The biggest decision in the state of Colorado this year is the gubernatorial election since incumbent John Hickenlooper’s term is coming to an end. The major party candidates are Republican Walker Stapleton and Democrat Jared Polis. This article will be focused on Jared Polis, there is another article here in the Clarion focusing on Walker Stapleton.
Who is Jared Polis?
Jared Polis is the current representative for Colorado’s 2nd congressional district which includes Broomfield, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Larimer and Summit counties, as well as portions of Boulder, Eagle, Jefferson, Park and Weld counties. Polis is currently a member of the Committee on Rules, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Ethics and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and is a pioneer for public education both in state and nationally.
Education
Education is one of his policy priorities. According to Polis’s website, he believes that “postsecondary education—whether at a four-year institution… or at a community college… —must be within reach for all, regardless of background or circumstances.” He proposed the Affordable College Textbooks Act in order to greatly reduce or terminate the immense cost of college textbooks for students, professors, researchers and even the general public. Polis also introduced countless bills to reform the student loan process in order to make it easier for graduates to pay back their loans. This includes reforming Free Education for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to make the application process easier to use.
The Economy
Another one of Polis’s main concerns is about the economy in terms of finding alternatives for the coal and natural gas industries and their workers in the state of Colorado. He acknowledges that because of the changing economy that many people working in mining and factories would be out of a job, and he plans to “help rural and coal communities find meaningful work in their field retrain for a new career if they choose…by bringing jobs in manufacturing, forestry, agriculture and renewable energy development to rural Colorado in a way that takes advantage of the skills our workers already have.”
With the economic growth that is occurring in Colorado, the cost of living has steadily increased over the past couple of years, but income has remained the same. In order to make living more affordable for families, he plans to provide free and full-day preschool. He also plans to pass the aforementioned Affordable College Textbooks Act to save families more money. Finally, he plans on giving all workers the right to be a part of a union without fear of retaliation. One of his biggest promises is providing paid sick, medical and family leave for all Coloradans. He also plans to “address pay-equity gaps for women and people of color in our state.”
Wildlife
As a representative from northern Colorado, he is a believer in preserving the state’s wildlife. One of his policies is to increase funding for Colorado Parks and Wildlife by “assembl[ing] a Commission of outdoor recreation representatives, sportsmen, sportswomen and environmental experts to develop a sustainable, fair and sufficient plan to fund CPW.” To preserve the Colorado outdoor experience, Polis opposes selling Colorado public land to bidders. He states that “nearly a third of our state is made up of public lands, and these lands belong to all Coloradans, no matter their background, zip code, race or income. Our public lands, clean air and rivers are critical to protecting our fish and wildlife habitat, providing the public with places to hunt and fish, ski, climb, bike, raft and enjoy the Colorado outdoor experience.”
Election day is Nov. 6 nationwide. The Clarion has an article for students who have any questions about registering to vote while here at DU.
