Richard Champion
Republican | Colorado
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Richard Champion
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 38
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, BS-Business Management, 1974
WORK & MILITARY
US Army, E-5, 6
AFFILIATIONS
Town of Columbine Valley, Mayor, Town of Columbine Valley
Town Trustee, Denver Regional Council of Governments, Member - Board of Directors
Denver Regional Council of Governments, Alternate - Board of Directors, Human Services Inc.
Member - Board of Directors, Rotary Club of Litttleton, Member
Lions Club of Winter Park, Member, Coordinating Council for School Improvement LPS
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Mayor, 4
Town Trustee, 10
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2020
|86%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2020
|38%
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
OTHER (2)
Colorado Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Colorado
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Colorado Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Bob Beauprez (2006)
Mike Coffman (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only in instances of rape, incest or if the life of the mother is at risk.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Neutral
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
A 2% temporary salary reduction for our state’s employees (which includes me), would generate a significant source of revenue to assist countering our budget deficit.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Although "separation of church and state" does not appear in our Constitution, it was penned in a private letter to Danbury Baptist Church by Thomas Jefferson because people feared the First Amendment did not protect their religious freedom enough. Later, our U.S. Supreme Court applied the Establishment Clause regarding the separation of church and state in 1807 through the Fourteenth Amendment that prohibited a national religion, providing people the freedom to worship without fear of retribution. We have many religions in the United States and cannot favor one over the other in terms of influencing public policy. Because there is no mandated state sponsored church in our country, it allows for all to practice their own religion without government intrusion.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I strongly believe that primary care should be at minimum the foundational starting point in terms of adequate, affordable and accessible healthcare. To promote adequate, affordable, accessible health care public policy, it is appropriate and advisable for legislators to listen to the experts as to what they think should be done, because as a state legislator we all must have adequate, background knowledge in order to make informed decisions that will affect public policy.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Agree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We are a nation of immigrants. Anyone that wants to enter the US legally and commits to follow our Constitution, laws and customs should be allowed to immigrate.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in the power of prayer for strength and guidance, and consider myself a Christian.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Please review my voting record which can be found at https://leg.colorado.gov/bills
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have served both my country and my communities in many ways. As a 6 year veteran of the U.S. Army I chose to serve my country with honor. I have also dedicated myself to numerous volunteer organizations for many years with a special focus and advocacy for women and children’s services. And finally, as a former Mayor, Town Trustee, Building Commissioner and Police Commissioner, I have the experience and foundation to tackle the monumental budget issues the Colorado State Legislature will face with the upcoming budgetary shortfalls. Regarding my education including private business enterprises, I earned a BS in Business Management and after college went on to build three successful companies. From these experiences I’ve learned what it takes to make and sustain a successful business. And I also know what it is like to sign the front of a paycheck and go without to ensure my employees are paid.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
NO
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
As the incumbent state legislator for HD 38 I am running for re-election in the Colorado General Assembly because I believe in America and our Constitution. I believe our state government is completely out of touch with the realities of who really pays for our government’s mandates, rules and regulations. As a former small business owner, I know how challenging it is to build and maintain a successful business, and being able to pay my employees on time (even when I can’t pay myself) – again, something those on the left do not understand. Yet the current super majority held by the Democrats believes we can tax our way into economic recovery. As such, I believe the trifecta that serves as my foundational beliefs are freedom from: debilitating taxation, wealth redistribution, and government over-reach framed with freedom of speech without fear of retribution, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and freedom of choice for your child's education.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Neutral
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I believe in legal possession of firearms, background checks, and believe gun handling and gun safety should be strongly encouraged but not mandated.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Neutral
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
I intend to re-introduce the same legislation I was a prime sponsor of: HCR20-1002- Oversight on the Governor which allows for any Governor to declare a state emergency for 30 days, but requires legislative concurrence to extend the emergency. Currently there are no publicly defined metrics offered by the Governor as to why we are shut down AND what metrics must be achieved to end the emergency declaration. Next, I intend to sponsor legislation to cut down of the number of bills allowed to be carried by any Representative or Senator from the current 5 bills to 2 bills per legislative season. This year alone, there were over 650+ bills introduced in both houses and no-one person can adequately understand that amount of legislation, much less the future consequences and especially the unintended consequences of such actions unless each bill is fully understood. Lastly, I will propose a temporary salary reduction for all State employees to help with the upcoming budgetary shortfall.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I believe the pervasive narrative that our country abides by systemic racism is a narrative that shouted for long enough and loud enough becomes the basis of truth, whether it is or not. As such, the rioters have used this narrative as a call to justify their brand of violence but has instead, become a threat to domestic security as demonstrated over the past months in city after city. While the First Amendment does indeed give people the right to free speech and peaceful assembly it does not give the rioters the freedom or right to harm and destroy property and people’s lives. THIS has become the threat to our country’s domestic security – not racism. We are not a perfect nation, yet remain the only country in the world that has the protections and rights we do. The fact that we have had a black president, a black attorney general (among many others) in our country’s past indicates that the majority of Americans look past race and vote for the person based on character and content
