The race for House District 37 pits Republican incumbent Cole Wist against Democrat Carol Barrett. Wist has represented House District 37 since January, when he earned the majority vote from the Arapahoe County Republican Party to replace former Republican HD 37 Rep. Jack Tate. House District 37 meanders along the southern border of Arapahoe County, covering most of Centennial. The District runs along the border between Arapahoe and Douglas Counties to the south, and is roughly delineated by South Holly Street to the west and South Picadilly Street to the east. The jurisdiction jogs as far north as East Quincy Avenue.
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By QUINCY SNOWDON, Staff writer
Freshly appointed GOP rep looks to hold on to southern Arapahoe County House district
Republican attorney Cole Wist is looking to retain his freshly obtained seat in the Colorado Legislature this November by fending off a challenge from Democratic newcomer Carol Barrett.
Wist has represented House District 37 since January, when he earned the majority vote from the Arapahoe County Republican Party to replace former Republican H.D. 37 Rep. Jack Tate. A vacancy committee elected Tate to preside over state Senate District 27 following an unexpected resignation late last year.
Last legislative session, Wist served on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee as well as the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
A native of Paonia, Wist has worked for several Denver law firms since obtaining his law degree from Georgetown University. A former partner at Denver law firm Holland & Hart, Wist moved to Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC in June, according to a press release. He primarily represents clients from the coal mining and oil and gas industry, according to his website.
Barrett moved to Centennial in 2012 after spending more than 40 years living in California, where she served on the Hi Desert Medical Center Board of Directors, according to her campaign website.
The two candidates differ in their views of gun-control legislation in Colorado, with Wist saying that the state should repeal the bundle of gun-control laws passed in 2013; Barrett says Colorado should keep the laws intact.
“Lawmakers should look to refining gun control to create a safe environment of checks and balances,” Barrett wrote in a candidate questionnaire issued by The Aurora Sentinel. “As Americans we have the absolute right to bear arms, but we also have the right to a safe environment free from gun violence. Cooperative collaborations of interested parties are needed in this highly emotionally charged subject.”
On the issue of regulating fracking in the state, Wist and Barrett partially agreed that the current approach from Gov. John Hickenlooper to retain state control of fracking oversight has been successful.
“Gov. Hickenlooper’s approach has been the correct one,” wrote Wist, who unsuccessfully ran to represent state House District 58 as a Democrat in 1996. “Regulation of oil and gas should happen at the state level, in consultation with local officials through the (memorandum of understanding) process. This approach is working, and we should stay the course.”
Barrett said that the task of enforcing environmental regulations should be retained by the state, while local jurisdictions should be able to assert how fracking is implemented in a local community.
The Democrat and the Republican also agreed that the state should impose an overall ban on red-light traffic cameras.
As of the last campaign finance filing deadline on Oct. 3, Wist had brought in about $33,000 in monetary contributions, according to the Secretary of State’s office. The Republican has yet to tap into the majority of his funds, as he still has about $23,400 available.
On the contrary, Barrett has only raised about $2,000 in campaign contributions and has about $1,400 on hand, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
House District 37 meanders along the southern border of Arapahoe County, covering most of Centennial. The district runs along the border between Arapahoe and Douglas Counties to the south, and is roughly delineated by South Holly Street to the west and South Picadilly Street to the east. The jurisdiction jogs as far north as East Quincy Avenue.
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Cole Wist’s biography“]
A native of Paonia, Wist has worked for several Denver law firms since obtaining his law degree from Georgetown University. A former partner at Denver law firm Holland & Hart, Wist moved to Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC in June, according to a press release. He primarily represents clients from the coal mining and oil and gas industry, according to his website.
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Barrett moved to Centennial in 2012 after spending more than 40 years living in California, where she served on the Hi Desert Medical Center Board of Directors, according to her campaign website.
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Would you vote to end capital punishment in Colorado? As a Catholic, I believe that life should be protected at all stages. I also believe that the death penalty is not fiscally viable.
How should the state pay for substantial expansion of state roads? Senate Bill 210, sponsored last session by House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso, would have put a question on the November ballot asking voters to authorize the state to bond $3.5 billion in revenue for transportation projects throughout Colorado. I would support similar legislation next session.
Should the state cede some local control of fracking to counties and municipalities? How much? Gov. Hickenlooper’s approach has been the correct one. Regulation of oil and gas should happen at the state level, in consultation with local officials through the MOU (memorandum of understanding) process. This approach is working, and we should stay the course.
Should Colorado repeal gun-control laws from 2013? Yes
Would you support a bill to ban red-light traffic cameras? In 2016, I voted with the majority of my colleagues (Republicans and Democrats) to ban red-light traffic cameras. Unfortunately, the governor vetoed this legislation for the second year in a row. These cameras are about revenue collection, not safety.
Would you support a measure to ask voters to re-write the Taxpayer Bill of Rights to require a vote on tax increases, but to remove all other state budget restrictions? I strongly support TABOR.
