AURORA | The city is blushing purple over getting its own congressional district. Last year, state officials created the new 6th Congressional District, changing what was once a Republican stronghold to a competitive melange of demographics and voters.
The new district has fairly equal numbers of Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated registered voters. Pundits say it could be the end of a long history of sacrificial Democratic lambs in a district that hadn’t come even close to electing a Dem since the district was created about 30 years ago.
With a newly competitive district unwrapped, first up to take the seat away from Republicans is Denver state lawmaker Joe Miklosi.
If elected to Congress, Miklosi said he would help make Colorado the renewable energy capital of the country, eliminate incentives given to companies that create jobs overseas and boost small business loan opportunities.
He’d also work to ensure that students are prepared for the 21st century global economy by emphasizing critical thinking skills in the classroom. He wants teachers to focus more on the students’ education instead of preparing them for standardized tests. Miklosi said he fully supports Second Amendment rights to own and carry guns, but in light of the July 20 theater shootings, he’d consider implementing stricter gun laws at the federal level. Some of those ideas include a possible ban on online ammunition sales and 100-round clips, and reinstating the federal assault weapons manufacturing ban passed during former President Bill Clinton’s administration that expired in 2004. He wants to offer more tax incentives for small business owners who find it hard to comply with the demands of the Affordable Care Act. He envisions the Anschutz Medical Campus as the “Mayo Clinic of the West,” and would like to see a boost in the number of clinical trials at the hospital.
Republican Mike Coffman said he’s willing to cut wasteful spending in the country’s military budget if it’s necessary to help the national deficit. That might include encouraging Congress to close bases in Europe but still protect bases in the U.S. like Buckley Air Force base in Aurora.
“If we take care of cutting what I consider unnecessary and wasteful, then it gives breathing room for programs that are important at Buckley,” he said.
He would fight to provide federal grants to the Anschutz Medical Campus for medical research but he said it’s critical for the medical campus to be an economic driver for the entire north Aurora area.
That means doing whatever he can at the federal level to encourage people to not only work at the campus but live in Aurora too, he said.
He wants to reform export laws to help manufacturing businesses locally and across the country, and help break up financial institutions. “You shouldn’t have enormous financial institutions that within the same institution you have both commercial and investment banking,” Coffman said. He’d also work to reduce tax burdens on small businesses. He’s willing to look at gun policy that will help keep firearms out of the hands of mentally unstable people but first, more information is needed about the events surrounding the July 20 theater massacre, he said.
“The problem is we just don’t know all the facts right now,” he said. He supports reforming immigration law at the Federal level but does not support a path for citizenship for immigrants who are here illegally. Instead, he would support a guest-worker program as part of immigration reform. “But let’s do it in one package, not piecemeal,” he said. Along with immigration reform, he supports a renewed focus on strengthening the country’s borders.
Coffman says newly drawn district means new priorities for CD 6
By SARA CASTELLANOS | Staff Writer
AURORA | Congressional District 6 is not the same as it once was before redistricting lines were drawn in 2011, and U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman will have new challenges if he’s re-elected.
“It’s a dramatically different set of issues,” he said.
The old Congressional District 6 included only part of Aurora. The focus was on Elbert and Jefferson counties, where water and wild fires were major concerns, he said. The new district includes all of Aurora and just part of Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village, Centennial and Littleton, where voters are more concerned with the economy, he said. The north Aurora area is particularly rife with intergenerational poverty and low property values, he said.
“There were no pockets of poverty in my old district,” Coffman said. “One of the things I have to do is roll up my sleeves, get into these neighborhoods, and say ‘Why aren’t we making a bigger difference in your lives?’”
He said residents and businesses in north Aurora are struggling despite being in the same vicinity as the Anschutz Medical Campus, a major economic engine that should be contributing to the overall economic growth of the north Aurora area.
The campus, located at the former Fitzsimons Army Base is an “island of economic development without much impact on the community around it,” he said. Coffman wants to tackle challenges like those in his hometown of Aurora if voters elect him to a third Congressional term.
“I think I can make a difference,” he said.
Coffman grew up in the Hoffman Heights neighborhood of Aurora and attended Aurora Central High School. After finishing his junior year in 1972, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he later received his high school diploma. He has an extensive military career, having served in both the Army and the U.S. Marine Corps, and having been deployed to serve in both the first Gulf War and the Iraq War.
He owned a property management company in Aurora for 17 years and has served as Colorado State Treasurer and Colorado Secretary of State, as well as terms in the state House and Senate. Coffman was elected to Congress in 2008, replacing Tom Tancredo.
While in Congress, he helped sponsor the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act, which would have removed government red tape and reformed the leasing process for onshore oil and natural gas projects on federal land to encourage job creation. He also sponsored a bipartisan bill that would have saved money by bringing back about 15,000 U.S. military servicemembers and staff who were stationed overseas in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Coffman’s office is currently in Lone Tree, but he plans to relocate it to north Aurora if he’s re-elected.
