Vote 2002
Allard gets a run for his money
Four seek 2nd Congressional seat; nation watches race
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by Staff (Editorial@boulderweekly.com)

Wayne Allard (R, incumbent), a veterinarian, campaigns on a platform of lower taxes, national security, and economic prosperity. Prior to being elected to the U.S. Senate, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Colorado State Senate. Allard is currently a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee where he is the Ranking Member of the Strategic Subcommittee; the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee where he is the Ranking Member of the Housing and Transportation Subcommittee; the Senate Budget Committee; and the Senate Agriculture Committee. In February 2001, Allard was also appointed by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott to serve on the High Tech Task Force and the National Security Working Group. He is the Chairman of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. Recently, Allard voted to support President Bush's resolution regarding potential military action against Iraq. He opposes abortion and has voiced support for a Constitutional amendment banning abortion.

Tom Strickland (D), former U.S. attorney for Colorado, says his philosophy is opportunity and security for all - and special privileges for none. If elected, he says he fight to make our country more secure, to create jobs to protect our economic security, to make prescription drugs more affordable, and to advance and fully fund education reform. Strickland vows to protect Colorado's environment and to safeguard a woman's right to a safe and legal abortion. He has worked in both the private and public sectors. In 1982, he was appointed to serve as Governor Dick Lamm's Director of Policy and Research, a position he held for two years. In 1992, Strickland helped spearhead Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), which provided funds raised from the state's lottery program for parks, trails, wildlife programs and conservation education. Additionally, Strickland and his wife are founders and board members of the Rocky Mountain Advisory Board of the Environmental Defense Fund. During his time as U.S. attorney, he launched Colorado Project Exile, nearly tripling the number of gun prosecutions statewide. During his tenure, the overall number of defendants prosecuted increased by 20 percent. Stricklands supports the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform bill in the Senate, would like to see prosecutors empowered to fight white-color corporate crime.

Rick Stanley (L), a Denver businessman, says he wants to restore the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which he believes are being ignored by politicians. He wants to eliminate government interference in people's lives and empower the public to fight a second American Revolution at the ballot box. Stanley is a strong proponent of the right to own and bear arms and went out of his way to get arrested carrying a gun in defiance of a Denver gun law he believes is unconstitutional.

John Heckman Jr. (Concerns of the People), a businessman with an MBA, says real issues are not being addressed by the two major parties. Heckman says he would work to control wasteful spending and to get the United States back on the path that made it great. He believes President Bush should be required to get approval from Congress before waging war against Iraq. Heckman opposes abortion and the death penalty, but supports school vouchers.

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