Submitted Biography
Cleave Simpson, born and raised in Alamosa Colorado. A fourth-generation farmer and rancher in the San Luis Valley. Cleave and his wife Cathy enjoy spending time in the amazing Valley with their loving family members. After graduating from the Colorado School of Mines with B.S. in Mining Engineering and working in Texas and Australia, Cleave returned home to become the general manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District working with all stakeholders addressing the water security issues in the basin. He is also currently the Colorado State Senator representing senate district 6 which is comprised of 14 counties in southern and southwest Colorado. Cleave was also the past chairman of the Adams State University Board of Trustees in Alamosa. Through a thoughtful approach to preserve our rural values he expects to create opportunities for future Colorado generations to live and prosper in rural Colorado.
Campaign Phone
719-480-0548
1. Demand more fiscal responsibility from the general assembly and assure we abide by our constitutional funding requirements as well as our statutory requirements to maintain a 15% reserve. We FINALLY eliminated the budget stabilization factor and put forward a budget this year to fulfill our constitutional
requirement on funding K-12 education. Current economic forecasts are putting some fiscal pressures on the general assembly. We need to maintain the zero balance of the budget stabilization factor.
2. Work to make Colorado more affordable. Push back on any new Enterprise proposals and demand accountability on the existing ones. I will be seeking accountability during the SMART act hearings on the multitude of recently created Enterprise's and their effectiveness.
3. Of course, a focus on water security issues around Colorado as outlined in each Basin Implementation Plan included in the Colorado Water Plan. I support proposition JJ Retaining Additional Sports Betting Tax Revenue.
Stop the creation of any more fee enterprises. Work with stakeholders and the Commissioner of Insurance to identify any possible legislative solutions to rising insurance costs. Ask all government departments to identify cost saving measures as part of the hearings in front of their Committee of Reference.
A more aggressive role in assisting federal officials in identifying illegal immigrants active in the criminal world. Identifying them, holding them for federal officials to determine the correct course of action, particularly those with a violent criminal past. The state and the federal government need to work more collaboratively on this issue to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.
Working to reduce any obstacles for the advancement of geothermal energy opportunities. More engagement with local authorities to identify both concerns and opportunities for advancement of renewable energy projects around the state. Why can't we focus more on the urban opportunities for more generation versus the routine effort to establish new projects in rural parts of the state? We should encourage more ingenuity!
I want to make sure the state is doing everything we can to give women and families alternatives to abortion and choose life, including much needed family planning services. I also recognize this is a complicated issue with strong opinions on both sides. I always welcome constructive dialogue and exchange of ideas. I can say alternatively I would not support a ban on abortions and recognize it's a much more nuanced conversation beyond the extremes on both ends of the spectrum.
I have no reason to doubt the integrity of the Colorado election system. I am sure we can continue to find ways to improve and build more confidence, starting with voter rolls and assurances that ballots are truly only going out to qualified/registered voters. This should be a continuous improvement process whereby we continue to make it easy to vote but really hard to cheat. I serve on the Bipartisan Election Advisory Commitee and welcome the opportunity to continue to advance my knowledge of our voting system.
Submitted Biography
Vivian Smotherman brings to Senate District 6 proven leadership skills honed through 35 years of education, work, and travel across the globe. As a sailor, a farmer, a teacher, an oil field worker, and a non-profit organizer and volunteer, Vivian has led a life where her ability to bring divergent visions together has served to meet the needs of the group rather than just that of one faction or person. Add her formal education in both History and Anthropology and you have a woman capable of bringing all these talents to bear to find the common ground necessary to forge alliances that overcome the divisiveness that is tearing our country apart. Whether working alongside English, Romanian, or Brazilian crews, Vivian has proven herself capable of stepping into the lion’s den, surrounded by enemies, only to walk out a respected leader with the trust of those she serves.
Campaign Phone
970-764-7477
Our three top issues are Housing, rural healthcare, and education. We must address the housing shortage and high prices so we can attract more young professionals and offer them affordable housing within our communities. I’ll push for funding public/private cooperatives that are committed to providing workforce housing. Ultimately however, I hope to address the budget crisis by taking on TABOR and finding a way to allow our state to operate the way every other state in the country does. If we can do this, we can fully and adequately fund education, another key to attracting young professionals, particularly healthcare workers into our district, and giving them incentive to stay. We must improve our schools.
Under president Biden, inflation has now fallen to its lowest level since Feb. of 2021. We are however, still struggling with the effects of Covid and its poor management by the Trump administration. going forward we must work to increase worker salaries, while lowering the cost of housing. Another area I’ll focus on is finding funding and resources that support child-care and after school programs. Lowering the drain on family income that childcare causes will allow more families to free up income for housing, food, and other basic necessities.
Colorado is not a border state. The state itself should focus more on helping its citizens naturalize while ensuring that those going through the process are gainfully employed and paying their fair share of taxes. Our immigrant population adds depth and character to our state and rather than treating them all like criminals, I would see us treat them with dignity and respect, lift them up, and help them become welcome and productive members of our communities.
We must work to incentivize our large energy companies to invest in and pursue profitable transitions to renewable energies. Simultaneously we must de-incentivize irresponsible drilling and fracking by ensuring that any permits issues are accompanied by a bond sufficient to cover the proper shut down and sealing of the well at its end of life. This bond must remain in place through sales or other transactions that shift ownership to smaller entities that traditionally do not have the funding to properly shut down wells. At the end of the day, we need pragmatic solutions that serve everyone, protecting jobs and salaries, while pursuing the shift towards 100% renewables.
We have already seen, nationwide, the horrible effects abortion bans have on women. From tens of thousands of rape induced pregnancies to women dying because doctors are too afraid of facing legal consequences. I believe everyone deserves free and unfettered access to abortion and reproductive healthcare. Anything less is taking rights away from our citizens, and that is simply not acceptable in a free society. Only a woman and her doctor should have a voice in that woman’s healthcare decisions.
Colorado has the safest most secure elections in the country, and I’m proud to live here and enjoy the benefits. Nationwide, I also believe our election systems are secure, however there are a number of organizations constantly attacking that integrity, and we need to stay vigilant and rely on evidence before making judgements for or against our election results.