Lauren Nelson

Abortion / Contraception I am Pro-Life. All life is valuable and those most vulnerable need support and protection. Programs that support strong families are critical to our community’s success. I also believe it is the role of the church to step in to assist as we are called to love our neighbor. Criminal Justice / Public Safety We must ensure law enforcement is supported and well resourced so that criminals are held accountable for their actions, and victims receive justice. I will advocate to maintain a budget that prioritizes public safety. Infrastructure / Transportation Informed decision-making and water security are my priority. New development must pay for its own infrastructure and costs should not be placed on the backs of current residents. Mechanisms including metro districts and public improvement districts are options that have guardrails so that future homeowners in new developments are not taxed in perpetuity, but the mills on the property are capped and will sunset. Guns I am a strong second amendment advocate who understands the threat we face in Colorado with a state legislature that wants to infringe upon our rights. It is incumbent upon elected leaders in El Paso County to push back on these regulations coming from state and national influences and providing leadership that stands against theseinfringements. Infrastructure / Transportation I will prioritize funding for our roads and infrastructure. The county must be forward-thinking and anticipate the maintenance and future needs of our community. I support utilizing a quality asset management system and adapting to new technologies to identify the precise timeline for appropriate maintenance to avoid more costly total failure and reconstruction. In addition, new development will pay for its own infrastructure so that it doesn’t fall on the backs of current residents. Economy The cost of living continues to rise in Colorado, and the impacts to our families are real. I will keep taxes low so that citizens can enjoy their hard-earned income. I will also ensure businesses do not struggle under the weight of overregulation. They must have the freedom to innovate and compete in a free market without costly government burdens to avoid excessive costs being passed on to consumers. Nonsensical green energy initiatives at the state level are increasing costs and must be pushed back against. Immigration We live in an amazing country. It is understandable that people want to come here. That said, there are legal processes and procedures to move to the United States that must be demanded by elected officials. I do not support the concept of sanctuary cities/counties. Resources are limited and it is the role of government to provide infrastructure and public safety for its citizens who are funding these services through their taxes. Again, this county (and its elected officials) must lead on this issue and fight back against policies from Denver that are negatively impacting communities across the front range. El Paso County has been impacted by the destructive policies of nearby sanctuary cities and our state sanctuary laws and we must shed a bright light on this issue. Taxes / Budget I will defend and protect TABOR - Government must be accountable and transparent to the people. TABOR prevents government from growing out of control by placing guardrails around its revenue source – taxes. TABOR and sunshine laws must be respected and protected as they help to maintain ethical stewardship of funding and responsible decision-making.