WELCOME ~ TO OUR 2022 LOCAL ELECTION GUIDE!
Our goal is to make this election page a one stop location to help you make an informed decision in as little time as possible. We have Candidate Surveys and Candidate Website links, extensive Amendment and Proposition information, Judge Guides, and outside links to the best election information in Colorado. The sections are in the same order as the ballots.

For Statewide Candidates we are linking to the TRUTH & LIBERTY website. When you are finished there, return to the “Say to Your Mountain” Elections 2022 page" - by hitting the “Back Button”.

For STATEWIDE Candidates: TRUTH & LIBERTY WEBSITE
For the TRUTH & LIBERTY Statewide Brochure: CLICK HERE
For LARIMER COUNTY Candidates Below: SCROLL DOWN
To go directly to the AMENDMENTS & PROPOSITIONS Below: CLICK HERE
For a guide on LARIMER and WELD COUNTY JUDGES: CLICK HERE

US CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

US Congressional District 2

US Congressional District 4

US Congressional District 8

STATE BOARD OF ED & CU REGENTS

CO State Board of Ed District 8

CO State Board of Ed - At Large

CU Regent District 4

CU Regent District 8

STATE OF CO HOUSE & SENATE

CO Senate District 15

CO House District 49

CO House District 52

CO House District 53

CO House District 64

CO House District 65

LARIMER COUNTY

Larimer County Commissioner District 1

Larimer Clerk & Recorder

Larimer County Assessor

Larimer County Coroner

2022 Ballot Initiatives: State - Larimer County - Local

I. Measures that would amend the Colorado Constitution if passed by 55%:

Amendment D: New 23rd Judicial District Judges

We see no controversy with this measure as it makes sense to designate judges in the 18th district to become part of the new 23rd district as long as they live in the new district

Amendment E: Extend Homestead Exemption to Gold Star Spouses

Although we would prefer to see property taxes reduced for all property owners in Colorado, we support this initiative to reduce the tax burden on spouses of veterans who sacrificed their lives while serving our country.

Amendment F: Changes to Charitable Gaming Operations

We do not support measures that encourage gambling and feel that this is not an appropriate measure to be in our state constitution.

II. Measures that would amend Colorado State Statutes if passed by a simple majority:

Proposition FF: Healthy School Meals for All

We oppose new government programs that involve tax increases when there is no demonstrated need. Free meals will still be available to low-income students without this program which is not necessary now that the pandemic is no longer an emergency.

Proposition GG: Add Tax Information Table to Petitions and Ballots

This proposition is unnecessary because this tax information is already included in the blue book that is mailed to every household with a registered voter. It does not need to be on the actual ballot, making our already-long ballots even longer and therefore more expensive to print and mail.

Proposition 121: State Income Tax Rate Reduction

Reducing taxes during a time of economic hardship makes sense. This is a modest and fair tax decrease of 0.15% which applies to all taxpayers.

Proposition 122: Access to Natural Psychedelic Substances
(AKA Natural Medicine Act of 2022)

From the “Natural Medicine Act of 2022”: Local governments will not be able to ban these facilities. “A locality may not ban or completely prohibit a licensed health -care facility or individual within its boundaries from providing natural medicine services if the licensed health - care facility or individual is permitted to provide natural medicine services by the department pursuant to this article. ‘
From drugs.com - “Psilocybin effects are similar to those of other hallucinogens, such as mescaline from peyote or LSD. The psychological reaction to psilocybin use include visual and auditory hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality.”

Although we recognize that certain drugs can have beneficial medicinal effects, we believe they should be regulated under current medical regulating agencies rather than a new bureaucracy. We are concerned this measure could lead to more use of psychedelic drugs in our state.

Proposition 123: Dedicate Revenue for Affordable Housing Programs

This complicated measure would deflect tax receipts from TABOR refunds and redirect them to affordable housing grants and loan programs, thus creating a new government bureaucracy including: a new “State Fund”, a new ‘“Administrator” means a political subdivision of the State of Colorado’”, and a “Web-Based system created and maintained by the division”. While we recognize the lack of affordable housing in Colorado, we believe a better approach is to reduce barriers to affordable housing such as the lack of new water storage projects, burdensome regulations, restrictive zoning, and overly strict building codes.

Proposition 124: Increase Allowable Liquor Store Locations

This measure favors consolidation within this industry and discriminates against new small businesses entering the market.
From the 2022 CO Blue Book argument Against: “Proposition 124 creates a disadvantage for small, locally owned liquor stores that may not have the capacity or desire to expand, and instead benefits large retail liquor store chains that have more resources. Current law is designed to ensure that neighborhood liquor stores can continue to compete with other retail liquor stores. Many of these small businesses are owned by minorities and women, who may lose customers as a result of increased competition from large retail liquor store chains.”

