2022 Dealer Voter Guide

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Turning Colorado’s blue politics back to purple is a worthy CADA election wish Moving into the midterm elections, new car dealers face big pressures: Supply chain problems; inflation, including high gasoline prices; and elected officials and regulators intent on threatening individuals’ freedom to drive as they wrestle with air pollution. For Colorado’s auto industry, these issues make upcoming legislative races critical.

CADA may appear to favor Republicans, but also has great relationships with some Democrats. What matters is whether people are willing to listen to dealer concerns and collaborate to achieve workable solutions.

Our active slate of Legislative Grassroots Meetings (LGMs) has been the best and most visible vehicle for building these allimportant relationships. They’ll continue through the election cycle and into the legislative session that begins in January.

As the old saying goes, “It’s a journey, not a destination,” and the journey never ends.

Red or blue less important than POV Looking at the election through a party lens is easy, but according to CADA Chair Brent Wood, party politics matter less than “alignment with our industry and our issues.”

Tim Van Binsbergen, CADA’s Legislative Policy Committee chair, has a wish list for candidate qualities: • Tough on crime, since Colorado ranks number 1 in the country for auto theft.

• Understands we need immediate infrastructure for EVs coming into the marketplace.

• Able to implement solutions for low- to middle-income families to afford EVs. • Will define and identify solutions to help curb the cost of living.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is proposing revised 10-year goals that deemphasize road expansion, while favoring mass transit and other transportation alternatives. New car dealers need to elect C O L O R A D O

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partners to counteract “the war on cars” waged by environmentalists and regulators.

“It’s difficult to have the quality of life we’re used to in Colorado without driving a car,” says Van Binsbergen. “The pathway out of poverty is to have a vehicle. Statistics show having a vehicle means making more money. It’s the perspective of CADA and the general public that they want to get from Point A to Point B without frustration and anxiety. We need candidates with vision beyond their noses.” Also, rapidly building out the electric charging infrastructure is critical if there’s to be a shift to EVs. Balance is a good thing — and possible CADA VP of Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Matthew Groves, sees “some real optimism in the GOP … and if it happens, it’s possible we could have better success in the legislature than in other years.” Both State House and Senate have been in Democratic hands since 2018.

The State House of Representatives will likely stay Democratic in 2023, according to Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and CADA Lobbyist Mike Feeley. “Republicans could close the gap but it’s unlikely they’ll take over.” Even so, gaining four to five more seats would improve GOP committee representation.

Groves and Feeley agree Republicans could win the Senate. Early on, three more seats were needed, but Sen. Kevin Priola’s switch from Republican to Democrat makes flipping the Senate tougher. “Winning four instead of three is far more difficult,” Feeley says.

The prognosticators agree the best GOP opportunities include: District 3. Republican Stephen Varela faces Nick Hinrichsen, who was appointed to fill a vacancy last year.

District 4. Western Jefferson, Douglas and some mountain counties. GOP’s Mark Baisley has registration advantage over Jeff Ravage.

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District 8. Western Slope & mountains.

Democrat Dylan Roberts vs. Republican Matt Solomon. This is a fairly competitive race, according to Feeley.

District 11. El Paso County. Incumbent Democrat Dennis Hisey faces Tony Exum Sr. Feeley describes both as “moderate.”

District 20. Jeffco. Democrat Lisa Cutter “has a small statistical advantage” over Matt Walsh. “Both are decent people auto dealers ought to be able to work with,” Feeley says.

District 27. Arapahoe County. Incumbent Democrat Tom Sullivan versus Tom Kim. Arapahoe County has trended from strongly Republican to moderate in recent years.

State and federal offices grabbing attention Statewide races are important, too.

Gov. Jared Polis is almost unassailable, according to Feeley. He sees two races as important for dealers: Attorney General, where incumbent Democrat Phil Weiser is facing unexpectedly strong opposition from Arapahoe DA John Kellner, and Secretary of State where Republican Pam Anderson is running a strong race against incumbent Democrat Jenna Griswold.

On the federal level, the U.S. Senate race between Michael Bennet and Joe O’Dea has become more competitive, yet leans toward Bennet. Incumbent Congressional representatives DeGette, Crow, Boebert, Neguse, Buck and Lamborn are likely to hold their seats. In District 7, Democrat Brittany Pettersen holds a slight edge over Republican Erik Aadland. The biggest tossup is between Democrat Yadira Caraveo and Barbara Kirkmeyer in District 8, where both parties are heavily spending.

