Election 2020 – State Legislators
Post Series: Election 2020
- 1.Election 2020 – State Legislators
- 2.Election 2020 – Colorado Springs 2A
- 3.Election 2020 – El Paso County Commissioner Survey Responses
As Election Day approaches and mail-in ballots begin to arrive at Coloradans’ doorsteps, our friends at Bicycle Colorado wanted to help our educate bike riders to help them make informed decisions about who they are voting for in statewide contests.
In early September they sent out a candidate questionnaire to every person running for seats in the Colorado House of Representatives and Colorado Senate. Every seat in the Colorado House is up for grabs this year. Bike Colorado Springs has also sent out a similar questioner to the El Paso County Commissioner Candidates, we will follow up with the responses we receive.
Bicycle Colorado’s article will a response from Colorado Senate Candidates Can be found here.
Bicycle Colorado’s article will a response from Colorado House Candidates Can be found here.
Below, you can read responses from the El Paso County candidates running for the Colorado House of Representatives and Colorado Senate who responded to our survey.
Please note:
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Bicycle Colorado is unable to endorse or donate to candidates running for office.
As a fiscally sponsored fund of the Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) a 501(c)(3) organization, Bike Colorado Springs is unable to endorse or donate to candidates running for office. The responses below do not serve as an endorsement of any kind, but are intended to give you an informed look at who seeks to represent you in the State Legislature when it comes to bicycling and roadway safety issues.
We have not edited the below responses in any way.
Not sure what legislative district you live in? Click here to find out.
Colorado Senate Candidate Responses – El Paso County
Senate District 10 – El Paso County
Candidate Larry Liston
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Every day
What kind of biking do you do?
Family biking
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
Possibly, I need to hear both sides of this issue
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
I support this issue
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
In urban areas, yes. In rural areas, No.
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
Yes
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
Probably
#####
Candidate Randy McCallian
Did not respond.
Senate District 12 – El Paso County
Senator Bob Gardner
Did not respond.
#####
Candidate Electra Johnson
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Every day
What kind of biking do you do?
Family biking, Gravel, Road
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
Yes
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
I think its incredibly important
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
yes
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
yes
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
yes
Colorado House Candidate Responses – El Paso County
House District 14 – El Paso County
Representative Shane Sandridge
Did not respond.
#####
Candidate John Foley
Did not respond.
House District 15 – El Paso County
Representative Dave Williams
Did not respond.
#####
Candidate John Pyne IV
Did not respond.
House District 16 – El Paso County
Candidate Stephanie Vigil
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Once a month
What kind of biking do you do?
I don’t bike, I’d love to again, but I’m honestly too scared of COS drivers to ride a bike here.
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
Yes
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
In general, I’m a proponent of using good planning to draw out our best behaviors, rather than waiting for something bad to happen and then finding someone to punish for it. We definitely need more visible and noticeable crosswalks, and structures like roundabouts that require greater attention and prevent accidents.
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
Yes! Advancing public transportation is a huge part of my platform and policy goals. We’ve largely neglected to develop cohesive neighborhoods with adequate walk-able spaces in Colorado Springs, and when we connect the entire Front Range via rail, we’re going to need additional resources for urban centers like COS to be a well integrated stop along that route.
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
Absolutely
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
Yes; this is how everybody rides their bike in Chicago and it is a non-issue.
#####
Candidate Andres G. Pico
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Once a month
What kind of biking do you do?
Family biking, Gravel, Road
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
Where applicable based on traffic and survey data.
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
I support the concept and am interested in researching this area. This is applicable to more than biking.
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
Yes
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
Yes if this is part of a broad, integrated transportation plan.
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
I am willing to consider this.
House District 17 – El Paso County
Representative Tony Exum
Did not respond.
#####
Candidate Robert Blancken
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Every day
What kind of biking do you do?
I don’t bike
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
no
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers. Ticketing and having good traffic court judges.
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
As a citizen is your choice in how you commute.
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
No, we have high taxation in my community now that is funding public transit and roadways.
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
I do not support Gov. polis plan.
House District 18 – El Paso County
Representative Marc Snyder
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Never
What kind of biking do you do?
I don’t bike
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
Yes.
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
Yes
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
YEs
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
Yes
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
Yes
#####
Candidate George Rapko
Did not respond.
House District 19 – El Paso County
Representative Tim Geitner
Did not respond.
#####
Candidate Joe Thompson
Did not respond.
House District 20 – El Paso County
Representative Terri Carver
Did not respond.
#####
Candidate Meg Fossinger
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Once a week
What kind of biking do you do?
Family biking, Gravel, Road
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
I would have to look into it further. I am not familiar enough with the pros and cons of this issue.
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
In 2014, my best friends daughter was killed when the driver of her vehicle looked down to check a text and lost control of his vehicle. She was 16 years old. Distracted driving puts everyone on the road at risk and I support investing in evidence-based policies to combat it.
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
Yes. Investing in alternative transportation benefits all of us by increasing access to economic opportunities, lowering emissions, and providing safe ways for physical activities.
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
Once our budget is stabilized, absolutely. With school funding being cut significantly due to economic crisis caused by COVID-19, we must prioritize what we are funding. Public transportation is high on the list for me, after ensuring that our communities basic needs, such as food, housing assistance, medical services, and education are met.
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
Yes. As a regular bike rider, I recognize that this increases safety, especially at stop lights where moving with traffic through narrow intersections can be hazardous.
House District 21 – El Paso County
Candidate Liz Rosenbaum
On average, how often do you ride a bike, walk, or take transit for transportation or recreation?
Never
What kind of biking do you do?
When my kids were younger we did a lot of bike rides, they are all older and out of the house now and we don’t ride bikes anymore. Gifted them to another young family
Do you support expanding automated enforcement on Colorado roadways?
yes, lighted up speed signs are very useful in school zone areas where vision is difficult on curves and makes sure people know there are more pedestrians / bikes in the areas
Where do you stand on reducing distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel through proactive funding for safe infrastructure projects?
We need a better warning systems on the roads (what I call rumble strips, I am from IA and that is what we call them) on the edges, middle, and up to stop signs
Do you commit to supporting policies that increase opportunities for Coloradans to bike, walk, and take transit and those with the purpose of reducing vehicle miles traveled?
YES! I am especially excited about a Front Range Rail system, and if we also plan for bikes to be stored on the cars, then people can get off and bike the remaining way to their destinations. Also, the paid biking systems are nice as well.
Will you support increased funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and transit?
yes, and I’d like to expand this for motorized scooters in a safer area since the speeds are higher than walking, they need to be in a bike lane and encouraged safety gear.
Do you support statewide adoption of the Colorado Safety Stop?
This would have to also include an educational format, because drivers are going to be calling in cases of people not stopping at a red light etc, and then law enforcement would be interacting w/ BIPOC.
#####
Candidate Mary Bradfield
Did not respond.
