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NEWSLETTER |
I am Mark Barker and I have decided to run for the office of State Representative for House District 17. I am
concerned by the trends I’ve seen in Denver recently. In fact, in my life, I have never seen such major changes to
the way our state does business, in such a short period of time. Governor Ritter and his Democrat controlled
General Assembly have engaged in what I view as corrupt runaway spending, that is taking its toll on every
Colorado citizen.
I have lived in Colorado Springs for over 30 years and for about half that time in Stratmoor Hills. Stratmoor Hills
is on the western end of House District 17 and right outside the gates of Fort Carson. My children grew up here
and are raising my grandchildren here. They all attended Stratmoor Elementary School.
I’m currently a practicing attorney with Radabaugh, Barker & Callison, and we have our office in downtown
Colorado Springs. I served at the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office, and before that I served for over 24
years as a Colorado Springs Police Officer. I’ve seen the effect of poverty, drugs and gangs, and how they drag
whole areas down. I’ve seen firsthand the perspective of enforcement as an officer and as a Deputy DA. I’ve seen
it in private practice, through the toll it takes on marriages and children. I’ve also seen how simple improvements in
infrastructure can turn around a neighborhood. How people working together can drive the gangs and fear out,
while rebuilding pride of ownership.
My family are all here, eleven households in all. My friends are here. I didn’t just move here so I could run for
office. I have a stake in this community. I’ve spent most of my adult life serving this area of our community, and I’ve
bet my future on this town. I’m staying. That is why I’m willing to give my time and talent to make a better, more
secure future for us all. I want to leave our children and grandchildren a State that holds as much promise as it did
for me at their age.
Cities don’t survive without industry that brings income from outside the area. Our community is experiencing
an influx of new units with more soldiers, who bring with them salaries that they can spend here. This can mean
more small businesses, which means more real jobs. With jobs come the prospect of home sales and an economy
that is expanding. In recent months those in our State Capital have hamstrung our local governments’ efforts to
promote this growth.
They sent a message to Washington that we do not want expansion of Fort Carson’s training facilities. The
legislation that prohibited the sale of State land specifically stated it was to prevent the expansion of the training
facilities for Fort Carson. This did not send the message that we wanted to respect private property rights, it sent
the message we don’t want Fort Carson to expand. As you know Fort Carson is a large part of House District 17.
This administration has increased regulations on the energy industry that have driven thousands of jobs from
Colorado. By driving these jobs from Colorado, we also drove the income they generated from our towns. That
income not only supported many other jobs, but also generated revenue to pay the State’s expenses. We may not
have been directly affected by the withdrawal to Wyoming and other states, but you can bet the increase in fees
and other taxes to replace the losses will be felt here.
This administration has also used semantics to bypass the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, known as TABOR. Whether
it is called a “tax” or a “fee”, TABOR states that taxpayer approval is required for any new tax.
Once, in Colorado, the government had only a handful of responsibilities: protect life, liberty and property.
Recently our lives, liberty and property have come under assault from government. Taxes are soaring; businesses
are leaving because of government without limits, and elected officials that do not follow the Constitution. Make no
mistake, this is not just about taxes. Its about control. It is too late for minor adjustments to the status quo. These
will not solve our problems. It’s time for radical change. Wait a minute, did I say change? What I mean is that it’s
time to respect our Constitution; repeal those laws that have taken us from the top of the list of most friendly to
business to the bottom; decrease the burden on our citizens; and increase liberty.
Life in Colorado has been beautiful, and a beacon that has attracted tens of thousands of people from all over
the world. I am one. This beauty has been compromised by driving jobs out and desperation in. Desperation
breeds crime, and crime is expensive, first in human cost and second in dollars. We must remain firm in the
treatment of offenders; support the needs of our first responders; and we must grow our economy to drive
desperation from our borders. We must re-found a Colorado that inspires people to individual responsibility,
ingenuity and industry.
As your State Representative, I will personally read every single piece of legislation that I vote for. In the case
of any new law, I will provide the exact clause in our constitution that authorizes that law. Any legislation that is not
clearly mandated by our constitution will receive my opposition. We must eliminate all unconstitutional laws that limit
our freedom and prosperity, and I will spend my energy in that cause. I challenge my competition to make the same
pledge.
