To what extent and in what manner should the County be regulating land use?

Colorado’s Sunshine Law and Taxpayer Bill of Rights are examples of accountability measures that Colorado’s electorate voted into law.  What are your beliefs on ethics in government, and how would you seek to improve accountability and transparency as they relate to the position you are seeking?

What is your position regarding overreach by the State Government?  How will you use the power of your office as County Commissioner to defend the Constitutional rights of El Paso County citizens?

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?

To what extent and in what manner should the County be regulating land use?

As County Commissioner, I believe land use should be regulated with common sense, consistency, and respect for the people who live here. My focus will be on ensuring development aligns with the El Paso County Master Plan and the Water Master Plan.

These documents exist for a reason: to guide responsible zoning, protect natural resources, and make sure growth does not outpace roads, water, public safety, or community character. Northern El Paso County is unique, and we must keep it that way. I support balanced growth, but it must be responsible, transparent, and grounded in the plans already adopted to protect our communities, water, and way of life.

Colorado’s Sunshine Law and Taxpayer Bill of Rights are examples of accountability measures that Colorado’s electorate voted into law.  What are your beliefs on ethics in government, and how would you seek to improve accountability and transparency as they relate to the position you are seeking?

Ethics in government begins with remembering that public office is not personal power; it is a public trust. I believe every elected official stands in the place of the people who elected them and has a duty to serve faithfully, honestly, and openly. As John Adams warned, our Constitution requires a moral people, and Noah Webster reminded citizens to choose just rulers who faithfully discharge their duty. Those principles matter at every level of government.As Commissioner, I will support open meetings, clear records, honest budgeting, and decisions made in the light where citizens can see them. Accountability and transparency are not optional; they are the foundation of representative government.

What is your position regarding overreach by the State Government?  How will you use the power of your office as County Commissioner to defend the Constitutional rights of El Paso County citizens?

I believe state overreach is one of the greatest threats to local control. Colorado law, including CRS Title 30, gives County Commissioners authority to govern within their county jurisdiction. Yet the State Legislature continues trying to centralize power and legislate away responsibilities that belong closest to the people.

As Commissioner, I will understand the authority of the office and use it to defend El Paso County citizens. That means working with other commissioners, pushing back when the state exceeds its proper role, and standing firm on issues like housing, land use, water, and constitutional rights.

A strong commissioner must have the knowledge and courage to tell the state, “No, that is not your job.”

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?

I believe every human life has value and dignity, from conception to natural death. As County Commissioner, my focus will be protecting the vulnerable with compassion, practical support, and accountable services.That includes children, the unborn, victims of trafficking and abuse, senior citizens, and those struggling with mental illness. I will work to ensure El Paso County’s Department of Human Services is responsive, responsible, and focused on connecting people with real help.The county should not try to do everything alone. We need strong partnerships with churches, nonprofits, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations already serving those in crisis. Protecting life means protecting people when they are most at risk.

To what extent and in what manner should the County be regulating land use?

Government should play a limited but important role in land use. Private property rights must remain central to county decision making. I support responsible planning that protects infrastructure, water resources, and public safety, but I oppose excessive regulation and politically driven restrictions that interfere with lawful use of private property. Much of El Paso County’s zoning has been in place for decades, and property owners deserve consistency and fairness. Growth should pay for itself whenever possible, and decisions should reflect the character and desires of local communities. County government should work with residents, not against them, while balancing economic opportunity, transportation needs, and preservation of the quality of life that makes El Paso County special.

Colorado’s Sunshine Law and Taxpayer Bill of Rights are examples of accountability measures that Colorado’s electorate voted into law.  What are your beliefs on ethics in government, and how would you seek to improve accountability and transparency as they relate to the position you are seeking?

I strongly support government transparency, open meetings, fiscal accountability, and the protections provided by TABOR and Colorado’s Sunshine Laws. Public officials work for the people, and citizens deserve honest communication and access to information. I believe ethics in government starts with integrity, consistency, and accountability to the voters rather than political interests or special interests. As a Commissioner, I would support clear public reporting on spending, transparent decision making, and meaningful public input before major decisions are made. I also believe county government should stay focused on its constitutional responsibilities and avoid unnecessary expansion of power. Taxpayer dollars should be treated with the same care families use when managing their own household budgets.

What is your position regarding overreach by the State Government?  How will you use the power of your office as County Commissioner to defend the Constitutional rights of El Paso County citizens?

State government overreach has become a growing concern in Colorado. Too often, one size fits all policies from Denver ignore the values and needs of local communities like El Paso County. I believe County Commissioners have a responsibility to stand firmly for constitutional rights against State Government when overreach interferes with local control. I will oppose mandates and policies that infringe on individual liberty, parental rights, property rights, and local control. As a Commissioner, I will work with other local leaders and counties to push back against unconstitutional overreach and ensure county government remains accountable to the people rather than political pressure from the state. Government exists to protect freedom, not restrict it.

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?

