House District 56, which encompasses more rural communities just outside of the Denver metroplex north of Aurora, is one of the few in the state that will surely see a new leader elected this year.
GOP Rep. Phil Covarrubias was defeated by former Arapahoe County commissioner Rod Bockenfeld in the June primary. Dave Rose, a former Regional Transportation District board member, is vying to turn the long-red seat blue. There’s also the libertarian candidate, Kevin Gulbranson, who ran in 2016. He appears to have a campaign website, but no included platform and has raised about $26 this cycle.
Gulbranson won about 6 percent of the vote in 2016.
Issues that affect HD56, a large district that includes Brighton and Watkins, tend to be more rural than those of the districts just to the south, which include some of the most urban places in the state. The district also includes more eastern, suburban parts of Aurora. Bockenfeld and Rose both know this well from their former positions in local government.
Bockenfeld was elected a county commissioner in 2004. Rose, in addition to his experience on RTD, is on the board for the Colorado Air and Space Port Advisory Board. The Watkins airport was most recently designated a spaceport, and is slated to bring thousands of jobs, top researchers and economic development to the region just east of Denver International Airport.
So far, Bockenfeld is outraising Rose. According to state campaign finance documents, Rose has raised about $10,000. Bockenfeld has about $22,000 in donations.
Bockenfeld describes himself as a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-main street business candidate. He writes on his website that he will fight for agriculture, water, senior citizens and the tourism industry.
Rose says on his website he is supportive of gun safety legislation.
DAVE ROSE
A longtime Brighton resident, Dave Rose is seeking the House District 56 seat that encompasses parts of both Adams and Arapahoe counties. Rose served two terms as a Regional Transportation District board member, where he worked various transportation measures. He’s also on the Colorado Space and Air Port Advisory Board, the Watkins airport was recently granted space port status. Rose has a career in education, serving as a school psychologist and teacher. He was also a principal in Iowa for nine years. He currently works part-time as a therapist with the Griffith Centers for Children with students who have truancy issues.
ROD BOCKENFELD
Rod Bockenfeld, a former Arapahoe County Commissioner, is seeking the House District 56 seat. He was successful earlier this year in edging out Phil Covarrubius, who was elected in 2014. Bockenfeld moved to Colorado in 1978. Then, he began a career as a fraud investigator in the banking industry. He was elected as a county commissioner in 2004 and served as chairman of the board in 2006, 2010 and 2011. In between a career in banking and running for office, Bockenfeld ran his own business for nine years. He has five grown children and four grandchildren.
KEVIN GULBRANSON
Libertarian Kevin Gulbranson lives in unicorporated Arapahoe County. He moved to the area from Miami where he worked as the Senior Vice President of Track Phone Wireless. He’s been affiliated with the Libertarian Party since 2012.
“No one wants to take your guns away. But gun ownership comes with a responsibility to ensure safety for all. I support ‘red flag’ laws that protect our citizens by temporarily restricting gun access for individuals who represent a danger to themselves or others,” Rose wrote on his website. “Of course, I also support due process, and I will work closely with law enforcement to ensure that such laws are applied fairly and consistently.”
Bockenfeld said he wouldn’t support a “red flag” bill, which was introduced this year in the Colorado legislature. It would have allowed courts to temporarily take guns from people who pose a serious threat to themselves or others. Even with a Republican sponsor in the House, the bill failed to gain any bipartisan traction in the Senate.
“This bill should have never been run at the last minute as a late bill. The 2nd Amendment is a Constitutional right that should be protected and only in extreme circumstances be infringed upon,” Bockenfeld told the Sentinel. “An adequate and speedy due process measure must be in place in order properly protect this right. The last legislative session’s bill did not accomplish that result.”
The two candidates also find themselves in different places on spectrum energy regulation. Bockenfeld said he believes in an all-above approach to energy. While Rose said he supports the research of clean energy, he added he’s also in favor of buffer zones.
Bockenfeld said he believes “the current amount of local control over surface impacts is more than adequate.”
Candidate Questions for Dave Rose
- 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?
Charges of sexual harassment or assault must be filed with the proper authorities and fines or other punishment determined by a judge. The legislative body can remove legislators for sexual harassment, as occurred in the last session and that is severe punishment.
2. Should the state cede some control of fracking and gas and oil production to counties and municipalities? How much?
Cities and communities should have a right to negotiate with oil and gas operators if the proposed drilling sites infringe on the quality of air, water and safety of the citizens and property.
3. 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?
Converting coal fired power pants to natural gas and the increased use of solar and wind renewables is currently reducing green house gas emissions and a 26% reduction by 2015 is realistic.
4. 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?
