State House District 16
“I’m Steph Vigil, your state representative in the Colorado General Assembly, and I’m once again asking you to make me our Democratic nominee for house district 16.
I ran for this seat to fight for a solid foundation in life for every Coloradan, and I’ve kept that mission in mind every day as your state Representative. I believe government works best when we use it to invest in everyone’s wellbeing, and keep it out of our bodies and bedrooms and private lives.
Housing and transportation are high priorities for my office. Colorado needs abundant housing for every budget, and transportation choices that allow everybody to get around. This is essential to our happiness and prosperity, and it’s also a critical piece of achieving Colorado’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.
My first year I ran a bill on a highly successfuly zero fare program that gets transit-curious riders on board, sponsored a bill that set such great standards on clean hydrogen the Federal government followed our lead, and made rental applications portable or refundable for most people who rent.
This year I’m taking on big challenges in LGBTQ+ protections, especially for our transgender youth who are being uniquely and cruelly targeted by the right. I have a bill to bring suicide prevention into workplaces and empower more people to save lives. I’m also fighting for workers’ rights by requiring fair, transparent treatment for app-based gig drivers, and establishing tax credits for companies that transition to employee ownership.
My last campaign, I promised to dig deep and take on the big challenges, and I’m not about to stop. It is still a very competitive district and the political establishment of El Paso County is not happy about our win, so they’re going to throw lots of dark money and cheap shots at this race. I’m counting on that same energy that got me into this seat to show up again this year. Please come run with me, and we’ll hold on to our historic victory in HD-16.”
Candidate Responses
1: Strongly Disagree
2: Somewhat Disagree
3: Does Not Apply to the Position
4: Somewhat Agree
5: Strongly Agree
Yes, entirely.
Yes, entirely.
- Economic Policy, Job Creation, and Social Justice
- Energy, Environment, and Climate
- Infrastructure
Do you believe that healthcare is a human right?
Will you support the expansion of Medicaid and the Colorado Health Care Option to cover more uninsured and underinsured Coloradans?
Will you create/support policy to address the rising costs of prescription drugs and medical services?
Do you support access to comprehensive health care that includes reproductive freedom for people with uteruses?
Will you ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to education, employment, health care, and social services in Colorado?
Do you support the separation of church and state and the protection of religious freedom for all faiths and beliefs?
Will you fight to address and correct the systemic racism and discrimination that affects communities of color in Colorado?
Will you ensure that LGBTQ+ Coloradans are treated with dignity and respect in all aspects of society?
How will you protect and expand the civil rights and liberties of all Coloradans?
I’ve supported and even sponsored legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Coloradans, fight for worker justice, and protect first amendment rights. I have pending legislation to help establish workloads for public defenders and I was an early co-sponsor on a bill to prevent book bans in public schools and libraries.
Cost of living, housing costs, and homelessness were the top issues in a recent Colorado Polling Institute Poll. What would you propose to remedy and address these issues?
I’m all of the above: we need to increase housing supply, preserve existing affordable housing, and protect renters’ rights. We also need to address housing and transportation in tandem or more deliberately, something I’ve really been pushing for in my first year in office.
Do you support workers’ rights to organize, bargain collectively, and earn a living wage?
Will you work to reform the tax system to make it more progressive and fair?
Will you fight to fully fund public schools?
Will you fight to ensure that every child has access to early childhood education, universal pre-K, and full-day kindergarten?
Will you advocate for the expansion of public higher education opportunities and affordability?
How will you support the implementation of high academic standards and assessments that measure critical thinking and problem-solving skills?
This is difficult to answer, since the State Board of Education has primary control over this.
Will you combat the climate crisis and advocate for renewable energy?
Will you protect Colorado’s water quality and quantity, especially in the face of drought and population growth?
Will you fight to preserve and enhance Colorado’s public lands, wildlife, and biodiversity?
Will you promote environmental justice and ensure that all communities have a healthy and safe environment?
What is your position on the current immigration policies and practices of the United States?
There’s not a lot here for the state legislature. However, I do support preventing local law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
How will you ensure that the state of Colorado is ready and robust to face the threats of natural disasters, cyberattacks, terrorism, and foreign aggression?
Again, not a lot here for a state legislator, but I do support investment in disaster preparedness at a state and regional level.
How will you ensure that Colorado is a state with social and economic safeguards to maintain a decent standard of living and adequate nutrition for our aging population?
We have a bill this year to provide a one-time funding boost for the Area Agencies on Aging, but I’d like to keep exploring a more sustainable way to keep them fully funded.
