Daily Press Writer
MONTROSE — The two candidates for the seat in State Senate District 6 made their second appearance in Montrose in as many weeks yesterday at a Rotary Club luncheon.
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The influence of religion on the respective candidates came about from a questioner who wanted to know the candidates’ views on the separation of church and state.
Tate, who owns a water quality consulting business outside Bayfield and is making his first run for elected office, said his faith was the heart of his identity.
“I’m first and foremost a Christian. Biblical principles are how I make decisions in my everyday life,” he said. “Does that mean that Christianity directs government? - No. But I do believe that faith has to be the conscience of government.”
Although he linked his religious beliefs and referenced the inalienable rights granted all citizens by the U.S. Constitution to a pro-life view of abortion, he did not speak specifically to how his faith might result in other policy prescriptions.
Isgar, who was appointed to his seat in 2001 and won election a year later, also said he was Christian but succinctly stated it was important to maintain the separation of church and state.
He added that he didn’t believe in abortion personally, but he didn’t think it was a decision that should be made by government.
“That’s a decision they have to make with their God,” he said.
Isgar, whose family runs a ranch in La Plata County, touted his agricultural background, his involvement with water legislation and his service as chair of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
But Isgar, who is term-limited to just one more term, said he wanted to make state tax policy a priority.
“They always say if you’re going to work on tax policy it better be your last term and it is,” he said, adding that the state needed to figure out the proper combination of income, sales and severance taxes and how to address Colorado’s infrastructure needs.
He also lamented the lack of flexibility in the state Constitution regarding fiscal policy.
For that reason, Isgar opposes Referendum J, which would enshrine school spending levels in the Constitution. Although he supported raising minimum wage, he does not back Amendment 42, which would place a new minimum wage of $6.85 in the state Constitution.
“To put another piece of fiscal policy in the constitution, I don’t think is the way we should go,” Isgar said.
Both candidates opposed the school spending measure because it would limit local control.
Tate, for his part, also opposed the minimum wage measure, saying it would deflate the entrepreneurial spirit in the state.
The two candidates also said that stronger border security would aid the state in dealing with other issues related to illegal immigration.
Isgar cautioned that the state should take care not to spend more money on enforcement of immigration laws than it costs to enforce them.
While both commented on the need for guest workers, Tate said following the forum that if the federal government can’t address the issue, the state should step in with its own guest worker program.
Although a special session at the Capitol last summer eliminated many of the services illegal immigrants are eligible to receive, Tate advocated phasing out any social services for minors over the next two years.
“As long as there’s a draw here with social services, they’ll find a way to get across,” he said.
Contact Matt Hildner via e-mail at matth@montrosepress.com
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