Boulder Weekly mailed questionnaires to all candidates on Boulder County ballots, including long-form and lightning round questions. Steve Ferrante did not complete a questionnaire, either for the June primary or November general election. We have included the limited questions he responded to.
Campaign website: electstevecolorado.com
Priorities: Did not respond
Lightning round
When was the last time you paid rent? How much was it? And where? Did not respond
Do you support the state’s elimination of local occupancy limits? Did not respond
Do you support requiring more density in your jurisdiction as a way to address the affordable housing crisis? Did not respond
Do you support the Front Range train as the state’s highest priority for passenger rail? Did not respond
Do you support for SB24-157 which narrowed the definition of what constitutes a public meeting? No
Who are you supporting for president and vice president?
Our country is suffering from high inflation, incomprehensible debt, massive division, a porous border, an housing crisis, and a host of other problems. There are major international issues like the war in Ukraine, the war in Israel, a potential war in Taiwan, Iran close to developing a nuclear weapon, etc.
The DNC kicked off their convention with free abortions and vasectomies. The priorities of a party that cares about the real issues of American families are obviously found elsewhere.
Do you support local efforts to increase the minimum wage?
We need to focus on making opportunities for people to succeed. We need to create a climate where businesses can succeed, people are not overtaxed, regulations are streamlined and success is rewarded, not penalized.
Raising the minimum wage will appeal to emotions but will not significantly impact the earning potential of those who are on the lower end of the economic scale.
Do you support an end to the state prohibition on rent control?
Government is a poor steward of resources and does not do well at picking winners and losers. There is significant risk for people who invest in housing. If the government can lower risks, stabilize interest rates, cut red tape, incentivize fair market pricing, reduce restrictions regarding density and reduce or eliminate fees, the market will stabilize .
Do you support government interventions for human-caused climate change?
We need to be good stewards of the environment without penalizing the populace. People are struggling to pay for groceries, rent and energy. Most “interventions” are accompanied by significant cost increases.
Long-form questions
What would you say are the top three issues facing District 49, and what are your plans to address them?
Did not respond.
What is your assessment of the current approach to, and state resources available for, wildfire mitigation, prevention and response in D49?
Living in Estes Park has given me tremendous appreciation for wildfire issues. The state has done a great job fighting wildfires in the area. If fiscally possible, I am in favor of providing additional equipment to local fire departments for fighting wildfires. The individual departments know what is needed most. Canvassing them would be critical for an effective strategy and resource allotment.
The beetle kill problem from several years ago left a tremendous fuel load which was never dealt with. Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires burned tens of thousands of acres causing, pollution, loss of property and loss of life. Mitigation of the fuel load is a critical aspect of wildfire management. This fuel load could possibly have been a resource cultivated and sown into our economy.
We must find a way to cut through the red tape to better manage our resources. Colorado needs to work with federal officials to better manage forested lands to better limit wildfire potential in the state.
What is your plan for addressing the high poverty rates in rural mountain communities (legislation, resource allocation, etc.)?
On a long-term basis, we need to ensure that the education system is properly preparing children for a competitive marketplace. It is unacceptable for schools to graduate large numbers of children who are below grade level in math, science, reading, etc. The education system is failing our children/grandchildren, and it must change.
Government does not create success, but it often hinders it. We must promote a business climate where people can launch themselves into their dreams. Streamlining the processes to get a business up and running must be a priority. People will rise to the occasion when given the opportunity to do so. I have faith in the people of Colorado that they can create successful businesses if the government supports their efforts.
Job training, business skills classes, advertising assistance and similar forms of assistance will help to create the opportunities people need to get out of the cycle of poverty. The state has limited resources.
There are many mandated services the state is statutorily obliged to provide. The state pension system is severely underfunded. At the same time, the state can incentivize communities to foster a favorable business climate through a yet to be created, small business development fund where low-interest loans can be made for startups that are tied to business/job training, the targeting of market needs and capitalizing on a given area’s resources and attractions.
This system could become virtually self-sustaining as successful businesses pay off their loans. There can also be a conversion to conventional business loans once the business is established. This would ensure a more rapid replenishment of the fund.
What are your feelings on the balance between the need for housing and the pressure of development in your district, particularly in rural mountain communities?
District 49 is primarily a mountain district, yet growth is a concern everywhere. The demand for lower-cost housing in resort/tourist communities is a difficult problem to solve. Building supplies, labor costs, land values, regulations, etc. make it difficult to build in mountain communities and keep the cost of housing “affordable.” People are already straining under the high cost of living. Recent inflationary pressures, high energy and transportation costs, and a host of other pressures complicate the equation.
Zoning and density regulations can be altered to allow for a higher number of homes to be built in a smaller area. Local governments can waive fees and other restrictive measures.
At the same time, the concerns of established residents cannot be ignored. Where city and county governments own land, it can be rezoned for higher density housing and used to incentivize builders to venture into a new cooperative business model where prices can be reduced as land is deeded to a project for a given number of years allowing for lower prices while at the same time, making it possible for businesses to remain solvent while charging lower rents.
Boulder residents are concerned with the lack of infrastructure to support the growth the city is seeing. The widening of roads, placement of traffic lights and many other infrastructure issues greatly complicate the issue of expansion while driving up the cost of development. Few people want to see urban sprawl. Colorado is growing, and we need to do a better job of planning for the future.
How do you represent and advocate for voters in suburban and rural areas in a state where the focus and power tends to be concentrated in the more urban Front Range, particularly Denver and Boulder?
Did not respond
What is the strategy for evolving transportation systems (particularly in suburban and rural areas) to meet Colorado’s climate goals, while balancing the realities of car dependency for those who must rely on personal vehicles?
Did not respond
Given the realities of a changing climate and limited government resources, how do you plan on balancing mitigation and adaptation for already-impacted populations in District 49?
Did not respond
How does JEDI factor into your policy making?
Did not respond
What efforts do you make in your daily life to consider and understand people with different lived experiences from your own?
Did not respond
When’s the last time you changed your mind about something, and what was it?
Did not respond
What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
Did not respond