If you aren’t sure which precinct you are in, you can check at the Secretary of State’s site by clicking here.  Log into the site using the information it requests.  You are then taken to a new page that shows your complete voter information.  Scroll down to item 12 as shown at the right.  Then use the last three digits in that number to find your caucus location in the table below.

If you have any questions at all, please let us know!

• Update, 3/16/10 – Precincts 198, 199, 200, & 201 are caucusing at Clyde Miller Elementary School as listed in the document below.  However, the address for the school in the document is incorrect.  The correct address is 1701 Espana Street.
• Related – Check out our event calendar for all the latest events

2010 Precinct Caucus Locations for Adams County, Colorado

R Block Party North is the newly formed northern branch to R Block Party, serving the Denver Metro area (including but not limited to Adams County, Broomfield, Jefferson County, Denver, and surrounding areas).

The first R Block Party North on January 18th had a full house! 85 people in attendance, which included 15 candidates (Dan Maes, Cleve Tidwell, Ken Buck and others!)

R Block Party founders Lori Horn and Nikki Mata were also in attendance.

• Technology:  using technology to inform, educate, connect & mobilize volunteers
• Volunteerism:  provide meaningful involvement for motivated people.
• Development: Outreach to youth, minorities, & unaffiliates.  Candidate development & support.R Block Party realizes there is a tremendous energy out there; there are many conservatives who want to get involved and do something. They are searching for a place to put that energy to work. R Block Party hopes to provide that place for them.

• R Block Party North, led by co-chairs Kim Gillan & Julie Benz, meets every 3rd Monday at O’Meara Ford on 104th & I25 (The next meeting is on February 15th.  Mingle starts at 6:30, meeting commences at 7:00pm – 8:45pm, followed by socializing at Applebees (just to the east of O’Meara).  We look forward to seeing you there!

Co-Chairs of R Block Party North Kim Gillan & Julie Benz

To join their email list, or if you would like to know more about R Block Party North, please send an email to RBlockPartyNorth@live.com.

(The R Block Party with Lori Horn & Nikki Mata meets every 4th Thursday in Littleton.  You can contact them at RBlockParty@comcast.net)

The Caucus:

is the absolute grass roots step.  Each precinct holds its own caucus, which is open to every Republican in that precinct who has been affiliated with the party for at least 60 days and registered in the precinct for at least 30 days.  The caucus is held (by state statute) every even-numbered (general election) year on the third Tuesday of March at 7:00pm.

At caucus, two sets of people are elected:

One set consists of 2 Precinct Committee People, who will serve for 2 years as the Republican representatives and workers in their precinct.  These are arguably, next to candidates, the most important people in the party organization, its eyes and ears, its representatives who will have one-on-one contact with the voters, who will help take Republican principles, issues, and candidates to the people in their precincts.

The second set of electees are Delegates — and an equal number of Alternates — who will attend the assemblies (also called “conventions” during presidential election years) where they will vote to determine which candidates will appear on the Primary ballot.  These people are also obviously extremely important to the process!  The number of Delegates/Alternates elected in each precinct will be announced at the caucus and depends on an allocation formula based on county bylaws.

At all caucuses, Delegates/Alternates are elected to attend their County Assembly.  These people also serve as the Delegates/Alternates to their own State House and State Senate District Assemblies (those districts in which the Delegate/Alternate lives.)  But after this point, there are two options, depending on the bylaws of a given county:

Option One is that Delegates/Alternates to higher assemblies (State and Congressional District) are elected  at and from among those attending the County Assembly.

Option Two is that Delegates/Alternates to higher assemblies are elected at the caucuses.  This is true, for example, in Adams County, but with the requirement that any D/A to a higher assembly must first be elected as a Delegate or Alternate to the County Assembly.

Assemblies (also called Conventions, during presidential election years):

The various assemblies/conventions are:

• The State House and State Senate District Assemblies, where the primary-ballot nominees for Senate and House of Representative candidates for the Colorado General Assembly (the State House) will be selected.
• The County Assembly, where primary-ballot nominees to county-level positions (e.g., Sheriff, Clerk & Recorder, Commissioner, Assessor, Treasurer, Coroner and possibly others) will be selected.
• The State Assembly, where primary-ballot nominees to state-wide positions (e.g., Governor, Secty of State, US Senator, State Treasurer, State Attorney General, State Board of Education at Large, CU Regent at Large and possibly others) will be selected.
• The Congressional District assemblies, where the primary-ballot nominees to the US House of Representatives, plus Congressional District Board of Education and CU Regent candidates will be selected.

As you can see, the Delegates/Alternates move from the grass-roots level of the party to a representative level.  So:  Whomever you elect at caucus as Delegate(s)/Alternate(s) will be the person(s) who will vote in determining whether the candidate(s) you favor make it onto the Primary Ballot.  It should be understood that these people are not bound by your preferences, but it behooves you to elect people whose judgement you trust and who, at caucus, state their favorability for your candidate.  There can be more than one candidate for an office on the primary ballot, but only if a candidate receives at least 30% of the vote at a particular assembly.  A Delegate (or Alternate) may vote for only one candidate. (A candidate receiving more than 10% but less than 30% of the vote can opt to “petition onto” the primary ballot, but this is a relatively difficult process.  A candidate who receives less than 10% loses that option altogether.)

Note:  Other items may be addressed at caucuses, too, such as State-Party-requested straw polls for state-level and/or congressional-level candidates.  The polls are informational only; they are non-binding.  Caucus attendees may also wish to write and pass resolutions regarding various issues.  Such resolutions are passed to the County Assembly, where they may be considered by that body.  If passed, they are sent on up to the State Assembly for consideration.  (As you might guess, this is an effort to include the grass roots of the party in something that may become a “party platform” at some level.)

