George Brauchler in 2018 CO Governor's race
On Drugs:
Pot law has not ended criminal activity
People are growing marijuana in Colorado--legally and illegally--to sell out of state, where they can make a return of several times their investment. There are also the countless illicit sales that are under the radar of law enforcement
but outside the regulatory framework enacted by the state and municipalities. There is still significant crime associated with marijuana, and I will continue to point that out and prosecute it when it occurs.
Source: Westword.com coverage of 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Aug 21, 2017
On Government Reform:
Sunset law should apply to all regulations
His issues include over regulation. He feels there are too many rules. He would like to use the sunset law on all state regulations.
Once a law is passed, he feels it should be checked again in five to seven years and if it no longer needed, it should go up for a yes or no vote and get rid of it, if it is outdated.
Source: Akron News-Reporter on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Aug 21, 2017
On Government Reform:
Move some state offices out of capital
Brauchler wants to de-centralize state government by taking state agency offices and placing them in communities outside the Denver metro area. "How about the idea that we sell this super expensive real estate, not re-purpose it, but sell it.
You take that money and invest it," Brauchler said. The investment would be in moving state agencies to areas in the state that make more sense. "You find a handful of those things and you have rural economic stimulus." Brauchler said.
Source: Sterling Journal-Advocate on 2018 Colorado governor race
Aug 9, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Requested pay cut & budget cut as County Commissioner
Requested that the Boards of County Commissioners cut my salary to the lowest in Colorado, despite responsibility for the largest office in the most populous jurisdiction. Although our caseload has increased significantly, the office
budget grew less than the budgets of the State of Colorado, the Public Defender's Office, the Attorney General's Office, the Treasurer's Office and the District Attorneys' Offices in Denver, Boulder and others.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Corporations:
Protect business from excessive regulation
The burdens of government are too often placed on the shoulders of Colorado families and inhibit their ability to achieve economic prosperity.
Our businesses, both large and small, are the backbone of our economy. I will protect Colorado's businesses from excessive regulation and government overreach.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Crime:
Defend local law enforcement and provide resources
Our police, firefighters and first responders are on the front lines of our defense and they need to be treated respectfully and with the highest regard. I will vigorously defend them when they are right, encourage improvement
where needed and expect accountability at all times. I will ensure that our local law enforcement agencies have the resources that are necessary to keep our communities safe.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Crime:
Create specialized units to fight crime
- Created a Domestic Violence Unit to develop prosecution specialists who can get justice in these difficult cases.
- Launched a Veterans Treatment Court for offenders struggling with service-related trauma issues.
- Established a
Human Trafficking Team to aggressively tackle this burgeoning crime of sexual slavery.
- Created a Cold Case Unit to try to make sure that those who commit the worst crimes cannot walk away from them forever.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Drugs:
Must increase mental health & drug treatment programs
As a state, justice and decency dictate that we must do more to combat drug and alcohol abuse, and address the wide range of mental health issues that adversely impact our communities and burden our judicial system.
To accomplish this, we will encourage increased availability of treatment programs, as well as educate and empower our residents and families to seek treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Education:
Local control instead of one-size-fits-all education models
We must recognize that every child learns differently and reject one-size-fits-all education models and federal government mandates dreamed up by bureaucrats far from here, such as Common Core.
The education of our children ought to be a cooperative effort between parents and teachers with an emphasis on the curriculum, not just testing.
A child's parents are their foremost educators. That is a fact.
Parents should have the right to determine the best course of their child's education throughout every level, including public, private, charter and homeschooling options.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Education:
Colorado should lead in STEM education
Colorado should be on the forefront of innovation and technology. To accomplish this, we will assist our local school districts to develop high-achieving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs, encourage
student participation and recruit/retain STEM educators. As we continue to develop future leaders in STEM fields, we will draw new companies and high-paying jobs to Colorado with our educated workforce.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
Colorado joining Paris Accords is meaningless symbolism
When asked whether he would rescind the executive order if he's sworn in as governor in 18 months, Brauchler dismissed the question as meaningless. "Rescind an order˙that state agencies go out there and look for voluntary
compliance with emission standards we don't have yet? It's hard to know if it needs to be rescinded. It's a feel-good executive order. It is far more symbolic than it is substantive. This is more like a proclamation than an executive order."
Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Jul 12, 2017
On Government Reform:
A record of official transparency
- Created unprecedented and unmatched accessibility to the public and media on issues of accountability, including budget, open records and civil asset forfeitures.
-
Made all office expenditures and budget requests available to the public online, as well as all monies spent of the Aurora Theater Shooting case and expenditures of money from forfeited assets.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Gun Control:
Supports guns for self-defense
As great as our Colorado law enforcement officers are, they cannot be everywhere there is evil and danger at the most critical moments.
I will not waver on my support of the 2nd Amendment as a means for our law-abiding residents to protect themselves and their families.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Health Care:
Repeal Obamacare; local control of Medicaid
Coloradans deserve access to patient-centered healthcare and affordable premiums. ObamaCare must be repealed to make this happen.
Since becoming the law of the land, ObamaCare has driven more and more Coloradans onto our Medicaid rolls.
At the same time, it has stifled the state's ability to be innovative and has driven costs up at the expense of other state funding priorities, like education and transportation.
We need greater flexibility that gets Washington out of the way and allows our state leaders to craft a Colorado-specific Medicaid plan that is best for Colorado's unique needs.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Homeland Security:
Uniformed service includes tour in Iraq
In uniformed service to my country [as a colonel in the Colorado Army National Guard],among more than twenty years of assignments and challenges, I have been called upon to train our military prosecutors throughout the country and across the world.
