Jared Polis, Walker Stapleton, Bill Hammons and Scott Helker

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Why are you running for office?
Far too many Coloradans today feel like they can’t get ahead despite our booming economy. For too many, paychecks and raises haven’t kept up with the increasing costs of housing, health care, and daycare. I’m running for governor to build a Colorado economy where people don’t just get by, but thrive — whether it’s the farmer whose livelihood is in danger due to drought, the young professional whose income isn’t keeping up with the rent, or the parents struggling to pay their health premium on top of the staggering cost of preschool. We can and must do better.

What three policy issues set you apart from your opponent(s)?
Education: I’ve spent my career building schools and fighting for more resources for our students, teachers, and classrooms. Walker Stapleton has fought just as hard to take money out of our public schools.

Health Care: My health care plan will reduce Coloradans’ health care costs and expand access to quality care. Walker Stapleton’s plans will rob hundreds of thousands of Coloradans of their health coverage, while driving up costs for the rest of us.

Outdoor economy: I will protect the public lands that power hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs across our state. Walker Stapleton has refused to stand up to Donald Trump’s efforts to sell off public lands to the highest bidder.

What are the biggest areas of agreement between you and your opponent(s)?
Walker and I agree that our congested roads and lack of affordable housing are serious problems for Coloradans. We disagree on the solutions.

Where would you like to see Colorado’s transportation system in two decades, and what’s the best way to get there? What’s your position on the competing state transportation initiatives?
I support using new and existing sources of revenue to fund road and highway projects without sacrificing funding for health care or public schools. I oppose putting our state billions in debt without any revenue like Walker Stapleton would with Proposition 109; instead, I will work with Republicans, Democrats, and the business community to find a funding compromise that works if Proposition 110 fails on the ballot this fall.

We should also work to connect Fort Collins to Pueblo with high-speed commuter rail that links to our existing transportation infrastructure and helps people get to work quicker and less expensively. As a first step on Front Range Rail, we should finish the public input process and complete a feasibility study to determine how much of the project can be funded by bonding against future ticket sales, and how much, if any, would require Coloradans to vote on new revenue sources. And finally, we should make all of Colorado, especially rural areas, 100% connected to high-speed internet, which will enable more telecommuting and help people work in the communities they live in.

What will you do to manage the impact of growth along the Front Range and ensure that rural areas share in the benefits?
The cost of living in Colorado has significantly increased and paychecks haven’t kept up. I’m focused on solving both parts of this problem: creating more affordable housing options while also raising incomes across the board so that more Coloradans can afford to live in the communities they call home. It’s the job of the Governor to build coalitions and work with large employers and municipalities to address the lack of affordable housing.
For too long, we’ve suffered a rural-urban divide in Colorado. When you read about Colorado’s great economy, left out are rural Colorado’s high health care costs, the impact of President Trump’s trade war on our farmers and ranchers, and the wildfires and droughts that climate change is making worse and worse. As someone who has created hundreds of jobs and met payroll, I have a plan to bring our economic success to every corner of the state.

I’m proud to have represented parts of rural Colorado in Congress, and I’ve worked hard to solve problems that are close to home for these families — like access to health care, rural broadband, and housing costs.

As governor, I will support every aspect of our rural economies — from affordable housing, to good schools, to a modern infrastructure, and of course defending our public lands. I have a comprehensive plan to bring universal high-speed internet access to Colorado, which is one of the most important things we can do to bridge our state’s urban-rural divide and make sure every kid in Colorado gets a great education, or that entrepreneurs can start the business of their dreams no matter where they live.

Colorado’s health insurance exchange and Medicaid expansion have given hundreds of thousands more residents coverage, but health care remains a top concern in state polls. Affordability and access are particularly challenging in remote areas. Where should the state go on this issue, and what will you do to get us there?
This is why I absolutely disagree with Walker Stapleton’s plan to roll back the Medicaid expansion and scrap Colorado’s health insurance exchange. That would drive up insurance costs for the rest of us. No one should ever have to choose between losing their life savings and losing their life, or their child’s life. That’s why I’m going to take immediate action to save Coloradans money on healthcare — stopping prescription price gouging, bringing transparency to the health care marketplace, lowering health care premiums, and bringing quality providers to underserved areas so that no one has to drive hours and hours, or stay on a months-long waiting list, just to get the care they need.

