by Matt Bergles
The impetus for this article came from several real-life experiences and a lifelong commitment to making a difference in how we Americans elect candidates, as well as how we formulate, enact and implement public policy at all levels of government. The most immediate experience came as a losing candidate from Denver’s House District 8 in the 2008 Democratic primary.
I ran for many reasons, not the least of which was a disgust with the politics of who’s in and who’s out, who can raise the most money, who has the most connections and name recognition and who can create the best sound bites. I listened, walked and talked my way across countless miles and thousands of doorsteps and attended a multitude of neighborhood meetings, political events, church services and block parties. I also brought a plethora of real-life experiences that I thought were germane to serving in a “citizen legislature.” I’d been a high school teacher and coach for 27 years, had a Ph.D. in Public Affairs, was a former blue collar worker, a faithful Catholic Christian, a lifelong sportsman/conservationist and a husband and father among many other things. I thought that with a solid background, the ability to speak intelligently about pertinent issues, hard work and passion, I could certainly prevail. I was wrong.
My opponent, the victor, brought many fine qualities and experiences as well and has been, and I’m sure will continue to be, a fine public servant. I was not ashamed to lose to her; I respect her and wish her well. The campaign experience however, aggravated a long simmering inquisitiveness I’ve had about the problems within the American political system and helped synthesize and focus the big picture experientially, whereas before it was merely conceptual. I will try to briefly summarize that picture as I conceive it and offer a possible remedy.
My candidacy allowed me to meet a cross-section of voters from every possible ethnic and socio-economic group and helped form a clear picture of what is happening concerning elections and policymaking in our state, and at the risk of over-generalizing, our Republic. The day of my loss – exhausted and frustrated – I began to mentally review my campaign, its organization, fundraising, voter outreach etc. in an effort to surmise what I might have done better to attain victory. Serendipitously, a successful political consultant and old friend called from across the country to console me and debrief what happened. After the usual postmortem, he mentioned a book that he said explained the real reason for my loss and why our political system is in such disrepair. “I’m sending you Just How Stupid Are We? Facing the Truth About the American Voter, by Rick Shenkman” he said. “You’ll see that it’s not you at all. Who could have been a better candidate and run a better campaign than you? It is the fault of people we allow to vote in this country. They’re ignorant, lazy, uneducated on the issues and are easily swayed by gimmicks; if they even bother to register, let alone vote at all.”
“That’s it, he’s right” I thought, as countless questions and comments I had encountered throughout my campaign began to resurface in my mind such as: “There’s an election?” “Can you get my neighbors to make their dog stop barking?” “Can you make a set of hitchhiking hand signals?” “Can you end the war in Iraq?” “Are you on City Council as a State Representative?” “Do I have to register?’ “I just saw you on TV, you’re the guy running against McCain, right?” “You’ve got my vote, I always vote for the Democrat (remember, this was a primary, all of the candidates on the ballot were Democrats)!” The title of the book alone conveniently let me off the hook for any responsibility in my loss and validated my candidacy. I immediately concluded that stupid voters were the reason for my electoral demise and the demise of the entire system. I smugly hung up the phone and waited for the book to arrive so I could read it and end my mental maelstrom, validate my superiority as a candidate and ruminate about the stupid voters in this district, state and nation!
I did read Just How Stupid Are We? Facing the Truth About the American Voter, and there is some truth to be gleaned from it to be sure. But as time went by and the sting of my loss diminished, my thoughts broadened to encompass a wide array of questions concerning the present state of the American electorate and thus, of our republic. Obviously, voters share a large part of the blame. But what about the people they elect? What about the media? What about our public schools, colleges and universities? How about the billions of dollars spent to influence elections and those elected? Why is incumbency so powerful? Why can’t partisans let go of their entrenched allegiance and embrace the best evidence and therefore, the best candidates? I set out to find answers to these and other questions and once found, prescribe recommendations to put our republic back on track and asked how do we get from here to there? From the dismal state of the American political system that has, in turn, resulted in the dismal state of our economy, our foreign relations, our natural environment our public educational institutions and culture. To, a country of thoughtful and respectful citizens engaged in informed, lively, yet civil dialogue and debate – absent the politics of personal and party destruction – focused exclusively on forming a more perfect union.
