Incumbent Democratic Representative Dominique Jackson is challenged again by Republican Mike Donald, Arapahoe County Republicans’ pick to run in House District 42 since 2012.
The district is bounded by Colfax Avenue to the north, Mississippi Avenue on the south, and stretches from Yosemite Street to Chambers Road at its widest. The district represents about 80,300 Aurorans with a median income of about $39,000, significantly lower than other house districts in Aurora.
Jackson has represented HD 42 since election in 2016. She’s participated in the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions in the Capitol and sat on three committees.
Notably, Jackson co-sponsored a bill this year that would have required oil and gas developers to map the location of their pipelines and share the information with local governments. The legislation was prompted by an explosion that killed two in 2017 after a pipeline leaked gas into a basement near Firestone. The bill was killed in the Republican-controlled Senate.
“Coloradans deserve to feel safe in their homes, in their schools and their places of work,” she said.
DOMINIQUE JACKSON
Dominique Jackson said she earned a Bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University in Denver while working two jobs, and later attended University of Denver. She’s a member of many citizen advisory and civic boards, and has extensive volunteer service. Jackson was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2016.
MIKE DONALD
Mike Donald, a business owner and private security contractor, is running on a platform that calls for a modest and balanced state budget, lifting government regulations on businesses in an effort to spawn jobs, enhanced first-responder services and the promotion of affordable education, according to his campaign website.
On growth, Jackson said that Aurorans like teachers are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, but stopped short of weighing in on measures like a tax on newcomers.
“Aurora is ranked as one of America’s fastest growing cities,” Jackson said.
“People are moving here for our tremendous quality of life. While growth brings with it challenges, there are also opportunities to expand our economy in a way that ensures the people of Aurora have every opportunity to earn a good life and get ahead.”
Jackson also co-sponsored a bill to implement a reduced fare for low-income commuters on RTD services like buses and light rail.
That bill was also killed in a committee, but RTD already has reduced fair for seniors, students, military members and disabled residents, and a new pay structure will determine fare price by income, age and other factors.
Jackson said she supports Gov. John Hickenlooper’s order on greenhouse gas reductions, which aims for a 26 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. She stopped short of supporting a Medicare-for-all healthcare plan that would provide government insurance to all Colorado residents.
On guns, she supported the red flag measure that empowers law enforcement to temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed mentally unstable and dangerous. She does not support arming teachers in schools.
Mike Donald did not respond to requests for comment. Donald did not respond to inquiries in 2016.
Donald did not return calls to comment on his campaign.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
Campaign Questions for Dominique Jackson
- In light of the spate of sexual harassment claims this year, should the Legislature create some kind of fines or other punitive measure for lawmakers deemed guilty of harassment?
I am in awe of the courage and resiliency shown by survivors who have come forward to tell their stories of sexual harassment and assault. We are seeing a movement in our state and our country where survivors are speaking up and supporting each other, which I sincerely hope marks the beginning of true change. The day that one of my former colleagues was expelled from the Colorado House was a pivotal one. I believe many of us who serve in the state legislature are committed to reforming the culture at the capitol and addressing workplace harassment issues.
- Should the state cede some control of fracking and gas and oil production to counties and municipalities? How much?
Coloradans deserve to feel safe in their homes, in their schools and their places of work. I ran a bill last session that would have required oil and gas operators to tell local governments where pipelines and flow lines are installed. It was killed in the GOP controlled senate.
- Gov. John Hickenlooper has issued an executive order mandating a 26 percent cut in in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, is that too much, too little or adequate?
Climate change threatens Colorado’s economy, environment and way of life. So, I believe that it is imperative that we work to cut carbon pollution emissions, prepare for the impacts of climate change and safeguard our environment. The executive order itself does a lot of things. It directs many state agencies to work in collaboration with each other to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but to do so in a way that maintains Colorado’s economic health. It also takes into account the role of utilities and local governments. As the year 2025 is not that far away, I’m looking forward to hearing more about how we will, collectively, keep our state’s air clean.
