I was honored to have been chosen to be your House District 15 state representative. I have lived
in House District 15 for 28 years and have served as your county commissioner, a precinct committeeman,
county and state assembly delegate, and party activist. I am a
pro-life, traditional family values, social and fiscal conservative - a
Ronald Reagan Republican.
You may recall that I wrote the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR)
Amendment, a state constitutional amendment approved in 1992. 68% of El
Paso County voters supported TABOR. At that year's GOP state assembly,
TABOR was endorsed by 71% of delegates. TABOR has been vocally
supported by nearly all conservative Republicans in
Colorado. (Socialists hate it.)
In 1991, TABOR passed in Colorado Springs with 61% approval. At that
time, voters also approved my tax cut petition, which ended city taxes
on telephone, electric, gas, and cable TV bills; lowered property
taxes; and phased out a "temporary" 0.5% sales tax rate increase the
city council had imposed since 1984.
I have testified before state legislative committees, the city council,
and the board of county commissioners on many occasions. Whether for
property owner rights, gun owner rights, taxpayer rights, petitioner
rights, or the right to life, my efforts have always been aimed at
helping you and your family enjoy more freedom.
I served on the county Citizen's Budget Review
Committee. Our final report listed millions of dollars in wasteful
spending, but was ignored because commissioners insisted on passing a
one percent sales tax regardless of need.
I actively fought the county's failed efforts
to 'de-TABOR' in 2001 and 2003, and the huge tax and debt increases
sought by county officials in 2002.
After the 2002 tax and debt issues failed, 63%-to-37%, the prior board
of commissioners
put us into debt for $156 million over the next 25 years. Their action
violated the letter and spirit of TABOR. I publicly opposed that illegal action.
I wrote the tax cut petition that was on the 2000 state ballot. I have also challenged in court the city's
illegal streetlight tax, illegal stormwater tax, cable TV tax, and open space tax, and the
library district's illegal property tax increases. I opposed the city property tax increase
in April 2009 and the city tax increases that November.
I also wrote the city reform petitions to stop the illegal stormwater tax and other enterprise tax abuses.
We filed 50% more signatures than required, so you will be able to vote for our issues.
I make this firm, no-loophole pledge:
I will never vote to raise your taxes, put your family into debt, or
take away your tax refunds. With my 23-year record as a
taxpayer advocate, you know you can count on me to keep my word.
Thanks for visiting our website. I hope to hear from you soon.
(Click cartoon to view full size)
