The Colorado Republicans’ Senate Majority Fund tweeted this week that State Sen. Tim Neville of Littleton has been a strong advocate for education reform his “entire time in the legislature – maybe the Democrats will start listening now.”
But a Google search reveals that Neville, who’s battling Democrat Tammy Story in a swing Jeffco state senate race, aligns himself with the Trump wing of the Republican Party–not with Democrats–on education issues.
Last Year Neville penned this letter to The Denver Post, praising Trump and his controversial nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.
Neville: President Donald Trump appears to recognize that the top-down, centralized, one-size-fits-all model of education that has dominated for at least the past half-century has failed our children and our society. The focus has been on perpetuating the current system — a system that puts the needs of the powerful teachers unions ahead of the unique needs of individual students — rather than on educating the next generations. To his credit, President Trump seems intent on changing this system, and putting control back into the hands of parents where it belongs.
His nomination of Betsy DeVos is a major step towards implementing that goal. DeVos has been an active champion of school choice and parental rights, and will help steer our nation’s education system in a direction that promotes effective education over blind maintenance of the status quo, and which helps ensure that all children have access to a quality education, not just those who can afford it.
I urge Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner to do what is right for our nation’s children and vote to confirm DeVos for secretary of education.
Neville’s position is straight-forward, which is what you expect from the Littleton lawmaker who, unlike many of his colleagues, makes his positions crystal clear on everything from abortion (against it, even for rape) and intrauterine devices IUDs to prevent teen pregnancy (opposed) to global warming (doesn’t believe it’s happening) and Trump (a big supporter, now and during the last election).
What’s not clear is why the Republican Senate Majority Fund suggested that maybe the Democrats will start listening to Neville on education topics.
“Why would Democrats listen to Neville on education issues when he’s a backer of Trump and Betsy DeVos,” was the question left by the Colorado Times Recorder on the Senate Majority Fund’s phone messaging service, but the call was not returned.
In its initial tweet about Neville, the Fund added a link to a poll by Democrats for Education Reform, touting public support for an array of broad statements about education. But it was unclear what they actually mean policy-wise and how they align with Neville.
Neville’s state senate race is being closely watched, as Colorado Republicans must hold their one seat majority in the chamber–or win the race for governor–if they are to stop Colorado Democrats from controlling state government.
On its website, the Colorado Republicans’ Senate Majority Fund, which exists to help Republicans like Neville, describes itself this way:
We believe that building an economic climate that promotes private sector success is the only way to solve Colorado’s economic challenges. Colorado’s general fund is generated solely from private sector businesses, individuals and families. Reducing government’s burden on them can truly stimulate economic growth and prosperity. In turn, private sector growth allows us to maintain our quality environment, strengthen our schools and improve our infrastructure. We are working tirelessly to ensure that Colorado continues to be an extraordinary place to live, work and raise our families. We hope you join us in this effort.
In the 2016 election, the Fund created ads for State Sen. Laura Woods of Arvada, Arapahoe County Commissioner Nancy Doty, both of whom lost, and State Sen. Kevin Priola, who won his race.