The Primary Election:

is back to grass roots and is the precursor to the General Election.  You can vote in the primary only if you are registered as being affiliated with a party, and then only for the candidates running in your party. The candidates who appear on the Primary Ballot are those candidates who were selected at the various assemblies above.  In the Primary, voters from their particular party will elect the candidate who will run in opposition to the candidate or candidates from the other party(ies) in the General Election in November.

2010 Colorado Election Calendar

Why do you want to be a U.S. Senator?

What are the most pressing problems facing our country that you hope to address as a member of the U.S. Senate?
Of course, we have to maintain our anti-terrorism efforts. Isn’t it a bit strange that the liberals have been blaming and complaining about “bad intelligence”, yet they persist in downgrading our capabilities under the false label of improvement (“change you can believe in”)? We must fund our countries defense system instead of cutting it as this administration has elected to do.

We need to halt the attack on the economic viability of the U.S. We have to focus on: Fiscal responsibility, business climate and opportunities, the bloated government largesse, a runaway legal system bent on legislating from the bench, and an incomprehensible tax system. Consumer confidence must be restored. A good start will be when the banks have recouped their bad assets and start to lend correctly again.

As a member of the Senate what specifically would you do to help the country recover from the recession?

• Eliminate the permanent capital gains rate.
• Cut the Corporate Tax Rate to 12.5%.
• Reduce the 25% income tax rate paid by middle class families to 15%, which would create an effective 15% flat tax for 90% of Americans
• Open production of more oil, natural gas, nuclear power and alternative energy sources, providing a reliable, low-cost energy supply to power the American economy.
• Eliminate any property taxes (not real property) on small businesses.
• Offer a three year moratorium on taxes for startups.
• Allow more flexible depreciation schedules. (Up-front expensing)
• Insure the “Uptick” rule is permanent.

What do you think is the most egregious thing your Democratic opponent has done that you plan to oppose if elected in 2010?
Senator Bennett seems to have a difficult time with stating his position. Plus in his few visits around the state he seemed to say one thing in one place and change it in another. Since it is nearly impossible to tell where he might stand, or teeter, I’ll have to just state where I stand:

• I believe in an employee’s rights to a private ballot. 
• I believe in an employee’s right to choose to join a union (of his choice), or not.
• I believe in an employee’s right to choose for themselves the political causes they wish to support, or not.
• I believe that everybody that uses energy should not suffer onerous taxes to enrich the fortunes of political speculators like General Electric and Al Gore.
• I believe that we should foster freedom around the world rather than embracing tyrants.

Has the Republican Party failed to live up to its stated ideals in the past several years?  If so, how?
The traditional Republican Party stands for limited government and fiscal responsibility. To say the least, too many of the career politicians have not lived up to our expectations or have gone over to the “dark side”.

What do you bring to the job of Senator that your primary opponents do not?
I am not a Lawyer and I am not a Liberal and I am not a career politician. I stepped down from my business position so I can dedicate my full time efforts to help our country and the state of Colorado. I believe that the U.S. Senate would benefit from a member that is not a lawyer nor a liberal career politician nor another “old-guard backroom politics” insider. If another career politician is what we need, they would have done a better job. My many years of experience as a tested and proven leader in global relations will position me to better deal with issues in our state and country for the good of America. I bring extensive common-sense based practical experience that is geared toward the real world not the aspirations of career politicians.

What should the federal government’s role be in reducing the cost of healthcare?
Stay out of the Health Care Business and Leave it to the Private Sector.

What specific things would you propose or support?

• Promote the sale and competition of health insurance across state lines. This would bring more choice, better coverage, lower prices.
• Tort Reform.

What kind of laws would you oppose?
I strongly oppose the addition of another massive government provided bureaucracy of any kind, let alone health care. Whatever it is called (“option”, “trigger”, “co-op” etc.) any government run system would not and could not act in fair competition to other non-governmental insurance providers; there is no way for such an entity to provide fair competition, it is inherently anti-competitive and would eventually become monopolistic.

How are you going to deal with the federal government’s deficit spending? What specifically would you cut to balance the budget?
There are two main things that have to happen to get to the problem of deficit spending. First we have to cut the amount of money the government spends. Virtually every program has to be totally evaluated and many of them would have to be eliminated. Secondly, the way out of this deficit spending and our current recession is economic growth. The way to get this growth moving is to cut taxes especially capital gains on the systems and businesses so that investment will flow in for sustained growth. Without these two items we will continue into a downward spiral of high unemployment and high deficits for the foreseeable future.

I would also stop the practice of transferring partially funded state projects onto the federal debt under the guise of “stimulus”.

Would you raise taxes?
Raising tax rates at this time would be counterproductive; and it has proven to be so time and time again. The way you stop deficit spending is you stop spending!

What would I cut? I would cut the corporate tax rate to 12.5%. I would eliminate the capital gains tax. These two simple changes would help immediately in the recovery of our economy.

I do not agree with raising tax rates and I support cutting the tax rates as I have stated in a previous answer.

What are your thoughts on Global Warming and what do you think about the cap and trade legislation pending before Congress as a solution to deal with the problem?
First, Global Warming in general is a separate issue from that portion of it that is caused by man’s influences. The so-claimed massive effects of man on global warming that have been all the rage in political discourse for several years now have proven to be a fraud perpetuated by junk science and political opportunists; real, rational, scientists that have now taken a deep look into the climate models for “AGW” have realized that models that cannot reliably predict the weather two weeks from now cannot be trusted to make forecasts for decades or centuries into the future. It is worth noting that some of those opportunists stand to reap huge profits from their fear mongering.