Impossible? Naïve? Maybe. But what is the alternative to striving for such a goal? A continuation of what today passes for democracy? Such as: Over a billion dollars spent on a mostly negative presidential campaign. Several hundred million more spent on mostly negative congressional, state and local campaigns that produce victorious candidates who barely have time to write a victory speech, let alone contemplate sound public policy before the reelection campaign begins. Thoughtful policy with an eye toward improving people’s lives and the community that is today superceded with policies that satisfy and enrich well-heeled interest groups. Citizens who can tell you the latest celebrity divorce details but don’t know the latest American casualty figures from Iraq. People who still believe that Al-Quaeda and Saddam Hussein worked together in the 9/11 attacks.
As further demonstration, on the right, many people believe that guns are as American as apple pie and there should be no limits to their purchase, ownership or use – even bazookas and machine guns. They bombastically declare that the decay of our public schools is the fault of greedy, unionized teachers. We see people of faith who have been duped into believing that science is evil and have conveniently stopped thinking so as to actually espouse that the earth is only 6,000 years old, the theory of evolution is anti-Christian and global warming is a liberal conspiracy. They’re convinced that being “conservative” and pro-life means allowing the government to tell women that they must carry all pregnancies to term, no matter their personal circumstances. Yes, God is against abortion and euthanasia, but killing thousands of American service men and women and upwards of 100 thousand innocent Iraqi civilians in a war based on lies passes for patriotism. And let’s make sure we put all of those murderers, rapists and thieves to death in direct defiance of the First Commandment. Oh yes, a healthy planet is necessary to sustain life and the root word of “conservative” and “conservatism” is “conserve,” and there is that pesky Noah story; but people who advocate for solving global warming or saving our fellow dwindling species are environmental whackos. Never mind that there are over 6 billion people (and growing) on the planet and less than 1,000 blue whales.
On the left, there are still those who believe that the Monica Lewinsky affair was only part of a vast right wing conspiracy. President Clinton did nothing wrong. After all, look at the adultery statistics among American males, he only did what millions of American men do – or wish they could do. Some on the left still hold that more money and bigger government can solve every problem. That with more caring, less structure and more programs in our public schools, kids are going to magically learn without adult guidance outside of the schools. That anybody should be able marry anyone and everyone and thousands of years of legal precedent be damned. That capitalism is evil and wealth should be equalized through a government formula. The list of fantasies – on both ends of the spectrum – goes on infinitely.
So, how do we fix this problem? Shenkman is short-sighted in his prescription, calling for more civic education. I’ve been there and done that, teaching high school social studies for 27 years. It isn’t working. He is right in naming the root problem of our ignorant electorate: Americans would rather consume material stuff rather than news and information. So, we have to figure out a way to put elections in the hands of those who truly care to inform themselves and make sound voting decisions. In my mind, this means achieving two fundamental things, getting money out of politics and shortening the time allowed for campaigns. The problem of course, is that numerous court decisions, especially Buckley v. Valeo, have upheld spending and time spent campaigning as First Amendment rights. So be it. Volunteerism is the key. Right now, the best prescription seems to be in the “clean elections” movement, a voluntary program that is meeting with some success in Arizona and Maine.
Under a Clean Elections system, candidates who want to receive public financing must collect a certain number of small "qualifying contributions" (often as little as $5) from registered voters. In return, they are paid a flat sum by the government to conduct their campaigns, and in turn, agree not to raise money from private sources. Candidates who are outspent by privately funded opponents may receive additional public matching funds. Since candidates may refuse government funding and continue to rely on voluntary contributions without spending caps, clean elections appear to be in line with the Supreme Court's Buckley v. Valeo decision, which struck down mandatory spending limits as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech and affirmed that elections can be publicly financed.