A compassionate society is measured by how it protects its most vulnerable, especially unborn children, victims of abuse and trafficking, seniors, and those struggling with mental illness. I believe every human life is valuable and worthy of protection from the moment of conception. While County Commissioners do not write abortion laws, they can support a culture that values life by partnering with organizations that provide resources for mothers, adoption support, parenting assistance, foster care, mental health services, and child protection. We must also aggressively combat human trafficking and elder abuse through strong law enforcement partnerships and community involvement. Protecting vulnerable people requires both compassion and accountability, with county government focused on strengthening families and supporting safe, healthy communities.

To what extent and in what manner should the County be regulating land use?

El Paso County has what is called, The Master Plan. That plan has been set in place to make sure that the county is building properly in respect to not stripping our county of its natural resources such as water. There are specific steps that must be followed for all development in our county such as permits and going to the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners and these steps help keep the people protected. There are regulations in place to follow the Mater Plan. I encourage all residents to review the Master Plan laid out on the Board of County Commissioners website. Personal and business interest do not have a place on the Board of County Commissioner.

Colorado’s Sunshine Law and Taxpayer Bill of Rights are examples of accountability measures that Colorado’s electorate voted into law.  What are your beliefs on ethics in government, and how would you seek to improve accountability and transparency as they relate to the position you are seeking?

The Sunshine Law requires transparency and accountability for local governments. To build trust with the people, the Commissioners must keep the people abreast of all decisions that are made, I will do that. Meetings are open to the public, but most people work during Tuesday and Thursday 9am meeting hours. Meetings need to be convenient for the people and not five Commissioners. Commissioners work for the people after all. TABOR was the most powerful law that could have happened to Colorado residents – it is in place to protect the people and their tax dollars. TABOR forces government to allow the people to make decisions and puts caps on the amount of tax revenue the state can keep each year.

What is your position regarding overreach by the State Government?  How will you use the power of your office as County Commissioner to defend the Constitutional rights of El Paso County citizens?

Unfortunately, the Colorado government has passed laws that are clearly government overreach. The power of this position is to follow the Constitution and speak for the citizens of this county. Our rights and freedoms come from God not the government. The Constitution states we have freedom of religion, speech, peaceable assembly and petitioning the government for redress of grievances. The rights of American citizens must be respected. Again, our rights are reflected in our Constitution. I encourage citizens to read the Constitution so they will know their rights and will be able to know if government officials are trampling on those rights. If you do not know your rights, how can you know if they are being infringed upon?

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?

Since I was 15 years old, I have worked to protect the unborn. People need more education as to what trafficking and abuse looks like. Children are trafficked and abused right under our noses. Trafficking does not always mean stolen away and sent to other countries and abuse is far more than a noticeable bruise. Our senior citizens have such a wealth of knowledge that many of us do not take advantage of and our seniors should be celebrated and protected. If you feel someone is having mental issues, it should not be ignored because we do not know what to say. We have great resources in our community. I will continue to speak up for all the most vulnerable.

To what extent and in what manner should the County be regulating land use?

Land use considerations in the county must be viewed through the lens of the proper role of government which is to respect private property rights and protect individual freedoms. To ensure we grow responsibly the county has developed zoning, land use code, and a 300 year rule regarding water provision (as compared to the state’s 100 year rule for wells). Commissioners must remain neutral prior to a land use hearing and evaluate the evidence to ensure the criteria are being met (this is a constitutional right to have a neutral hearing, expected in any judicial form of government). To prevent government overreach, I currently am advocating for minimal regulation in our land development code revision process.

Colorado’s Sunshine Law and Taxpayer Bill of Rights are examples of accountability measures that Colorado’s electorate voted into law.  What are your beliefs on ethics in government, and how would you seek to improve accountability and transparency as they relate to the position you are seeking?

Government must be accountable and transparent to the people. It exists to serve the people, and it is for the people, by the people, that it was created. TABOR prevents government growing without control by placing guardrails around its revenue source – taxes. As an El Paso County Commissioner I believe TABOR and sunshine laws must be respected and protected as they help to maintain ethical stewardship of funding and responsible decision-making.

What is your position regarding overreach by the State Government?  How will you use the power of your office as County Commissioner to defend the Constitutional rights of El Paso County citizens?

El Paso County is the largest county in the state. We are a red stronghold that must be active in preserving constitutional rights, protecting individual freedoms, and respecting private property. As a Commissioner I fought against over regulation at the state level during the legislative season. Taking a stand in support of or against bills helps our state representatives understand local impacts to communities. I encouraged my fellow commissioners to provide amendment language on a bill that directly impacts county operations so that the needs to improve systems would be communicated to those voting but do not have experience with the challenges. I want to continue to fight against growth of government and increased cost of living out of Denver.

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?

I am Pro-Life. All life is valuable and those most vulnerable need support and protection. This is done through policy and funding. There is a limited amount of resources and it is important that we ensure accountability in systems so that individuals are not taking advantage impacting the availability for those that need it most because of abuse. An example would be the changes at the federal level to SNAP benefits. I appreciate the accountability being implemented to make sure able bodied individuals are making efforts at securing work so that those who truly need these supports can benefit. I also believe it is the role of the church to step in as we are called to love our neighbor.