Colorado Springs faces significant challenges in terms of crime rates, police staffing, and emergency response times compared to similarly-sized cities. Our crime rate is 73.9% higher, our staffing is 25% lower, and our response times have been getting slower and slower. To fix these issues, I support increasing funding for police recruitment, training, and retention; investing in technology to improve efficiency and response times; increasing call center staffing; investing in educating the public about non-emergency numbers and uses to free up the emergency line; encouraging community endorsements for crime prevention; and implementing regular performance reviews with real and tangible metrics. The numbers will further improve as we equip the entirety of the police force to handle homeless situations.

We should prioritize attracting and expanding businesses in industries that align with our existing strengths and offer high-paying jobs: aerospace and defense, finance and insurance, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor suppliers, and medical device manufacturing. We should leverage the Deal Closing Fund to incentivize job creation and capital investment. For annexations and rezoning, it should not be detrimental to public health, safety, convenience, or general welfare; we must ensure that the size, scale, height, density, and traffic impacts are compatible with surrounding development; we should evaluate the potential economic benefits, including job creation and capital investment; and assess whether our existing infrastructure can support the proposed development or if additional investments are needed.

The housing shortage is a significant issue affecting many Colorado Springs residents, yet more and more people continue to move here. However, keeping up with the growth and keeping our city’s integrity is a balance. My idea to fill the gap is to encourage more missing middle housing in underdeveloped areas. I would encourage and incentivise developers to build innovative style homes following a form-code for the area. Things like: work-live housing, courtyard homes, patio homes, and townhouses. Currently the estimated housing deficit is between 16,500 to 27,000 and I believe focusing the housing effort in zones with adequate infrastructure across all of Colorado Springs is more productive than trying to jam them along transit lines.

Addressing the Homeless population in our city is an important and humanitarian issue. The solution lies with those first responders that make first contact with them. The city should prioritize training similar to our Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.) across all first responders and allow our police force options other than ticketing and arrests, such as parole that could include mental health evaluations and job placement. In addition, the city should partner with Pikes Peak Workforce Center to employ and build workforce skills in our homeless to get them back on their feet and being a productive member of our society.

I think that the people have decided to come together to make their voices heard on an issue they believe in and that it was wrong of the city council to try to subvert the will of the people, as did the courts. As for the Opioid and Fentanyl crisis the city should provide police training and resources to allow them to identify and remove the sources of these dangerous drugs. Another thing City Council should do is invest in the education of the population about these drugs and the dangers they produce.

I think it is a beautiful thing that we have such diversity of religious organizations in Colorado Springs. My family and I practice our faith mostly at home using resources we have found and we send our girls to a local AWANA group. Our faith is extremely important to me, but I am open to hearing the opinions of my constituents no matter their personal belief system.

The metrics for our police department are going in the wrong direction; increased 911 response times, recruiting officers who serve more than a few years, and retaining senior officers. Many crime statistics are getting worse and anecdotal information indicates many crimes are no longer reported.  All of this adds up to a possible future where crime becomes an overwhelming city-wide problem. As Councilmember, I will advocate for a larger police budget, which includes a pay raise for police officers. I will also seek funding sources to enable the department to invest in modern technologies to improve efficiency. Ensuring our police have the resources to meet its mission is essential to providing a safe city. 

I believe the City Council should actively work to bring more businesses and well paying jobs to Colorado Springs. I will support initiatives that attract diverse industries, including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and small businesses. I will encourage business-friendly policies, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and invest in workforce development programs, which will help create quality jobs for our residents. When considering zoning changes or annexation, I will weigh factors such as environmental impact, infrastructure capacity, community input, and the long-term economic benefits to ensure balanced growth that enhances the quality of life for all citizens.

Colorado Springs is a growing city, both in population and land area. While many of us would like to “close the door” and leave it like it was when we came here or were young, this is not possible. We need to pragmatically balance our infill and annexation developments with quality of life and infrastructure development. By developing affordable housing, we can keep home ownership in reach of new workers, which will subsequently provide long term stability.

Colorado Springs has experienced an increase in homeless camps in recent years, often associated with illegal drug use, dumping, and grass fires. To address homelessness, the City Council must take a compassionate yet effective approach that serves all residents. I will support expanding access to mental health and addiction treatment services, creating partnerships with non-profits and faith-based organizations, and increasing the availability of transitional and affordable housing. Simultaneously, I will advocate for enforcement of existing laws and expanding them where necessary (i.e. Sit Lie ordinance) to protect public health and safety. A balanced approach that combines social services with accountability will help reduce homelessness and improve quality of life for all Colorado Springs residents.

