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

As the current County Commissioner, I bring knowledge and experience on the vast breadth of work a commissioner is responsible for. To give a few examples we approve the budgets for the Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s office. We protect private property rights through land use considerations. There are many boards and committees that I serve on such as the El Paso County Board of Health and the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority - ensuring tax dollars are being used the way voters intended. I am also the liaison bringing recommendations to my fellow commissioners of volunteers to serve on the Community Corrections Board as well as the Pikes Peak Library District. I advocate for limited government in all spaces.

What are the most important duties and obligations of an El Paso County Commissioner, and what is your personal vision for the Board of County Commissioners?

All people are created with inherent value and that freedom is essential to express our unique gifts and talents. The role of government is to protect individual freedoms and respect private property rights. I champion limited government and ensure appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. I am passionate about good governance and policy development. As an example, I enjoy thinking about whether a program should fall to the responsibility of county government, if it is a wise use of taxpayer dollars, or if the work makes more sense for a non-profit. These are the questions I will always ask. My vision for the county is to keep government small, taxes low, prioritize roads and support law enforcement with taxpayer dollars.

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.

What is your experience in regard to understanding and managing large and complex budgets? If new resources became available, what single area of County services do you believe most needs additional funding, and what do you suggest that money be used for to improve the lives of El Paso County citizens?

I am experienced at understanding large and complex budgets, specifically government budgets where revenues come from property tax, sales tax, fees, and grants. As a commissioner, I voted for sustainable budgets that respect TABOR, both for El Paso County and as a member of El Paso County Public Health. I previously served as the Treasurer on the District 11 Board of Education where I advocated for strategic and intentional use of funding to support the mission. I advocate for low taxes but should additional funding such as from a grant come available, I would prioritize law enforcement and roads. Currently I am working with congress to bring $16 million in federal dollars to El Paso for safety infrastructure improvements.

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 office of El Paso County Commissioner?

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 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 and 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.

What are your thoughts on the establishment clause; and 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?

As an elected official I take an oath to protect the Constitution and this plays out in my day-to-day work on the Board of County Commissioners. I see at the state level that elected officials are forcing ideologies on citizens and I am motivated to fight back. Many came to our country over 250 years ago to flee religious persecution. The freedom’s our country was founded upon must be protected and it takes proactive effort to maintain and defend them. Policies and decisions must be viewed through the lens of protecting our first amendment rights. I believe the role of government is to protect individual rights and respect private property. These are the principles I use to make decisions.

There has been a rise in incidences of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in Colorado and across our nation. What do you view as the causes, and what should be done to address these issues?

It is tragic how anti-Semitism has become an acceptable ideology to some. Throughout history we have seen this evil flare up and we must be courageous to speak out against it. Education, reminding people of the value of all life, and our shared humanity will be the path away from hatred. Education is again the answer for anti-Americanism sentiments. A hard look at other countries and the fallout from other forms of government such as socialism or communism and the lives of the people that are negatively impacted by them will give perspective. Fighting this was a priority for me when I served on the D11 school board and requires courageous leadership to stand against these dangerous ideologies and teachings.

Do you believe that illegal entries into the United States have led to problems in Colorado, and if so, what would you do to improve the situation? Also, what is your opinion of sanctuary cities and counties?

Resources are limited and it is the role of government to provide infrastructure and public safety for its citizens who are funding these services through their taxes. There are legal processes and procedures to move to the United States that must be demanded by elected officials. I do not support the concept of sanctuary cities/counties. This county (and it’s elected officials) must lead on this issue and fight back against policies from Denver that are negatively impacting communities across the front range. El Paso County is not immune to these destructive policies and misuse of limited resources due to state level decisions. We must advocate for enforcement of our national laws. A country without borders is no country at all.

Many Christians are concerned about ideologies that place the state, the collective, or religious law above individual liberty and limited constitutional government. Do you believe socialism, communism, or political movements seeking to impose religious law — including Islamic Sharia law — are compatible with America's constitutional representative democracy? Why or why not?

The United States Constitution is the law of the land. Government must safeguard individual freedoms, respect private property rights, and protect taxpayers. I believe all people are created with inherent value and freedom is essential to express our unique gifts and talents. The political movements mentioned oppose the concepts of freedom that our constitutional republic was built upon.