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Why are you running for office?
I am running for Governor for three main reasons, my children. I want them, and all of Colorado’s children, to have abundant economic opportunity. I will be a leader who understands the vast diversity of experiences in our state and can speak to both the needs of the Front Range as well as the Western Slope and Eastern Plains.

Despite intensifying political rancor, Colorado has remained a model of collaboration. Under both Democratic and Republican Governors, we have been a state of common sense and consensus-driven leadership. I believe that I offer voters the best choice in maintaining that legacy and protecting the Colorado way. I will make sure that Colorado remains the kind of place we all want to live and raise a family.

What three policy issues set you apart from your opponent(s)?
This election presents voters with a stark contrast. Congressman Polis and I have vastly different approaches to solving many of our state’s most challenging problems, including health care, education, and the economy.

I want to fix what is wrong with our health care system and make it more accessible and affordable for Coloradans. As Governor, I will work with our public programs and the private sector to reduce costs and improve quality across the board. I see a health care system where we have more choice in the types of coverage families can purchase. Congressman Polis wants to impose a single-payer, government-run health care system on Coloradans that will lead to tax increases and lower quality care.

Congressman Polis and I also have different approaches to education. I have a plan to redirect education dollars away from out-of-control administrative costs and use this money to improve outcomes in the classrooms and pay teachers more. My opponent advocates for more government-run programs without explaining how he will pay for it.

I will also be a governor who keeps taxes low so Colorado can have a thriving economy with plenty of jobs. Congressman Polis has supported job-killing regulations that could lead to 230,000 job losses in the energy industry alone.

What are the biggest areas of agreement between you and your opponent(s)?
On a high level, I think we are both running because we love this state and want to make it a place to raise our families. To be sure, we are approaching this goal from very different places politically and offer very different solutions.

I think we can both agree that more has to be done for our rural communities with broadband expansion and development. Again, there are key differences in how we would approach this problem, but I think we both agree on the huge impact of getting all corners of our state connected with broadband. It is the backbone of the 21st century economy, health care, and public safety.

Where would you like to see Colorado’s transportation system in two decades, and what’s the best way to get there? What’s your position on the competing state transportation initiatives?
As governor, I will implement a long-term solution to fix transportation and move away from the current model of short-term fixes that don’t address the root of the problem. Coloradans spend too much time sitting in traffic. Investing in our state’s infrastructure will ease congestion and allow Coloradans to spend more time at their destinations, including at home with their families. I will demand transparency and accountability from the Department of Transportation, find a long-term revenue stream to fund our transportation needs, and prioritize building roads and bridges, something we have neglected for far too long.

I do not support increasing the sales tax to pay for our roads. The Fix Our Damn Roads proposal is a good start but I think a long-term solution will still be needed.

What will you do to manage the impact of growth along the Front Range and ensure that rural areas share in the benefits?
As treasurer, I have served all Coloradans over the last seven years. During this time I traveled to all 64 counties and heard from citizens about their concerns with our state and how policies affect their lives. A booming economy on the Front Range has been a boon to our state, but it cannot happen at the expense of our rural communities.

Too often, our state government operates in the Denver bubble, but our state is expansive and diverse. I will staff field offices across the state to create a resource for Coloradans and provide all constituents a direct line to the Governor’s Office. It’s time to bring state government closer to the people.

Colorado’s health insurance exchange and Medicaid expansion have given hundreds of thousands more residents coverage, but health care remains a top concern in state polls. Affordability and access are particularly challenging in remote areas. Where should the state go on this issue, and what will you do to get us there?
Rising health care costs are a major concern for Colorado families and are straining our state’s budget. As Colorado’s next Governor, I will implement reforms to help simplify and streamline health care for Coloradans. My Administration will take a three-pronged approach to fixing Colorado’s health care system: improve preventive and primary care by integrating mental, behavioral, and physical health; reform our public systems with a focus on outcomes-based care and greater administrative efficiency; and create more choices for families through the types of coverage offered.