I have been mobilized twice since 9/11 and served as the Chief of Military Justice for Fort Carson, and ultimately, the US Division-North, 4th Infantry Division, Taskforce Ironhorse in Tikrit, Iraq.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Supports Taxpayer Bill of Rights
As governor, I will stand up to those whose knee-jerk reaction to every challenge is to legislate behavior, regulate business and increase taxes and fees on our hard-working families.
I will do so by protecting the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, rejecting unnecessary regulations that destroy jobs, and protect Colorado from the heavy hand of Washington mandates.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Technology:
Improve roads without raising taxes
We can, and should, make transportation a top priority. As governor, I will lead on this issue and work with the legislature to develop a strategy for improving our roads and bridges without raising taxes.
Our roads suck. My family and I drive them every day. Traffic congestion and deteriorating roads have a negative impact on commerce in Colorado.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Use existing funds rather than raising taxes
In terms of this campaign agenda, Brauchler didn't offer many specifics. But he made clear he is "strongly opposed" to the bipartisan legislative proposal for a statewide sales tax hike to raise money for $3.5 billion in road projects.
He prefers a bond on the current gas tax collections--money the state's transportation department said is needed for existing road maintenance.
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Jun 22, 2017
On Crime:
Supports death penalty; would lift stays of execution
A well-known district attorney who was lead prosecutor in the case against Aurora theater shooter James Holmes, gubernatorial candidate George Brauchler assailed
Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2013 for issuing a temporary stay of execution to convicted killer Nathan Dunlap. The next governor is free to lift the stay and Brauchler has indicated that he would.
Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Apr 19, 2017
On Drugs:
Opposed legalization but will defend CO laws
"The state is in need of leadership," said Brauchler, emphasizing his experience as a prosecutor as well as serving in the Army National Guard and his 2011 deployment to Iraq.Although he opposed the legalization of marijuana,
Brauchler said he would defend Colorado state laws that support it.
Brauchler lists improving state roads and public education as his top priorities if elected. He notes that his four children all have attended public schools.
Source: Pueblo Chieftain on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Apr 11, 2017
On Health Care:
Medicaid block grants instead of ObamaCare expansion
Brauchler supports the Trump administration's call to change the federal Medicaid insurance program to a block grant -- setting limits on the annual expenditure.
He said Colorado's decision to expand Medicaid coverage under the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act has committed the state to open-ended expense. "Those costs are ultimately unsustainable," he said.
Source: Pueblo Chieftain on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Apr 11, 2017
On Immigration:
Opposes sanctuary cities; leave immigration to Feds
Brauchler said, "I don't see Colorado as a sanctuary state. And I don't think we have the resources to be targeting undocumented immigrants who are not a threat to anyone.
And the Supreme Court has ruled that immigration is a federal, not a state concern." That said, Brauchler said he opposes communities declaring themselves as "sanctuaries" that will oppose federal enforcement.
Source: Pueblo Chieftain on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Apr 11, 2017
On Health Care:
Increase Medicaid co-pays to change behavior
A $2 copay that gets billed out as a $54 office visit is too little to impact behavior. People who have a runny nose are running off to the doctor, because the cost to them is nothing. Should we have the ability to go to them and say, "We want you to
have the ability to have more skin in the game. We want to increase your copay as a means of not only helping us save dollars for those who truly need it, but also to change behavior, so you don't treat this in a way that's more gratuitously used."
Source: Westword.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Apr 7, 2017
On Crime:
Death penalty is legitimate rule of law
Brauchler won his first race for district attorney in 2012 & boosted his profile as a strong critic of Hickenlooper's decision to grant convicted killer Nathan Dunlap a temporary reprieve from the death penalty. Brauchler said if he is elected governor
he will put Dunlap's execution back on the calendar on "Day 1.""What I'm going to do is put force behind that decision by the court, by that jury, and we're going to make something legitimate of the rule of law here in this state," he explained.
His prosecution of Aurora theater shooter James Holmes once again put him in the spotlight a year into his term. He asked for the death penalty, but the jury returned a sentence for life in prison without parole--the same outcome
Holmes' attorneys offered as a plea deal before the trial.
Brauchler said he plans to remain in his position as district attorney while campaigning for governor and dismissed concerns about conflicts, saying his job would come first.
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 5, 2017
On Drugs:
Opposed marijuana legalization; but keep the feds out
Brauchler promised to defend Colorado from federal overreach--including the state's recreational marijuana laws, despite his opposition to the legalization. "I think what this state wants is to have a governor who will stand up to
Washington, D.C., and allow us to be more in charge of us and not be so impacted day-in and day-out by bureaucrats and politicians that don't live here," he said.
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 5, 2017
On Health Care:
Charge co-pays to low-income residents on Medicaid
When it comes to finding money to invest in schools, Brauchler suggested rising health care costs are crowding out other priorities.
He expressed interest to charging co-pays to low-income residents on Medicaid, as well as looking at reducing eligibility limits, which could leave some uninsured.
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 5, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Oppose sales tax hike to raise $3.5B for road projects
Brauchler made clear he is "strongly opposed" to the bipartisan legislative proposal for a statewide sales tax hike to raise money for $3.5 billion in road projects.
He prefers a bond on the current gas tax collections--money the state's transportation department said is needed for existing road maintenance.
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 5, 2017
Page last updated: Apr 07, 2021