Comment on Colorado State House District 44 candidate Q&A

This story was originally published by Vox.com and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Ahead of Hurricane Milton’s destructive landfall on Wednesday evening, millions of residents chose to leave. For roughly 1,200 inmates in the Manatee County Jail, which is located in a major evacuation zone near Sarasota, Florida, that wasn’t an option.

Go to: Candidate Q&A home page • Denver Post Voter Guide Matthew Larsen Residence: Denver Profession: Business executive Education: BA from University of Pennsylvania, MBA from Yale School of Management Experience: 20+ years in medical device sales and marketing, including in executive leadership team roles. Campaign website What are your top three priorities, if elected? Increasing ridership above pre-COVID levels by 1) greatly improving safety, comfort, order and cleanliness 2) achieving 99%+ reliability to schedule and 3) increasing scheduled frequency to global standards in the parts of the system with density to support it (7 minutes on trains, 10 minutes on buses). As RTD faces governance reform efforts in the legislature, what changes, if any, would you support in how its all-elected board is selected? I support changes to the board structure along the lines of what was proposed last year.

Go to: Candidate Q&A home page • Denver Post Voter Guide Karen Breslin Dem Residence: Elizabeth Profession: Professor and lawyer Education: B. A., M. A., J. D. Experience: Instructor and professor of political science – 30 years Program manager, senior policy advisor, National Park Service – 25 years Lawyer in private practice – 18 years What are your top three priorities, if elected? 1) strategies to reduce violent crime – especially among youth, including early intervention emphasizing conflict resolution and measures to reduce gun violence 2) strategies to reduce incarceration of those with substance abuse and mental health issues that are non-violent offenders 3) monitor racial disparities in prosecution and create a conviction integrity unit What role should incarceration play in public safety?

Go to: Candidate Q&A home page • Denver Post Voter Guide Andy Kerr (i) Dem Residence: Lakewood Profession: Educator Education: Master’s of Information and Learning Technologies Experience: Current county commissioner. Served in state House and Senate for 12 years. 25-year JeffCo social studies teacher. Lived in JeffCo for over 40 years, and raising my family here. Campaign website What are your top three priorities, if elected? Affordable and workforce housing.

Go to: Candidate Q&A home page • Denver Post Voter Guide Alyssa Nilemo Dem Residence: Town of Parker Profession: Public administration/higher education Education: Bachelor’s, Political Science, MSU Denver Experience: Public administration in auxiliary services for higher education. History with early childhood education, disability services, and as an aide in a Colorado city manager’s office. Campaign website What are your top three priorities, if elected? Top three priorities are fully funded public education, affordable housing and supporting small businesses.

Go to: Candidate Q&A home page • Denver Post Voter Guide George Mumma Rep Residence: Littleton Profession: Chief of Police (Ret.) Education: Columbia College BA Experience: 40 years of experience in law enforcement, collaborative program development and experience with diverse groups Campaign website What are your top three priorities, if elected? I will work to create safer and more secure communities, ensure school choice and parental rights, reduce property taxes and maintaining the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) with focus on reducing the cost of living for Coloradans. Recent polling has shown trust in government hovering at historically low levels and stark partisan divides in views of election integrity.