As a life long Democrat and union member, I’m concerned that small contributions by lots of members may lose out, thus will the voices of working people. However, “clean election” legislation can certainly be tailored so as to protect small group bundling, or penalize large contributors equally. I simply want people to attend debates, read position papers and vote accordingly instead of letting commercials, yard signs and gimmicks inform their decisions. This sort of reform, it seems to me, is what our system needs.
Matt Bergles
10/20/08
Are we Really Stupid?
Congratulations to Beth McCann!
Best of luck to her as she assumes her duties as our House District 8 representative in January. My thanks to her and Cindy Lowery for running such positive campaigns.
My thanks to all of the people who voted for me, who helped with financial and volunteer contributions and who displayed yard signs. I've received countless e-mails of people thanking me for the effort and hard work. The real thanks belong to you.
My passion for environmental, education and health care policy lives on as does my hope that our GLBT brothers and sisters achieve legal equality and that working people can more easily move up the economic ladder.
In the near future I hope to be involved with these issues as part of a non-profit or as a researcher. I'm especially interested in the Keep it Colorado initiative by the Colorado Conservation Partnership that seeks to protect Colorado's last best landscapes from exploitation and development. The vision is a Colorado in which our finest farming and ranching lands, unique wildlife habitats, world-renown recreational landscapes, scenic vistas and open spaces are permanently protected for current and future generations. Visit the web site at www.keepitcolorado.org.
Please e-mail me at matt@mattbergles.com or call anytime at 303-909-0831. I hope to continue the many new friendships I made in the course of the campaign.
Best wishes,
Matt
More From Matt
At the Democrat’s Candidate Forum for HD8, held Wednesday, July 9, at Smiley Middle School, the candidates rallied one last time to present their views. Matt was in fine form, and presented new details of his vision. Once again, his energy and grasp of the problems distinguished him from the competition.
More answers from the forum can be found below in the sidebar.
Mortgage Crisis
Healthcare
More from Matt
At the Democrat's Forum on Feb 13, Matt discussed his views on education in general and the school autonomy movement.
Education
School Autonomy
Who is Matt Bergles?
He has worked in the steel mills in Pueblo. He has a doctorate in Public Affairs. He is a family man and a pilot. He is a high-school teacher of 27 years and a Lector in his church. A union man for 30 years.
He's running for Colorado House District 8 because of one thing - passion. Listen to his own words.
Introduction
Dear House District 8 Neighbors:
Introduction
Thank you for taking an interest in your government by visiting our web site. On this site you can learn more about me and why I want to be your House District 8 representative.
Background
I am a second generation Colorado native, born and raised by hard working parents in Pueblo. My father left school in the eighth grade to work in the CCC camps before being drafted into the U.S Army’s 88th Infantry Division. He served in combat, returning home to become a carpenter and union member at the CF&I Steel Corporation. My mother went to work at age sixteen to help support her parents and younger brother before marrying and raising three children as a stay-at-home mom.
Although neither of my parents was well educated, the importance of education, politics and public service was always emphasized in our home. Following my older brother and sister, I attended college at CSU-Pueblo and began teaching high school Social Studies and coaching football in Walsh, Colorado in 1980. I have taught and coached at Rangeview High School in Aurora since 1983. I am honorably discharged from the Colorado Army National Guard. I’ve carried my parents’ work ethic and social responsibility with me throughout my life by working at labor jobs, completing two graduate degrees, volunteering in my unions, at my church and in my community. Additionally, I have worked for numerous Democratic campaigns. I married my great wife Kate in 1999 and have been blessed with two beautiful children – Luke (7) and Mary (5).