His Congressional campaign was stung with controversy this past summer when he told audience members at a fundraiser that President Barack Obama is “not an American.”
Coffman admitted to the gaffe, saying it was a mistake.
“Talking to one person is talking to everybody,” he said. “I think it’s probably healthy for the system if you always assume every statement you make is a public statement.”
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.
Miklosi says Coffman not working on issues important to Aurora’s new district
By SARA CASTELLANOS
Staff Writer
AURORA | Joe Miklosi’s initial attempt at winning voters’ affections didn’t go very well.
At 12 years old, he attended a 4-H annual meeting and ran for all four elected offices available. He didn’t win any of them, but he never lost his interest in public service.
“I’ve always had this desire to be a leader, a problem solver,” he said.
Miklosi is now a two-term Democratic state representative for the Denver-based House District 9, seeking to succeed Republican incumbent Mike Coffman in the Congressional District 6 race.
“There’s some real serious issues that aren’t being addressed by the current congressman, and I want to solve them,” Miklosi said. Those include the problems surrounding the national debt, job creation, immigration reform and gun control.
Originally from Michigan, Miklosi graduated from Hope College in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and religion. He also has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver, with a concentration in nonprofit executive management.
He spent six years in the information technology industry working at Cyveillance, an Internet software company, and as a business development associate for Fortune 500 companies including Veritas Software.
For the past four years, Miklosi has worked for Project CURE, a Centennial-based nonprofit organization that donates medical supplies to doctors and health-care clinics in more than 100 developing countries. As a state lawmaker, Miklosi has been most proud of being on the state’s Audit Committee and identifying millions of dollars in wasteful spending, passing a bill that allowed Colorado residents to register to vote online, and one that streamlined health-care reimbursements.
Skills that he learned as a state lawmaker will translate well to Congress, he said. Those include a willingness to compromise, listen, and take every constituent inquiry seriously.
“Every email counts. Every phone call is important,” he said. “That transparency and leadership is key.”
Part of his leadership style, Miklosi said, includes raising awareness about a policy issue even if it’s not yet a priority among his colleagues. This year, that topic is gun control.
“I’m going to talk about this issue,” Miklosi said. “I’ve talked about it at doors, at venues, and at times it’s not being discussed, but that’s one of the issues I’m going to bring up.”
Although he supports the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms (his mother owns a pistol for protection), Miklosi supports stricter gun laws in the wake of the July 20 theater massacre in Aurora. That could mean banning online ammunition sales and 100-round clips, he said.
“Do we really need 100-round clips? That’s like allowing a tank to go down Colfax Avenue,” he said.
During his campaign, Miklosi has been the target of criticism by Coffman, who has called him a “Denver Democrat” and says the only reason he moved to Aurora was so he could run for a Congressional seat. Miklosi said he is renting out his Denver house and has been living in an Aurora apartment since February. He lives in Aurora City Councilwoman Molly Markert’s ward, near the John F. Kennedy Golf Course on the Denver-Aurora border. He says he plans to stay in the city regardless the outcome of the November election.
Having lived in Aurora for several months now, Miklosi said Aurora’s most striking attribute is its cultural diversity. He’s excited about the prospect of representing the state’s third-largest city, which is now located entirely in Congressional District 6. “Aurora is one of the most culturally diverse, unique cities that could lead the country in the next few years,” he said.
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.
U.S. Congressional District 6 Candidates talk for themselves on the issues
Incumbent: Mike Coffman-R
Challenger: Joe Miklosi-D
What makes you the most qualified candidate?
Mike Coffman:
Aurora is the heart of the new district. I grew up in Aurora, went to school in Aurora, and started a successful small business here in Aurora. My principal opponent, Denver State Representative Joe Miklosi, has only lived in Aurora for less than six months and moved to Aurora not because he wanted to live here, but only because he wanted to run for higher office.
Small business is critical to creating jobs and moving our economy forward. From my background as a small business owner, I understand what it takes to balance a budget, meet a payroll, and to create jobs. I have brought my small business background to the House of Representatives where I now sit as a subcommittee chairman on the House Small Business Committee. I have a 100% voting record with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a trade association representing small business owners. My principal opponent has never owned and operated a successful small business before, and he does not have an understanding of the challenges confronting small business owners in this difficult economy.
I’m a leader on the House Armed Services Committee on military and on veterans issues which are so critical to Aurora and to this district. I have a combined 21 years of military service between the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve. I’ve had five overseas deployments including the first Gulf War (1990-1991) and the Iraq War (2005-2006). I’m the only veteran serving in the Colorado delegation, while my opponent has never served our country in uniform.
