Victor Mitchell in 2018 CO Governor's race

On Energy & Oil: Repeal misguided Paris Accords order on Day One

When asked whether he would rescind the executive order if he's sworn in as governor in 18 months, Mitchell responded, "When I am elected Governor, I will repeal this misguided order on Day 1."

"We all want clean air, but Hickenlooper's rogue mandate is not the answer. It will cost Colorado jobs and hit every consumer in the wallet. And all this harm for unknown benefits. Say NO loudly to this politically motivated action by our lame duck Governor."

Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Jul 12, 2017

On Budget & Economy: To save jobs, we must halt any kind of tax increase

Feeling he could accomplish more for Colorado and the business community outside the legislature, he turned his attention to founding an organization, Save Colorado Jobs, that lead the statewide campaign to defeat Prop 103 in 2011, a ballot measure that would have increased both the state income and sales tax rates, and been the largest tax increase in Colorado's history. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Budget & Economy: In an over regulated Colorado, regulations need to be cut

Colorado has become horribly over regulated, on day one I plan to bring in a team of the smartest best brightest people who work in private industry here in Colorado. And those people are gonna be tasked with one thing which is to go through all our regulations and determine which ones can either be cut entirely or need to be materially modified. This is very important because this is stifling innovation and this is stifling the ability for young people to take on vocational carriers. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Drugs: Marijuana revenues are being "ripped off" in the status quo

What mostly bothers me about the marijuana amendment 64 is the fact that the revenues are being completely ripped off. There's no transparency in the amount of revenues. There are record pot sails going on today yet we don't even know where the money's going. I'm going to be proposing a bold initiative in which every dollar that comes into the state on marijuana is displayed to all our citizens. Not only how much money is coming in but also where it is going to be allocated. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Drugs: THC is dangerous, but voters ok'ed the pot amendment

I think we need a better educational plan and marketing efforts to really enlighten people on the short term and long term and serious effects of marijuana. Including today nearly every week there are children being born with THC in their system. These children are being born with long term cognitive disabilities. But that does not mean that I want to repeal it. I think the voters have spoken. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Education: College need to become more affordable in Colorado

Today it's up to $30,000 a year for an in state kid to go to CU. Almost half of that is housing alone. They're ripping our families off, they're ripping these kids off. We need to be doing much better, we need to be lowering the cost of tuition most especially on STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs].

We need degrees in STEM; we need to make them as affordable as possible for students. We need to encourage them and we need a greater emphasis on remediation.

Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Health Care: Insurance is not necessary for primary care

We can get Medicaid spending under control Medicaid has increased by more than 40% since the passage of the unaffordable care act. We're not doing anything to bend the cost of access to affordable care. We should come up with ideas and solutions that are different, that don't always involve insurance. Why do we even need insurance for primary care? I plan to repeal the exchange here in Colorado and replace it with a patient centered health care plan. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Health Care: ObamaCare doesn't work for 50% of people today

We hear about the handful of people that are going to lose their insurance under the "Un-Affordable Care Act," but don't talk about the more than 50% of people today, that have insurance, that can't access it like Mark who works for me. He has diabetes. It costs him more than $15,000 a year today to access any service provider between what he has to pay for his co payments his deductibles and his premiums." Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Homeland Security: "Big brother government" is terribly intrusive

I don't support any new tax increase I don't care how big or how small. Yes we desperately need infrastructure here in Colorado but Colorado department of transportation is has become terribly political. We can use so much in technology and traffic science today to solve so many of our problems with traffic. I can't stand red light camera systems. In fact, I think it's terribly intrusive. For big brother government to fleece our citizens in the spirit of what they call public safety. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017

On Budget & Economy: Cutting regulations will promote small businesses

Mitchell loaned his campaign $3 million to get started, but he's vague about where he'll get the donors to pay that back to himself, plus millions more he would need to make it to Election Day. Mitchell said, "We've put in $3 million; hopefully it gets paid back, but if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world. It's a down payment on the future of Colorado. Obviously, I'm not a Bush. I'm not a Romney. I wasn't born on third base. I'm a self-made guy, and I love this state." [Mitchell's opponent state Treasurer Walker] Stapleton is a cousin to the Bush White House families. Pressed on the subject, Mitchell said he didn't vote for Donald Trump, his party's nominee. He instead cast a ballot for Evan McMullin, the independent candidate. Mitchell said his governing priorities include "dramatically cutting all our regulations" and promoting entrepreneurship. Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Jun 13, 2017