Legislative Goals
I seek this office because I have a passion for Colorado – its people, its schools, its land and its wildlife. As your House District 8 representative I will work to ensure health care for all Coloradoans. I will endeavor to have our state live up to its constitution’s promise of a “thorough and uniform system of free public schools” and not forget we must also find better means to fund and strengthen our public colleges and universities. I know we must continue the progress we’ve made in making Colorado the clean energy capitol of the United States while seeking transportation alternatives. Furthermore, I believe it is time to bring a regional perspective to growth and development so we can preserve the land and wildlife that make our state such a special place.
So, please use the links to learn more about my position on various issues and how you can get involved in our campaign. I look forward to hearing from you about your concerns and welcome your e-mails concerning the needs of our community. I want to earn your support at the polls in the Democratic primary on August 12th.
Sincerely,
Matt Bergles
Health Care
Real Life Experience for Health Care Reform
There are over 700,000 Coloradoans – nearly 200,000 of them children – who do not have access to health care. Of those who do have access, many are underinsured, meaning that a serious illness could wipe them out financially. Addressing Colorado’s health care crisis is essential to maintaining a viable and vibrant economy. When businesses can focus on customer service, innovation and profit – instead of worrying about how to provide employee health care – everyone benefits. When employees and their dependents can focus on their careers and their families – instead of worrying about getting sick or losing their health care – everyone benefits. And when health care providers can focus on helping people get and stay healthy – instead of processing insurance paperwork and holding back necessary care – everyone benefits, including Colorado taxpayers.
In 2006, the General Assembly created the 208 Commission to study and establish health care reform models. The Commission’s goal was to decrease health care costs and explore the expansion of health care coverage to all Colorado residents. The Commission looked at health care coverage for both public and private sector markets, giving special attention to the uninsured, underinsured and those at risk of financial hardship due to medical expenses. After examining numerous proposals, the Commission determined that only one plan, a single payer, “public payer, private provider” plan would both insure all Coloradoans and save money ($1.4 billion according to the Lewin Group, an independent auditing body www.healthcareforallcolorado.org).
As a candidate for House District 8, I support the passage and implementation of that proposal, including a mental health component. The plan fosters a healthy Colorado and makes our economy more competitive in the global marketplace.
Here’s why I support the public payer, private provider model of health care for Colorado:
FAMILIES will pay less in a progressive tax than the current costs of premiums.
TAXPAYERS, hospitals, and consumers will no longer have to bear the cost of unpaid medical bills incurred by large numbers of uninsured and underinsured patients.
BUSINESSES will be freed from the cost of providing employee health insurance, making them better able to compete in the global marketplace.
PATIENTS will enjoy lower drug and equipment costs through bulk purchasing.
PROVIDERS of health care will save millions of dollars by eliminating the need to manage the administration of multiple insurance providers.
INSURANCE middlemen will be eliminated in a single payer system, creating additional savings.
This plan would be funded by administrative savings realized across many segments of health care, increased alcohol and tobacco taxes, an employer payroll tax (approximately 6%), and an increased personal state income tax (approximately 7.5%). In addition, current federal, state and local health care dollars would be transferred into a publicly owned, non-profit Health Trust governed by its own board.
Obviously, achieving such a bold initiative will not be easy. It will be mischaracterized and attacked every inch of the way. However, given the ever escalating costs of health care the increasing numbers of uninsured and underinsured Coloradoans and the drag on our economy, a single payer, “public payer, private provider” is healthy for our human, as well as our fiscal health. Please join me in striving for comprehensive health care coverage for all Coloradoans.
Fiscal Responsibility
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Colorado’s state spending ability is bound in a tangled knot of sometimes conflicting constitutional amendments, state laws, and voter-passed referenda that often tie the hands of legislators, and prevent government efficiency, responsiveness and innovation. This “fiscal knot’ prevents prudent and necessary government investment and restricts private sector economic prosperity. Here are brief descriptions of the dominant drivers for fiscal policy in Colorado:
• The Gallagher Amendment - Passed in 1982, this amendment divides the state’s total property tax burden between residential and commercial property. It provides that 45% of the total amount of state property tax collected must come from residential property and 55% of the property tax collected must come from commercial property.
