Legislators are elected to represent the people. That means not only casting votes and writing legislation, but allowing themselves and that legislation to be held accountable, and not only at election time, but throughout their term in office. As your representative, I pledge the following:
- Citizen Contact
Representatives should make themselves accessible and available throughout their term in office, not just when seeking re-election. If we’re called on to make tough choices, we should seek citizen input into those priorities, and be willing to defend those decisions publicly. I will keep you informed about the legislative session by holding bi-weekly town hall meetings during the legislative session. Even in odd-numbered years.
- Safety clause
According to the State Constitution, the citizens have the right to revoke any act of the legislature, unless it is deemed necessary for the public safety. Putting the so-called “safety clause” on everything that comes out of the House, like Rocky Ford Melon Week, deprives the citizens of their right to effective oversight of their elected officials. An overwhelming majority of the time, citizens will choose not to exercise that power. But it’s not up to the legislature to pre-determine which non-emergency legislation citizens care enough about to examine more closely. I will vote against including the safety clause on legislation that is not truly necessary for the public safety.
- Petitions
Many legislators chafe under the knowledge that the citizens of Colorado have an initiative process that allows them to propose and pass laws and amendments to the State Constitution. Good. Overall, Coloradans have exercised good sense in changes they choose to make. Elected officials should show the public at least as much respect as they expect themselves. I will resist any attempts to limit the ability of the citizens of Colorado to draft their own laws, when the state legislature fails in that regard.
- Protect the safety and security of the ballot
As an elected official, I will hold office only as a result of a free and fair ballot of the citizens of my district. That ballot should be free from suspicion of fraud. It is critical that everyone entitled to cast a ballot have the opportunity to do so. It is equally important that your vote be free from dilution from those who shouldn’t be voting. The majority has, in the past two years, killed legislation that would have required a photo ID – provided at government expense, if necessary – to vote, and would have required proof of citizenship for new voters. I will support both. The majority also readied legislation that would have permitted same-day voter registration, the source of considerable vote fraud in recent Wisconsin elections, and which does nothing to increase legitimate election turnout. I will oppose same-day voter registration.