- Several studies show that growth at any level never pays for itself. Should Colorado impose a tax on newcomers, i.e. license plate and other fees?
The people of our state are facing many fiscal challenges. Some are forced to choose between paying for their healthcare or paying their rent. Our underpaid teachers are buying supplies for their students as school districts struggle. Some of our more rural communities have increased taxes to self-fund road improvements to improve safety and foster economic development, while other communities have not been able to do so. Aurora is ranked as one of America’s fastest growing cities. People are moving here for our tremendous quality of life. While growth brings with it challenges, there are also opportunities to expand our economy in a way that ensures the people of Aurora have every opportunity to earn a good life and get ahead.
- Would you support the red-flag bill that passed the state House this year?
Yes, I voted in favor of the bipartisan red-flag bill that passed the House. Even with the support of both Democrats and Republicans in the House, as well as from law enforcement and gun violence prevention groups statewide, it was blocked in the Republican controlled state Senate.
- Would you support full tolling on select roads or interstates to help fund road construction?
The legislature passed a multi-year Colorado plan to relieve traffic congestion and support our state’s economic prosperity without jeopardizing education funding and other key priorities for our state. This plan will invest $645 million in one-time transportation appropriations over the next two budget years, followed by a 20-year investment of general fund money in bonds to reduce the $9 billion dollars in projects backlog CDOT already has. It also puts the question to the voters in the form of Proposition 110 so they can decide how they want our state to invest in infrastructure, public transit and other critical projects.
7. Should the Legislature work to reduce in-state tuition at state colleges? How?
Yes. Colorado’s students are drowning in loan debt and they deserve relief. At the legislature, we added $108.7 million for our public colleges and universities, while holding tuition increases to 3 percent. While we’re making a serious investment in higher education, we know it’s not enough.
- Would you support a state path toward some kind of universal or single payer health care in Colorado?
Everyone deserve access to quality and affordable health care. There are many layers to this complex issue that includes hospital costs, insurance premiums and the pharmaceutical industry. Still, my colleagues and I have put forth a number of bold ideas to address health care issues and to bring down the out of control costs of prescription drugs. I ran a bill that would have required pharmaceutical companies to provide 90 days’ warning to the public when they significantly increase the price of a drug. Health insurance companies would be required to post lists of the 25 costliest drugs and pharma companies would have to list the 25 drugs with the highest year-over-year cost increases. This bill would have helped Colorado families to be informed and prepared, rather than be blindsided by budget-busting drug price increases, but unfortunately, that bill also died in the Senate.
- Would you support a bill ending capital punishment in Colorado?
Yes.
- Would you support a bill to prohibit the use of red-light cameras in Colorado?
There’s a reason the City of Aurora wants the voters to decide this issue for our community on the November ballot – because it’s controversial. I listened to lots of testimony on the issue as a member of the Transportation Committee last legislative session. On one hand, people testified that fines drivers pay go to fund much needed programs in the city. Some of those services deal with issues like homelessness and access to mental health care. Then there are those who argue that red light cameras help increase safety by limiting “t-bone” types of car crashes, while others say the cameras actually increase rear end crashes. The bigger issue that I personally have with red light cameras currently, is that most of them are concentrated in my very diverse house district, and are not spread out to other parts of the city.
- Would you support a bill promoting arming teachers and staff at public schools? Absolutely not.
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
- What food do you hate most? Lima beans
- Do you indulge in recreational marijuana?No
- Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Kerry Washington
- What Olympic Sport so you wish you could win gold at?
Gymnastics
- What was your favorite childhood candy?
Payday Candy Bars
- If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be?
The 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial.
- If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be?
Parnelli Jackson
- If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts.
The Diana Ross version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
- What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone?
“Serving Community was her Conscience.”
- Is a hot dog a sandwich?
I have to agree with Jimmy Kimmel on this one: “If a hot dog is a sandwich, then cereal is soup.”
11. What is the last concert you attended?
WAR and Tower of Power
- What movie do you never tire of watching?
“It A Wonderful Life.”
- Dogs or cats?
Dogs!
- What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado?
Nothing that I can think of. I love my home state!