• Arveschoug-Bird – This statutory spending limit was passed in 1991, and limits the growth of General Fund expenditures to 6 percent more than the previous year, or 5 percent of personal income, whichever amount is lower. In practice, the 6 percent limit is always lower.
• Taxpayer Bill of Rights Amendment (TABOR) – Adopted in 1992, this amendment requires any tax increase to be approved by voters. In addition, it limits the revenue state government can retain in a year, to the previous year's allowed collections (not actual collections), plus a percentage adjustment equal to the percentage growth in population, plus the inflation rate. Federal funds are exempt from TABOR’s limits.
• Amendment 23 - Passed in 2000, this amendment compels increased spending on kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) public education by inflation plus 1% from 2001-2011, and by the annual inflation rate after that time period.
• Referendum C - Passed in 2005, this referendum gives Colorado the ability to keep and spend revenue it collects under current rates for five years.
Before our state can begin to tackle the many issues we face (health care coverage, P-20 education, alternative multi-modal transportation, clean energy initiatives, and so many others) we need to reconcile these conflicting provisions that govern spending. As your state representative, I will work to fashion a solution that ensures fiscal responsibility, while still allowing fiscal flexibility. Towards this end, I will:
MAKE elimination of the ratcheting effect of TABOR the number one priority in achieving fiscal responsibility.
(The TABOR ratchet effect occurs when revenue collections decline in a year. Those declined revenues set the limit for collections in the next year, thus compounding the consequences of a bad year. The state cannot recover from a low collection year without conducting a election, and getting voter approval.)
ASK voters to approve a temporary time-out from the constitutional multi-subject ban on ballot measures. This will enable the legislature to draft a referendum reconciling with the multiple conflicts created by these various spending dictates.
ASK voters to approve revisions to TABOR and Gallagher to allow Colorado to responsibly invest in education, health care and environmental initiatives, including alternative energy and transportation systems.
By pledging to work to correct this fiscal quagmire our state finds itself in, I am nonetheless, respectful of the intent of both TABOR and Amendment 23. I recognize, however, that without a comprehensive plan to correct the negative implications of these spending measures, our state is seriously limited in its ability to plan for the future and respond to the present.
Education
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR CHANGING EDUCATION
Nothing is more important to a vibrant Colorado economy than an outstanding Pre-K -20 public education system. As a teacher who has been on the front lines in Colorado public schools for nearly 30 years, I bring experience and common sense to Colorado public education policy.
In 1983, when I was just three years into my teaching career, the National Commission on Excellence in Education issued its report, A Nation at Risk, assessing the state of America’s public schools. The report called for content standards, stronger curriculum, better teacher training and increased compensation for teachers. Throughout my 27 years of teaching, many similar reports have been issued with suggestions for change.
This clamor for educational reform has been with us for decades, yet has not been very successful. Our current public education system is not very different from the one I entered in the early eighties. It is from another era and does not meet the needs of today, let alone tomorrow. I believe it is time to stop reforming education, and begin restructuring education.
When making education policy in the legislature, I will always consider the needs of Denver Public Schools first and will have two guiding principles: 1) a permanent, adequate funding source for K-20 public education and 2) I will listen to school communities first, beginning with teachers and parents.
To that end, as a legislator I will:
• LIBERATE public education from the constraints of the TABOR Amendment.
• SHIFT funding priorities to pre-K and full-day Kindergarten, while downsizing K-12 schools.
• ATTRACT quality teachers by cutting class sizes, increasing compensation, and creating a state-wide salary scale for Pre-K-12 teachers.
• END social promotion and eliminate CSAP testing. Instead, establish Colorado standards and assessments for every grade level. Tie student grade advancement to demonstrated mastery of standards.
