Although their conflicting political affiliations do not align, the bedrock of the platforms of the two candidates vying to represent District 41 in the state House of Representatives is quite similar
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Business development, schools top concerns for HD 41 candidates
By Quincy Snowdon, Staff Writer
Although their conflicting political affiliations do not align, the bedrock of the platforms of the two candidates vying to represent district 41 in the state House of Representatives is quite similar. Both Democratic incumbent Jovan Melton and Republican challenger Molly Barrett have placed job creation and economic growth at the forefront of each of their respective campaigns. However, the candidates looking to represent the nearly 75,000-person district that sits primarily in west-central Aurora disagree on the level of involvement of the private sector.
Co-owner of Abilene Awards & Logos, Barrett is a longtime Aurora businesswomen who is a proponent of easing restrictions on private businesses, something she believes is the route to bringing more jobs to Colorado’s third-largest city.
“Jobs are what are going to get everything going again,” she said. “And the way to do that is to make things friendly to the business community.”
Barrett is an avid supporter of a robust private sector business and believes its size should trump that of its public counterpart.
“Without the private sector being bigger than the public sector, growth can’t happen,” she said. “Private sector business is the well of the economy, and if the well is running dry, then that’s a big problem.”
From the Democratic perspective, Melton also favors easing restrictions and incentivizing businesses to come to Aurora, but he is hesitant to swing open the door to everybody. He said that a strategically balanced approach is needed to get businesses that are a good fit for the city.
“I don’t think we should give every break we can to companies, but if they can offer good paying jobs then we should absolutely have conversations about bringing incentives for those companies,” he said. “But we can’t open things up for every single business, we have to be balanced in how we attract jobs to Aurora.”
Melton is also running on a platform of enhancing public safety, uncovering creative ways to fund both Cherry Creek and Aurora Public Schools districts that operate within House District 41, as well as bolstering city services for senior citizens. In his first two years in the State House he has served on the Finance Committee, the Veteran and Military Affairs committee and the Joint Legislative Council Committee. A member of former Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien’s cabinet, Melton said his experience in state government distinguishes him from his challenger, who is making her first foray into politics.
“She has a lot of private sector experience, but she doesn’t know the inner workings of state government,” Melton said. “I understand how to get things done down at the Capitol, how the budget works and how the decisions we make affect the regulatory agencies and our constituents across Colorado.”
On the contrary, Barrett embraces her political rawness and believes her fresh persona is what sets her apart.
“I’m not a politician, I don’t have anybody in my pocket and nobody has me in theirs,” she said.
The political newcomer is also centering her campaign on increasing funding for mental health programs as well as water and conservation efforts.
An APS alumnus and mother of six, Barrett launched her campaign for the House seat on Aug. 4, until which time Melton was one of just three State House Democrats running unopposed due to the original candidate on the Republican ticket dropping out of the race.
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Jovan Melton Bio“]
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[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Molly Barrett Tate Bio“]
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Campaign finance reports for Jovan Melton
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Campaign finance reports for Molly Barrett
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Jovan Melton Endorsements“]
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[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Molly Barrett Endorsements“]
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