Candidate Q&A: Colorado House District 43

Boxes of stickers stating “I voted” are seen at the Adams County Government Center in Brighton, Nov. 7, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

All 65 seats in the Colorado House of Representatives are up for election this year. Democrats currently hold a 56-19 supermajority and will likely retain the majority next year.

Democratic Rep. Bob Marshall won House District 43 in 2022 with 50.4% of the vote. This year, he faces Republican Matt Burcham.

The district is south of Colo. 470 in Douglas County. It includes Highlands Ranch and parts of Littleton.

Registered voters in Colorado should soon receive their ballots in the mail for the Nov. 5 general election, which includes races for president, Congress, the state Legislature, the University of Colorado Board of Regents and other local positions, as well as a handful of statewide ballot measures.

Voters can contact their county clerk if they have not received their ballot or check the online BallotTrax system. They can also visit the secretary of state’s website to make a plan to vote in person ahead of or on Election Day. Ballots need to be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on that day, so voters should make a plan to mail their ballot at least eight days ahead of time or drop it off in person.

Voters can find their state legislative districts at the General Assembly’s website.

Burcham did not return survey responses.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities during the 2025 legislative session?

MARSHALL: When I first ran, public safety, public education, and environmental protection were my top priorities. Under public safety, mental health is a primary concern because we have allowed law enforcement to become the default mental health providers in the state for adults. And we are making our schools the default mental health providers for children. Neither institution should be performing those duties outside their core purpose. Since entering the Legislature, however, I’ve developed an expertise and reputation for good governance, taxes and veterans’ issues. I expect those three will continue to be default focuses for me given my background and experience. But I intend to focus on good governance, public safety, and taxes. Under good governance, I hope to work towards bringing greater transparency, electoral reforms and stronger oversight capability for the Legislature.

What unique perspective and life experiences would you bring to the General Assembly?

MARSHALL: Having served more than two decades in the Marine Corps, I am used to serving with Americans, and recent immigrants serving for citizenship, from all walks of life in pursuit of a common goal by putting petty personal issues aside for the greater good. Last session, seven of my eight bills passed out of committee UNANIMOUSLY. And the eighth passed with bipartisan support. I was able to refer the 2024 ballot measure Amendment G to help unemployable disabled veterans by a unanimous vote in both the House and Senate. And passed two other resolutions out of committee with bipartisan support, including one with more Republican than Democratic votes. I will talk, and work, with everyone across the political spectrum in service to my constituents and Colorado.

Coloradans told us through the Voter Voices survey that rising cost of living is a top issue for them this election year. How do you feel the Legislature can most effectively address the cost-of-living for Coloradans across all backgrounds?

MARSHALL: THE major component of cost-of-living concerns is housing costs. Gov. Polis is right that it is mainly a supply issue. So efforts to look at reducing artificial or government created barriers to that supply are important. Continued efforts to subsidize housing costs when supply is being constricted can lead to long-term counterproductive effects by increasing housing costs by spurring further demand while supply is restricted, which leads to more calls for subsidization in a never-ending spiral. Policies such as looking at construction liability costs should be seriously considered as builders are constructing apartments and single family detached homes, but not the important intermediate first step to most home ownership in densely populated areas: condominiums.

Democrats are expected to hold onto a wide majority next year. What does good governance look like in that political environment?

MARSHALL: The maximum amount of openness, transparency and accessibility possible coupled with good faith dealings on all matters. It requires more of a cultural shift or acceptance of a norm of behavior rather than formalized rules. When people have power, it is always tempting to look to the short-term policy gains that can be won with that power rather than tending to the long-term health and overall trust by voters of the system. But wiser counsel has usually found that those willing to work towards the long-term health and stability of a governmental system, even if it means diluting or restricting their own power, leave far greater legacies in place than any particular policy that they might enact.

Residents across the state are concerned with air quality, from wildfire effects in the northwest to pollution along the Front Range. How can the Legislature work to ensure clean air for all Coloradans?

MARSHALL: I grew up in Evergreen during the 1970s and remember traveling to Denver and seeing the “Brown Cloud” over the city. And then experiencing “chewy air” in the city. We do not want to go back to those times. But even if we have halved the emissions per capita since that time, with twice the population in the Denver metro region, we are rapidly seeing similar levels of harmful emissions, ozone, and pollutants. We do not have to argue over climate change and whether it is man-made to know that what is coming out of tailpipes and smokestacks is not healthy. Tamping down on those emissions in the most efficient and least economically harmful way should be a key priority of government with broad support because it impacts everyone. Some even fought unleaded gas mandates, but no credible person today would say getting rid of leaded gasoline was a mistake.