Kurt Huffman
Republican | Colorado
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Kurt Huffman
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 43
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, BSME, 1987
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MSME, 1989
University of Colorado, Boulder, MEEM, 2001
University of Colorado, Denver, MBA, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
Kurt Huffman, PE, PMP, MBA, Licensed Engineer/General Contractor, 15-Years
AFFILIATIONS
Douglas County Republican Party, District Captain, Precinct Leader, Bonus Member, & Caucus Chairman, Colorado State Capitol
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Highlands Ranch Community Association District Delegate, 7-Years
Douglas County Planning Commissioner, 3-Years
Colorado State Capitol Legislative Volunteer, 4-Years
Colorado State Representative House District 43, 0.25-Years
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Mark Baisley
LIBERAL (1)
*Colorado Academy of Family Physicians
OTHER (5)
Colorado Chamber of Commerce
Colorado Young Republicans
Colorado Association of Home Builders
Colorado Association of Realtors
Building Jobs4Colorado
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (9)
Colorado State Representative Mark Baisley
Former Colorado State Representative Frank McNulty
Colorado State Senator Jim Smallwood
Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon
Parker Mayor Jeff Toborg
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (8)
Chris Holbert (2019)
Greg Lopez (2019)
Kevin Van Winkle (2019)
Kim Ransom (2020)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Kurt Huffman's key votes from VoteSmart.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
The truth is I don’t like abortion and I also don’t like government getting between you and your physician so there is a continuing balance between these two values. As of now, new "community standards" have been set with the passage of recent state legislation.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Colorado tax dollars should not be used to fund abortions and according to Section 50 of the Colorado Constitution, public funding of abortion is forbidden.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
Individuals with terminal illnesses should be allowed the choice to die humanely without requiring artificial life support to extend life.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Colorado tax code needs to remain a simplified flat tax that can be easily understood by all taxpayers without additional required taxes that are legislatively proposed as "fees".
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Colorado TABOR Amendment requires a balanced budget and any proposed legislative spending needs to be within the statutory required budgetary limits (Colorado Taxpayer's Bill of Rights Constitutional Amendment 1992).
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
Taxpayer-funded public education should be primarily focused on kindergarten to twelfth grade and ensure that students graduate proficient in the educational basics of reading, writing, and mathematics..."Section 11. Compulsory education. The General Assembly may require, by law, that every child...shall attend the public school during the period between the ages of six and eighteen years..." (Colorado Constitution).
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Business owners have the responsibility to treat all customers equally while preserving their own right to moral and religious beliefs (United States Supreme Court Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission 2018).
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I believe churches should never be closed..."Section 4. Religious freedom. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever hereafter be guaranteed..." (Colorado Constitution).
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary (including the "Colorado Healthcare Option").
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government, schools, and employers always need to allow personal, medical, and religious exemptions to any required vaccinations.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Protect the United States borders from illegal entry and background check all legal immigrants for connections to terrorist groups.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Disagree
I always support Israel but I believe Israel and the Middle East needs to pursue long-term solutions to the Palestinian refugee issue.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Increased United States border security supported by combined law enforcement and military personnel working together.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Five of my great-grandparents were immigrants to the United States. I believe that within annual immigration limits, anyone that can provide proof of friend or family sponsorship and has viable work skills to be employable or personal financial assets to be self-sustaining after immigration to the United States.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
I support "School of Choice" including tax credits for charter, private, religious, vocational, and home schools to ensure the future success of our children.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Our country was founded on "Freedom of Religion" and religious values..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (Declaration of Independence).
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
As a natural born citizen with five immigrant great-grandparents I don't believe in "Protected Classes" but I do believe that "Equal Justice Under Law" for all is necessary in a "Free and Open Society"..."Section 6. Equality of justice. Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury to person, property or character..." (Colorado Constitution).
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Agree
Religious marriage is a God-ordained and sacred union of a man and woman so in my family's religious tradition of marriage my wife and I were married in the same church as my parents and grandparents. I also don't believe government should regulate and license religious marriage"...thus building a wall of separation between Church & State..." (Thomas Jefferson).
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
As a natural born citizen with five immigrant great-grandparents I believe "Critical Race Theory" which attempts to shame any race of people with accusations of "white privilege" and "white supremacy" based on skin color is a new form of racism and I personally disagree with all forms of racism and discrimination.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My wife and I were both raised in Ohio Amish communities and have strong traditional values of "God, Country, and Family" and we practice our religious beliefs in our daily lives and marriage.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I believe that all voters should have to provide positive identification before voting including photo or other personal identification.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I will support any proposed "Voter Integrity" laws that guarantees our votes count equally in a "Free, Fair, and Open Election" system..."Section 5. Freedom of elections. All elections shall be free and open..." (Colorado Constitution).
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Individuals that act antisocially as a result of racist beliefs can be considered a threat to the safety and security of the United States.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
As a natural born citizen of five immigrant great-grandparents I don't believe "Reparations" is a solution to any type of past racial inequality and I also believe "Equal Opportunity" is the better solution to achieve future racial equality.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy (in almost all cases).
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
I support the oil and natural gas industry but hydraulic fracking requires significant water resources and is not suitable in all geographical locations.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The primary purpose of government is the protection of "...certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." (Declaration of Independence).
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
My three "core values" are "Freedom of Speech", "Freedom of Religion", and "Freedom to Choose" what is right for yourself, your family, and your community.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
As Legislative Volunteer for Colorado State Representative Mark Baisley I have helped draft and introduce the House Bills including as follows: 1) HB20-1297 Immunization Status And Child Abuse Neglect; 2) HB20-1125 Eligible Educator Supplies Tax Credit; 3) HB20-1096 Authorize Protected Series Of Limited Liability Company; 4) HB20-1173 811 Locate Exemption For County Road Maintenance; 5) HB21-1095 811 Locate Exemption For County Road Maintenance; 6) HB21-1292 Report Revenues From Sports Betting Activity; 7) HB21-1240 Disclaimers In Communications Independent Expenditures; 8) HB21-1026 Allow Foreign Protected Series Do Business In Colorado; and 9) HB22-1048 In God We Trust Special License Plate. Last year I received the "DCGOP Volunteer of the Award 2021" from the Douglas County Republican Party for my past and continuing volunteer work in Highlands Ranch, Douglas County, and at the Colorado State Capitol.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I have invested the last four years and four Legislative Sessions working and learning as a Legislative Volunteer at the Colorado State Capitol for State Representative Mark Baisley and I am now experienced and completely prepared as the next State Representative for House District 43 Highlands Ranch. Three of my primary goals as a Colorado State Representative include "Schools of Choice", "Medical Freedom", and "Make Colorado Affordable".
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
All law enforcement officers should be guaranteed "Qualified Immunity" while acting within their Departmental Policy on duty.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
Future law enforcement funding should also include increased funding for combined mental health and community programs.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
As a gun owner I support minimum age restrictions, universal background checks, and restrictions on convicted violent offenders purchasing guns.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
I disagree that firearms dealers and manufacturers are financially liable to the victims of gun violence from the sale of firearms conducted within local, state, and federal laws.