I am Mark Barker, I am a pro-life, pro-liberty, pro- second amendment, limited government, staunch
conservative and I’m running for State Representative for House District 17. I hope to earn your support.
concerned by the trends I’ve seen in Denver recently. In fact, in my life, I have never seen such major changes to
the way our state does business, in such a short period of time. Governor Ritter and his Democrat controlled
General Assembly have engaged in what I view as corrupt runaway spending, that is taking its toll on every
Colorado citizen.
I have lived in Colorado Springs for over 30 years and for about half that time in Stratmoor Hills. Stratmoor Hills
is on the western end of House District 17 and right outside the gates of Fort Carson. My children grew up here
and are raising my grandchildren here. They all attended Stratmoor Elementary School.
I’m currently a practicing attorney with Radabaugh, Barker & Callison, and we have our office in downtown
Colorado Springs. I served at the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office, and before that I served for over 24
years as a Colorado Springs Police Officer. I’ve seen the effect of poverty, drugs and gangs, and how they drag
whole areas down. I’ve seen firsthand the perspective of enforcement as an officer and as a Deputy DA. I’ve seen
it in private practice, through the toll it takes on marriages and children. I’ve also seen how simple improvements in
infrastructure can turn around a neighborhood. How people working together can drive the gangs and fear out,
while rebuilding pride of ownership.
My family are all here, eleven households in all. My friends are here. I didn’t just move here so I could run for
office. I have a stake in this community. I’ve spent most of my adult life serving this area of our community, and I’ve
bet my future on this town. I’m staying. That is why I’m willing to give my time and talent to make a better, more
secure future for us all. I want to leave our children and grandchildren a State that holds as much promise as it did
for me at their age.
Cities don’t survive without industry that brings income from outside the area. Our community is experiencing
an influx of new units with more soldiers, who bring with them salaries that they can spend here. This can mean
more small businesses, which means more real jobs. With jobs come the prospect of home sales and an economy
that is expanding. In recent months those in our State Capital have hamstrung our local governments’ efforts to
promote this growth.
They sent a message to Washington that we do not want expansion of Fort Carson’s training facilities. The
legislation that prohibited the sale of State land specifically stated it was to prevent the expansion of the training
facilities for Fort Carson. This did not send the message that we wanted to respect private property rights, it sent
the message we don’t want Fort Carson to expand. As you know Fort Carson is a large part of House District 17.
This administration has increased regulations on the energy industry that have driven thousands of jobs from
Colorado. By driving these jobs from Colorado, we also drove the income they generated from our towns. That
income not only supported many other jobs, but also generated revenue to pay the State’s expenses. We may not
have been directly affected by the withdrawal to Wyoming and other states, but you can bet the increase in fees
and other taxes to replace the losses will be felt here.
This administration has also used semantics to bypass the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, known as TABOR. Whether
it is called a “tax” or a “fee”, TABOR states that taxpayer approval is required for any new tax.
Once, in Colorado, the government had only a handful of responsibilities: protect life, liberty and property.
Recently our lives, liberty and property have come under assault from government. Taxes are soaring; businesses
are leaving because of government without limits, and elected officials that do not follow the Constitution. Make no
mistake, this is not just about taxes. Its about control. It is too late for minor adjustments to the status quo. These
will not solve our problems. It’s time for radical change. Wait a minute, did I say change? What I mean is that it’s
time to respect our Constitution; repeal those laws that have taken us from the top of the list of most friendly to
business to the bottom; decrease the burden on our citizens; and increase liberty.
Life in Colorado has been beautiful, and a beacon that has attracted tens of thousands of people from all over
the world. I am one. This beauty has been compromised by driving jobs out and desperation in. Desperation
breeds crime, and crime is expensive, first in human cost and second in dollars. We must remain firm in the
treatment of offenders; support the needs of our first responders; and we must grow our economy to drive
desperation from our borders. We must re-found a Colorado that inspires people to individual responsibility,
ingenuity and industry.
As your State Representative, I will personally read every single piece of legislation that I vote for. In the case
of any new law, I will provide the exact clause in our constitution that authorizes that law. Any legislation that is not
clearly mandated by our constitution will receive my opposition. We must eliminate all unconstitutional laws that limit
our freedom and prosperity, and I will spend my energy in that cause. I challenge my competition to make the same
pledge.
I am Mark Barker, I am a pro-life, pro-liberty, pro- second amendment, limited government, staunch
conservative and I’m running for State Representative for House District 17. I hope to earn your support.