We are pleased to have potential CD-7 candidate Mark Paschall with us for a "live" Q&A today.
Paschall, a Republican, is the Jefferson County Treasurer and a former member of the Colorado House of Representatives.
Mr. Paschall has graciously agreed to answer your questions today, so feel free to ask away in the COMMENTS section below. You don't have to agree with Mr. Paschall, but we do ask that you be respecful in your questions.
And so, without further ado, click below to read our first 11 questions and answers with Mr. Paschall, and then ask your own questions...
1. Are you running for congress in CD-7 in 2006?
I have formed an exploratory committee and am very interested in running for the 7th CD, though many in the establishment are trying to discourage it. I think, however, I need to wait for Rep. Beauprez to publicly and personally announce his intentions. I do not rely on third party mouthpieces.
2. What would be your reasons for running for congress in 2006?
My only reason for running would be to be another voice and vote for the Constitution and for America. Too many are toeing a party line instead of considering what is best for the country and interpreting the Constitution to fit their own agendas and dole out favors. Those who know me, have served with me and worked with me, understand that I take principled stands on issues, deferring always to the Constitution as my guide. If you look at Congress, we have granted the power to declare war to the President, have allowed our borders to remain wide open, have usurped people’s civil rights through the Patriot Act, just to name a few. Furthermore, when we talk about judicial activism, we must examine how we got to this point. We got here because Congress was first to abdicate their powers. The judicial body is simply following what Congress has allowed. And we the people went to sleep and allowed this to happen on our watch.
3. What do you offer a Republican voter that Rick O’Donnell does not?
I have been elected. I have campaigned and won. I have a family and have raised three boys into adulthood. Through my sons, I experienced the public education system as well as the offerings of charter schools, private colleges and state colleges. These weren’t numbers on a stat sheet, this was real life experience raising a family, struggling to make ends meet, feeling the repercussions of high taxes and knowing the strain it puts on a family. Look, I like Rick O’Donnell. I know him and find him to be a good guy. However, the fact that I have a voting record that anyone can research, the fact that I have taken controversial stands and stood by my beliefs and the Constitution, and frankly, I believe that people on both sides of the aisle are disenfranchised with the party establishment.
Whether you like me or not, there is no arguing that I am not part of a party establishment. At this point in our country, I believe that’s a strong point. The voters are tired of their elected officials putting party before country. How many people have been up in arms over illegal immigration? What has been done about it? How many people have been upset by deficit spending? What has been done about it? How many people see the country being sold out to foreign interests and corporations? What has been done about it? Now you know why I am not part of the establishment.
4. There is a school of thought (which Colorado Pols has also repeated) that says while you could win in a congressional primary you could not win in a general election because you are too right-wing. How do you respond to this?
My track record speaks for itself. Again, you can research my record, both voting and election. I have never lost a race. I ran in a House District which had a Democrat voter registration advantage. I was told I couldn’t win. Not only did I win the primary, I won the general. After my first term in office, the district went from a Democrat advantage to a Republican advantage. This House District is a microcosm of the 7th Congressional. And about being right wing, if people think that believing in the Constitution and actually voting and working to uphold it is right wing, then so be it. But the truth is, we (both parties) have drifted so far from our founding documents and have tried so hard to achieve consensus, that we abandoned our principles as a country.
You have an unusually long and publicized history of criticisms that have gotten wide coverage in the media. We want to hear your side of the story on some of them…
5. After you were elected Jefferson County Treasurer in 2002, you were criticized for asking the county to buy you a used Cadillac Escalade, and when that failed, a Nissan Pathfinder. Eventually you settled on another vehicle. What happened here?
Finally, I get to say my peace over all of this. Thanks for asking this. The people who put forth those lies have either been term limited out or resigned. They were manifested in order to keep Jim Congrove and myself from becoming Commissioner once their term of office had ended. Should any of you, and I mean this, want to come look at the endless documentation and witness accounts from those who sat in these meetings which were little more than political strategy based in lies (you normally leave those to the 527s and not your own party) I do welcome you into the office.