The proposed Cap & Trade policies are Ponzi scheme like frauds to be used for huge taxes upon everybody that uses energy, using the false hope of “stemming” global warming as a pretext for political manipulation of all sorts of energy related industries. The taxes from the cap and trade bill would be equivalent to a 15% tax increase, or more, and would continue to increase. This is just not acceptable.

What judge currently on the US Supreme Court most accurately reflects the type of judge you would like to see placed on this court in the future and why?
Chief Justice Roberts demonstrates the most outstanding characteristics of a Supreme Court Justice. He does not strive to legislate from the bench, following social trends or international pressures. One thing that gives him an edge is his understanding of the subtle but important differences in the circumstances that affect our efforts against terrorism and of “providing for a common defense”.

Do you think there is a Constitutional right to abortion?
It is morally wrong to destroy innocent human life through abortion, and it is also morally wrong to take the tax dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and use them to promote or perform abortions at home or abroad.
It seems in my reading the U.S. Constitution; the federal government has no place in dealing with abortion.

Explain your answer?
Read the U.S. Constitution, I believe it is self explanatory.

Would you vote to make abortion illegal?
I do not support abortion and I can not see that being an issue for the Senate to address since it is not something that is governed under the Constitution. You might say this could be voted on at the state level but that would not be something for a US Senator to vote on.

As a senator, I would only have a vote for a newly appointed judge. My consideration of a vote for a judge would be with the same high standards that I place on that of human life.

Would you have exceptions?
On my personal feeling of abortion, I do not support abortion.

Do you think government has an obligation to legally recognize same-sex relationships with a marriage license or some other form of official recognition?
No.

Explain your reasoning.
Clearly there is no such obligation. Marriage licenses are commonly restricted to those that meet the jurisdiction’s several qualifications; these traditionally reserve the term marriage for a union of one and only one female person with one and only one male person.

What do you think is the most pressing foreign policy problem facing this country and what do you think the federal government should do about it?
Without a doubt it continues to be terrorism. America needs to be strident in its efforts to deter and repel terrorism, on and off shore. We really need to treat terrorism seriously and not minimize our efforts into a “police” action. Further, our current trend toward embracing tyrants like Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega and their puppets like Manuel Zelaya only hurt our efforts. The same thing goes for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-il.

How would you deal with illegal immigration? What do you think the government should do with all the illegal immigrants living in this country?
We must enforce our laws. We have to stop the inflow of illegals immediately. We can start by completing the fence across our southern border and enforcing our laws at all entry points throughout America. We must enforce verification of anyone for banking, employment, driver’s licenses and any other benefits reserved for citizens or green card holders. Those that are not legally here should be turned over to the proper authorities.
No blanket amnesty, it simply hurts all of our immigrants that have followed the rules and it basically says we do not respect our own laws.

Enforcement mechanisms should be put in place so that all employers that hire any illegals should face stiff penalties. They are breaking the law and cheating the system. These employers are cheating legal aliens and our citizen workers alike. This might sound anti-business but it is not; legitimate businesses do not want competition from other businesses that cheat for an advantage.

Truly criminal illegal aliens, for instance, any murderers, rapists, drug-dealers etc.; should certainly be prosecuted and deported. Legal aliens really should not mind this since they fall prey to these few criminals too.
We will have to deal compassionately with some exceptional cases but we should not have to pay to house illegal aliens in our jails.

Do you think gun ownership in this country is over regulated or under regulated?
Over regulated.

Explain your answer.

I support the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the right for American citizens to bear arms. I believe it is very clear. I am committed to safeguarding the rights of law-abiding American citizens, and in the Senate I will be a consistent voice for the second amendment and fight attempts to weaken those rights that are granted in the Constitution.

As a hunter and sportsman, I am a strong advocate for the Second Amendment. I believe the constitution provides law abiding citizens the freedom to keep and bear arms.

Why do you want to be a U.S. Senator?

What are the most pressing problems facing our country that you hope to address as a member of the U.S. Senate?
The most pressing problems facing our Nation are strengthening our faltering economy and creating an entrepreneurial climate in which businesses can create jobs and opportunities for all Americans. We must strive to balance the federal budget without raising taxes. We must reduce our staggering national debt. We must make healthcare affordable and available to all Americans, not by nationalizing 17percent of our national economy, but by enacting common sense competitive reforms. We must have a strong national defense that enables us to fulfill our leadership role in the world from a position of strength. To strengthen the economy and reduce the debt, I support incentives for individuals and businesses to encourage investment, expansion, job creation and new business start-ups. I support eliminating wasteful deficit spending. I support lower taxes and reduced regulatory burdens on our businesses, particularly small businesses.

As a member of the Senate what specifically would you do to help the country recover from the recession?
It is obvious that the $787 billion “stimulus” package passed earlier this year has not created jobs. And it won’t. Talk of another “stimulus” package is absurd. More government spending will not rescue our economy. As Ronald Reagan showed us, the best way to stimulate the economy is through low tax rates that enable businesses and families to grow and prosper and save and invest. Americans are not under-taxed – we’re overspent. We must renew our commitment to balance the federal budget; limit discretionary spending to the rate of inflation; and reform entitlement spending. People are rightfully outraged about rewarding political allies like, for example, ACORN. I will fight against the big spenders of both political parties and will oppose spending which rewards special interests or is for earmarks or bailouts.

What do you think is the most egregious thing your Democratic opponent has done that you plan to oppose if elected in 2010?
Senator Bennet has not stood up for the interests of the Nation or the people of Colorado. He has demonstrated that he is but a rubber stamp for the Obama Administration. From his vote for the massive stimulus bill to his support for the government option in healthcare, he has made it clear that he is more concerned about following Democrat party leaders such as President Obama and Senator Reid than he is in protecting values important to the people of Colorado. It was obvious that the town meetings Senator Bennet held in August were not designed to take Coloradans’ concerns seriously. Coloradans deserve a Senator who will listen, take their concerns seriously, and work on their behalf – even if that means opposing party leaders.