Groves said achieving a balanced legislature and an even party split between Coloradans and Congress “would be a good day for dealers.”

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While previous years have been marked by contentious — and sometimes consequential — ballot initiatives that usually forecast the outcome of partisan elections, this year’s slate of topical issues seems to pale by comparison. There are 11 ballot issues this year: Six citizen-led initiatives and five referred by the legislature.

opponents complain the legislature should keep its hands off the citizen initiative process.

The bill to put this proposition on the ballot passed 40-22, largely along party lines. CADA is NEUTRAL on this amendment.

Proposition 121 — a citizen initiative — reduces the state income tax rate from 4.55 to 4.4 percent, beginning in tax year 2022.

This is led by the Independence Institute and includes C corporations within the deduction.

Opposition to this proposition is still in the formative phase.

Of the five referred by the legislature, three are constitutional and two are statutory. The difference between those modifying the state constitution and those modifying statutes is the statutory votes can pass at 50 percent plus 1, or a simple majority.

CADA SUPPORTS this amendment.

Proposition 122 — Perhaps the most impactful for a state that’s already riddled with crime and leading the nation in both auto and catalytic converter theft, this proposition creates a natural medicine services program for psychedelic substances.

Constitutional votes require a 55 percent threshold to successfully pass. According to Ballotpedia, the historical approval rate for ballot measures in even-numbered years (when turnout is higher) is 45.7 percent.

While craftly worded to avoid arousing suspicion, make no mistake: This proposition is all about legalizing the distribution and use of psychedelic mushrooms and psychoactive ‘medicines’ statewide.

It’s likely only two or three of this year’s measures will catch your eye as an auto dealer. Three are lumped together under the ‘tax’ umbrella and offered by opposing groups on the same issue.

These substances are currently classified as Schedule I drugs under state law — which means they’re considered the most dangerous, have no medical purpose and have the highest potential for abuse. Proponents have raised nearly $3 million, 99 percent of which has come from out of state. CADA strongly OPPOSES this amendment, as similar legalization proposals have led to downtown Denver’s dramatic deterioration.

Proposition FF “reduces the allowable state income tax deductions, while creating and funding the Healthy School Meals for All Program.” This will create revenue by reducing the overall amount of tax deductions eligible for taxpayers earning more than $300,000. The cap for single filers will go from $30,000 to $12,000. The cap for joint filers will go from $60,000 to $16,000. This could mean an additional $44,000 in state taxes for a couple making more than $300,000. CADA strongly OPPOSES this amendment.

Other initiatives and propositions address liquor licenses, wine sales, judicial districts and gambling — all of which are outside of CADA’s purview. If you have questions on your ballot or want more information on any of the above topics, please contact Matthew Groves matthew.groves@ colorado.auto or Tim Jackson tim.jackson@colorado. auto.

Proposition GG likewise “requires a table showing changes in income tax owed for average taxpayers in certain brackets to be included in the ballot title and fiscal summary for any citizen initiative that would increase or decrease the income tax rate.” Supporters say this will increase transparency, while

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Ballot Initiatives

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2022 Colorado House of Representatives Race District District 1

Candidate

County/Counties

SB21-260 - ●

SB21-076 - ●

HB21-1266 -●

HB12-1327 - ●

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Javier Mabrey

Candidate

Guillermo Diaz

Candidate

Steven Woodrow

Denver

Stephanie Wheeler

Candidate

District 3

Meg Froelich

Arapahoe

Marla Fernandez

Candidate

District 4

Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez

Denver

Jack Daus

Candidate

Alex Valdez

Denver

Johnnie Johnson

Candidate

Elisabeth Epps

Candidate

Donald Howell

Candidate

Jennifer Bacon

Denver

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District 2

District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8

Leslie Herod

Denver

Hilleary Waters

Candidate

District 9

Emily Sirota

Arapahoe, Denver

Tom Cowhick

Candidate

District 10

Edie Hooton

Boulder

William DeOreo

Candidate

District 11

Karen McCormick

Boulder

Tara Menza

Candidate

District 12

Tracey Bernett

Boulder

Anya Kirvan

Candidate

District 13

Julie McCluskie

Delta, Gunnison, Lake, Pitkin, Summit

David Buckley

Candidate

District 14

Rob Rogers

Candidate

Rose Pugliese

Candidate

Alvin Sexton

Candidate

Scott Bottoms

Candidate

Stephani Vigil

Candidate

Dave Donelson

Candidate

Regina English

Candidate

Rachel Stovall

Candidate

District 15 District 16 District 17 District 18 District 19

KEY:

