Mark Barrington, candidate for Congressional District 7

Party: Republican

City of residence: Lakewood

Profession: Small business owner

Campaign Website: www.barringtonforcolorado.com

How would choosing you for this office improve the lives of residents of the district?

I have the drive, determination and passion to break things loose in Washington. I’ll work with fellow Representatives to break the log jam in a bipartisan way and start getting things done. I will focus on that not working to please party bosses. I will work to make sure our residents have access to affordable health care and make tax cuts permanent.  I will help balance the budget so our children aren’t burdened with debt.

What should Congress do to address the nation’s opioid epidemic?

Congress should support states efforts to curb the opioid crisis but do so with caution so those who need opioids have access. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer the drugs she was prescribed made her last months tolerable. It gave us quality time to enjoy being with mom as a family. So we shouldn’t go overboard on restricting opioid use. Congress can require more education when opioids are prescribed so patients know the risks.

What is your position on immigration reform?

We need comprehensive immigration reform to protect our citizens and ensure criminals aren’t coming to our country. We need to enforce our laws so those legally waiting in other countries have a fair opportunity to come to our country. We also need to treat those new to our country fairly and with compassion. Most of us are immigrants to this country; we need to treat others with the respect we would want for our ancestors.

What can be done to improve the nation’s health care system?

Like many families, we experienced an increase in our insurance premium and our annual deductible. For one trip to the hospital for stitches for our son we received a bill for $4000. To improve our health care system we need to manage the profits of hospitals lowering costs and we need insurance companies to be able to compete across state lines so insurance costs decrease.

What are two other issues that demand attention from Congress, and why?

Two issues needing attention are controlling our escalating national debt and fixing crumbling infrastructure. We need to reduce our national debt and balance the federal budget so our children aren’t responsible for paying the bills we rack up. We need to spend only the money the government brings in every year. And we need to invest in our roads and bridges to be sure we have the infrastructure to support commerce and protect our country.