Has the Republican Party failed to live up to its stated ideals in the past several years? If so, how?
The outpouring of citizen opposition to the Obama-Bennet policies has been both incredible and heartening. It is also a reminder that many leaders in the Republican Party have also failed in their leadership of this Nation. Thousands of Americans have risen up in outrage over pork-barrel spending, out-of-control federal budgets, and the mushrooming federal debt. Our children and grandchildren are being left with a debt they do not deserve and cannot pay. Americans are rightfully angered as both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have appeared to be more interested in cozy relationships with lobbyists than in responsible government. Good men and women have been marching across the Nation to warn Republicans and Democrats alike that the federal government ought to keep its hands off of their wallets, their businesses, and their healthcare. While rank and file Republicans have stayed true to principles of fiscal responsibility, limited government, and freedom, it is clear that some of our party leaders in Washington abandoned these core beliefs. I will stand up to get-along, go-along business-as-usual politics and will fight hard for our conservative principles of smaller government, lower taxes, and preservation of our constitutional freedoms.

What do you bring to the job of Senator that your primary opponents do not?
I choose to abide by Ronald Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment and express my respect for all of my primary opponents. However, what sets us apart is our vision for this Nation and our experience for this position. I am a third generation Coloradan. I am the only candidate who has run for and won a statewide office. Prior to being elected your Lieutenant Governor, I served as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in the first term of the Owens Administration. President Reagan appointed me Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I will be a strong voice for all Coloradans on meaningful and principled fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and healthcare reform. I have broad support from within the Republican Party as my recent victory in the State Central Committee straw poll demonstrates. Our success in raising over $500,000 in just 16 days from the date of my announcement is further evidence of the strength of our campaign.

What should the federal government’s role be in reducing the cost of healthcare? What specific things would you propose or support? What kind of laws would you oppose?
There are no easy decisions in healthcare, but solutions are best found in empowering families and individuals and their doctors – not politicians and bureaucrats – to make important healthcare decisions. Government intervention always limits choices. We should empower people by giving them more choices and by promoting competition to drive costs down and increase access to healthcare. Enacting a government-public option is something that neither I nor a majority of Coloradans and Americans support. What we need are common sense and market-based solutions that will slash costs without ceding control of 17% of our economy to the federal government; medical malpractice tort reform that limits expensive and frivolous lawsuits that drive up healthcare and insurance costs and result in unnecessary defensive medicine; tax equity so that those who buy their own insurance receive the same tax benefits as those who get insurance through their employers; high risk pools so those with pre-existing conditions may be covered; portability of health insurance; making cost and quality information plainly available to consumers; changing regulations that discourage individuals and small businesses from utilizing Health Savings Accounts; and giving small businesses the opportunities to pool risk and resources across state lines.

How are you going to deal with the federal government’s deficit spending? What specifically would you cut to balance the budget? Would you raise taxes?
We must renew our commitment to balance the federal budget, especially in times of prosperity. Many economists estimate that the federal budget could be balanced within 5 to 10 years simply by limiting the growth in spending to the rate of inflation. In tough times, there is no reason to grow the federal government at a rate faster than the growth in the economy. It is also the worst possible time to raise taxes. To the extent possible, we should limit discretionary spending to the rate of inflation and reform entitlement spending. We must reject the temptation to reward special interests. We must fight against the big spenders of both political parties. I do not support increases in our taxes.

What are your thoughts on Global Warming and what do you think about the cap and trade legislation pending before Congress as a solution to deal with the problem?
It is important that we consider sound science and foster open debate as we look for the best ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I oppose the cap and trade proposals passed on a party-line vote in the House of Representatives and recently introduced in the Senate. It is an arbitrary system that substitutes the whims and biases of politicians and bureaucrats for the sensible decisions of families and consumers. It will artificially increase the price of goods produced in our nation, put our companies at a competitive disadvantage, and cost us thousands of jobs. These are burdens that we cannot afford to bear. The proposed cap and trade legislation would have little global impact as India and China would still be unfettered in their CO2 output. If we are serious about reducing CO2, the answer lies in an “all of the above” strategy that includes the rapid development of nuclear power plants and the exploration and use of clean natural gas, which also brings jobs to Colorado.

What judge currently on the U.S. Supreme Court most accurately reflects the type of judge you would like to see placed on this court in the future and why?
I hold Chief Justice John Roberts in very high regard and believe that the Supreme Court would reach better decisions more often if we had more justices with a similar judicial philosophy. He is fearless in his opinions, principled in his reasoning, and never afraid to stand on his own on issues where he feels he is right. Chief Justice Roberts is a believer in judicial conservatism and keenly respectful of the process and rule of law. The Chief Justice is one of our greatest justices, and we would be fortunate indeed to have more justices of his intellect and caliber. I support the appointment of judges to federal courts, including the Supreme Court, who will strictly construe the U. S. Constitution and not manufacture new rights or remedies not specifically provided for by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution.

Do you think there is a Constitutional right to abortion? Explain your answer. Would you vote to make abortion illegal? Would you have exceptions?
The U. S. Constitution does not specifically speak about a right to an abortion. For decades, this important issue was left to the states to decide. In 1973, the U. S. Supreme Court, in the case of Roe v. Wade, ruled that the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution included a right to privacy which, in turn, included a right to an abortion. While I believe this decision was wrongly decided and should be overturned, it is unfortunately the law of the land today. I would support a Constitutional Amendment to protect unborn human life and will strive to promote a culture of life where all life (including the elderly, children, disabled, ill, and the unborn) is valued and protected. While I believe there may be certain limited circumstances – rape, incest, and life of the mother – when exceptions are needed, I oppose abortion because I believe human life begins at conception. I will oppose all federal funding of abortion. I support the appointment of judges to federal courts, including the Supreme Court, who will strictly construe the U. S. Constitution and not manufacture new rights or remedies not specifically provided for by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution.

