Amy Stephens, a resident of El Paso County since 1991, worked for 10 years as a public policy and youth culture specialist for Focus on the Family. Stephens has a bachelor’s in communications from California State University at Fullerton. She and her husband and son live in Colorado Springs. Web site: www.amystephens4d20.com.NFH: Are you still associated with Focus on the Family?Stephens: On a consulting or writing basis. Sometimes they may call me for a quick interview. My expertise is children and family. I worked in public policy on youth issues and welfare reform. I also restructured their youth culture department. Sometimes they need a quote on youth issues. But it’s been a year or two since I wrote something for them. I did a broadcast with them in March of this year on teens and sexually transmitted diseases.NFH: What are the most important issues for District 20?Stephens: District 20 is one of the fastest growing districts in El Paso County. The storage, treatment, use and management of water is a primary issue. Half of District 20 is under Colorado Springs Utilities, and the other half is on wells, so it’s a mixed bag. In the Legislature, we want all of the El Paso County delegation voting as a block on water issues.Safe communities are another important issue. I support law enforcement. I grew up in a law enforcement family. Law enforcement must have the tools they need to keep communities safe from predators and criminals. I consider law enforcement to be one of my top priorities … including helping district attorneys put away criminals and helping the corrections system house them.Education is another important issue. Parents want choice in education. We need more TSA or charter schools in the district.Economic development is another important issue. We have a lot of over-qualified workers here that need middle- to upper-middle management jobs. We need to bring more aerospace jobs to town. I will also work to protect the rights of business owners.NFH: What is your position on eminent domain and the “Super Slab?”Stephens: Use of eminent domain to build the Lewis Palmer School at Whistler Ranch is a huge issue here. I’m still researching the “Super Slab” and can’t say right now that I am a proponent. I need to see where the issue is going next. If people want to sell their land, that’s fine. I go to the Denver airport often, and E470 works really well for me.NFH: Do you think that “No Child Left Behind” has worked well in District 20?Stephens: I like the accountability that it provides, and it helps parents choose the best school. I think we must have more dollars in the classroom and less in administration. It has brought about some good reforms, but it poses challenges about what is taught.NFH: What’s your position on the November ballot amendments and referenda?Stephens: I support Amendment 43, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. I do not support Referendum I, which enables domestic partnerships. I’m still researching the others.NFH: Do you think Colorado should move ahead of the federal government on CO2 emissions and climate change?Stephens: I do not believe in global warming. I believe climate change comes in cycles.NFH: What do you think can be done about the high cost of medical insurance?Stephens: We have the Colorado insurance program, but not many people have taken advantage of it. With the rise in the cost of health insurance, premiums have gone up. Today’s current health care system does not encourage preventive medicine. For example, the health care system is happy to pay for heart bypass surgery, but won’t pay for preventive medicine. In Europe, ultrasound is a standard in checking for breast cancer, but not here. I would challenge the insurance companies to pay for preventive medicine. At the same time, we cannot rely on government. We have to take care of ourselves. I am a proponent of medical accounts, so people can make decisions about what works for them.NFH: What do you think can be done about illegal immigration?Stephens: We have a lot to do, but we have to wait and see how the legislation that was passed this summer works out. It is very important for the federal and state agencies to work together. It is very important that our borders be secure. I favor building a fence. I am not a proponent of services for illegals. There is not a lot that can be done with the 11 million illegal immigrants that are already here. One of the major things that can be done to fix health care is to prevent illegals from using emergency services. Nationwide, 80 hospitals have closed, bankrupted by unpaid bills. If we did not have illegal immigrants here, we would have so many more dollars for the people who are here legally. I’m not in favor of a guest worker program. We cannot put unnecessary mandates on employers to check the legal status of their employees.NFH: What achievement are you most proud of in the past 10 years?Stephens: Personally, my son; professionally, the curriculum I wrote promoting abstinence and marriage.
