Stan VanderWerf
Republican | Colorado
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Stan VanderWerf
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 12
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, Master of Science Industrial Engineering, 1983
University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, Master of Arts International Relations, 1986
Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington DC, Masters National Resource Strategy, 2006
WORK & MILITARY
US Air Force, Colonel, 28
AFFILIATIONS
Hundreds of organizations, I will not list them all, El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Director, Former Chairt, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, Director, Former Chair
Pikes Peak Firearms Coaltion, President, Aerospace Defense Team (Economic Development)
Chair, UAS Colorado, Founding CEO
Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Director, Former Chair, Colorado State Board of Health
Director, Colorado Homeland Security Committee, Director
Freedom Center of the Rockies, Chair
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
County Commissioner, El Paso County, Colorado, 7+ years
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (4)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Patriots for Freedom PAC
Colorado State Shooting Association
Terri Carver
OTHER (2)
John Suthers
*NRA-ILA
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Numerous, over 30 so far, I will have more than 100 by the end of the campaign. I will name a few.
John Suthers (Former Mayor of Colorado Springs)
Michael Allen (District Attorney)
Terri Carver (Former State Legislator)
Bill Nelson (Lawyer)
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (12)
Larry Liston (2024)
State Republican Party Organizations (2022)
Doug Lamborn (2021)
WinRed (2020)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Larry Liston (2024)
Victoria Broerman (2019)
Bob Gardner (2017)
Casper Stockham (2017)
DANPAC (CO) (2017)
OTHER INFORMATION
Stan VanderWerf completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Very limited. Life of mother or child. Rape or incest. Adoption or abstinence are always better solutions.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
If a chemical abortion is to be used, an in-person consultation is essential for the life and safety of the participants. There ARE risks in this procedure. Mail order chemical abortion drugs are not acceptable.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
And as an El Paso County Commissioner, we have never approved funding for Planned Parenthood in our county.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Choose not to answer
In certain extreme conditions, this seems appropriate. Unfortunately, in many places where laws like this have been enacted, the law has been abused.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
What? I cannot think of a circumstance except in dire situations like evacuations due to a forest fire.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Serious is an understatement.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Why is manyfold. They are a beacon of stability in an unstable part of the world. They are a strategic ally of the US.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
I am about choice so my view most closely aligns with "B". However, using taxpayer money to subsidize a government option harms the market and provides a disadvantage to private options. Competition, in my opinion, produces better choices for people but a government option should not be subsidized with taxpayer money.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
There should be NO government mandates for vaccinations. Governments can provide guidance, education, and recommendations, but not a mandate.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely essential. Free markets are essential to the self-determination of free people. Private property is also essential to be free. The fifth and 14th amendments to the constitution address private property. Governments cannot take private property without due process and just compensation. This has not always been true in history.
What is your position on the minimum wage?
There should not be one. This should be market driven.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
This is a qualified no. It depends on the topic. Buying an electric car that costs three times that of a gas powered car is a bad public investment. Funding a local park with public money is good for the health of citizens and enjoyment of the outdoors. If investing in energy efficiency for a public building would produce a good return on investment regarding utility costs, this would be a good investment on behalf of the taxpayers. ESG as implemented in many communities is controversial.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
The US needs to close the border. This does not mean closing the 28 existing LEGAL entry points on the southern border. Entry into the US should be compliant with US law, the law established by Congress. This is necessary to reduce drug and human trafficking and reduce the risk of terrorists infiltrating our country. Colorado HB19-1174 restricting the ability of local law enforcement to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be repealed.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
Students and parents deserve to be served by innovation and competition regarding their child's education. Likewise, parents should have the right to refuse their child's entrance into a school that takes sides on political ideology.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
If citizens are not safe, community programs are less effective. People's rights must be protected first so funding for law enforcement must be a priority. If law enforcement funds are directed to community programs, then no one will be safe and the community programs will have a high risk of also failing.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
People who commit violent crimes with guns should face severe penalties. Law abiding citizens who own guns should be respected, not vilified. Law abiding gun owners help provide public safety. Unfortunately, recent laws in Colorado are doing more harm to law abiding citizens and criminals will not abide by these laws. We should reduce regulations and laws for law abiding citizens, and increase penalties for criminals who commit violent crimes with guns.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
I support the Colorado FASTER program. It provides training for teachers so they can safely carry firearms to protect their students. Safety is essential and that means both training AND gun carry for willing school employees. As President of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition, we help finance the FASTER program, support the shooting sports, and fight for 2nd amendment rights. .
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect the rights of citizens (Declaration). The Constitution and Bill of Rights enumerate the purpose and function of government. Unfortunately, government has grown way beyond these roles. The Supreme Court, having removed Chevron, will go a long way towards reducing the power of federal agencies who, over several years, have made millions of regulations that restrict personal and business freedoms.
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
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
This is not the function of a school.
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely until the child is 18.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
This is not the function of a school.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
However, the constitution rightly protects civil unions via the right to free assembly, e.g. the right to hang out with anyone you want in any way you want.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
God exists. Prayer is essential for your health and happiness. Give your problems to God and work every day to be the best person you can be.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
A photo ID should be used to prevent corruption. I simply do not understand why anyone would disagree with this.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College is essential to ensure the voices of all citizens are heard, whether they live in an urban or rural area. Our founding father deliberately rejected a national popular vote. The electoral college forces candidates for national office to draw support from across the country, not just highly populated wealthy areas.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. Racism is NOT acceptable. But this also means racism against whites is not acceptable.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
The United States was founded in liberty and its people have consistently done the work to move closer in practice to those principles.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
I support Article 9 in its original form which was created to ensure women were NOT denied athletic opportunities.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
A and C most closely resemble my views. The United States is THE most responsible steward of the environment. China is the greatest violator. If one really believes in C, then the best thing one can do is boycott Chinese products. China builds a new coal plant every week and doesn't scrub.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Fossil fuels today. Natural gas is cleanest but oil and coal can be managed. Nuclear and hydrogen power are super near future additions. Wind and solar have no hope in providing base load reliable energy.
