El Paso County has several important races in 2024, several of which are critical elections:

EL PASO COUNTY CANDIDATES IN TIGHT RACES:

-Rebecca Keltie is running to unseat Stephanie Vigil in HD-16. Vigil is a far left radical who wrote the bill to start the gender transition process in schools without parental consent. 
-Stan VanderWerf is running to keep SD-12, Bob Gardner's seat, and fend off challenger Marc Snyder, who votes against parental rights and for all radical education bills as State Representative. 
-Bill Wysong is running to keep Commissioner District 3 in Republican hands while fending off progressive Teacher’s Union challenger Naomi Lopez.
-Glant Havenar is running to keep her seat as Mayor of Palmer Lake and prevent anti-2A, pro-tax increase challenger Shana Ball, from picking up any traction. 
-Jim Romanello is running to win a challenge to his at-large seat from anti-private property rights Chad Smith, who stated on record this week that he supports a new Monument tax. 
-Jim Boelens is running to take back HD-18 from the Dems. Marc Snyder, State Rep, left his seat to run for Senate 12. Boelens’s opponent Amy Paschal is far more radical than Snyder on all issues, especially the economy. 

If you can help these candidates, especially Keltie, VanderWerf & Wysong, please respond to this email immediately! We especially need people to call voters during this last six days, and your calls could make the difference in such close races. It does not matter how much or how little time you have...we need to make as many calls as we can! 

Other El Paso County Candidates to vote for running on November 5th:

-Jeff Crank for Congressional District 5.
-State Senator Larry Liston for re-election to SD-10
-State Representative Rose Pugliese for re-election to HD-14
-State Representative Scott Bottoms for re-election to HD-15
-State Representative Mary Bradfield for re-election to HD-21
-State Representative Ken DeGraaf for re-election to HD-22
-Elizabeth Riggs for HD-17
-Jarvis Caldwell for HD-20
-District Attorney Michael Allen for re-election to the 4th Judicial District of Colorado
-CU Regent Ken Montera for re-election to the 5th CD Board of Regents
-Cory Applegate for Commissioner District 4
-Commissioner Carrie Geitner for re-election to Commissioner District 2 
-Alex Farr for Palmer Lake Board of Trustees
-Tim Caves for Palmer Lake Board of Trustees

Of note, bad actors are promoting a Democrat candidate, Bernard Byers, for Commissioner District 2, held by Carrie Geitner. Aside from not being a Democrat, Mrs. Geitner has consistently advocated against tax increases, illegal immigrants, and the indoctrination of children. Vote for Carrie Geitner for CCD2. 

BALLOT MEASURES IN EL PASO COUNTY

El Paso County has several important ballot measures up for a vote, depending on where you live. 

El Paso County is asking voters, via 2C, to continue a soon-to-sunset 0.57% sales tax until 2035 to "continue repairing roads."

El Paso County Commissioners should cut unnecessary expenditures like events and large checks for their favorite charities, before asking voters to reach into their pockets once again. If hard-working voters want to give their money to charity or support great local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Catholic Church, then voters can do so without the County forcing them to do so via taxes. Then, the county would have more money for roads. 

In Colorado Springs, issues 2D and 300 are confusing to voters. Ballot Question 2D, which the City Council put forward, permanently bans recreational marijuana. Initiative 300, put forward by citizens, creates a recreational marijuana provision in city statutes and imposes a 5% sales tax on stores. President Trump's marijuana stance differs from that of Colorado Springs City Council, and voters should conduct research to weigh the risks and benefits. 

In Academy District 20, the School Board and Administration are pushing 4B- an MLO that they claim is not a tax increase. This MLO, taken out at a disastrous interest rate of 4%, over 1% higher than current bond rates (leading to more issues later) cannot be considered “necessary” since a needs study was never conducted. The Republican-led Board must reverse its progressive course before it ever thinks to ask for more money. Even then, the ask is still inappropriate given the timing and quality of the MLO. Both the El Paso County GOP and El Paso Dems are opposed to this shocking tax increase. Vote NO on 4B. 

Harrison School District is also pushing an MLO- 4A. Harrison says they need $9M over the next four years for teachers, scholarships, and kids, of course. Harrison just passed an MLO in 2018 and received $180 million dollars. When is enough, enough? 

In Monument, Mayor Mitch LaKind & City Council, are pushing two initiatives. The first initiative, 2A, is a heavy 5% lodging tax. The second, 2B, expands the territory for the Town Manager's residence, revising the Charter written and passed just two years ago by this Board and then the voters. City Council is changing the rules to appoint a specific individual to the Town Manager position…changing laws for one person is an immense amount of control for an elected board. 

The Monument Council, like those mentioned above, should waste less money and not ask voters for more. In 2024 alone, the Council has spent around $150,000 to cover for the Mayor's alleged sexual harassment of several individuals and financial ethics violations. Monument City Council heavily subsidizes the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce and donates money to a local non-profit. While these causes are admirable for people and private interests, this is just not the role of government. Vote No on both Monument initiatives.

In Calhan, School District RJ-1 is asking voters to decide via Question 5B if school board directors should be able to serve more than two terms. Some voters feel that their vote is the best term limit, while others prefer the government set limits on elected office. This initiative seeks to add additional terms because the community suffers from an allegedly limited pool of willing volunteers, which is reflected in recent elections. 

Both Cimmaron Hills Fire Protection District and Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District are asking for tax increases. Cimmaron, via 6A, is asking for a 1% sales tax increase. Stratmoor Hills, via 6B, is asking for a property tax increase. Vote No on both of these measures. 

For Flying Horse, measures 6C and 6D seek to increase the acceptable level of debt for the development and transition two of the metropolitan districts within Flying Horse from developer control to homeowner control. While 6C is standard practice at development completion, it sadly seems voters do not have much of a positive choice on 6D.