Why The Forward Party

I joined the Forward Party because both Republicans and Democrats care more about scoring political points than scoring wins for the American people. Every Congress, it’s the same performance: Bashing the other side, raising gobs of money, mobilizing their bases – rinse and repeat.

What about compromise? Solving problems? Having real discussions? Forget about it.

The Forward Party does not advocate a set of policies. Instead, it has a set of nine values that resonate with me, and I hope with you as well. I set my policies while supporting and living the Forward Party values. Here is what I like about the Forward Party Values:

1. Rule of Law and Respect for Constitution: When I was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy, I took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Our elected officials to federal office take the same oath. Even though I am no longer a commissioned naval officer, I passionately adhere to this oath. One of my reasons for running for office is to restore the proper balance of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. A weak legislature, unable or unwilling to solve the problems we face, will result in an overreaching (even imperial) executive branch.
   
   
2. Support and Strengthen Democracy: Polls show disapproval of Congress hit a record high of 86%, but voters keep re-electing incumbents thanks to gerrymandered districts, party bosses with millions of dollars to disperse, fear-mongering, and lack of alternatives. Voters are brow-beaten into voting red or blue. It is up to us – the voters – to look beyond fear and vote for a candidate rather than against the other side. I am also concerned about the President’s use of primary challengers to threaten individual legislators. How can we expect the legislative branch to be a check on executive power when the executive branch holds all the power? The answer is to eliminate gerrymandered districts and create real competition in every election. This will diminish the power of the extremes.
   
   
3. American Leadership: The world is a safer place when America leads. The NATO alliance, Western capitalism, and the strength of the United States led to the fall of the Iron Curtain and freedom and prosperity for millions of Eastern Europeans. Skillful diplomacy and American resolve forged a coalition to eject Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in the first Gulf War. Later in the 1990s, skillful diplomacy and a NATO bombing campaign finally brought an end to war in the Balkans. Of course, there have been failures of American foreign policy, but we should not let those failures overshadow how much better mankind is because of American goodwill and engagement with the world. Consider the alternative in the 1930s, when military weakness and an isolationist faction emboldened dictators and resulted in World War II.
   
   
4. Build from the Bottom Up, Not the Top Down: The Forward Party will not dictate policies. This allows candidates to listen to constituents and legislate based on their needs, not a party platform. I am promoting policies that reflect the needs of hardworking Coloradans now and in the future, drawing on my experience as a naval officer, businessman, and job creator.
   
   
5. Use Data to Drive Solutions, Regardless of Ideology: My campaign principles are integrity, compassion, solutions, and impact. The best way to solve problems is to look at the data – not a party script. As new data emerges, we should be willing to change our positions and consider new solutions in order to maximize positive outcomes for our state and country.
   
   
6. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: America leads the world in both innovation and entrepreneurship. Private industry is the engine of a healthy economy. Government is needed to ensure a level playing field and root out corruption and fraud, but not lavish taxpayer dollars on favored industries and politically powerful companies or individuals. Government should not be a burden on free enterprise, but guarantee the conditions for it to thrive. That includes stability in regulations, taxes, tariffs, and monetary policy to allow companies and families to plan and execute for growth. Growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship are what create jobs and improve our standard of living.
   
   
7. Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility, and Civic Engagement: I believe we should live and let live. Let people live their lives according to their values and preferences. With this individual freedom comes responsibility to be a good citizen – obey laws and help care for those in need. Be informed (by more than social media influencers) and vote based on who will do the best job for your family, community, and country.
   
   
8. Treat Everyone with Respect and Dignity: We should treat every person with respect, regardless of background, ethnicity, or financial status. Every human being has dignity. We need to return to level-headed debate and discourse in our campaigns and our national conversation. I believe in my policies and positions. I believe they are right for Colorado and our country. But I respect differences of opinion.
   
   
9. Act with Ethics, Integrity, and Compassion: Once upon a time, I received a state tax refund check of about $46,000. I thought I was owed about $900. I returned the check with a letter. A few weeks later I received the proper check and a letter thanking me for my honesty. In the early days of Covid (April 2020), my company, where I served as CEO, applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $6.2 million to help companies avoid layoffs. A few weeks later, I noted that customers needed our services and we were hiring. I decided we didn’t need the PPP loan. I convened the Board of Directors and we voted to give the money back. Integrity is how you act when nobody is looking.

The Forward Party believes in free and fair elections, and works for electoral reform that leads to more competitive elections and the elimination of gerrymandered safe seats. See more here: https://www.forwardparty.com/

The Colorado Forward Party is a vibrant group dedicated to election reform and supporting independent-minded candidates such as me. See more here: https://www.coloradoforwardparty.com/