Marc Snyder

El Paso

Shana Black

Candidate

Dan Woog

Weld

Jennifer Parenti

Candidate

Candidate

Support

A Guide to Legislative Scorecards Of the bills that passed through Colorado’s Capitol in 2021, CADA tracked each state legislator’s vote on four bills that affected Colorado’s franchised new car dealers.

Because the bill number is identified by number alone, here is a brief description for each. CADA’s position appears as a green or red dot next to the bill number.

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Oppose

SB 21-260 – Sustainability of the Transportation System

HB 21-1266 – Environmental Justice Disproportionate Impacted A highly acclaimed bill, this legislation sought Community to provide $4.4 billion in long-term funding for transportation after several failed attempts to do so in previous years. While there were parts of this bill that didn’t appeal to dealers— and time may have vetted out that spending this money has been almost evenly split from roads and bridges to public transportation — CADA SUPPORTED this bill.

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What started as Senate Bill 200 and was watered down into HB 1266, this bill was a hallmark for the environmental justice community. It created added fee-based enterprises to raise funds for more fulltime government employees who will serve as “ombudsmen” in environmental policy agencies. It places extra outreach 2 0 2 2

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2022 Colorado House of Representatives Race District District 20

Candidate

County/Counties

Tracey Johnson

Candidate

Don Wilson

Candidate

District 21

Mary Bradfield

El Paso

Kolten Montgomery

Candidate

District 22

Blake Garner

Candidate

Kenneth DeGraaf

Candidate

District 23

Monica Duran

Jefferson

Fred Clifford

Candidate

District 24

Lindsey Daugherty

Jefferson

Distrct 24

Bill Patterson

Candidate

District 25

Tammy Story

Candidate

Colin Larson

Candidate

Meghan Lukens

Candidate

Savannah Wolfson

Candidate

District 26 District 27 District 28 District 29 District 30 District 31 District 32 District 33 District 34 District 35 District 36 District 37 District 38 District 39 District 40

Brianna Titone

Jefferson

Christina Carlino

Candidate

Leanne Emm

Candidate

Dan Montoya

Candidate

Shannon Bird

Adams

Vanessa DeMott

Candidate

Chris Kennedy

Jefferson

Russ Carter

Candidate

Said Sharbini

Candidate

Heidi Pitchforth

Candidate

Dafna Michaelson Jenet

Adams

Justin Brown

Candidate

William Lindstedt

Candidate

Stacie Dougherty

Candidate

Jenny Willford

Candidate

Kevin Allen

Candidate

Adrienne Benavidez

Adams

Craig Jones

Candidate

Mike Weissman

Arapahoe

William Walters

Candidate

Ruby Dickson

Candidate

Paul Archer

Candidate

David Ortiz

Arapahoe

Jaylen Mosqueira

Candidate

Eric Brody

Candidate

Brandi Bradley

Candidate

Naquetta Ricks

Arapahoe

requirement on all policymaking efforts and requires agencies to disseminate the impact of their regulations on disproportionally impacted communities. While the policy ideas are sound, raising and spending money, along with additional greenhouse gas requirements, caused CADA to OPPOSE this bill.

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SB21-260 - ●

SB21-076 - ●

HB21-1266 - ●

HB12-1327 - ●

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SB21-076 – Fund Electronic Thirdparty Vehicle Transactions

Two years after authorizing an electronic vehicle registration program, this bill allowed the Governor’s office to dedicate state funds to getting it off the ground. Consumers could then opt into an electronic registration process — and skip the DMV trip. It will simplify registration and ease lien perfection issues for dealers. CADA SUPPORTED this effort.

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HB 21-1327 – State and Local Tax Parity Act for Businesses

This bill lets pass-through entities, such as S corporations and partnerships, to withhold the same amount of state and local taxes paid as C corporations. CADA SUPPORTED this bill, which resolved a discrepancy in Colorado law that permitted different business tax treatment, based on the type of organization.