Proposition 125: Allow Grocery and Convenience Stores to Sell Wine

Although this measure would make the purchase of alcoholic beverages more convenient for consumers, we question the wisdom of making such beverages even more widely available than they already are.
From the 2022 CO Blue Book argument against: “The measure creates a disadvantage for small, locally owned liquor stores, and instead benefits large national grocery and convenience store chains. The automatic license conversion will more than double the number of stores where wine can be sold, without any community input or state or local government review.”

Proposition 126: Third-Party Delivery of Alcohol Beverages

Although we usually favor increasing freedom in the marketplace, this measure does not have enough safeguards to prevent minors from receiving deliveries of alcoholic beverages. Imagine a situation where alcoholics never had to leave their home, and simply order a continuous stream of alcohol delivery.

III. City Ballot Initiatives

Ballot Question 2A: Fort Collins Charter Amendment No. 1

concerning increasing compensation of City Council members:
Although the members of City Council are overdue for a pay increase, this measure tries to accomplish too much all at once, especially during a time of a city budget shortfall and in comparison to the salaries of other comparable Colorado city councilmembers.

Ballot Question 2B: Fort Collins Charter Amendment No. 2

concerning changing city election date from April to November in the odd year:
The Founding Fathers of our country believed that government should be grass-roots and as local as possible. They created a government of, by, and for The People - which is a bottom-up structure vs. top-down centralized government. That’s why the Electoral College was designed and implemented to prevent a small group of people or states from taking control of elections. Fort Collins Charter Amendment No. 2 is a coordinated election with Larimer County under the election laws of the State of Colorado, which consolidates power to the State, by combining the Fort Collins elections with Larimer County elections.

From the ordinance text: “...this Charter or ordinance of the Council shall be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado relating to municipal elections, or coordinated municipal elections, as applicable.”

The City elections would be on County ballots and fall under State jurisdiction. For that reason, we are AGAINST this amendment and FOR maintaining the current grass-roots approach.

Fort Collins Charter Amendment No. 3

to implement Ranked Choice Voting in city elections:
We oppose this initiative because it is confusing, will be impossible to audit or recount accurately, and has been tried and rejected in communities around the country. Because it requires more research and time, you risk having your ballot tossed if you do not rank all the candidates. We support our traditional one vote, one person system of electing government officials.

Ranked Choice Voting Explained
Ranked Choice Voting Is a Bad Choice | The Heritage Foundation
Report: The Failed Experiment of Ranked-Choice Voting | Alaska Policy Forum

Judges Guide - by the Equal Justice Foundation

Larimer County 8th District Judges Guide
Weld County 19th District Judges Guide
Colorado Judicial Structure Chart
Colorado Judicial District Map

For additional information on the statewide ballot initiatives above, please consult these sources:

Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book) | Colorado General Assembly - Official Colorado state publication detailing each of the statewide ballot issues on the ballot this election. These ballot measures include possible amendments to the Colorado Constitution as well as various propositions that would change Colorado state laws. Measures referred to the ballot by the state legislature are designated by letters, whereas measures initiated by citizens through the petition process are designated by numbers. The Blue Book includes arguments for and against these ballot measures as well as the fiscal impact of each measure if approved by the voters.

2022 Ballot Guide - Centennial Institute - ccu.edu - Provided by the Centennial Institute, a think tank of Colorado Christian University, this guide gives the Centennial Institute’s recommendations on the various ballot measures.

Kim Monson's 2022 Colorado Voter's Guide, features a more libertarian, small government focus.

Independence Institute Voter Guide 2022 - Independence Institute - i2i.org

TABOR Election Guide - ballot2022.com This site does not make recommendations on the various TABOR initiatives but does list them by County, giving the voter a chance to look at them before receiving their ballots. TABOR measures usually involve possible tax increases, which require voter approval before being implemented. Many of these issues are specific to a special district so will not be on everyone’s ballot. Scroll down to the Larimer County section.

Ranked Choice Voting (Fort Collins only)

• Against: Vote No on Amendment 3. Community for Fair Elections - Fort Collins, CO

• In favor: Vote Yes on 2C | RCV in Fort Collins (rcvforfortcollins.com)

• Neutral: Ranked-Choice Voting - Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce (fortcollinschamber.com)