Community Safety
Strong healthy communities are built on trust and respect. I will continue to work to earn the trust of those who live in our mountain towns. I will continue to engage in community services and outreach programs across the district to help ensure the safety of our communities for our families and neighbors. I will work to gain the respect of our many diverse communities and neighborhoods including our immigrant populations, ensuring that victims have a voice that is heard in the criminal justice system.
Protecting our elder and immigrant populations
These vulnerable groups are easy targets of violence and financial scams. I will work tirelessly to protect vulnerable individuals from those trying to take advantage of them. Technology based scams that result in theft are on the rise and unfortunately perpetrators are often out of state. I have prosecuted out of state defendants in such crimes and brought them to justice here in the 5th District, so their victims in our communities have had a chance to be made whole again.
Protecting public monies
As government officials we must absolutely be held to the highest standards as the stewards of tax dollars. I have worked closely with Eagle and Lake Counties’ Departments of Human Services to investigate and prosecute welfare fraud cases. I will expand investigations and prosecutions of these cases across all four counties in the 5th JD to ensure that those who are truly in need of assistance are the ones receiving it, and those who commit fraud in obtaining tax dollars are held accountable.
Alternative justice
No two crimes are the same, no two defendants are the same, and no two victims are the same. We need to continue looking toward alternative methods of addressing criminal behavior in order to reduce recidivism, and make sure that the victims of crimes are heard and are a part of that process. Adult diversion is one such method and should be considered when appropriate. Holding defendants accountable can be done in a variety of different ways. Cases should be assessed individually and determine how justice is best served.