On Health Care: ObamaCare is not a solution; we need patient-centered care

Mitchell called the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare, which provided insurance to thousands of Coloradans, a boondoggle. He would favor block grants to start nurse-practitioner staffed clinics for primary care. "That begs the question of why do you even need insurance for primary care?" he said. "You should be able to go and get high-quality, patient-centered care without insurance, but we're not even thinking about these types of things." Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Jun 13, 2017

On Immigration: Supports Trump's anti-sanctuary city policies

Mitchell would support taking state money away from cities deemed to have sanctuary city policies, a measure a federal court judge already has told the Trump administration would not likely pass a constitutional challenge. He is quick to say that court decision isn't final, and he thinks Colorado can add nuance to make it work. If Democrats retain the House next year, where they already have a 37-28 edge, that proposal is dead on arrival, the same way the idea died last session. Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Jun 13, 2017

On Jobs: Teachers unions are about power not about helping teachers

He's also spoiling for a fight with teachers unions. Mitchell said he would weaken them by offering new teachers incentives not to join the union ("there can be any number of options available," including compensation). as well as curriculum flexibility, pay for performance and other education initiatives that Republican voters might love but Democratic legislators won't allow. "The unions don't want to give up any power, at the end of the day," Mitchell said. Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Jun 13, 2017

On Technology: Shrink state agencies to look for funds for highways

Mitchell said he would pay for transportation and other costs by doing a performance audit of the Colorado Department of Transportation and all over state agencies to look for ways to shrink the agencies to steer money into highways. Mitchell said he would fire Shailen Bhatt, the current highway director. "Nice guy, couldn't meet a nicer guy," he said of his meeting with Bhatt. "He's absolutely the wrong guy to be running such an important state bureaucracy. Terrible guy, he's going to be gone on day one, not because he's a bad person but because he's never, ever worked in the private sector." Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Jun 13, 2017

On Education: Teachers unions are enemies of Colorado

While Mitchell spoke of working with Democrats, he could not name a way in which he might compromise on his deeply held conservative convictions on taxes and schools. He said he loves the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, a favorite constitutional amendment of conservatives that liberals say hurts funding for schools & other public needs.

Asked about his over policies on education, he began, "Job No. 1 we need to call out the public teachers unions for what they are, which is the enemy of the state."

Source: Colorado Gazette on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Feb 14, 2017

On Education: Supports vouchers and school choice

Mitchell said he strongly supports school choice, from charter schools to vouchers, as well as an expanded school year and a curriculum that rigorously focuses on science, technology, engineering, math and civics.

He also thinks teachers should be paid based on performance. "There's no legitimate purpose for public teachers unions," Mitchell said. "All they do is promote mediocrity into our public schools, and they protect a failed system."

Source: Colorado Gazette on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Feb 14, 2017

On Tax Reform: Not one darn penny for additional taxes

Mitchell says,"I love TABOR," referring to the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, a favorite state constitutional amendment of conservatives that liberals say hurts funding for schools, transportation and other public needs. "I was supportive of TABOR from the get-go and still am. I don't believe we should be asking for one darn penny from any citizen of our state of additional taxes, not one penny." Source: Colorado Gazette on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Feb 14, 2017

On Civil Rights: Voted against Trump due to misogyny concerns

His pitch may draw comparisons to President Donald Trump, but Mitchell didn't vote for the Republican nominee. Instead, he voted for third-party candidate Evan McMullin.

"I've been a lifelong Republican, but I couldn't get there," he said. "My son's a West Point cadet. And the way (Trump) spoke about women was very concerning."

Still, Mitchell said Trump has his respect and he applauded him for putting together "a terrific Cabinet."