Mark Baisley, candidate for state House District 39

Party: Republican

City or town of residence: Roxborough Park

Profession: Aerospace engineer

Campaign website: baisley.org

What makes you the best choice for this office?

I will simply offer my community résumé: Founding president of the board, STEM School and Academy in Highlands Ranch; chairman of the Colorado Space Business Roundtable; member, Columbia College Board of Trustees; board member, Littleton Public Schools Foundation; board member, Community College of Aurora Foundation; appointed to several service committees by former Gov. Bill Owens and Colorado House Minority Leader Mike May; Chairman of Douglas County Republican Party; Vice Chairman of Colorado Republican Party

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

Rising housing prices and increased traffic are simply the results of tens of thousands of people moving to Colorado every year. The free market is responding by building many new apartments and even some new neighborhoods. There is no appropriate role for the Legislature to interfere with this free market. But what voters can do is vote for Republicans in order to prevent Colorado from becoming like California — a state to flee from.

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

Colorado state finances have increased significantly at an annual average of 8.5 percent over the past seven years. This year's budget increase is the largest ever thanks to Colorado's strong economy, aided by the federal tax cut that Republicans passed late last year. The state Legislature must fix transportation as a perpetual priority. Voters can help by passing the “Fix Our Damn Roads” initiative, while voting against increased sales taxes — both on the ballot this November.

What two issues demand more attention in the upcoming Legislative session than they received in the previous one?

1.) Colorado has become the nation's social laboratory for legalized marijuana. While I agree with decriminalization, this new era in openness to recreational drug use has introduced the unintended consequence of a new class of government dependents. That may fit the goals of the Democratic Party, but it is bad for Colorado. 2.) Colorado ranks No. 5 among the states for natural gas production. We should support the jobs and clean energy that this abundant resource produces.

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

When smartly done, those matters appropriately performed by the government should just work well and their impact barely noticed as we go about our day. My aim is to elevate the aspirations of Coloradans by diminishing the aspirations of government. I will feel a success if able to help decrease the government's footprint in our lives.