• EXPAND options for middle and high school students in vocational training, community colleges and independent study. Maintain a solid college-prep option in Pre-K-12, but measure results, not seat time.
• FREE DPS from the financial and time-consuming burden of administering a retirement fund by renewing negotiations with PERA to combine the two systems.
• RESTRUCTURE school governance so it is reflective of faculty and staff to ensure that people who have responsibility also have power. Work with the collective bargaining unit in each district to gain agreement, through a vote of their members, on a governing structure that eliminates the current top-heavy principal/assistant principal environment, especially when dealing with discipline issues.
FUNDING PRIORITIES:
● LIBERATE public education from the constraints of the TABOR Amendment.
Colorado’s education funding is greatly impacted by two conflicting amendments, the TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) Amendment and Amendment 23. The TABOR Amendment limits spending and Amendment 23 compels spending. TABOR expires in 2010, which is also the last year that Amendment 23 requires a 1 percent increase in K-12 public school funding, although other provisions requiring funding increases for student growth and inflation will continue indefinitely. In order to untangle this fiscal knot, we need a two-step process. First, a ballot referendum is required to seek a one-time suspension of the Colorado constitution's provision limiting amendments to a single subject. Then, a referendum can be presented to voters that offers a multi-part solution to the conflicting amendments that limit education funding.
● SHIFT funding priorities to pre-K and full-day Kindergarten, while downsizing K-12 schools.
The Colorado legislature and the city of Denver have had success in providing more funding for pre-K and full day kindergarten. It is time, now, to build on that success by downsizing schools and classrooms; shifting the funding emphasis to reflect these priorities.
State legislators, school boards, school administrators, parents and citizens need to listen more carefully to the people on the front lines – teachers. When you listen to the people who deal with students day-in, day-out for weeks, months and years at a time, a clear picture begins to emerge of what ails our Colorado public schools: Too many of our students are coming to school unprepared to learn. Early childhood, in far too many cases, has not been nourished with a love and appreciation of learning. Too many children have not been read to, counted with, or experienced hands-on learning activities so crucial to early childhood developmental education. Furthermore, a lack of parental involvement follows them into kindergarten and beyond. Teachers become responsible for filling the vacuum along with their myriad of other responsibilities. Although funding for pre-school and full-day kindergarten can never take the place of family nurturing, it is sound public policy that can supplement and enhance early childhood development. Through my teaching experience and a summary of educational research, I’m convinced that nothing is more important to “fixing” our schools than providing early childhood education through pre-school and full day kindergarten opportunities
● ATTRACT quality teachers by cutting class sizes, increasing compensation, and creating a state-wide salary scale for Pre-K-12 teachers.
We need to make class sizes smaller. My colleagues and I experience daily the frustration of trying to teach in a building with over 2,000 students and in classrooms with more than 30 students. Research shows that this approach does not work. It is impossible to adequately build relationships with students or analyze their personal data to tailor instruction accordingly.
Let’s face it, Colorado will never attract larger, quality pools of college students to the teaching profession with our current compensation plans. We must make teacher pay commensurate with other college-degreed professions, and we must establish a state-wide salary scale for Pre-K-12 teachers reflecting the value we place on education. Incentives for increased compensation such as Denver Public School’s Pro-comp are desirable, as long as they are fully funded and collaboratively agreed to by all parties through collectively bargained agreements.
● END social promotion and eliminate CSAP testing. Instead, establish Colorado standards and assessments for every grade level. Tie student grade advancement to demonstrated mastery of standards.
Denver teachers, and teachers throughout Colorado, are frustrated with so-called social promotion, usually a de facto administrative policy of moving inadequately prepared students to the next grade. While often done in the name of preserving self-esteem, it is a reckless and dangerous policy that contradicts Colorado’s standards-based education model. What happens to a person’s self-esteem when they enter the worlds of higher education, work or military life only to realize that well-intentioned school officials have done them a disservice by advancing them through the system without adequate preparation? Social promotion must end.
