The Republican Club of Falcon held a public forum Jan. 11 for the candidates vying for Douglas Bruce’s seat as county commissioner for District 2. A Republican selection committee will choose Bruce’s replacement later this month.Ken Bull, Michael Burton and Amy Lathen attended the forum as candidates. Each candidate provided introductory remarks and then answered questions submitted by the audience.IntroductionsKen Bull“I have supported the Republican Party for 22 years as a precinct chairman and now division leader and never missed a meeting,” Bull said. As a former public administrator, Bull said he knows the petty games administrators play. “Some think time with the party is not enough [to be selected for this position]. I don’t agree with that,” Bull said.Bull, who has a doctorate degree in statistics and research, said as a superintendent that he has dealt with school boards. He also has owned a business for 20 years. Bull said he is pro-life and pro-family.”I am a conservative who will work to keep your money in your pockets,” he said.Amy LathenLathen said she began preparing for the county commissioner seat 15 months ago. “I have attended water board meetings, town meetings, the county’s Citizen’s Academy, where we studied the Constitution, and met personally with all elected officials,” Lathen said. “I wanted to know if I would have the support of the community.”Lathen also said she is a staunch conservative, supports property rights and life and will support business owners, ranchers and all the people in District 2. “I will provide the leadership you expect and deserve, so you can live free from too much government intrusion,” she said.Michael Burton“I am your conservative candidate,” Burton said. “This is not about me. This is about us, about our families and our future. This is about building and strengthening our law enforcement. It’s about roads, so you can get from point A to point B safely. It’s about reducing and eliminating wasteful spending.”Burton said he has not asked for endorsements. “The endorsement that matters to me is the people,” he said. “If you choose to put me in office, I will be your public servant day in and day out.”The questionsDoes voting to allow a tax increase to be decided by the voters support a tax increase?Lathen: “No. Because there is no petition process, putting measures on the ballot is the only way people can vote on a tax increase,” she said. “It is necessary for a people to have a right to decide their own destiny,” Lathen said.Burton: “I do not believe in raising taxes or fees. I would vote to not allow it to go on the ballot. Almost all the money that is spent is spent inefficiently.”Bull: “I would never vote to raise taxes. A lot of different entities live on taxes. Taxes have a way of automatically escalating. Districts should live within their funds. It costs a lot of money to run an election.” If a district presented a good argument for a tax increase, “I would contact the people in that district and see what their feelings would be.”How will you help ensure that people are apprised of their property rights?Burton: If people aren’t being notified about land issues, “I will personally go and talk to people if that’s the only way to get the job done, and I would encourage the other commissioners to do the same thing.” The county’s Web site could be used to disseminate information.Bull: “I agree with Mr. Burton’s position. I believe every situation should be an open meeting.”Lathen: “I don’t believe the county has done a due diligence on recent issues. These people deserve to be listened to. If it means coming out to listen to you in your living room, I will do that.”What is the most important issue facing District 2?Bull: Widening Highway 24 to Limon. “There have been several fatalities on that highway around Falcon and Peyton.”Lathen: Public safety and having a safe environment to raise families, and that extends to our roads. “Public safety is necessary to have a community we want to live in.”Burton: Growth. “We’re in a growth corridor. We’re a rural district and growth is going to overrun us. Is growth going to be a blessing or a headache?”What have you done to make yourself knowledgeable on the Cherokee water district?Lathen: This question is about the leases in Ellicott that say Cherokee is entitled to water in three areas. “I have attended Marilan Luttrell’s meetings. The board of county commissioners does not have jurisdiction but should be mediating, so everyone is at the table.”Burton: “Our whole future hinges on water. It is going to take a lot to untangle the Web.” Even though the BOCC has no authority, “it has to take a role. It’s too important, too critical to our future and critical to the peace of all our residents.”Bull: “These problems didn’t start just