Do you think government has an obligation to legally recognize same-sex relationships with a marriage license or some other form of official recognition? Explain your reasoning.
No. I support the traditional definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Marriage policy should be made by the people and their elected representatives – not by judges. Government should neither sanction same-sex marriage nor interfere in private contractual matters such as inheritance or medical decisions.

What do you think is the most pressing foreign policy problem facing this country and what do you think the federal government should do about it?
There is no shortage of problems facing our Nation internationally, from the struggle for democracy in Honduras to the emergence of a nuclear Iran. But I believe the most compelling foreign policy issue we face right now is the war in Afghanistan. Our ultimate goal is to defeat the Taliban, suppress al Qaeda, and foster stability in Pakistan. We cannot pull out prematurely, forsake our allies, and allow a terrorist haven to once again flourish. We must listen to our commanders on the ground and not pursue a half-hearted strategy that makes political expediency rather than military victory the goal.

How would you deal with illegal immigration? What do you think the government should do with all the illegal immigrants living in this country?
I believe that we must secure our borders and end illegal immigration. And because we are a nation that relies on the rule of law, I steadfastly oppose amnesty for those illegal immigrants already in our country. The true measure of any plan, though, is sensibility and workability. To that end, I support the expansion of the E-Verify system to insure that American jobs are filled by Americans and temporary workers who are legally present. We also need an expanded and effective temporary worker program to insure that critical Colorado industries have the personnel they need in order to thrive. If we as a nation are firm in our hiring practices and resolute in our opposition to amnesty, the allure of illegal immigration will dissipate.

Do you think gun ownership in this country is over regulated or under regulated? Explain your answer.
I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment and absolutely support the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. Gun sales are among the most heavily regulated transactions in America. In our country today, this constitutional right is often regulated into meaninglessness. However, we may be on the cusp of a turning point – last year, the Supreme Court struck down Washington, D.C.’s handgun ban as unconstitutional in District of Columbia v. Heller, and this year the Court will decide whether the Second Amendment is applied to the states in McDonald v. Chicago. I believe that a victory in this case would be a clear message to those who would abridge our constitutional Second Amendment rights. The benefit of the doubt should always go to honest citizens to decide how best to protect themselves, their family and their property.

Why do you want to be a U.S. Senator?

As senator, I will fight to control spending, a limit government intrusion in businesses, doctors’ offices and to create jobs and spur our economy through the private sector, rather than through a bloated federal government.

What are the most pressing problems facing our country that you hope to address as a member of the U.S. Senate?
There is no bigger challenge facing our country today than our economy. With our nation’s unemployment rate skyrocketing, the value of the dollar dropping and a national deficit that is crippling our standing in the world, we need a Senator who will fight for policies that will control spending and create jobs.

As a member of the Senate what specifically would you do to help the country recover from the recession?
America needs to attract high paying manufacturing jobs and change the current trend toward becoming a service economy. We need to reduce taxes and regulations on manufacturing businesses in this country. As a Senator I will also champion the role of small business in America. Approximately 72% of employees in this country work for small businesses. The Congress is creating more burdens for small business with energy policy, health care policy, pro-union policy, and tax policy. I will fight to repeal unnecessary burdens on small business.

What do you think is the most egregious thing your Democratic opponent has done that you plan to oppose if elected in 2010?
Spending in Washington is out of control. Pres. Obama’s first major piece of legislation was the massive stimulus package has not created jobs as the American people were told, but has put our country’s financial future in jeopardy. My opponent, Michael Bennet did not even read the $787 billion stimulus bill before voting for it. I will not vote for outrageous spending bills that we cannot afford, or that legislators do not have time to review. I will also support legislation to rein in spending by balancing the budget and requiring that requests for earmarks be completely transparent.

Has the Republican Party failed to live up to its stated ideals in the past several years? If so, how?
Yes, the GOP is in a weakened state due to years of deficit spending, expanding the federal government and focusing on reelection, rather than on what was best for our country. It’s time that we have a senator who has never shied away from his conservative values of having a limited government and ending Washington’s addiction to pork. We can not afford to send politicians to Washington who have deceived us in the past.

What do you bring to the job of Senator that your primary opponents do not?
As district attorney, I understand the role that government can play in helping Americans. Because of this understanding, I have been able to reduce crime in Weld County, and have worked with law enforcement and community leaders to keep kids in school, instead of on the streets.

Being district attorney has also given me the chance to stand up to an overbearing government. As U.S. Senator, I will always do what’s right for Colorado.

What should the federal government’s role be in reducing the cost of healthcare? What specific things would you propose or support? What kind of laws would you oppose?
Too many people are struggling to afford health care coverage in Colorado and in the country as a whole. Yet the only solution that Democrats and special interests in Washington are fighting for is more government. As senator, I will fight for health care reform that will focus on patients, doctors and the free-enterprise, instead of Washington bureaucrats. This includes allowing people to buy insurance across state lines, removing government mandates, and standing with Colorado’s doctors in support of malpractice reform. I will oppose any proposals that expand the role of government in the doctor-patient relationship.

How are you going to deal with the federal government’s deficit spending? What specifically would you cut to balance the budget? Would you raise taxes?
I will not raise taxes and I have signed a pledge clearly stating my opposition to increased taxes. I will vote to cut social programs that are better left to the states.