In addition, CSAP testing should be scrapped and replaced by a new assessment. We need to tailor learning standards for each grade level, creating meaningful assessment for each student and tying advancement to the next level on the successful mastery of the standards. Although holding back failing students causes obvious logistical and financial problems, we must consider it in the funding priorities mentioned above.
● EXPAND options for middle and high school students in vocational training, community colleges and independent study. Maintain a solid college-prep option in Pre-K-12, but measure results, not seat time.
Communities, schools and individual teachers are currently locked into a system that forces everyone into the same box. Moving away from the one-size-fits-all college-prep model that most Colorado schools have adopted increases our ability to meet the challenges of the future and respond more effectively to our students. By providing middle and high school students different opportunities in vocational learning, and allowing independent progress toward standards, we ensure diverse skills and self-determined individuals entering the Colorado workforce.
● FREE DPS from the financial and time-consuming burden of administering a retirement fund by renewing negotiations with PERA to combine the two systems.
It is time to free Denver Public Schools from the burden of administering a retirement system separate from all of Colorado’s other school districts. Legislative authority has been granted in the past to begin this process, only to have negotiations between PERA and the Denver Public Schools Retirement System break down. The time and financial burdens placed on DPS is detracting from the business of running public schools. New legislation must be passed to not only restart the negotiation process, but to provide incentives and economic common sense for both entities to make sure that PERA and Denver teachers and retirees each benefit. This process has begun and we must insure everyone wins.
● RESTRUCTURE school governance by faculty and staff to ensure that people who have responsibility also have power.
First, in order to provide more opportunity, I believe that faculty, staff and community governance of schools is essential so that people who have responsibility also have power. Why not give authority to those closest to schools and students – those most familiar with the characteristics specific to their community demographics and needs? I believe that they, and not a centrally located school board, should determine school policy and the best way to deliver services, much like doctors and architects offer their services to the public.
Rather than operating under stringent rules from central administration, Colorado schools should have the flexibility to manage themselves according to what is best for their unique demography and needs as long as the collective bargaining unit in each district agrees through a vote of their members, and helps design the governing structure. A school governing board made up of teachers and administrators would be given autonomy – within state and federal guidelines – to make decisions about budget, length of year, staffing, professional development and other issues. This model allows small schools, with small classes to determine what is best for them. In return, these schools must be accountable for enhanced academic performance. This model is being successfully implemented in Boston Public Schools, and will soon be functional in Aurora Public Schools under a pilot program that has been ratified by the Aurora Education Association (the teacher’s union). For more information please view: http://www.aps.k12.co.us/schools/pilot/overview.htm.
These action items are what will begin to turn the tide for Colorado schools, and I welcome the chance to use my knowledge, education and insight to make the change happen.
Environment
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE
FOR COLORADO’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
In recent years Democrats have enjoyed great political success in Colorado, winning the governor’s office and gaining seats in both houses of the General Assembly. Republicans have lost ground throughout the state and we are moving to the political center. Colorado is in a period of political and policy opportunity unprecedented in our history. As a candidate for Colorado’s House District 8, I pledge to capitalize on the opportunities our current political climate presents to ensure that Colorado’s natural resources are protected and our state’s beauty preserved.
Colorado has experienced tremendous growth in the last 25 years. With that growth, however, has come regional sprawl and uncontrolled development. A paradox of our state is that we attract new residents and businesses largely due to our natural beauty and quality of life, yet those are the very assets that are depleted when growth goes unchecked. Agricultural land, recreational opportunities, open space, wildlife habitat, view sheds and clean air and water are all diminished by rampant growth.
Colorado’s future economic security depends upon strong environmental stewardship. Sound public policies that preserve our natural landscapes, water and wildlife are critical to our state’s financial success. Economic development in Colorado depends on conservation of natural resources through wise state-wide and regional approaches to planning, as well as developing efficient transportation systems and alternative energy sources.