Growth pays for itself in communities that have well thought out fees for housing, roads, tap fees and development fees. Each county and city in Colorado should determine the taxes and fees needed for growth to provide the necessary infrastructure, safety and quality of life amenities necessary in those specific communities.
5. Would you support the red-flag bill that passed the state House this year?
Supporting the “Red Flag” bill is one of my priorities if elected as State Representative. Many innocent lives could have been and would be saved if individuals suffering from severe mental health issues who are a threat to themselves and/or others do not have access to firearms for a period of treatment time. Restricting access to firearms would have to be ordered by a judge after a hearing process took place in a timely manner.
6. Would you support full tolling on select roads or interstates to help fund road construction?
Tolling on roads on E-470 and I-25 has been very successful. Traffic congestion has become a major issue and offering a toll road is an option to drivers that is useful in some locations.
7. Should the Legislature work to reduce in-state tuition at state colleges? How?
Reducing state tuition for higher education including community colleges, technical and trade schools and offering college level classes in high schools would have my support. The state revenue is projected to increase in 2019 and the JBC should be able to dedicate more funds to these programs.
8. Would you support a state path toward some kind of universal or single payer health care in Colorado?
First, we need to maintain the level of Medicaid and Medicare we currently are allowed in the state and the health insurance exchanges that are helping the rural areas. We could look at transitioning to a single payer system with much study and research into an effective program.
9. Would you support a bill ending capital punishment in Colorado?
Yes, I don’t think the cost and use as a deterrent if effective.
10. Would you support a bill to prohibit the use of red-light cameras in Colorado?
If the use of red light camera is posted at each intersection and drivers are aware of their use I would not be opposed for safety reasons.
11. Would you support a bill promoting arming teachers and staff at public schools?
I would not support arming teachers at schools. Teachers have not been trained in the use of firearms nor should they be held responsible for that kind of security. Local law enforcement has the training and skills necessary to protect our schools and funds should be provided to support their services for the protection of schools.
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
- What food do you hate most?
I can’t think of any food I really dislike.
2. Do you indulge in recreational marijuana?
No.
3. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Thomas Sutherland
4. What Olympic sport do you wish you could win gold in?
Basketball or golf.
5. What was your favorite childhood candy?
Butterfinger (still is)
6. If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be?
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
7. If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be?
Cool Under Pressure
8. If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts.
Any Johnny Cash song
9. What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone?
“He cared for others.”
10. Is a hot dog a sandwich?
Yes
11. What is the last concert you attended?
Bob Dylan
12. What movie do you never tire of watching?
The Big Chill
13. Dogs or cats?
Cats
14. What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado?
Clean air.
Candidates Questions for Rod Bockenfeld
- 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?
No, on fines. The punitive measure should be full transparency of the investigation if deemed guilty. Voters should decide final disposition of the case at the ballot box.
2. Should the state cede some control of fracking and gas and oil production to counties and municipalities? How much?
No, the current amount of local control over surface impacts is more than adequate.
3. Gov. John Hickenlooper has issued an executive order mandating a 26 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, is that too much, too little or adequate?
I support what is considered the “all of the above” energy solutions. I oppose forced, government mandates. Many times these mandates are only political in nature without scientific backing.
4. 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?
No.
5. Would you support the red-flag bill that passed the state House this year?
No, this bill should have never been run at the last minute as a late bill. The 2nd Amendment is a Constitutional right that should be protected and only in extreme circumstances be infringed upon. An adequate and speedy due process measure must be in place in order properly protect this right. The last legislative session’s bill did not accomplish that result.
6. Would you support full tolling on select roads or interstates to help fund road construction?
No, I support tolling lanes with congestion pricing.
7. Should the Legislature work to reduce in-state tuition at state colleges? How?
No. However, there should be an expansion of grants on an as needed basis. These grants should include trade schools.
8. Would you support a state path toward some kind of universal or single payer health care in Colorado?
No. Socialized medical care does not work effectively. We should have learned our lessons from Canada. We need to gradually move back to a free market environment where competition drives lower costs. Income-based Medicaid should always serve as an important safety net in our society.
9. Would you support a bill ending capital punishment in Colorado?
No. Prosecutors should always consider the victim’s family perspective before making a capital punishment decision.
10. Would you support a bill to prohibit the use of red-light cameras in Colorado?
Absolutely. Red-light cameras are only a money grab by local governments. Some studies show that these cameras create more accidents than they prevent.
11. Would you support a bill promoting arming teachers and staff at public schools?
Yes, there is no reason why we can’t find qualified teachers, staff or volunteers that can be well trained in order to serve this important school safety function. In our society we train civilian, auxiliary police officers to assist our police forces why not for school security?