Cary Kennedy in Gubernatorial campaign websites
On Civil Rights:
Gender pay equity in government and across the state
In Colorado, women are paid 81 cents for every dollar men earn. The wage gap is even larger for women of color. Black women are paid 64 cents, Latinas are paid 54 cents, and Asian women are paid 70 cents for every dollar paid to white men. As governor,
I will begin my term by conducting a review of equal pay conditions at the state and make adjustments as necessary.I will support legislation addressing the pay equity gap. Colorado should:- Reinstitute something similar to the Colorado Pay Equity
Commission to study the problem and support employers and employees in understanding the pay equity gap.
- Ensure that all state contractors are in compliance with equal pay standards.
- Ensure that women are not discriminated against in the job
application process by preventing employers from seeking salary history information unless the employer had provided a salary range for the open position. This prevents discriminatory payments from following a women throughout her career.
Source: 2018 Governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Ban the discredited practice of conversion therapy
I am proud that Colorado is a leader in protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people from discrimination. While we celebrate the brave activism and progress achieved by LGBTQ Coloradans and their allies, we can do more.
Everyone deserves to be treated fairly, equally, and with respect no matter who they are--or who they love. It is long past time for Colorado to ban the harmful and discredited practice of conversion therapy on young people.
Transgender Coloradans should be able to have identity documents like driver's licenses and birth certificates that match who they are. No one should suffer the sting of discrimination--not in the workplace, not in the marketplace, and not in the
classroom--not anywhere. As Governor, I will fight for equality for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families, and I will fight the regressive and hateful policies of the Trump Administration against LGBTQ Americans.
Source: 2018 Governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Crime:
Mass incarceration has a devastating impact
Over the past 35 years, Colorado's state prison budget has increased by almost 13 times. In 2015 we incarcerated nearly eight times as many people as we did in 1980.
This era of mass incarceration in our state has had a devastating impact on individuals, families, communities, and the state's budget. Reforming our state's criminal justice system will require a nuanced and thorough set of reforms.
As Governor, I will advance an agenda that prioritizes prevention and ensures that jails are not a replacement for important mental health services.
We must confront the severe racial biases present in our criminal justice system and we need to demand solutions to bring down the rate of recidivism in our prisons and jails.
Source: 2018 Governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Families & Children:
Expand access to contraception
Having the ability to choose to start a family when one is ready has social, economic, educational and health benefits for women and their families. Having access to contraception increases access to financial stability, higher education and career
opportunities.The Affordable Care Act included access to all forms of birth control as part of basic preventative health care, and without a copay. Even before the Affordable Care Act, Colorado passed legislation that prevents insurers from charging
women more for the health coverage, and required insurers to cover contraception and maternity care. Women with private insurance are also now able to pick up a year of birth control at once. We can increase access by ensuring that all women
have this opportunity, regardless of what type of insurance they have.
We must fight back. That is why I support policies that make sense, will help more people, and support access to sexual and reproductive health care for everyone.
Source: 2018 Governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Government Reform:
Cap election spending; eliminate corporate PAC contributions
An obscene amount of money gets spent on our elections these days, and people are tired of it. Let's agree to scale back campaign spending in the Democratic primary. I am asking all Democratic candidates to pledge to cap primary election spending at
$3 million--plenty of funding to get our names on the ballot and effectively communicate with primary voters. This is far more than any Democratic gubernatorial candidate has spent before in the primary, so this should not be a hardship for any of us.
Corporations have too much influence in our politics today. I propose we all pledge to not take--and if necessary, return any--corporate PAC contributions, or donations from corporate lobbyists, to eliminate this influence in our campaigns and in our
state government. And for any of us who have already accepted corporate donations, we should agree to return those contributions. When corporations lobby at the capitol it's because they have a profit motive.
Source: 2018 Governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Gun Control:
Ban assault weapons; fight the NRA & gun lobby
We lose too many lives to senseless shootings. We are no stranger to mass shooting tragedies here in Colorado. We need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill, which is why I support common
sense restrictions on guns like universal background checks. We also need to keep military-style weapons out of our communities including bump stocks, silencers, and other military style devices that are designed to kill large numbers of people in a
small amount of time.- Ban military style assault weapons designed to quickly kill large numbers of people.
- Keep guns out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves or others.
