State Senate Candidates - April 2012 Update

NOTE: The information in this blog has been superseded by a more current June Pre-Primary Candidate Positions blog.

The color of the text has been subdued to indicate it is obsolete.

The 2012 Colorado Right to Life survey asked 9 position questions of candidates, ranging from funding for Planned Parenthood to abortion to euthanasia. The survey and the comments here are based on one, simple definition: No candidate is considered "pro-life" unless they have pledged to oppose all abortion (with the understanding that a doctor may take action to save a woman’s life while also trying to save the baby’s life, even if the baby’s survival is doubtful due to other factors). This is the only position consistent with the inalienable Right to Life of every innocent human being at every age or stage of development. Candidates who support "rape or incest exceptions" are NOT pro-life because there is never an excuse to kill an innocent child.


Additionally, we expect that they will support Colorado's Personhood Amendment. The 9th question has to do with opposing regulations which undermine the concept of an inalienable Right to Life. We understand that some sincere pro-life candidates do not agree that the compromise and contradictions inherent in “pro-life regulations” are unacceptable.


This blog covers only state legislative races, not Congressional contenders. Due to the late redrafting of district borders and the possibility that candidates may still petition onto the ballot, many of these races are still not settled. There have been two-dozen new Republican candidates declared in the past month or so, and several American Constitution Party and other candidates have also declared in recent weeks. Many of them have not had time to respond to surveys. If you know any candidate not mentioned here, please ask them to return their survey or contact CRTL for a copy.


(UPDATE 5/1) These records refer to those who responded to our survey answering correctly to 9 of 9 questions as "100% pro-life", because they understand (on paper, at least) the full meaning of Personhood and the Right to Life (which are essentially the same).  If there is a Right to Life for innocent people, there can be no exceptions, nor can such a Right be frittered away through compromise legislation.




By contrast, those who respond to 8 of 9 questions correctly are labeled as "pro-life" if their reservation was on question 9, regarding compromised anti-abortion regulations which are intended to "save some babies" but which imply there is no such thing in law as a Right to Life.  The "pro-life" label indicates they are sincerely pro-life, and have indicated they oppose all abortions.  However, they fundamentally misunderstand the concept of a Right to Life, or else they would not be willing to support legislation that suggests it is the government's role to determine which innocent lives can be taken away, and which cannot.




State Senate District 4


Mark Scheffel (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey, but is believed to support Personhood. Please ask him to return his survey.


State Senate District 8


No candidates have returned the CRTL survey, but Rep. Randy Baumgardner (R) is facing Sen. Jean White (R) in a primary. Baumgardner responded pro-Personhood in 2010, and White is known to be pro-choice.


State Senate District 10


(**updated 4/24) Owen Hill (R) is pro-life, supports Personhood, and responded to the CRTL survey with 8 of 9 questions answered correctly (he is willing to dialogue about the 9th question, regarding non-support of anti-abortion regulations). He is in a primary with Rep. Larry Liston (R) who has never returned a CRTL survey, and is thought to be indifferent to pro-life issues.  Liston also voted for a conscience-violating measure requiring pro-life doctors and pharmacists to provide “emergency contraception” (i.e. the abortifacient “morning after” pill).


State Senate District 12


Sen. Bill Cadman (R) is 100% Pro-Life, supports Personhood, and responded to the CRTL survey with 9 out of 9 questions answered correctly.


State Senate District 14


Syndi Anderson (R) is probably pro-life but we cannot confirm this, or whether she opposes all abortion. Please encourage her to return her CRTL survey.


State Senate District 17


A new candidate who may be pro-life has entered the race. If you know Charlie Plagainos, please ask him to contact CRTL.


State Senate District 18


A new candidate who may be pro-life has entered the race. If you know Barry Thoma, please ask him to contact CRTL.


State Senate District 19


Lang Sias (R) has called himself pro-life, but has never answered a CRTL survey, and his credentials and commitments are suspect. Please ask him to return his survey.


State Senate District 21


Two new candidates may be pro-life. If you know Francine Bigelow or Matthew Plichta, please ask them to contact CRTL.


State Senate District 22


Ken Summers (R), despite being a former pastor, is NOT pro-life. He has voted for a conscience-violating measure requiring pro-life doctors and pharmacists to provide “emergency contraception” (i.e. the abortifacient “morning after” pill), and has responded angrily when asked about pro-life measures.


State Senate District 23


(**updated 4/26) Vicki Marble (R) is 100% Pro-Life, supports Personhood, and answered the CRTL survey with 9 out of 9 questions answered correctly.  She is in a primary contest against Rep. Glenn Vaad (R). Vaad signed the Personhood petition in 2010, but may have done so without conviction, as he has shown little other sign that he is pro-life and has never returned a CRTL survey. Vaad also voted for the conscience-violating “emergency contraception” measure.


State Senate District 25


John Sampson (R) claims to be pro-life, but his level of commitment and support for Personhood is unclear. He has not returned the CRTL survey, and seems to have doubts about the Personhood strategy. Please encourage him to support Personhood and to return the CRTL survey.


State Senate District 26


David Kerber (R) shows no sign of being pro-life. Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State Senate District 27


Rep. Dave Balmer (R) has expressed strong pro-life commitments and is pro-Personhood, but has not returned his CRTL survey. Please encourage him to do so.


State Senate District 28


Art Carlson (R) and John Lyons (R) are in a primary against each other. Both claim to be pro-life, but neither has responded to the CRTL survey, and the depth of their commitment is in question. Either or both may be 100% pro-life, but from conversations this has remained unclear.


State Senate District 29


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race. If you know Bill Ross (R) please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State Senate District 31


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race. If you know Brandon Kelley (R) please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State Senate District 35


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race. If you know Larry Crowder (R) please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.






*** Please note: The fact that the candidates listed above are mostly Republicans is not meant to convey the idea that Republicans are necessarily all pro-life or that the only pro-life candidates are Republicans.  In many cases (some noted) this is not at all true.  However, we are unaware of any Democrats who are legitimately pro-life.  Many Democrats were sent the survey, but only a couple responded with unfavorable comments.  The candidates of the American Constitution Party are presumably all pro-life, as it's part of the party platform and screening process, but most are newly declared and have not had time to return surveys. They will be noted in future updates.