ISSUES
EXURBAN sprawl in Western states consumes five to ten times the amount of land as urban and suburban development. In Colorado, the development footprint from this sort of growth has gone from 1.3 million acres in 1970 to 2.5 million acres in 2000. By 2030, exurban sprawl in Colorado is projected to cover 3.5 million acres. Exurban properties often compromise biodiversity, are overgrazed, and pose a significant wildfire threat.
COLORADO state law only regulates developments with parcels under 35 acres; subdivisions containing parcels 35 acres and greater are proliferating in our state. Land use regulations reflect a patchwork of multiple state and local jurisdictions, exacerbating the negative impact of urban and exurban sprawl. Government subsidies, tax policies and zoning regulations usually designed to stimulate economic development, also reflect a lack of coherency and create undesirable outcomes. Sprawl is the result, not the problem.
BETWEEN 1987 and 2002 Colorado lost over 2.5 million acres of agricultural land. If present trends continue, by 2022 Colorado will lose an additional 3.1 million acres of agricultural land, most of it to large-lot exurban development.
AGRICULTURE is the primary economic engine for a third of Colorado counties. Loss of agricultural land stifles local creation of wealth and threatens our tourism industry. Lost agricultural open space fragments critical wildlife habitat and increases air and water pollution.
SINCE the agricultural economy is declining while real estate values rise, farmers and ranchers are facing increasing economic pressure to sell their land.
LARGE lot rural developments cost state and local governments $1.65 for every $1.00 they generate in taxes. Government recovers double the cost of services rendered to private agricultural lands.
SINCE 1970, Colorado’s population has increased from 2.2 million to 4.7 million, and will likely exceed 7 million by 2030. Water supplies will not be able to keep up with demand if projected population growth holds true.
POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS
USE state financial resources and/or taxing authority as incentives, encouraging developers to operate within urban service boundaries.
LIFT 35-acre ceiling of subdivision review.
REVISE nuisance lawsuit rights.
MIRROR DRCOG’s MetroVision 2030 by developing similar regional governance structures throughout Colorado based on social, economic and geographic criteria. Encourage and/or codify regionalism to formulate regional economic indexes and regional sales tax formulas. Listen to local planning agencies to determine urban growth boundaries and areas off-limits to development within the established region and make recommendations to a state quality growth commission.
ESTABLISH a Colorado Quality Growth Commission designed to alter development behavior while preserving agricultural lands and open space. Enable the Commission to evaluate and integrate the sometimes conflicting needs of the state that growth creates.
ENACT Priority Funding Areas (PFAs) restricting locations where state funding is used to accommodate development based on broad criteria established by regional governance entities and approved by the state Quality Growth Commission.
REFUSE funding for widening I-70 through the mountains. Instead, provide incentives for reducing vehicle traffic at peak times. Evaluate long-term solutions, including perfecting and constructing a high-speed, elevated monorail system able to handle steep grades should be the preferred alternative. Funding would be derived from a referendum or initiative. Similar alternatives should be pursued for the I-25 corridor, from New Mexico to Wyoming. Tax incentives for fuel efficient vehicles should be enacted as soon as possible.
PROMOTE water conservation programs before funding new water storage and/or transfer systems including new construction landscape restrictions and alternatives to planting bluegrass. Provide incentives for water conservation efforts such as replacing bluegrass, reducing lot sizes, and installing low flow water systems.
IMPLEMENT the Colorado Climate Action Plan to address global warming and make Colorado an environmentally sustainable state, ensuring our healthy, dynamic and economically viable future.
Colorado’s environmental health and sustainability is a key to a health, happy and economically viable future.
DISTRICT 8
As a long-time resident of House District 8, I appreciate the cultural and geographic diversity that makes our district so vibrant and livable. My real life experiences as an athlete, teacher, coach, factory worker, community activist and so much more, have allowed me to experience the wonderful qualities of ALL people. So no matter who you are, I want to be YOUR representative.
- Matt