• Pinon Canyon
  • I oppose eminent domain and government adverse possession. As an elected official of Las Animas County, have taken the position of no expansion, no funding.
  • I have strongly proposed joint resolutions in liaison with Huerfano and Otero Counties in opposition of the Pinon Canyon expansion.
  • I have met with the Colorado Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. (Senator Ken Salazar, Congressman John Salazar, and Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave) in February of 2008 in efforts to oppose the expansion.
  • Along with the Las Animas County Board of Commissioners, I've carried the strong message from the southeast Colorado constituency to our nation's capital: "Not one more acre!"
  
  PinonCanyon.com - No Expansion

• Oil and Gas
  • I oppose Governor Ritter's proposed changes to oil and gas exploration regulations.
  • These changes would impede normal operations regarding the extraction and exploration of natural gas, would overrule local land regulations, and would violate private land owner's rights to negotiate terms and conditions for any perforation and/or extraction of minerals.
  • I oppose these changes, which would allow the COGCC and the Division of Wildlife to make decisions on behalf of land owners and local government land use jurisdictions.
  • On behalf of Las Animas County, I have testified in opposition to these proposed regulations, which are an attempt to strip land owners of individual rights.

• Higher Education

  District 64 is a hub for three rural institutions of higher education: Lamar Community College, Otero Junior College, and Trinidad State Junior College. These colleges help strengthen the local economies by training and educating the workforce in transition and give many students the opportunity to attain necessary skills to either enter the world of work or train for new careers. During the past several years, state funding for these institutions has dwindled. I will work to ensure that more severance tax dollars remain at the local level to help augment the funds needed to operate these valuable institutions.

• Water

  Water is a precious natural resource that is becoming a scarce commodity. Only by preserving our water can we maintain our economic base and attract new industry. We must keep the water that serves southeast Colorado intact.

  • I will aggressively work to ensure that we maintain the water rights of this district.
  • I have worked, and will continue if elected, to engage Governor Bill Ritter in discussion regarding water and jobs. We must divert new industry to areas where water is available, not take rural local water to metropolitan areas.

• Economic Development
  • I will work to form strong coalitions among all of the constituencies of the district toward the common goal of economic development.
  • As a Las Animas County Commissioner, I have engaged in dialogue with Southeast Colorado Economic Development in forming partnerships with participating counties to attract more investors and industries willing to locate to these areas.

• Senate Bill 200
  • I oppose efforts to destroy traditional family values by expanding anti-discriminatory legislation in inappropriate ways.

• Abortion I am a pro-life candidate and am opposed to abortion.

• 2nd Amendment Rights
  • A recent ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States reaffirmed Americans' right to bear arms for self defense. I strongly support the protection of 2nd Amendment rights and will work to maintain these rights if elected.