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2022 Colorado House of Representatives Race District

Candidate Le Sellers

District 41 District 42 District 43 District 44 District 45 District 46 District 47 District 48

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SB21-260 - ●

SB21-076 - ●

HB21-1266 -●

HB12-1327 - ●

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Candidate

Iman Jodeh

Arapahoe

Stephanie Hancock

Candidate

Mandy Lindsay

Candidate

Cory Parella

Candidate

Robert Marshall

Candidate

Kurt Huffman

Candidate

Bob Henry

Candidate

Anthony Hartsook

Candidate

Ruby Martinez

Candidate

Lisa Frizell

Candidate

Tisha Mauro

Candidate

Jonathan Ambler

Candidate

Edwin Ormiston

Candidate

Ty Winter

Candidate

Spring Erickson

Candidate

Gabe Evans

Candidate

District 49

Judy Amabile

Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson

Kathryn Lehr

Candidate

District 50

Mary Young

Weld

Ryan Gonzalez

Candidate

District 51

Hugh McKean

Larimer

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District 52 District 53 District 54 District 55 District 56 District 57 District 58

Cathy Kipp

Larimer

Deborah Vicino

Candidate

Andrew Boesenecker

Candidate

Donna Walter

Candidate

Matt Soper

Delta, Mesa

Alice Marie Slaven-Emond

Candidate

Damon Davis

Candidate

Rick Taggart

Candidate

Rod Bockenfeld

Adams, Arapahoe

Kathleen Conway

Candidate

Perry Will

Garfield, Moffat, Rio Blanco

Elizabeth Velasco

Candidate

Marc Catlin

Dolores, Montezuma, Montrose, San Miguel

Kevin Kuns

Candidate

Barbara McLachlan

Archuleta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Ouray, San Juan

Shelli Shaw

Candidate

Stephanie Luck

Fremont, Otero, Pueblo

Kathryn Green

Candidate

Eliza Hamrick

Candidate

Dave Woolever

Candidate

Matthew Martinez

Candidate

Carol Riggenbach

Candidate

District 63

Richard Holtorf

Baca, Bent, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa, Las Animas, Lincoln, Prowers, Washington

District 64

Richard Webster

Candidate

Ryan Armagost

Candidate

District 59

District 60 District 61 District 62

District 65

C O L O R A D O

Mike Lynch

Larimer, Weld

Lisa Chollet

Candidate

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Colorado State Senate Race

2022 Colorado State Senate Race SB21-260 - ●

SB21-076 - ●

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Clear Creek, El Paso, Fremont, Park, Teller

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El Paso

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Rob Woodward

Larimer

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Janice Marchman

Candidate

Lisa Cutter (D)

Jefferson

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Tim Walsh

Candidate

Jessie Danielson

Jefferson

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Colby Dreschel

Candidate

Kyle Mullica (D)

Adams

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Courtney Potter

Candidate

Faith Winter

Adams

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Melody Peotter

Candidate

Tom Sullivan (D)

Arapahoe

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Tom Kim

Candidate

Kevin Van Winkle (R)

Douglas

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Braeden Miguel

Candidate

Robert Rodriguez

Denver

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District

Candidate

County/Counties

District 1

Byron Pelton

Candidate

District 3

Nick Hinrichsen

Candidate

Stephen Varela

Candidate

Mark Baisley (R)

Douglas, Teller

Jeff Ravage

Candidate

Janice Rich (R)

Mesa

David Stahlke

Candidate

Paul Lundeen

El Paso

Arik Dougherty

Candidate

Dennis Hisey Tony Exum, Sr. (D)

District 4 District 7

District 9

District 11 District 15 District 20 District 22 District 24 District 25

District 27 District 30 District 32

HB21-1266 - ● HB12-1327 - ●

Dean Flanders

Candidate

District 34

Julie Gonzales (D)

Denver

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District 35

Rod Pelton (R)

Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Yuma

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Travis Nelson

Candidate

KEY:

C O L O R A D O

Candidate

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D E A L E R S

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Senate candidate who voted as House member in 2021

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290 Speer Blvd. | Denver, CO 80203

303.831.1722

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