What are your thoughts on Global Warming and what do you think about the cap and trade legislation pending before Congress as a solution to deal with the problem?
My wife Perry and I live in Colorado because we are in awe of our state’s natural beauty, and believe we must take measures to protect it. Unfortunately, Democrats and special interests in Washington are pushing legislation such as Cap and Trade that pit the environment and our economy against one another. I believe we can have a robust economy and still protect the environment. As senator, I will fight against Cap and Trade legislation, which puts our country’s economy at risk.

What judge currently on the US Supreme Court most accurately reflects the type of judge you would like to see placed on this court in the future and why?
Chief Justice Roberts is an example of my ideal U S Supreme Court Justice. He is a strict constructionist who will not legislate from the bench. Understanding the role of the three branches of government is a critical asset in my opinion.

Do you think there is a Constitutional right to abortion? Explain your answer? Would you vote to make abortion illegal? Would you have exceptions?
I am pro-life. While there is currently a constitutional right to abortion, I believe the case law is an unconstitutional extension of the Court’s power. I would vote to ban abortions except if the mother’s life was in jeopardy. I have spent my professional life as a prosecutor protecting people and as a Senator I will continue to protect people, both born and unborn.

Do you think government has an obligation to legally recognize same-sex relationships with a marriage license or some other form of official recognition? Explain your reasoning.
No, I am for traditional marriage.

What do you think is the most pressing foreign policy problem facing this country and what do you think the federal government should do about it?
Because of our failed energy policy, the United States’ is addicted to foreign oil. This addiction funds our enemies overseas, giving them a stranglehold over our economy and providing financial support to people and organizations who want the United States to fail. It also forces us to engage in military actions to protect our energy sources that cost U S lives and billions of dollars. As Senator, I will stand up with America’s business community to harness conventional forms of energy, and to advance sustainable forms of alternative energy.

How would you deal with illegal immigration? What do you think the government should do with all the illegal immigrants living in this country?
For decades, the United States Congress has refused to confront our nation’s immigration problem. Being the grandson of immigrants, and by living in a college and agricultural community, I understand the value of immigration to our state and nation. Though we need immigration, our current system is broken. For many, entering our nation illegally is easier than playing by the rules. As Senator, I will support legislation that will make it easier for immigrants to obtain worker visas, while cracking down on those entering our country illegally. We can and we must secure our borders.

I do not support amnesty.

Do you think gun ownership in this country is over regulated or under regulated? Explain your answer.
Many in Washington are finding ways to use the Democratic majority to increase the already over regulated gun industry and to infringe on the rights of everyday citizens. As senator, I will take an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign or domestic. That includes the Second Amendment of the constitution.

Why do you want to be a U.S. Senator?

What are the most pressing problems facing our country that you hope to address as a member of the U.S. Senate?
Security, Economy, Energy and Jobs. I do believe in Drill here – Drill now.

As a member of the Senate what specifically would you do to help the country recover from the recession?
Lower taxes and let the FREE enterprise system of this great country make the necessary corrections. Those corrections are sometimes painful but have proven effective in the past. Reducing government regulation and red tape is essential. We need to work toward energy independence which will include some unpopular ideas such as drilling in this country; nuclear power while we pursue supplemental power such as hydroelectric, solar and wind. The looming threat of $4.00/gallon gas is continuing to make us nervous and makes recovery slower.

What do you think is the most egregious thing your Democratic opponent has done that you plan to oppose if elected in 2010?
Continuing to push for an all-inclusive bill toward socialist government despite the strong majority against it. Senator Bennett’s blind support of  the one two thousand pages or more bill with “legalize” unreadable language largely open to interpretation just because the party demands it while totally ignoring the voices of his constituents is unacceptable on so many levels.

Has the Republican Party failed to live up to its stated ideals in the past several years? If so, how?
Absolutely. They abandoned their conservative values for greed. They threw their principles and caution out the window. They enjoyed the attention of lobbyists and gave in to special interest groups. They ignored their constituents warning them they were overstepping. They destroyed the trust given them by their constituents. Trust once destroyed is very difficult to get back.

What do you bring to the job of Senator that your primary opponents do not?
I presently do the same job for the people of the Mancos valley that will be required of me in the Senate-to balance the budget while keeping the country working in a tax level they can live with. I have D.C. experience: 3 bills have been passed for the betterment of our district under my tenure. I work with and for the people who do the day-to-day jobs that keep this country fed, the mail delivered, the groceries stocked, etc. My directors have enough faith in me to allow me to campaign while maintaining my job.

What should the federal government’s role be in reducing the cost of healthcare?
Get out of the way – allow the free market system create competition.

What specific things would you propose or support?
 Removing restricting regulations; allow insurance companies to sell over state boundary lines which will increase competition; torte reform. Competition has been restricted allowing the few remaining to do as they will – premiums out of control, coverage limitations, pre-existing conditions list growing. Medicare needs to be vastly improved-I am not against privatization as a part of that improvement. This is what the Republican Party should have been working on instead of having their own spending party.

What kind of laws would you oppose?

 Government run health care in any form and anything that restricts or destroys free market competition, raises taxes and creates more regulation.  

How are you going to deal with the federal government’s deficit spending?

1. Each bureau and agency must be audited for efficiency and cuts made accordingly. (Many agencies could be dissolved or would be more efficient in the private sector.)
2.  Identify and remove wasteful spending in every facet of government.
3. DEMAND accountability. We are not holding any of our federal agencies accountable for anything they do.

What specifically would you cut to balance the budget?
 This is a difficult question to answer. I cannot do anything alone. I will work hard to do what I listed above because I strongly believe that is a huge part of federal overspending. There is too much repetition in all agencies – we don’t need new ones, we don’t even need many of those established. We definitely do not need czars – I repeat, every individual, bureau or agency must be held accountable.  I will look to the residents of Colorado to advise me where they would like me to put an emphasis.

