Challenges Facing
Senate District 28

Public safety is a concern that has received much attention, and rightfully so. Everyone has a reasonable expectation of being secure in their person and their property. We must support law enforcement, but law enforcement is not the sole remedy. 

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• PUBLIC SAFETY - We have a duty to ensure the safety and security of our communities. True public safety means more than just tough-on-crime policies and more police on the streets. IT MEANS BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES, INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE AND OUR RESOURCES, AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH LAW ENFORMCEMENT TO CREATE COMMON-SENSE SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CRIME AND ADDRESS ITS ROOT CAUSES.

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We must recognize that public safety begins with strong and resilient communities. That means investing in our schools, providing job training and economic opportunities, and ensuring that everyone has access to affordable housing. It means empowering community leaders and organizations to take an active role in preventing crime and addressing its root causes.  We must rely upon free market principles to ensure that there is adequate room for investment in our communities and then crime will subside. 

As a business attorney, I am uniquely qualified to understand the challenges facing small businesses and, thus, the economy.  Inflation has forced citizens to raid their personal savings as the prices of milk, eggs, meat, gasoline, and other goods and services have increased.  Wages have not kept pace with rising prices.  Our goal must be to ensure that Colorado is ripe for business development.  Businesses are closing throughout Senate District 28.

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To improve economic development, we must focus on multiple areas: 

• INFRASTRUCTURE - Infrastructure such as transportation networks, energy systems, and telecommunications facilities are crucial to supporting economic development.  As your next State Senator, I will champion investment in infrastructure to help create a business-friendly environment that attracts investors and improves the competitiveness of our local businesses.

• ENTREPRENEURSHIP - We can support entrepreneurship by creating policies and programs that encourage people to start their own businesses. This can include tax incentives, training programs, and access to funding and resources.

• WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - A well-educated and skilled workforce is essential for economic development. As your next State Senator, I will focus on investing in education and training programs that provide people with the skills they need to succeed in the market economy.

I have spoken about investment throughout my platform.  It is important to note that our most important investment is in our children and our youth (35 and under).  We must be concerned about the world that they will inherit.  

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A quality educational system is the basis of a solid foundation for our children.

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• As your next State Senator, I will IMPROVE TEACHER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.  Colorado has a shortage of teachers, particularly in rural areas. As your State Senator, I will champion funds for training programs, mentorship opportunities, and continuing educational opportunities for teachers to improve their skills and knowledge.

• Unfortunately there are increasing issues of school segregation and funding disparities.  Colorado has significant funding disparities between wealthy and and less affluent school districts, and there are racial components at play as well.  As your next State Senator, I will work to address these systemic issues and ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATION.

• As your next State Senator, I will support Career and Technical Education (CTE): CTE programs can provide students with valuable skills and prepare them for careers in growing industries.  I will SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF APPRENTICESHIP AND CTE PROGRAMS, and work to ensure that they are aligned with the needs of local employers.

• As your next State Senator, I will champion increased Access to Higher Education.  I WILL ADVOCATE TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL AID, IMPROVING COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS.  

Our youth have immense power and potential. They are the future of our nation, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they inherit a world that is safe, healthy, and thriving. 

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• CLIMATE CHANGE - We must address the urgent threat of climate change. Our planet is in crisis, and the clock is ticking. We must act now to preserve our environment for future generations. That means investing in renewable energy, protecting our natural resources, and ensuring that our air and water are clean and safe. We must also empower our youth to take action on climate change and assisting them in creating a world that is sustainable for generations to come.

• CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - Civic engagement is at the core of our democracy, and it is critical that our youth have a voice in shaping our future. We must encourage them to participate actively in our democracy, to speak out on the issues that matter, and to vote.  AS YOUR NEXT STATE SENATOR, I WILL REQUEST THAT OUR YOUTH ARE PROVIDED WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO BE INFORMED AND ENGAGED CITIZENS AND, THUS, CREATING A WORLD WHERE EVERY VOICE IS HEARD AND EVERY VOTE COUNTS.  

• GUN VIOLENCE - Finally, we cannot ignore the urgent need to address gun violence in our communities. Too many young lives have been lost to senseless acts of gun violence. We must take action to keep our children safe, enacting common-sense gun laws, and providing support for mental health care. We must also empower our youth to be the agents of change, inspiring them to raise their voices and fight for a world where school attendance does not heighten the threat of sudden death.

Mental health is a critical issue that affects many people across our state, and we need to do more to address this crisis.  We must increase funding for mental health services in underserved areas and promote culturally competent mental healthcare. This means investing in community mental health clinics, crisis response teams, and suicide prevention programs. We also need to increase funding for telehealth services, which can help provide mental health care to underserved populations in rural areas or those who have difficulty accessing traditional in-person treatment.

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EDUCATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CAN REDUCE THE STIGMA AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.  AS YOUR NEXT STATE SENATOR, I WILL CHAMPION INCREASED SUPPORT OF EDUCATION ON MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND OTHER IMPORTANT TOPICS.