Congressman Polis and I have drastically different approaches when it comes to tackling Colorado’s health care challenges. While Congressman Polis wants to implement government-run, one-size-fits-all health care, I want to create more affordable options for Coloradans. Although our current system is not perfect, moving to single-payer will hurt Coloradans and destroy Colorado’s economy. Instead, we should fix what is wrong with Colorado health care and work together to lower costs and improve the quality of care.

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Why are you running for office?
I’m running for the simple reason that I’m truly something new under the sun (for once). I founded (with my father) the now-38-state Unity Party of America the day after the 2004 Election, and founded the Unity Party of Colorado by personally gathering well over 1,000 valid voter signatures in multiple statewide races, placing myself as a Unity Party candidate on the General Election ballot. Those 1,000 signatures put the Unity Party on the voter registration form as the “Unity” option, and the 1,000 voters who subsequently affiliated with “Unity” put UP into official party status in Colorado.

What three policy issues set you apart from your opponent(s)?
Colorado can and should lead the way as a state example TODAY in fighting Climate Change, in providing all citizens (through Medicare-inspired means) with the health care they need and deserve, and in growing and developing a sustainable economy. Climate Change and its effects are real, are man-made, are a real threat, and can be fought. We need to move our state’s taxation system away from punishing workers for feeding their families, and towards discouraging destructive behavior of all kinds. Such a system would be a more efficient and constructive model for the national sales tax long advocated by many conservatives.

What are the biggest areas of agreement between you and your opponent(s)?
Jared Polis and I just agreed by text with a “haha” that we both like social media (we’ve been Facebook friends for over a decade, since we both first ran for Congress) and, on a more serious note, that we both agree on fiscal responsibility.

Where would you like to see Colorado’s transportation system in two decades, and what’s the best way to get there? What’s your position on the competing state transportation initiatives?
I would like to see Colorado’s transportation system everywhere it is needed. I don’t support Fix Our Damn Roads, and neither do I support yet another traditional sales tax. What I DO support is a revenue measure based on the carbon content of car fuel which can be used to fix and expand our roads with an eye on how even a relatively small number of self-driving cars in Colorado will drastically change traffic patterns (hopefully for the better).

What will you do to manage the impact of growth along the Front Range and ensure that rural areas share in the benefits?
I’m coming more and more to oppose property taxes, which tend to perpetuate local economic inequalities. A replacement of state income taxes with a carbon revenue measure based on the carbon content of fossil fuels will encourage the more efficient use of land and roads, and a replacement of property taxes with the same, with the resulting revenues of course remitted back locally, will ensure more fair and more even development across Colorado.

Colorado’s health insurance exchange and Medicaid expansion have given hundreds of thousands more residents coverage, but health care remains a top concern in state polls. Affordability and access are particularly challenging in remote areas. Where should the state go on this issue, and what will you do to get us there?
I support a state-based Medicare-for-all system, with significant funding provided to encourage young doctors with medical school debts (including young foreign doctors if need be) to set up shop in rural areas lacking a local Starbucks.

Rural medical facilities should also be encouraged to provide flexible pricing for out-of-towners. In other words, someone who can provide proof of an urban zip code can be given a significant discount on non-emergency health services that would justify the trip and trip-related expenses. Such a system would keep humming (and therefore in business) rural hospitals that might otherwise be underutilized; any of my fellow Coloradans who have ever climbed a 14er hours from the nearest medical facility should support such a plan out of self-interest.

