We can’t stress enough how fortunate residents of Colorado are. Not only do those who live here reap the rewards of an environment and lifestyle unlike any other in the nation, we’ve weathered a national economic disaster better than most states.
Much of that didn’t happen by accident. Colorado is a fiscally prudent state that by law doesn’t spend more than it takes in. That fiscal responsibility, coupled with amazing resources and innovation have put Colorado at the top of the country when it comes to recovery from the recession and boasting a bright economic future.
That said, the state faces daunting challenges. The need for new and repaired roads and bridges is nearly overwhelming all across the state. State colleges are about to squeeze the middle class out of an education, and public schools continue to struggle, despite endless state intervention.
With all that in mind, here’s the Aurora Sentinel choices for state legislative candidates most likely to help make the progress we need on those issues.
In House District 30, which encompasses north Aurora, Democrat Jenise May turned in an impressive performance during her first term in the state House. May has a strong sense of the unique challenges in northwest Aurora, and how the state can work to improve community problems in the area, as well as improve the lives of some of the area’s hardest struggling residents. She’s running against Commerce City Republican Joann Windholz.
In Aurora’s northeast House District 36, voters should return Democrat Su Ryden to her House seat. Ryden has become a dependable and important voice for protecting Buckley Air Force Base, and how the state can help retain and create jobs related to the base and aerospace industries. She’s an avid part of a group that regularly holds public meetings for constituents, making it clear she listens and reacts to her constituent concerns. Ryden is running against longtime Aurora resident and Republican Richard Bowman, whose campaign has focused heavily on gun rights and liberties.
Two new voices, neither originally from Colorado, want to speak for residents of Centennial and parts of Aurora in House District 37. We ask voters to choose Democrat Nancy Cronk, a longtime education and community activist who moved here from Michigan in 1991. Both she and Republican Jack Tate, a transplant from Tennessee, enshrine Colorado’s New West mentality, which eschews government intervention or ignores the less fortunate. Cronk brings an intense fervor for finding common sense ways to improve student performance without dictating details to local school districts. She’s focused not only on the need to facilitate better student performance, but enhance state mental health programs as a way of reducing crime and tax-payer funded medical treatment. Tate has focused on enhancing the growth of Colorado energy industries and fighting efforts he sees working against constitutional rights.
Voters should return Republican Kevin Priola to his House District 56 seat, north and east of Aurora. Priola, a lifelong resident of Adams County, has earned a reputation for working hard to address issues for small-business owners, something unincorporated Adams County is known for. He has worked hard to find ways to protect all Colorado residents from crime, and he doesn’t let partisan rows get in the way of supporting a good cause. Priola is running against Democrat Vicki Snider, Brighton community activist.
Voters in Aurora’s east House District 40 have two strong choices for representative, Democrat incumbent John Buckner and Aurora Public Schools board member Juliemarie Shepherd, a Republican. Both bring important public schools experience to the table. We recommend voters return Buckner to his House seat. Buckner spent his entire career as an educator in Aurora schools, retiring as principal for Overland High School. He not only knows the challenges facing so many kids and families first hand, he knows what does and doesn’t work in the real world of challenged classrooms. In addition to education reform, Buckner is a strong voice for women’s healthcare rights and monitoring state and local courts.
Rhonda Fields is the clear choice for voters in central Aurora’s House District 42. Fields has become a vital force for victims of crime and related issues. She’s a hard-working representative who votes the concerns of her constituents, and she is one of a contingent of local lawmakers who regularly hold town meetings just to elicit voter concerns. While she was unsuccessful this year in creating a crime for cyberbullying, she drew enormous attention to the issue, showing ingenuity and flexibility in looking for ways to solve serious and persistent problems. Fields is running against Republican Mike Donald.
Jovan Melton has become a strong voice for Aurora issues, especially focused on issues related to the Aurora theater shooting and issues affecting military families. Voters should return Melton to his House District 41 seat to continue the job. He is a longtime community activist in the metro area, and a Board Member for Big Brothers Big Sisters Colorado. His work there and as a Cherry Creek Schools student gives him a unique perspective on the challenges faced by local teenagers and single-parent families. He’s proven himself to be a thoughtful, persistent lawmaker and an important Aurora advocate. He faces Republican Molly Barrett, an Aurora small-business owner.
There he is, Kevin Priola! I wondered which token Republican the Sentinel would endorse in an effort to keep up their delusional façade of impartial journalism.
Looks like Priola is the token Republican.
Vote for Molly Barrett in District #41 for following reasons:
Speaking as a Veteran – 26 years – Retired, I cannot find any bill that Jovan sponsored, or voted yeah on, that works for me. He lived in Denver, until moving back to live with grandmother in Aurora, but has been working politics in downtown Denver, and should be representing them. (Search Vote.Smart.org)
Molly Barrett is a small business owner, with husband, with shop in Aurora for past 15 years, and with senior aged parents living nearby. She represents Aurora, seniors, and working class people, in business world. We don’t need more legislation on how to spend money, or tax others. We need our small businesses to come back, since they are the backbone of our economy. And Middle Class will need economy to improve much more than by percentages. We need improvement in actual numbers. My retirement assets have dwindled in past 6 years, by over-taxation, over-regulation, and excess regulation, all driving up Cost of Living.