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LTE: With knowledge of both candidates, I know my vote

"I’ve had the pleasure to have coffee with both friendly candidates for Colorado House District 11"
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I’ve had the pleasure to have coffee with both friendly candidates for Colorado House District 11, which includes southwest Longmont.

It took many questions to get Republican Tara Menza’s stance on issues.  She believes she is a moderate, and for some, she might be. However, as I probed on issues, I found her local and national knowledge lacking.  Tara is new to Colorado, arriving after Jared Polis became governor. Her sources for information were right-wing, not moderate.  She is not totally against abortion, though didn’t appear to understand that there are late-term conditions where there can be a choice between baby and mother, and she stands against any late-term abortions. She says “it’s not so bad to stand in line” (to vote), so perhaps she doesn’t understand our secure and convenient voting system, and how important it is for seniors, disabled, and every busy person, to be able to sit down at home with the blue book and ballot, and make well-informed choices. She supports school vouchers, which hurt public schools. I made a point to her that I appreciated the public school education that I’d had, in a very diverse high school. It taught me that we are all the same inside.

She made statements about Democrats that she’d “heard” but couldn’t substantiate.  When I’d ask about something like our voting system or policies on guns, she’d say it was already law here, but it was unclear if she would support those things if they came back up for a vote on her watch.

In contrast, with Democrat Karen McCormick, when I asked a question, I’d get a specific answer, with examples.  If I asked her where she stood or how she voted on an issue, she told me, and explained. Karen has served one term in the legislature, and I believe that she listens to us and votes accordingly.  She is a veterinarian, has business background, and can read deeply into legislation that affects our lives.  She supports our voting system and our medical choices.

Thinking it through, I’m voting for Karen McCormick. Karen is knowledgeable, has history in Longmont, and her values reflect mine. I see no need to change, especially for someone with no experience and a lack of knowledge of Boulder County and Colorado values.

Sondra Singer