recently. It is a statewide issue. I agree with Mr. Burton. The BOCC needs to stay on top of it. The sooner we can get a handle on it, the better.”What is your position on the Second Amendment, the make-my-day law, concealed carry and gun control?Burton: “I am going to class tomorrow to get a concealed carry permit. There are times when the government gets too big.”Lathen: “I would strengthen the make-my-day law to give it some teeth.” Lathen said she carries a .38 and is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. “Teachers who have permits should be allowed to carry in the schools. That’s what’s going to protect our kids.”Would you have voted to approve the Sokol gravel pit facility?Bull: “People in Calhan were upset and feel they weren’t represented. At the same time, it is difficult to deny the property rights of the property owner.” Bull said he thought more effort should have been put into mediating the issue.Lathen: “I would have voted against it. Look at the accident record on Highway 24.” Lathen said Rocky Mountain Asphalt puts 200 trucks a day on Soap Weed Road and the residents should not have to deal with that. “I would have found a way for Rocky Mountain Asphalt to build their own road. This is a case where due diligence was done, but they (the BOCC) didn’t listen.”Burton: “I don’t have significant first-hand knowledge and would abstain.”What is your position on the SuperSlab?:Lathen: “This is a property rights issue. Our fundamental freedom rests on property rights. I do not support the SuperSlab.”Burton: “I am not going to allow it to happen.”Bull: “I do not believe eminent domain should be used by any government. This is a private company. If they can afford to buy the property, let them work it out.”What would you do to improve sheriff patrols in the district?:Burton: “I know the sheriff is short-handed. This is one of the big issues.” Burton said he would work to increase coverage in District 2.Bull: “There has been only one sheriff deputy for the eastern part of the county since the 1980s. It can’t be done by one deputy. The deputy needs back up. There is a plan to build a substation probably in the Falcon area.”Lathen: “I have talked with Sheriff Maketa. He says he doesn’t have the staff.” Lathen said having an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Colorado Springs might free up some deputies from the jail. She said home-based deputies are an option. “I believe in having a priority-based budget,” to get more deputies in District 2.When budgets must be cut, what services should be cut last?Bull: “Public safety needs to be maintained and beefed up. Mr. Maketa runs an excellent operation on a limited budget.” Bull suggested cutting back on parks.Lathen: “Mandates from the state and from the federal government are mandates, and we can’t say no without being sued. We have to work with the state – with Marsha Looper and Douglas Bruce – to stop them from imposing mandates.”Burton: “I can easily find $1 million that doesn’t need to be spent.” He suggested the county’s health department spends money unnecessarily.Do you support same-sex benefits for county employees?Lathen: “No. Never, ever, ever.”Burton: “No. There is no way.”Bull: “Never, ever.”Would you continue funding the county fair?Bull: “The county fair needs to get on its own feet and operate itself. There is a lot of waste and it needs a careful look. At least it is a legitimate county function.”Burton: “We need to cut out non-essential spending. I love the county fair. I think it can operate without additional funding.”Lathen: “The fair will be self-sufficient by 2009.” Lathen said the success of the El Paso County Speedway is an example of how the fair will move forward. “It is a tremendous lesson on what people can do. The volunteers made the speedway work.”What would you like to be remembered for as a county commissioner?Burton: “That he was loyal, that he served us and cared more about the citizens than anything else.”Bull: “That he did not raise taxes, reduced government and gave people freedom.”Lathen: “That she listened and made decisions because she believed it was right, and used conservative principles as guidance.”Concluding remarks:Lathen: “My view is that you are employers. I am asking you to hire me to do this job. No one is as prepared as I am.”Burton: “Our future hinges on this choice. We need a county commissioner who is loyal to the people, a true public servant who will reduce the size and scope of government and not vote to raise taxes or fees.”Bull: “Every position I’ve had in my life was serving the public. There is nothing I would like more than serving the county I have lived in for 27 years. Only after contacting the people affected would I agree to put a tax increase to a vote. Thank you Doug Bruce for TABOR.”