Would you raise taxes?
Raising taxes should never be easy or done without time or thorough investigation of alternatives. Identifying and eliminating wasteful spending will save tax payers a lot of money but is difficult due to laws and restrictions voted in that protect those in federal employment. These cuts may involve law suits and are unpopular so they are avoided. Therefore, it’s easier to raise taxes BUT it never should be that easy.

What are your thoughts on Global Warming and what do you think about the cap and trade legislation pending before Congress as a solution to deal with the problem?
I don’t believe in man-made global warming. The planet has been evolving and changing since before man made his appearance here. We cannot predict the change-we cannot control it. Creating a program that forces our citizens to change their lives and takes away their rights and freedom while forcing them to pay more in taxes will not change one thing. It could drive more business (and jobs) overseas and will not improve the economy in any way. Americans are aware of our environment and do what we can in our way to protect it.

What judge currently on the US Supreme Court most accurately reflects the type of judge you would like to see placed on this court in the future and why?
I don’t favor one judge more than another. I’ve agreed with one, turned around and disagreed with the same one. I would support someone who would stand strong by their principles, would uphold the foundation that is the Constitution, and who would not legislate from the bench. I did not support appointment of Judge Sotomayer- her record did not show she had set any of these examples. .

Do you think there is a Constitutional right to abortion?
A Constitutional right – no .

Explain your answer?
I do not believe the founding fathers even considered abortion when they created our Constitution. For that reason, it has been, and is, open to interpretation.

 Would you vote to make abortion illegal?
Illegal as in paid for by tax payers, yes. I would hesitate to return to the days when doctors or non-professionals were performing illegal abortions in back alleys with dirty instruments as portrayed in movies; and being a man, I cannot honestly put myself in a position of having to make the decision that, for whatever reason, a woman does. I strongly oppose abortion as a taxpayer funded alternative.

Would you have exceptions?
I hesitate to say yes to exceptions but there most definitely are extenuating circumstances. I believe, however, that organizations or foundations could, and may already be formed, to help with the extenuating circumstances which should be funded with non-federal dollars.

Do you think government has an obligation to legally recognize same-sex relationships with a marriage license or some other form of official recognition?
No.

Explain your reasoning.
I believe marriage is a union between a man and woman. I do not believe the federal government has any obligation to recognize same-sex relationships.

What do you think is the most pressing foreign policy problem facing this country and what do you think the federal government should do about it?
Iran and N. Korea. As for Afghanistan – make a decision. I would prefer to send in enough troops to make an immediate impact and take care of the problem or pull them all out. Whatever we do, we CANNOT leave those already there to carry the burden alone or to be sacrificed with indecision. Fighting terrorism is a new and challenging issue. Honestly without more information, I cannot make a good opinion and I sometimes think it may be better to pull all our troops out of Afghanistan and prepare them to defend our country in our country.

How would you deal with illegal immigration?
Absolutely no amnesty. They should have 6 months to return to their country of origin and file the necessary paperwork to return. If they have not done so in 6 months, they are not allowed back into this country. That being said, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration needs to be fully audited, and the red tape that creates confusion and allows fraud needs to be eliminated along with the financial waste it creates. If immigrants truly want to be in this country, they should be able to file the necessary papers in a fair, timely and efficient manner.

What do you think the government should do with all the illegal immigrants living in this country?
Ship them out as stated above. We need to simplify and eliminate the red tape allowing fraud for work visas. We also need to rethink citizenship by birth in this country. That is being used heavily as an excuse to allow the family to stay. Americans don’t want to tear families apart and they are being taken advantage of because of that.

Do you think gun ownership in this country is over regulated or under regulated?
Over.

Explain your answer.
Our founding fathers were concerned with this issue. Therefore, the Constitution gives every citizen the right to own and bear arms. We have to be careful that we don’t create regulations that aid criminals instead of honest citizens.

Why do you want to be a U.S. Senator?

I see a crying need for fiscal, engineering, and medical sense in our government –and I have a uniquely broad technical background lacking in Congress. Unless we get someone with sense in the Senate, the country will continue down the drain.  The worst possible future is the status-quo. SO – The plan is to run for office, straighten out the mess, and get back to civilian life.

What are the most pressing problems facing our country that you hope to address as a member of the U.S. Senate?

1. The surging growth of Federal government and spending, largely at expense of the private sector, including:
   Rampant corruption through earmarks
   Federalizing problems that historically are state or local concerns
   including regulations affecting all aspects of life
   Chronic and worsening unbalance budget, threatening stability of the dollar
   Growing Federal taxes that will stifle recovery of private industry
   Unfunded mandates on the states
   “Wealth redistribution” to benefit the unproductive.
2. Overreliance on imported oil, leaving a strategic vulnerability.
3. Recession, triggered by banking miss-regulation aimed at “social justice” through rancid mortgages instead of stability.

As a member of the Senate what specifically would you do to help the country recover from the recession?

1. Reverse growth of the Federal Government through
   Ban on unfunded mandates amendment
   A balanced-budget amendment
   A spending cap amendment
   Ban earmarks
   Most states have these; they kept most states from default since Missouri crashed the banks in 1856. Unless the Federal burden is reduced, we will have stag-hyper-inflation
2. Re-impose Glass-Steagall.
3. Kill Cap-and-Trade to allow recovery.
4.  Kill Obamacare.
5.  Taper off “recession extensions” of unemployment so those who are receiving benefits have motive to find jobs – including my sister.

