Chris Kolker, candidate for state House District 38

Party: Democratic

City of residence: Centennial

Profession: Certified financial planner

Campaign website: KolkerForColorado.com

What makes you the best choice for this office?

I am willing to listen, act and legislate based on the values of residents throughout this district. I believe in common sense to guide my decision making. There is far too much partisan legislation from our current representative. We deserve a more open-minded approach from our representative than someone who votes against testing lead in our public schools' drinking water or one who sponsored a bill to cut Medicaid funding to seniors in nursing homes.

What can the Legislature do to ease the strain of rising housing prices on Colorado residents?

We need to look at why these homes are unaffordable. Wages are stagnating. Rising housing prices do not have to be an issue if wages can increase at a rate similar to the cost of housing. We can expand opportunities in apprenticeship programs that increase starting salaries. We must consider supply and demand. More supply will help reduce costs of housing. We need to balance the needs of maintaining water supply with increased housing construction.

What can be done to ensure the state's transportation system will be able to accommodate continued population growth?

Right now, we do not even have enough money to fix and maintain our roads and bridges. We should start there. We must focus coordinating transportation districts between state, municipalities and counties to ease the use of mass transportation. Bringing these groups together will reduce cost and increase efficiency. Mass transportation should be more readily available. I would like to see it become a more efficient form of transportation. This will accommodate Colorado's growth.

What two issues demand more attention in the upcoming legislative session than they received in the previous one, and why?

Last year, a Republican and a Democrat created a bill to address mental health and gun violence. This was the “Red Flag Bill,” voted against by our current representative. This was supported by the Douglas County sheriff and the Republican nominee for attorney general of Colorado. Second, funding classrooms was not given enough attention. HB18-1232 would have created a student-centric funding formula for schools, and I would like to sponsor a similar bill in 2019.

If elected, what must you accomplish in order for you to consider your term a success?

One measure of success is that I am going to focus on funding our public school classrooms. Secondly, I am committed to reaching across the aisle to work for the people of this district and state. Lastly, I want to be available, transparent and accountable to the people of this district and always stay in touch to assist with issues and answer questions, whenever they may occur. If I can accomplish all of these, I will consider my term as your representative a success.