I am against the legalization of recreational Marijuana in Colorado Springs, but it is here now by vote and I will work as to how to best implement, with least negative impact, our citizens’ directive. I am open to medically monitored Psilocybin mushroom therapy for mental health treatment, as research shows this may provide improvement for PTSD sufferers (i.e. military veterans) not unlike Ketamine therapy. The Opioid and Fentanyl epidemic is in our city and the City Council should partner with local and national law enforcement agencies as well as drug treatment to address this scourge.   

I have been a long time (25+ years) member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, although I do not claim to be Presbyterian. I am a Non-Denominational Christian. It is unfortunate that in this day and age, to call oneself a “Christian”, no longer has a positive perception by people outside the church. I have also volunteered with many faith-based organizations: Marion House, Lutheran Family Services, YWAM-Emerge, and I serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for Reclaiming Hope.”. As a City Councilperson, I will actively seek out and build relationships in the Colorado Springs faith community. 

According to NeighborhoodScout, Colorado Springs is safer than 4% of cities. You read that right, 96% of cities in America are safer. In February of 2024, CSPD took 3 min longer to respond to Priority 1 calls vs just two years earlier. Rather than prioritize the safety of the public, the city has been more focused on increasing revenue via meter enforcement, code enforcement and traffic tickets. We cannot continue to develop and add new residents, without solving the growing crime problem. It is time to put cops back in our neighborhoods, prosecute violent crime and monitor where sex offenders are residing in relation to areas where children congregate.

The idea that a city should be evaluated by its growth rate, population, or available housing, is a fallacy that ignores the intangibles of the safety, comfort and quality of life of its existing citizens. Moreover, ignoring the economic impact on residents, rather favoring the income to the city. Colorado Springs has a long history of placing the cart before the horse. Sustainable growth is possible, but only when planning for growth and the pace of providing infrastructure outraces the approval of new developments. We cannot put profits ahead of the citizens of Colorado Springs.

While the benefits of successful growth may be far reaching, bringing jobs and new opportunities into the city, many residents are asking “At what cost?”

Inventory has risen 15% year over year and the average number of days houses are on the market has risen to 68 days, a 23% increase from the previous year. Thus signaling that we have sufficient housing options. This is not even taking into consideration the luxury apartment complexes being built.

Yet, city council and developers have continued to push for more. I think it is time that we slow the rubber stamping of developments and catch up to the present situation when it comes to resources, roads and emergency response. We simply do not have the resources in place to continue to grow.

The city has long turned a blind eye to the crime committed by the homeless population choosing to issue tickets, relocate individuals and issue personal recognizance bonds rather that arrest and prosecute the criminals. We must start somewhere, and right now simply issuing grants and funding to non-profits to assist in the homeless crisis is not working and often lacks accountability of tax dollars spent. We need to take the criminals off the street and identify the families and individuals that truly need help and focus resources there. We need to end the process of giving hand outs and seek solutions that offer a hand up.

Colorado Springs cannot afford another two years of hoping that the crisis gets better.

Voters narrowly voted to allow recreational marijuana in the city. The truth is that for at least the foreseeable future until November 2026, Marijuana will be a part of the Colorado Springs community. Right now, we must accept that and make the crucial decisions to educate parents, school officials and community leaders to ensure that drugs do not end up in the hands of children and can be spotted and promptly removed from the classroom.

The city of Colorado Springs should focus their attention on the prosecution and arrests of drug traffickers and dealers of fentanyl and illicit drugs. The city should actively work with ICE to deport illegal aliens contributing to the city’s crime and fentanyl problem.

Colorado Springs is known for its robust, strong faith communities and nationally and internationally recognized religious charities centered in our hometown. Colorado Springs City Council has the same duty as every elected official, which is to uphold the Constitution. As persecution of the faith community continues to rise, and the state continues discriminating against churches, Colorado Springs must stand strong to protect first amendment rights. The founders, foresaw the times we currently face, and put faith upfront, followed by the right to defend that right second. The Constitution and Bill of Rights, makes one thing clear, the rights of Americans SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED! This straight-forward statement has become remiss amongst elected officials in this state and around the country.