Joe Miklosi:
I’m the most qualified candidate because of my pragmatic approach to problem solving, my diverse professional experience, and my strong desire to bring both a servant-leadership style and Colorado common sense solutions to Washington. I’m committed to finding bipartisan, sensible solutions like the proposals I have worked on with Republicans and Democrats in the Colorado state legislature. Along with other state legislators, I cut my take-home pay two percent, and I was on an audit committee that found over $70 million in savings for state government to help balance the budget. I want to take that same pragmatic approach to Washington.
If the Affordable Care Act stays in place, what would you suggest to improve it?
Mike Coffman:
No doubt, any savings projected under the Affordable Care Act from reducing Medicare reimbursements to doctors and hospitals and from phasing out Medicare Advantage should remain in the Medicare system. Under the Affordable Care Act, these projected savings from reductions in reimbursement rates and the phasing out of Medicare Advantage are to be transferred out of Medicare to help pay for the new program. I will support a reform that requires any savings from Medicare to remain in Medicare to help preserve and protect the program for our seniors who have earned this benefit.
Joe Miklosi:
The Affordable Care Act is not going to resolve all of our health-care challenges. But it does some important things by eliminating discrimination for pre-existing conditions, allowing young people to stay on their parents’ health plan until age 26, fixing the Medicare donut hole for seniors, and protecting women’s health freedoms. We should do more to give tax incentives to small business owners who want to ensure that their employees can access quality health care at an affordable price.
What can Congress do to address the many issues surrounding illegal immigration?
Mike Coffman:
Our immigration system is broken and needs comprehensive reform. We first need to start by enforcing the current laws that are on the books and securing our borders.
Joe Miklosi:
We need comprehensive immigration reform. The Bush-McCain-Kennedy plan provides a reasonable framework, and immigration reform should be based on the American principles of border security, responsibility, accountability and family unity.
Should Congress address the issue of civil unions for homosexuals?
Mike Coffman:
The issue of marriage or of civil unions must be decided by the respective states and not by Congress. The only role, constitutionally under the Commerce Clause, for the federal government in this area is to regulate contracts (marriage or civil unions) between the states and to only consider such policy matters for areas that fall directly under federal jurisdiction (i.e. military bases and the District of Columbia).
Joe Miklosi:
I voted in favor of recognizing civil unions at the state level, and I will do so in Congress.
How would you propose to spur job growth in Colorado?
Mike Coffman:
I’ve worked on legislation to promote small business lending with Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) so community banks can responsibly increase their ability to make loans to small businesses. This will help small businesses expand and create jobs in Colorado and all across our country. I’ve worked with Congressman Berman (D-CA) on legislation to reform our antiquated export control laws to help U.S. manufacturing; this will directly impact local firms that are here in this district. No doubt, jobs in and related to defense spending are very important to Aurora. I strongly believe that the missions at Buckley Air Force Base are essential to our nation’s security and the best way to protect them in Congress is to continue cutting nonessential wasteful Pentagon spending, such as reducing the top-heavy bureaucracy within the Department of Defense, closing overseas military bases that are no longer necessary, and ensuring that our country never goes down the reckless path of nation building operations ever again.
Joe Miklosi:
I will propose common-sense solutions, such as Buy American legislation that would give American companies the first crack at federal contracts. I also want to make Colorado the renewable energy capital of the country. We already have nearly 72,000 private sector jobs associated with the renewable energy and clean tech industries, and I want to help double that number over the next 10 years.
The 6th Congressional District is now a diverse electorate with many interests and philosophies. How do you fit in?
Mike coffman:
I’m most concerned about the Colfax corridor in Original Aurora, and I want that to be one of the key areas that I focus on. This is where I grew up, and where I would like to have my district office located. I strongly believe that I can make a difference here. Intergenerational poverty in this area has expanded year after year, irrespective of the economy. I want to reexamine all of the federal anti-poverty programs that have been in place but are obviously not being effective at lifting these families out of poverty.
Joe Miklosi:
Our diversity is our strength. For example, the Aurora Public School district is perhaps the most diverse school district in the entire state. We can learn from and appreciate each other’s differences. I’ve enjoyed visiting diverse places of worship and visiting with people all over the district. Whether I am talking to people at Blueberry’s Café in Littleton or at La Cueva on Colfax Avenue, voters are telling me they want common-sense solutions like renewable energy job growth, good paying jobs, accessible health care, and a quality education system.
What is the best exit strategy in Afghanistan?
