Jeff Crank's 2018 Federal, Statewide Ballot Recommendations & Judicial Retentions

I would never try to tell you how to vote, but I am often asked how I am going to vote.  I've put quite a bit of research and thought into several of the candidates and ballot issues in 2018. 

I don't choose my elected officials based on my feelings or their personality but rather their views on the issues and how they will either advance or inhibit our freedoms and liberties.  On judges, I look for judges who are fair and do their best to follow the law and the Constitution – and ones who do not legislate from the bench.  It is so important to vote for Walker Stapleton for Governor as any judge that may not be retained will be replaced by the new governor.  Jared Polis would appoint even more extreme, liberal judges than the ones that would be replaced.  These recommendations are my personal recommendations and do not reflect the position of my employer.  Please make sure you vote.  If you have any questions about your ballot, please call the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's office at (719)575-VOTE (8683) or click here to learn more information.

Here are my recommendations:

5^th Congressional District – Doug Lamborn

Colorado Governor/Lieutenant Governor – Walker Stapleton/Lang Sias

Secretary of State – Wayne Williams

State Treasurer – Brian Watson

Attorney General – George Brauchler

CU Regent at Large – Ken Montera

CU Regent, 5^th Congressional – Chance Hill

Colorado Supreme Court

Justice Richard L. Gabriel – No

Colorado Court of Appeals Judge

Judge John Daniel Dailey – Yes

Judge Rebecca Rankin Freyre – No

Judge Elizabeth L. Harris – No

Judge David J. Richman – Yes

District Court Judge- 4^th Judicial District

Judge Eric Bentley – No

Judge Linda Margaret Billings-Vela – Yes

Judge Jill M. Brady – Yes

Judge Robert L. Lowrey – Yes

Judge Timothy Schutz – Yes

Judge Larry Edward Schwartz – Yes

Judge Scott A. Sells – Yes

Judge David L. Shakes – Yes

El Paso County Court Judges

Judge Christopher Edward Acker – Yes

Judge Lawrence D. Martin – Yes

Judge Douglas J. Miles – Yes

Judge Ann M. Rotolo – Yes

State Measures

Amendment V (Lower Age Requirement for State Legislature) – No

·         Experience matters.  Think of all the issues you viewed one way when you were 21, but now hold a different view.  Life’s experiences have a way of teaching us the real truths in life.  No compelling reason to change the age requirement.

Amendment W (Election Ballot Format for Judicial Retention Elections) – No

·         This change only makes it easier for judges to be retained and insulated from voters.  The current system is clear and easy to understand.  No need to change.

Amendment X (Industrial Hemp Definition) – Yes

·         This has nothing to do with legalized marijuana.  I am opposed to legalized marijuana and would do nothing to aid that industry.  This would bring Colorado’s definition of industrial hemp (a legal agricultural product used for rope, oils, etc.) in line with the federal farm bill.  It also takes the definition out of the Colorado Constitution and puts it back in the legislature’s jurisdiction where it belongs.  We shouldn’t define “hemp” in our Constitution.

Amendment Y (Congressional Redistricting) – Yes

·         Politicians shouldn’t be allowed to pick their voters and that is exactly what has been happening in Colorado.  While Y and Z are not perfect, they are a great improvement from the current politically charged process – where Republicans have no chance of a fair process.  Y and Z removes the redistricting and reapportionment processes out of the hands of politicians and judges and makes it less partisan and based more on community interest.  For Republicans in El Paso county, they should support these initiatives.  They will make House District 18 and Senate District 11 less gerrymandered and more representative of the conservative values of our community.

Amendment Z (Legislative Redistricting) – Yes

·         See arguments for Amendment Y.  Y is for Congressional Redistricting and Z is for the state legislature.

Amendment A (Prohibit Slavery and Involuntary Servitude) – Yes

·         This is an archaic provision in our Constitution.  Slavery has no place in Colorado.  Remove it from our Constitution.

Amendment 73 (Tax Increase for Public Schools) – No

·         Another teacher’s union grab for your hard-earned tax dollars with no accountability.

Amendment 74 (Compensation for Reduction in Fair Market Value by Government)– No

·         I have struggled with Amendment 74 more than any other proposal this year.  While I am a strong supporter of property rights, this Amendment goes too far.  It will cause frivolous lawsuits to be filed against government and you – the taxpayer- will pay for them.  Let’s come back next election year with a better crafted proposal that protects private property rights and our wallets as taxpayers.

Amendment 75 (Campaign Contributions) – Yes

·         This amendment gives average candidates a fighting chance against ultra-wealthy candidates like billionaire Jared Polis.  While campaign finance laws are restrictive and limit what a candidate can receive, they don’t limit guys like Polis from putting millions of their own money into their campaign.  This amendment would raise the campaign limits by five times for any candidate whose opponent puts $1 million or more of their own money into their campaign.  Stop billionaire Jared Polis and give the common man or woman a fighting chance against them and their deep pockets.

Proposition 109 (Authorize Bonds for Highway Projects) – Yes

·         While I don’t like debt, this proposition is a good one.  It fixes specific highway projects WITHOUT raising taxes and it forces the state to use the funds to fix roads instead of spending it on their other pet projects like expanding Medicaid and bankrupting our state.

Proposition 110 (Sales Tax Increase for Transportation Projects) – No

·         Another Hickenlooper inspired tax increase because instead of fixing roads, they expanded Medicaid and spent the money foolishly on expanded government benefits.  Don’t reward bad behavior on their part by giving them more money.  Like children, they’ll just ask for more down the road.

Proposition 111 (Limitations on Payday Loans) – No

·         I love it when well-to-do liberals tell others how to live their lives and that’s exactly what this does.  It sure is easy for people with easy lives and good credit who can go to a bank and get a loan to improve their lives to want to limit others on the bottom of the economic scale from getting loans.  I’m not a fan of payday loans – and I would never use the service – but I don’t have to.  To some people, this is the only opportunity they have to get ahead.  It is a legitimate business that allows some people to get by and pay their bills and it isn’t my place (or government’s place) to regulate them out of existence and onto the streets.

Proposition 112 Increased Setback Requirement for Oil & Natural Gas Development) – No

·         Plain and simple, this will kill economic development in Colorado.  Designed by radical environmentalists, this extreme setback initiative would shut down oil and gas development in Colorado and kill thousands of jobs – taking the food off the table of hard-working Colorado families.