Democrats in El Paso County are once again hoping to flip a seat on the Board of County Commissioners, which has been solidly Republican since the Nixon administration. Former Colorado Springs City Councilor Yolanda Avila is running against incumbent Commissioner Lauren Nelson, who previously served on the Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education.
During a recent candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, Avila emphasized the impact of national politics on El Paso County’s budget. “For the Democrats, it has to deal with billions of dollars in budget cuts — money going to billionaires and millionaires and being given more tax breaks and tax breaks not to the middle class,” she said. “And the [Colorado] legislature has had to deal with that. They have had to figure out, how do they fund Medicaid, how do they fund schools, how do we fund our elderly population. I think their hands have been tied and they need to have more support. I can’t say, ‘Oh, it’s just Denver.’ No, it is all of us, and it’s really what’s happening in Washington, D.C. With this current administration, we’re facing the consequences of that.”
Nelson focused on traditional conservative talking points — small government, lower taxes, and less regulation. “We see that at a state level, we are the sixth most regulated state in the nation, and that’s according to the Colorado Chamber and EDC,” she said. “So the impact and challenge for small businesses is very real, and so I would like to see government being more limited and not overregulating, and we also see that impacting even availability for child care services as well. And then secondly, just prioritizing needs, doing a better job of really focusing on core functions of government and not being in this situation we are as a state with our budget, and you’ll be happy to hear El Paso County is in a great place.”
Avila also tried to tie U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO) — whose race against Jessica Killin has become increasingly competitive — to the Republicans on the Board of County Commissioners. “I think access and transparency have been a real issue with the Republican Party,” said Avila. “That’s starting from Jeff Crank not having town halls for everybody to attend. And our county commissioners, it’s difficult to get a hold of them.”
On local issues, Avila and Nelson took opposing stances on growth and development. “I am a huge private property rights advocate, so I believe it’s up to the property owner to determine what kind of properties they would like to build on their land,” said Nelson, who defended the controversial decision to approve an appeal by gas station giant Buc-ee’s in August. “The prior decision to allow Buc-ee’s to be built on this property was based on the criteria, the evidence on the record, and it was actually not identified as a convenience store. The motion was that it was similar in use to other allowed or permitted uses in that zone.”
Avila opposed the decision. “The community, Palmer Lake, has been demonized, called a ‘mob,’ for trying to save their community, to conserve it,” she said. “I think it’s completely unacceptable that we bring in — it’s called a convenience store, but guess what? The inside of that store is bigger than a football field. Not to mention the outside, where all the gas stations and the lighting, and it’s a really peaceful place where we’re right next to a state park. We just built an overpass for wildlife to cross. It’s just not such a good place. If Buc-ee’s wants to come, then come to a community that wants them there as an anchor store.”
Avila also took a conservative approach to urban development in unincorporated El Paso County, which became a hot topic last year with the Karman Line annexation, the controversial proposed development of about 2,000 acres near Schriever Space Force Base that was rejected by voters last year.
“I think redevelopment is so critical and a lot of people don’t want to do that because they want to start on fresh — our developers on fresh new land,” said Avila. “I would say that we need smart development. We don’t grow just for the sake of growing. We do need control and smart growth because our population is growing. And if we do not do this, have smart growth, make affordable housing as well, we are gonna turn into Boulder, which means that our people that serve and work in our community are going to have to live in Fountain or Pueblo or somewhere else.”
Nelson emphasized her commitment to property rights. “We have to be really careful what we’re asking government to do when you do not allow a property owner to do what they want with their property,” she said. “Again, we have to ensure that government is respecting private property rights. Yes, we need to grow responsibly. And I mentioned earlier the safeguards that we have in place when it comes to our precious resources like water with a proof of 300 years’ worth of water — that the state says you have available will last you for 300 years. It’s important that we continue to look at development paying its own way when it comes to infrastructure. I would not say we’re out of control. There’s so much thought and time and procedure that goes into place for development to occur to ensure that it’s within reason.”
Avila and Nelson were also at odds on county resources being used to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “U.S. Citizens are getting arrested and incarcerated and sent to God knows where,” said Avila. “This is inhumane, and it should not be happening. Do I want county dollars to be a part of this? No. Do I want them to collaborate? No, because if they’re collaborating with ICE, they’re using our resources, and we shouldn’t spend a dime or a penny on that for that. It’s unjust. You may call these people criminals or they’re breaking the law. They’re looking for a better life. They contributed to this society for 20, 25, 30 years, and they’re being rounded up. My community in Southeast [Colorado Springs] is in fear. They are in terror because ICE goes around the school, Mitchell High School, and there’s low enrollment there because ICE is circling there. They’re circling the churches, and they’re just rounding up people. We’ve got kids taken into detention centers without their parents. Are we that kind of country? Absolutely not. Do I support that? We have a completely, completely broken immigration system.”
Nelson opposes using additional county funds, but supports cooperation with ICE. “It is not the responsibility of the county government or the sheriff’s department, so I would not want to refocus our local tax dollars in that area,” she said. “But I am not opposed to the sheriff and district attorney and other law enforcement collaborating or working together with each other to help ensure that people are held accountable in following the law. We have systems and procedures to become a U.S. citizen and to live here, to move here and I would like for everyone to abide by our laws and if you come without following those systems and procedures you are breaking the law.”