Mike Coffman:
First of all, the Bush administration was right to be involved in Afghanistan initially. We were attacked on 9/11 by al Quaida who planned and coordinated the attack from Afghanistan. Al Quaida was given safe harbor by the Taliban who controlled much of the country. We asked the Taliban to turn over Osama bin Laden after the attack and they refused to do so. Then the Bush administration gave air, advisory and logistical support to the anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan, the Northern Alliance, who defeated the Taliban and drove them out of the country. Then the Bush administration made a terrible error. Instead of saying to the victors on the ground that the U.S. would support them so long as they kept al Quaida and the Taliban out of Afghanistan, we forced them aside and superimposed a political process over the country that gave the Afghan people the government that we wanted them to have. That government doesn’t fit the political culture of the country, is incredibly corrupt, and is completely ineffective. We now have an exit strategy that will have the U.S. out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. I have been pushing and will continue to push for a more realistic policy for the region that is based on a counterterrorism strategy that will strike at threats as they coalesce, to replace the current counterinsurgency/nation building one that has been too costly for our military and for this country.
Joe Miklosi:
First and foremost, I believe we must listen to our commanders on the ground when developing and implementing an appropriate exit strategy. I support the current goal for an orderly withdrawal by 2014. I am pleased that we have brought our forces home from Iraq, and we need to exit Afghanistan in a responsible manner that does not turn the country over to dangerous and radical elements.
What abortion legislation would you like to see passed by Congress?
Mike Coffman:
The people of the 6th Congressional tell me that the issues they are focused on during this election are jobs and the economy. That’s why I am focused on legislation to create jobs and help businesses, especially small businesses, succeed.
I do not believe that the federal government should use taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. I would like the Stupak-Pitts Amendment passed. It was introduced by former Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak. It prohibits the use of federal taxpayer dollars “to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion” except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
Joe Miklosi:
For 40 years Roe v. Wade has held up in the courts, in Congress, and at the ballot box. It’s the law of the land, and I support it. Abortions should be safe, legal, and rare.
In light of the Aurora theater massacre, what can the federal government do, if anything, to prevent such attacks?
Mike Coffman:
Once all the facts become fully known, those of us in government — at every level from local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to their respective elected leaders — will be able to use this understanding to see what we can do to help prevent such tragedies from occurring again. I support gun rights under the 2nd Amendment, and consistent with that is a responsibility to do all that is reasonably necessary to keep firearms out of the hands of those who have forfeited the right to possess them either by having violated our criminal laws or by not having the mental capacity to be a responsible gun owner.
Joe Miklosi:
I support an individual’s right to own a gun for reasons such as personal protection and hunting. For example, my mom owns a handgun. But we don’t need bulk online ammunition sales and 100-round ammunition clips so readily available. We also need to invest in more counselors to help prevent future tragedies like the horrific Aurora movie theater shootings.
Why not end the Bush income tax breaks for Americans making $250,000 or more a year?
Mike Coffman:
This would be counterproductive for economic growth because the majority of small businesses are structured as Subchapter S corporations that file individual tax returns and the money that would otherwise be available for expanding their operations and hiring more workers will be reduced by this tax increase. We need to focus on economic growth. According to the Congressional Budget Office, for every 1 percent increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the federal government will realize $278 billion in additional revenue while allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for couples earning $250,000 or more and for individuals earning $200,000 or more will only translate to $80 billion a year in additional revenue. Our annual deficits now average $1.3 trillion a year. I do support tax reform that eliminates some of the tax deductions and credits for both individuals and corporations in exchange for lower marginal rates to achieve a flatter, fairer, and much simpler tax code.
Joe Miklosi:
We should let the Bush tax cuts expire for those making over $250,000 or $500,000 so everyone pays their fair share. The Ryan/Coffman budget is irresponsible because it increases our nation’s debt and destroys Medicare while extending the tax cuts to millionaires.
Retiring from military 1976, I moved back to home wife and I bought in 1963, and kept as rental. Knew of Jack Swigert, but never met him. Met with Dan Schaffer , then Tom Tancredo. By then my address was redistricted to #01 with Pat Schroeder – then Diane DeGette. In 2001 redistricted to #07, volunteered for Bob Beauprez, and served on his advisory panel. Had been on Tom Tancredo’s panel throughout, since Pat and Dianne visited in Aurora, but never really represented the 600 or so in Dist#01. Was disappointed in 2005 when Bob did not win Governor’s office, and I did not relate to Dist#07 representative. Still don’t, but I am back in District #06, as of last year. Strange that since 1976, this part of Colorado has always attracted “carpet bagger” democratic candidates, living up on mountain as activist, or dry cleaning shop in Parker, and now import from Michigan – via Denver to present views of Democratic party. Lots of promises, but not much to show in resume or successful actions. I know Mike Coffman who has produced for all Colorado citizens, but I am not too impressed with green energy, gun control, or our education systems after Department of Education formed in Washington, and Unions control the schools, with more money spent for administration/administrators with students needing remedial teaching before working in workplace, or higher education. I sat in classes at Pickens and Aurora Community College after service, and most of them were there because parents wanted them out of house. Being student was socially acceptable, but they were not learning. Instructors tried, but the student will to learn was not there. So I will not be voting for Joe Miklosi.