SAN LUIS VALLEY — On the November ballot, voters will be asked to weigh in on eight topics that range from school choice to a ban on hunting mountain lions.
In an effort to provide information to voters about how their votes will align or not align with the candidates, the Valley Courier presented these same questions to the two candidates running for the state legislature. Today will be the responses of the two candidates for the Colorado Senate District 6. On Friday, Sept. 27, candidate responses from the House of Representatives District 62 were in the Courier.
The questions that appear under each candidate’s name are abbreviated versions of the actual question that will appear on the ballot. These are the questions in their entirety. Question no. 9 does not appear on the ballot and was posed by the Valley Courier.
Vivian Smotherman, Democrat running for Colorado Senate District 6
Should defendants charged with first degree murder be denied bail?
"I like the premise of this ballot measure, but without a more concrete definition of what constitutes a ‘strong case,’ I fear it could be used to discriminate against defendants based on the color of their skin, identity, sexual orientation, gender, income level, homelessness, etc. In its current form, I will vote No."
Should the same-sex marriage ban be removed from the state constitution?
"Absolutely. This is simply cleaning up old language that is no longer applicable. As a country, we’ve grown to understand that relationships are based on love. If two people want to commit their lives to each other, we as a state should honor and respect their decision. I will vote Yes."
Should access to legal abortion be enshrined in the state constitution?
"This is another issue centered around who should have control over individuals' lives—in this case, women. This is a freedom issue; no one should have their personal rights and liberties taken away because of someone else’s beliefs, especially through government interference. I will vote Yes."
Should the right to school choice be included in the state constitution?
"Absolutely not! This is a deceptive measure framed around ‘choice,’ which every parent already has. Everyone is free to choose their children's school or homeschool. This measure would take valuable resources away from our struggling public school system and give them to institutions that want to operate outside state educational guidelines. Our best investment is in public schools that serve everyone with equity. I will vote No."
Should there be a ban on sport hunting of big cats, including mountain lions, bobcats and lynx?
"This is a difficult issue. I believe Colorado has a reliable program that manages our big cat populations. I refuse to legislate someone else’s morality to deny another person’s freedom. This measure would negatively impact our tourism dollars, which hurts our small businesses. I love our big cats, but until our Department of Parks and Wildlife tells me they’re in danger, I won’t interfere. I will vote No."
Should eligibility for parole when convicted of a violent crime be increased from 75% to 85% of sentence?
"I see no rationale for this measure apart from making legislators look ‘tough on crime.’ This 10% increase would require more beds and a larger budget to keep people locked up longer—Colorado doesn’t have the revenue for senseless changes. I will vote No.
Should there be a new excise tax of 6.5% on the sale of guns and ammunition sales, impacting gun manufacturers, gun vendors and businesses that sell ammunition?
While this bill seems simple, it’s been proven that adding taxes doesn’t reduce violent crime. Even using the tax for community programs feels like putting the cart before the horse. Let’s address the root causes of gun violence — poverty, hate, fear, and discrimination. I will vote No."
Do you believe elections in Colorado are safe and secure?
"I have unwavering confidence in our election system here in Colorado. We track every ballot, voter, and vote carefully. We have the most secure system in the country, and I’m proud of that."
If elected, what are your top two or three priorities?
"A. Housing and Cost of Living: Throughout SD-6, communities are suffering from a lack of housing and out-of-reach prices. I aim to funnel money to counties to form public private partnerships for affordable housing. We also need to fight for living wages so no one has to choose between housing, food, and healthcare.
B. Rural Healthcare: The high cost of living affects our ability to attract young healthcare professionals. Older professionals are retiring, and we’re losing services. Lower Medicare/Medicaid payments in rural areas only worsen the issue. We need to stop losing access to vital services.
C. Education: Our legislature eliminated the BS factor, but they’re already talking about cutting education funds. This is unacceptable, especially for rural schools. Lack of good schools deters young professionals from moving into our communities. We need affordable housing and better schools to build sustainable communities where everyone can thrive."
