Hopefuls eye size of government, budgets

By Rachel Carter
Longmont Times-Call LONGMONT — Catherine Jarrett wants smaller government, while Jack Pommer says he will work to make sure government does more with less.

Jarrett, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat Pommer for the Colorado House District 11 seat, which covers portions of west and north Longmont.

Pommer first won the seat in 2002, then ran unopposed in 2004. Jarrett decided to challenge him in 2006 and again this year because she wanted to give voters a choice and not allow Pommer to run unopposed.

During the Times-Call election forum Wednesday night, Jarrett looked back at recent legislation she claims has caused big government to get bigger and infringe on individuals’ rights and responsibilities.

“The main purpose of government is to keep an orderly society so people can take responsibility for their own lives,” she said. “I’m concerned that government is taking over responsibilities that are rightfully ours.” Jarrett pointed to recent laws that, she argued, increased local property taxes by freezing mill levies and will increase costs for patients because health-care companies now have more reporting requirements. She said another bill abolished the St. Vrain Valley School District’s abstinence-based sex education program.

“You have a choice: either bigger government or people like me for smaller government,” Jarrett said.

Pommer said that during his time in the state House, he helped make preschool available to thousands more Colorado children and helped lay the groundwork for full-day kindergarten.

He also touted a bill that requires public utilities to get 20 percent of their energy from renewable resources, a move that not only helps the state with energy sustainability but has brought green manufacturing to the state and created jobs in rural parts of Colorado.

Pommer said he now wants to find better ways to provide state services. Rather than throwing more money at health care and prisons, he said, state lawmakers should focus on creating preventive programs that keep people out of hospitals and prisons, or keep people from returning. “I want Colorado to do more with less,” he said.