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Why are you running for office?
As a Libertarian I believe in Limited Government as the best government. It is my basic belief that Government is not always the answer and many times it is the problem. I well understood when I began this campaign that it was one small step inside a larger movement to restore the Republic, the liberties of Americans, and very possibly those of the World’s Citizens. The Libertarian Party as a movement has grown from a few people in a living room in Denver to a party with candidates on the ballot in every state. I will not win the Governorship but someday a Libertarian will become the Governor of Colorado. I am just one small step in that process

What three policy issues set you apart from your opponent(s)?
The biggest difference is that I do not think of Government as having the only solutions. Because I do not put myself in a box where only 10% of the solutions are, I am free to explore the other 90% of the solutions that are available. My three examples begin with water. The solutions put forward by both Mr. Stapleton and Mr. Polis will not increase the volume of water in the Colorado river basins or refill the aquifers in Colorado and by default the aquifers in the surrounding states. Facilitation by Government in reintroducing beavers back to Colorado would increase the volume of water in the Colorado river basins by a third to two thirds. The beavers would refill the aquifers without a billion-dollar price tag, freeing up much needed money for highways. Second, pension funds in the United States are currently 4 trillion dollars in debt. Many countries in Europe found truth in the saying that “all Government pension plans fail when they run out of other people’s money.” The Netherlands now have a fully funded pension plan with well over a trillion dollars inside their pension fund. Why not get government out of the pension fund business as in the Netherlands and make PERA a nonprofit open to everyone in Colorado making a very wide base to stabilize PERA and have government make sure that the pension is well run? Finally, one thing that government can do is to make an exemption for all student loan payments above the average first three years’ salary with like degree a student should have. It would vary by degree. A teacher would be able to discharge in bankruptcy all student loans above $30,000. An engineer could discharge all student loans over $75,000. It is within the state’s power to control exemptions; why not use it to the benefit of students buried in debt while making them responsible for the remainder?

What are the biggest areas of agreement between you and your opponent(s)?
All the candidates running love the state of Colorado and want the best for the State. After that between them and myself, we have nothing in common. As a Libertarian I believe in limited government. The sad truth is if the Republican Party worked to limit government, there would be no Libertarian Party. Both major parties see government as the answer and put themselves in a box with only 10% of the possible solutions. As a Libertarian working outside the box I see not only the 10% but the other 90% of our options. If you want an ever-growing government that imprisons more of its citizens than Russia, vote for a major party. If you want a water solution that does not raise the volume of water in the Colorado river basin or refill the aquifers, vote for a major party. If you are willing to make progress toward a better Colorado vote for a Libertarian. Join the progress toward a better Colorado

Where would you like to see Colorado’s transportation system in two decades, and what’s the best way to get there? What’s your position on the competing state transportation initiatives?
I am a pragmatic Libertarian. I would support private alternatives such as allowing companies access to railroad easements to provide alternative transportation to casino and ski towns. To make RTD work more efficiently, I would support the removal of the current elected board and the top officers at RTD and replace them by vote or appointment. Alternatively, I’d seek to privatize it. As to highways I would, where possible, replace old management with new, and make sure that fees do not go into the general fund but towards highways. Find programs that can be done better in the nonprofit sector and end them. The cost savings would be channeled into the highway fund.

What will you do to manage the impact of growth along the Front Range and ensure that rural areas share in the benefits?
First, I would encourage the other 49 states to pass TABOR-like amendments so that their economies could be as strong as Colorado’s, if not stronger. That would result in smaller growth as people do not need to move to Colorado for jobs. I would encourage Colorado companies to permit more telecommuting and to put satellite offices in rural towns for individuals seeking not only a good job but a better quality of life.

Colorado’s health insurance exchange and Medicaid expansion have given hundreds of thousands more residents coverage, but health care remains a top concern in state polls. Affordability and access are particularly challenging in remote areas. Where should the state go on this issue, and what will you do to get us there?
If government is the only solution, we’ll end up with a bankrupt health care system. I suggest a state-wide Medical Collective or Association to provide coverage to all citizens who wish to join at, on average, $400 to $800 per month. Wherever Health Care Collectives grow, the price of health care cost goes down. Insurance companies and the government would be forced to respond by lowering costs to citizens. Increase the number of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants with greater responsibilities to provide the next generation of General Practice doctors. If you think outside the government box, you can find many solutions and not just follow a bankrupt idea.