Should a revised presidential primary system allow for non-affiliated voters to vote for party candidates? The state should not dictate how political parties select their candidates. I defer to the parties to determine their own rules in that process.
Will you vote for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or someone else? The Supreme Court is far too important to entrust it to Hillary Clinton. I will be voting for Donald Trump.
Should the state prevent counties, schools and municipalities from barring transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms for sexes other than what appears on their birth certificates? No.
What one thing, above all, would you ask fellow lawmakers to do or change to increase student performance on standardized tests? Nothing. The state should not micromanage local school boards or issue unfunded mandates. I am in favor of empowering parents and local boards to make decisions that are in the best interests of their schools and their students. One size does not fit all.
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Carol Barrett’s issue questions and responses“]
Would you vote to end capital punishment in Colorado? No, I would not vote to end capital punishment in extreme cases.
How should the state pay for substantial expansion of state roads? As always, the devil is in the details. Federal funding assistance is a key part of major/substantial transportation projects. Multiple funding vectors are needed because a state that has a quality transportation system benefits not only the actual highway users but all citizens reap the rewards of increased tourism, business productivity increases and quality of life improvements. Before a huge expansion of the highway system is started, we need to get our current house in order and be sure that our current system’s highways, bridges and interchanges are safe and meet all current standards of safety.
Should the state cede some local control of fracking to counties and municipalities? How much? N0, in regards to public safety standards and environmental standards. Yes, In regards to a community can reject allowing the industry into their jurisdiction.
The state needs to assure that the quality of life of it’s citizens are not adversely affected by any industry. Water quality and air quality cross municipal boundaries. Any local control which would allow a violation of existing standards can be allowed.
Should Colorado repeal gun-control laws from 2013? N0. Lawmakers should look to refining gun control to create a safe environment of checks and balances. As Americans, we have the absolute right to bear arms, but we also have the right to a safe environment free from gun violence. Cooperative collaborations of interested parties are needed in this highly emotionally charged subject.
Would you support a bill to ban red-light traffic cameras? Yes.
Would you support a measure to ask voters to re-write the Taxpayers Bill of Rights to require a vote on tax increases, but to remove all other state budget restrictions? It would depend on how the measure is written.
Should a revised presidential primary system allow for non-affiliated voters to vote for party candidates? Yes.
Will you vote for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or someone else? Donald Trump becoming president would be a disaster for democracy and this country. Hillary Clinton is the obvious vote to avoid such an outcome and she is the most qualified candidate.
Should the state prevent counties, schools and municipalities from barring transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms for sexes other than what appears on their birth certificates? The state needs to follow the law as set by the Supreme Court. The counties, schools and municipalities need to do likewise.
What one thing, above all, would you ask fellow lawmakers to do or change to increase student performance on standardized tests? Pass any and all laws that would encourage quality educators to instruct in Colorado’s public education system. You can change test standards and methods all you want, but the education of our youth will suffer if Colorado does not qualify and retain the best educators in our classrooms.
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”LIGHTER SIDE: Cole Wist’s personality questions and responses“]
What food do you hate most? I am not a big fan of raw tomatoes.
Do you indulge in recreational marijuana? No.
Who would play you in a movie about your life? Michael J. Fox.
What Olympic Sport do you wish you could win gold at? The luge.
What was your favorite childhood candy? Hot Tamales.
If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be? The Gettysburg Address.
If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be? Yoda.
If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts. “Sweet Caroline”
What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone? Be yourself. No one can say you’re doing it wrong.
Is a hot dog a sandwich? No.
What is the last concert you attended? The 30th Anniversary KOOL Concert (featuring) Huey Lewis and the News, The Go-Gos, Kool & The Gang, The Fixx.
What movie do you never tire of watching? “Almost Famous”
Dogs or cats? Dogs.
What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado? How much we all ski/board. I-70 is a pain, and it’s expensive.
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”LIGHTER SIDE: Carol Barrett’s personality questions and responses“]
What food do you hate most? Liver.
Do you engage in recreational marijuana? No, nor have I had a desire to use or indulge in recreational or medicinal marijuana.
Who would play you in a movie about your life? My daughter.
What Olympic Sport so you wish you could win gold at? Golf.
What was your favorite childhood candy? Peppermint mints.
If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be? Amelia Mary Earhart after flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be? Bull Dog
If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts. “Oklahoma”
What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone? Lived and Loved Life!
Is a hot dog a sandwich? If you put in on bread it is a sandwich, or in a bun it is not classified a sandwich just a hot dog.
What is the last concert you attended? Neal Diamond in Las Vegas.
What movie do you never tire of watching? “Sound of Music”
Dogs of cats? Dog.
What is the most overrated thing about living in Colorado? I have not found anything that is overrated, it is a beautiful countryside and has many unique small towns.
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Cole Wist’s campaign finance“]
Click here for Cole Wist Campaign Finance Reports
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Carol Barrett’s campaign finance“]
Click here for Carol Barrett Campaign Finance Reports
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Cole Wist’s endorsements“]
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Carol Barrett’s endorsements“]
Not available.
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