How I'm Voting

Well, this is it! With only four days to go in one of the most nerve-racking election seasons I can ever remember, just one-third of Erie’s ballots have been turned in. With so many issues on the ballot, I'm pleased to share my annual voting guide. If you find this of value, please share it with friends and family. As always, please use your judgment and get other opinions on these candidates and ballot measures. And, thank you for your support!

Candidates for Office

Locally we’re very lucky to have clear choices and quality candidates running this year. All these candidates have my endorsement.

• Presidential Electors:  Kamala Harris / Tim Walz

• Representative to US Congress District 2: Joe Neguse

• Representatve to US Congress District 8: Yadira Caraveo

• State Senator District 17: Sonya Jacques Lewis

• State Representative District 19: Jillaire McMillan

• Boulder County District Attorney 20th Judicial District: Michael Dougherty

• Erie Town Council District 1 (choose 2): Richard Garcia and Anil Pesaramelli

• Erie Town Council District 2 (choose 2): Ben Hemphill and Dan Hoback

• Erie Town Council District 3: Emily Baer

• CU Regent: Elliot Hood

• RTD District I: Karen Benker

• Boulder County Commissioner: Claire Levy

• Boulder County Commissioner: Marta Loachamin 

• Weld County Commissioner At-Large: Perry Buck

• Weld County Commissioner District 3: Lynette Peppler

Judicial Retention Question: 

According to the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, all 3 Colorado Supreme Court Justices, 5 Court of Appeals Judges, and District Court Judges “Meet Performance Standards” and thus deserve to be retained.

State Ballot Measures:

While there are 14 state ballot measures, most are pretty self-evident. For example, a YES vote on Amendment 79 puts the right to abortion in our constitution, a smart move given the national polarization around this issue. Or YES on Amendment J would repeal the definition of marriage between one man and one woman, which would become law if the Supreme Court reversed the Obergefell v. Hodges decision allowing same-sex couples to marry. 

Here are comments on four state ballot measures:

• NO on Proposition 131: This measure would eliminate primaries in favor of a so-called jungle primary, where candidates from each party compete against each other in a free-for-all. Colorado has one of the best electoral systems in the country. Independents can vote in Democratic or Republican primaries. I'm not sure we want to tamper with the system we have. However, this is a complex proposition, with a good motivation to get more moderate candidates in office. But it’s not clear it would work that well, particularly in our polarized society. Alaska is the only state with such a law, and it’s up for repeal. Plus there’s a likelihood this would enable an even bigger role for billionaire funding of little-known candidates. I’m suggesting we slow down, see how it works in other states, not rush into a change that would be costly and confusing to implement, and might have big unintended consequences. After a lot of thought, I’m voting NO.
• NO on Amendment 80: Right to School Choice is a vague but dangerous “parental rights” overreach that would likely enable public funding of religious and other non-public schools. A clear NO.
• NO on Proposition 128: Reduces or eliminates earned time against parole eligibility. People are in prison for too long as it is. We need to reprioritize budgets to help people when they get out. Definitely NO. 
• NO on Proposition 130: Like many propositions, the "Funding for Law Enforcement" measure requires spending (in this case $350 million!) without paying for it. If passed, the funding would likely come from education or other critical needs. I say NO.
• YES on 7A:This measure allows RTD to retain taxes already collected. While Erie is not well-served by RTD at the moment, we’re working hard to improve that. Without a yes vote, RTD could lose 10% of its funding, which is essential to improving transit in and around Erie. YES

Here’s how I’m voting on the other ballot measures:

• YES on Amendment G (Constitutional): Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities 

• YES on Amendment H (Constitutional): Judicial Discipline Procedures 

• YES on Amendment I (Constitutional): Bail Exception for First Degree Murder 

• YES on Amendment J (Constitutional): Repealing Definition of Marriage 

• YES on Amendment K (Constitutional): Modifying Election Deadlines 

• YES on Amendment 79  (Constitutional): Right to Abortion 

• NO on Amendment 80 (Constitutional): Right to School Choice 

• YES on Proposition JJ (Statutory): Retain Sports Betting Tax Revenue 

• YES on Proposition KK (Statutory): Firearms Excise Tax 

• NO on Proposition 127 (Statutory): Ban on Mountain Lion Hunting 

• NO on Proposition 128 (Statutory): Parole Eligibility 

• NO on Proposition 129 (Statutory): Veterinary Associates Degree 

• NO on Proposition 130 (Statutory): Funding for Law Enforcement 

• NO on Proposition 131 (Statutory): Nonpartisan Primary, Ranked-Choice Voting  NO

• YES on 3C: Collect taxes and fees on recreational marijuana

• YES on 5C: St. Vrain Valley School District funding

• YES on 7A: Prevent stripping of RTD funding (see my rationale above)

• YES on 7B: Expansion of RTD into new communities in Erie