IN RESPONSE
Bruce not best representative for House District 15
Yesterday, I received another mailing from State Representative Bruce. I suspect that many of you did also. This mailing was in the same tenor as his Web site, completely defensive.
He has gone to a lot of trouble to detail Mark Waller’s voting history, when he arrived in the Pikes Peak area, etc. What he failed to do is detail Waller’s history of protecting our nation. I have yet to see any indication Bruce has ever worn the uniform of our fighting forces.
All I have seen is that Mr. Bruce wants to eliminate all taxes. I hate taxes as much as the next conservative, but I also realize that we have come to expect a certain level of services from our state and county. This includes roads that do not have three-foot potholes that will destroy your tires/wheels.
Bruce criticizes Waller as being “an overt conformer” and is “backed by those who don’t want to change government.” I have met Waller and do not get the sense of “conformer” from him. If I ever get the feeling that Waller only says what will get him elected or add to his campaign coffers, I will work diligently against him. I cannot speak about his other supporters, but I do back Waller and I definitely want to see a change in government.
The biggest and most immediate change I want to see is a state representative who is capable of working with others. I want to see a state representative who is able to see the big picture and correctly discern priorities.
Bruce has criticized Waller for waiting three years to register to vote. When a military family is ordered into a duty station, there is no guarantee how long they will be there. Waller readily admits that he and his active-duty wife were planning to remain in the Pikes Peak area, but those of us with military experience are fully aware that the needs of the service can, and often will, intervene.
As it turned out, the Air Force did not interfere with the Wallers’ plans and they have been able to remain in the Springs. I count both the Wallers and the Springs fortunate for those circumstances.
I agree with Bruce when he battles against the emergency clause that has been grossly abused. But there may be some measures that really need to be passed, with or without the emergency clause, because they are important. When I asked Bruce if he was going to support the castle doctrine if it came to the floor, he said that if it contained the emergency clause he would not. I accept that this may only be a hot button for me, but 25 states have passed the castle doctrine that extends our right to self defense to include our workplace or any place we have a legal right to be. I find Bruce’s concern over the emergency clause taking precedence over our personal protection to be very shortsighted.
Bruce’s inability to work with others has alienated him from those with whom he currently shares the House chambers and has made him an ineffective representative of House District 15.
I will take full responsibility for my actions in aiding in the selection of Bruce to fill the vacant House District 15 seat. However, having taken that responsibility, I now readily accept that there is a better choice.
Dan Lanotte
Falcon