Election Guide 2014: Chuck McConnell
Occupation: I earned BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering, and upon graduation, worked designing pollution control equipment. I later worked as an engineer in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles. I became the youngest refinery manager in the U.S. at age 32. After managing the furthest north commercial refinery in North America near Fairbanks, Alaska, I was promoted to president of an ultimately $850 million division of an energy resource company. I was selected CEO of a public company in the energy and water storage industries. After retirement from the energy industry, I managed a small business for my oldest daughter which marketed mountain bikes worldwide.
Previous political experience: I have been a leader for several years in political activities in Routt County and at the state level. I served as the Routt County Republican chairman after representing my precinct. While county chairman, I participated in statewide activities where 50 of my fellow county chairpersons from “small counties” across Colorado elected me to represent them on the State Executive Committee. I have also taken an active role in study groups on education issues that have come up in recent years. One such group studied the 2013 tax increasing ballot proposal (Amendment 66) and determined it was not right for our district. Last year, I testified in a state Senate committee in favor of Senate Bill 13-003 to burn abandoned coal mine methane gas and generate electricity, which would count as a renewable electricity source.
Q. What do you see as the two most important issues facing the state of Colorado, and how would you deal with these issues for the benefit of your Routt County constituents?
A. 1. Jobs and economic vitality and our state’s water resources. I will work to stop unnecessary regulations and strive to make Colorado No. 1 in job creation in the nation for new, entrepreneurial jobs. Colorado is a magnet for skilled professionals and new, small businesses including location-neutral enterprises. The number of empty storefronts and small offices and the lack of good job opportunities to allow our young people to stay in our community are unacceptable.
2. Colorado’s water supply is likely to fall short of increasing demand as our population grows. I will work to resolve this issue by keeping our water here where it belongs (more on water later).
My pro-jobs campaign has earned me the 2014 endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business — Colorado — “The Voice of Small Business.”
Q. What is your opinion on the recent Environmental Protection Agency rulings on coal use?
A. The Environmental Protection Agency Clean Power Plan is a job-destructive “war on coal.” Their rulings along with the Democrat-led 2013 Colorado Legislature’s version of the war on coal endanger family income from coal mining in Routt County and around our state. The president’s prediction that our electric bills “will necessarily skyrocket” is coming true. The 2013 Colorado Legislature hurt coal mining with the passage of Senate Bill 252, which decreases the amount of electricity rural cooperatives will likely acquire from coal sources. SB 252 along with the federal EPA jeopardize nearly 400 coal mining jobs locally. Any reduction of the coal tax base so critical to Routt County’s budget would harm the county’s delivery of needed services. I am concerned for our Routt County families whose income depends on coal. I will fight for our families who are impacted by laws and regulations that threaten their ability to make a living.
Q. How would you work to protect Colorado’s water supply, and in particular, how would you protect the Yampa River?
A. Pressure for Colorado water will be ever increasing. I will fight to protect our water compact entitlements and not infringe on private property water rights. We saw the impact of insufficient water not long ago in Steamboat Springs when the Yampa streamflow decreased to unacceptable levels for recreation and stream health. Our West Slope water interests must have a strong, active voice in protecting our water. I will stand up for our water rights, but I will not be alone. The strength of an alliance of West Slope state senators and representatives working together is our most robust solution. I look forward to closely working with members of this West Slope team. Our mission is to protect West Slope water. Water quality and common sense conservation measures are a part of this effort. I support added reservoir storage in the fight to protect Yampa River, Colorado and West Slope water.
Q. What ideas do you have for balancing the state budget?
A. A balanced budget is mandated in Colorado. The challenge for Colorado Assembly members is to prioritize the many demands on the funds available to the state every year to bring services required from the state to our people. I demonstrated, during my career, the abilities to work together with all stakeholders to prioritize competing demands on budgets of all sizes up to nearly $1 billion. I worked to implement budgets where successful planning and implementation were measured by job security for up to 2,500 employees in my company. As your state representative, I will bring those skills to the Colorado General Assembly to implement the required balanced state budget.
Q. Do you think changes need to be made to state’s recreational marijuana law? If so, what changes?
A. One of the unintended consequences of the state’s recreational marijuana law is the harm marijuana edibles are having on some of our young people. There have been too many cases of sickness of children (and pets) from eating marijuana-laced products not knowing what they were eating. I will work to ensure the packaging of edibles will reduce or eliminate these incidents. There are also reports of increased usage of marijuana by junior high and high school students who do not meet the minimum age requirement specified by the law. The law was clearly written to accommodate use by adults but the increased availability is filtering to our children. I look forward to working on efforts to keep these products out of the hands of our young people.
Q. What qualifications, experience or education do you possess that uniquely qualify you to hold this office?
A. I have managed companies with budget and profit-and-loss responsibility. My record of leadership and success in the energy business and small business make me uniquely qualified to be a strong state representative for our District 26 in the Colorado House. I ask for your vote. When elected, I will fight wasteful spending and bring the hard work, common sense, communication, business experience and consensus building skills I developed during my career and apply them representing you in Colorado House District 26.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.