- Fight the NRA and the gun lobby.
My heart is broken for the victims, parents and loved ones of the victims of mass shootings that have terrorized our country. It is time to turn our grief and fear into action. We can and will do more to prevent gun violence in Colorado.
Source: 2018 Governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Homeland Security:
Tax deductions for veterans, plus more state services
Colorado is home to almost half a million American heroes who faithfully served our country in uniform. It is our responsibility to ensure that we stand by these brave men and women. Our country made a promise to them in return for these sacrifices and
as governor I will fight to make sure these sacrifices and commitments are not forgotten.Most services for our veterans are provided by the federal government so I will work hand in hand with our Congressional delegation to hold
Washington accountable to deliver what our veterans need and are entitled to. But there are also additional steps the state can and should take to support our veterans. These include:
- Expand the state income tax deduction on veterans' pensions
-
Increase the number of Veterans Trauma Courts throughout the state
- Install a dedicated officer in the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to oversee programs related to Women and LGBTQ veterans
Source: 2018 Governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
$5.1M annual earnings from diversifying city investments
As CFO of Denver, Cary led the charge to change the City Charter to allow Denver to diversify where the city invests its money while maintaining the safety of those investments.
With this change, Cary expanded Denver's investment portfolio to include the same securities as the State Treasurer's Office.
This move has already increased earnings by $5.1 million annually and Denver citizens will now permanently see a larger increase on the city's investment returns.
Cary helped develop balanced budget packages for both Denver (2A in 2012) and Colorado (Referendum C in 2005) that were approved by voters.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
On Education:
Authored Amendment 23: Fund education & repair schools
Cary is an innovative problem solver for Colorado. As the author of Amendment 23, Cary has been on the forefront of fighting for public education for Colorado's kids.
She crafted the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program that funded--and continues to fund--the renovation and replacement of hundreds of crumbling and dilapidated schools across Colorado.
As State Treasurer, Cary led the effort to develop a billion-dollar program to help districts repair and replace aging school buildings throughout Colorado with no new or increased state taxes.
Cary wrote Amendment 23 and led the statewide campaign to pass it, prioritizing education funding and avoiding even deeper budget cuts in Colorado public schools.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
On Education:
Preschool & kindergarten for every child
If I am elected governor, I will make education Colorado's top priority. I will work with our schools and communities to make sure every child gets a great education that is engaging and empowering. We can give every child the opportunity to go to
preschool and kindergarten. We can give our teachers the professional pay they deserve. We can offer technical and professional courses while kids are still in high school. And we can get our kids through college without burdensome debt.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
On Families & Children:
Help at-risk low-income kids with nurse home visits
Cary developed School Readiness legislation that brought additional federal funding to Colorado which helped child care providers serving low-income children improve their quality and serve more children.While serving as State Treasurer Cary helped
secure sustainable funding for a program that provides nurse home visits for low-income at-risk moms throughout Colorado. The program helps first-time moms have healthy pregnancies and gain the knowledge needed to become the best parents.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
On Government Reform:
Transparency in public finance: publish online
Cary opened the books of government in Colorado and in Denver by publishing the state's and the city's expenditures online with searchable databases,
publishing the first-ever taxpayer accountability report for the State and the city and creating the first-ever online receipt for taxpayers.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
On Jobs:
Target tax cuts for job creation
Cary improved Denver's business climate by creating a Business Incentive Program that eliminated half of the business personal property tax for businesses that expanded operations in Denver.
By 2016 the program had incentivized 33 firms to create over 600 jobs with more than $77 million in business expansion.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Tax rebates for seniors & disabled
Cary helped double Denver's property tax rebate for seniors and the disabled to help keep housing affordable.
Cary published the first-ever taxpayer accountability report for the State and the city and created the first-ever online receipt for taxpayers.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
On Technology:
Transit Oriented Development & develop airport commercially
Cary helped lead regional negotiations with Denver, Aurora and Adams County to expand commercial development at Denver International Airport. The agreement represents unprecedented regional cooperation and creates one of the largest
economic development opportunities in the region. She also helped develop Pena Station which brought Panasonic Solutions to build a 400-acre Transit Oriented Development project, bringing more than 300 high-paying jobs to the region.
Source: 2018 CO governor campaign website CaryKennedyForGovernor.com
Jul 2, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021