a variety of housing types to satisfy the needs and tastes of a diverse population.

Both infill and annexation have a place in addressing our city’s inevitable growth. I support annexation because the City should control its own destiny, rather than stand by as other jurisdictions create a patchwork of projects on its periphery. Well-planned growth through annexation is preferable to allowing others to limit Colorado Springs’ options for expansion and our ability to preserve our heritage.
In the end, respect for property rights must be the overriding factor. We need to remove unnecessary restrictions to give property owners (large and small) the freedom to develop or build housing products that respond to the demands of a free market, which will ultimately address the housing shortage and allow our great city to continue to thrive.

To truly address homelessness, we need to focus on the underlying issues. Our city has made some good strides toward focusing resources on mental health, drug addiction and other root causes, but there is much more to be done. Working with local non-profits, the city can continue to support efforts to provide a variety of services including early intervention, mental health and addiction treatment, development of supportive housing and deploying preventative measures before someone finds themselves on the street with limited options. While it is important to be compassionate toward suffering individuals, we also need to be aware of the impacts of homelessness on the overall community.

I was born and raised Catholic, and those religious beliefs form a fundamental part of my world view. My wife of 35 years and I are active members of our local parish and we both volunteer there in a number of capacities. I believe in the free exercise of religion, that all citizens are entitled to their beliefs, and that it’s possible to find more common ground than differences among people who are willing to keep an open mind. It is my goal to represent all the people in District 2 and to listen to their concerns and suggestions as I strive to make the best possible decisions for the good of the city as a whole.