What do you think is the most egregious thing your Democratic opponent has done that you plan to oppose if elected in 2010?
Mr Bennet has committed to support Obamacare. I’ve been in nationalized healthcare while in Medical School – and you do NOT want it here.

He is a big-government, tax-and-spend critter, and has failed to exercise fiscal restraint. While his website claims he supports “fiscal responsibility”, he backs pork-laden and grossly-ineffective stimulus plans instead of tightening the Federal budget and slashing earmarks.

Has the Republican Party failed to live up to its stated ideals in the past several years? If so, how?
Yes. Some Republicans helped squander the nation’s wealth through earmarks, and received kickbacks as campaign contributions from earmark recipients. Also, Mr Bush expanded Federal entanglement with education, historically a state responsibility. And further, some republicans sat by allowing expansion of the Federal government and use of the Community Reinvestment Act to endanger the banking system.

What do you bring to the job of Senator that your primary opponents do not?

1. Proposals for permanent solutions to the growth of the Federal government and bloated budget.
2. Actual education and/or experience in both Engineering and Medicine, with a deeper understanding of realities of energy and healthcare than typical politicians
3. Independence from classical political machines, like the Chicago mob in power.

What should the federal government’s role be in reducing the cost of healthcare? What specific things would you propose or support? What kind of laws would you oppose?
I oppose the “government option” and punitive tax on medical devices imposed because manufacturers would not cave in to Obamafia. I’ve seen socialized medicine firsthand.

I propose gradual reform, cracking down on fraud, restricting medical malpractice costs, allowing deductions for individuals who buy insurance, promoting catastrophic coverage combined with lifelong health savings accounts, and thus allowing individuals to price-shop for basic services and to pay providers directly.

How are you going to deal with the federal government’s deficit spending? What specifically would you cut to balance the budget? Would you raise taxes?

1. Rollback 2 years of pay hikes for Federal employees
2. Eliminate ALL earmarks
3. NO bills over 100 pages.
4. Impose an austerity reduction in all Federal entitlement program benefit levels, and suspend cost-of-living increases.
5. Review Federal agencies to keep those that must be Federal, and eliminate those that do things the States can or should manage.
6. End the Federal ban on Marijuana for the same reasons Prohibition was repealed, taxing it, and slashing the DEA by 50%.
7. Impose a page limit on the internal revenue code slashing it by half.

What are your thoughts on Global Warming and what do you think about the cap and trade legislation pending before Congress as a solution to deal with the problem?
The earth surges from iceball to polar sauna. The Roman Empire died in a cold-snap, followed by the Medieval warm period, Maunder Minimum, and “little ice age” from which we’ve barely recovered.

Not all of climate change is understood, research is needed into:
a. What drives arctic melting? Is it CO2, or Chinese soot?
b. How much change is due to Pacific Ocean cycles?
c. Why the stall in Solar Cycle 24? What does it mean?
d. What else affects climate?

Cap-and-tax may address non-problem with suicide. It is based on a “stop development” mindset, payoffs to cronies, and wealth redistribution through “rebates” targeted to ACORN; not real solutions.

Cap and Tax is the economic death of the USA.

I propose energy independence:
a. Tax benefits for conserving.
b. Reopen Yucca Mountain, despite Reid.
c. Build new nuclear plants, to 3-5 standardized designs, reducing coal and CO2, while supplying base-load.
d. Move the Northeast from oil to gas and electric.
e. Tax oil imports to subsidize shale-oil and oil from coal.
f. Simplify regulations for converting vehicles to natural gas.
g. Eliminate subsidies for corn ethanol, but encourage renewable solar, wind, hydroelectric, and cellulosic ethanol.

What judge currently on the US Supreme Court most accurately reflects the type of judge you would like to see placed on this court in the future and why?
Mr. Scalia – I like his rebellious streak and acerbic wit!

Do you think there is a Constitutional right to abortion? Explain your answer? Would you vote to make abortion illegal? Would you have exceptions?
Had abortion been more available in the 1950’s, I likely would not be here today – my parents saw no other alternative but to marry because of the pregnancy, they did not marry from love. Childhood was stressful as a result.

I’m torn about abortion. On one hand I would like to see abortion restricted so others like me will survive—perhaps limited to assault or real physical (not mere mental) risk to the mother; but on the other hand I see it as something that it was a grave mistake to Federalize.

My libertarian streak says the Federal government should butt-out and turn the issue back to the states.

Do you think government has an obligation to legally recognize same-sex relationships with a marriage license or some other form of official recognition? Explain your reasoning.
Government should get out of the bedroom. Government should allow most relations between consenting adults, whether homosexual, heterosexual, promiscuous, celibate, monogamous, polygynous, or polygamous. Government need not recognize particular relationships because recognition is implicit support, and not all relationships warrant support. I follow traditional LDS-Christian moral values in my life, but I am not an evangelist. I do not seek to impose my values or faith on others. Many schools now attack Christian views and attitudes in name of diversity, this must end.

What do you think is the most pressing foreign policy problem facing this country and what do you think the federal government should do about it?
Our continued exporting of the national treasury and equity to China and the Mideast. Balancing the budget would help, see above; so would judicious tariff hikes to retain some jobs within the United States.

How would you deal with illegal immigration? What do you think the government should do with all the illegal immigrants living in this country?
Illegal immigrants should be expelled from the country whenever, wherever, and however caught – and send the anchor babies with them.

Do you think gun ownership in this country is over regulated or under regulated? Explain your answer.
Gun ownership is over-regulated on average, and especially in Chicago and New York with handgun bans, and California with its restrictive list of approved models. I have an M-1 Garand on my living-room wall. I shoot black-powder. While I do not concealed-carry, I favor allowing concealed carry by law-abiding individuals as a way to ensure crime is risky enough to discourage criminals.