At any rate, I am an eBay shopper. I asked the commissioners if there was a policy regarding the purchase of used vehicles. I cited the fact that even a Cadillac Escalade is $25,000 used which fell way under the budget offered for purchasing a new car. Regardless, I never looked into a Nissan Pathfinder. In fact, I decided to do something different and actually purchase a vehicle from the lowest, responsible bidder inside Jefferson County rather than the normal methods of using a business outside Jefferson County. As Jeffco Treasurer I think it is good public policy to support the businesses who live, operate and pay taxes within Jefferson County.
6. You hired friends for high-paying appointed positions that critics charged were unnecessary, and asked for a large amount of money to renovate your office that was also deemed by critics to be unnecessary. What was your response?
Again, one of our budget people who is still here sat in on these meetings, as well as the meeting over the Escalade. All I asked for was security for our Treasurer’s Office. I submitted a request for an estimate and never saw it until I read the ridiculous estimate in the paper. By the way, the person who put forth this estimate and the PIO who called the papers immediately after the meeting to determine this astronomical price have since been terminated or resigned. What I did find out though was that for $13,000 I could have just taken what I needed from surplus. I never did see the final estimate per the county. I only saw it in the papers. Again, if you want further facts and documentation of this, please come into the office. I never spent a dime on this. The people of Jeffco know that I would never spend a dime of their money without having a solid foundation for the requested expenditure. It’s not my money.
About the “friends.” As part of my transition team I employed Jim Congrove, the current county commissioner, part time, an economic analyst, part time, and an assistant. These weren’t highly paid by any means and an elected official is afforded two appointees. I needed them to help me navigate this new arena for me. And yet, I have remained one of the few departments that is constantly under budget. I also reduced FTE’s when the county was increasing them. And when the renovation rumor was being circulated, a $1 million dollar ACTUAL renovation was taking place on the 4th floor that went against the building code. The people who oversaw that have since resigned or been terminated. Yes, we did alert the press to this. No, they did not report it. I have the facts here in this office should you want the truth.
7. You engaged in a much-publicized action of passing out flyers in the county courthouse that encouraged prospective jurors to obey the law of God over the law of the courts. What were you trying to do? Why did you feel that it was not inappropriate for you to do this as an elected official?
I did not pass out flyers. The Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building was a memorial to Thomas Jefferson and we were celebrating its tenth anniversary. They were laid out on a table, in a display, in front of my office, in the admin side of the building. I was out of town. The booklets were paid for with personal funds. They are called Citizen Rule Books and I felt that during this time when it seems Congress doesn’t even know their enumerated powers, that the citizens must be educated on their rights. For reference sake, these booklets contain the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and quotes from our founders regarding rights and powers of jurors.
8. You were dropped by the American Legion for failing to provide documentation about your military service. What happened?
The American Legion asked me to join. I said I do not qualify since I was not a Vietnam Era Veteran. They told me to give it a shot anyway since I was a friend. So, where they have the area on the application to check a box for your era of service, I made my own box and wrote in my service dates. They submitted the request, the American Legion said no and next thing I know, one of my political detractors, who serves in the same American Legion post, has handed it to a reporter. Though I sent the application to the reporter, the story was still published. I do have a copy of the application here at the office as well. The silver lining is that the American Legion received some publicity over the ordeal and hopefully benefited from it.
9. You’ve managed to get elected to public office repeatedly (state legislature, Jeffco Treasurer). What’s your secret?
By being honest and taking principled stands. People don’t like empty rhetoric, they like elected officials who have a backbone and take some heat on their behalf. Just like the media stories and the way I was targeted on my first day as Jefferson County Treasurer – anyone remember the “bounced checks?” Our Jefferson County PIO was standing in front of me during the press conference, tape recorder in hand, whispering questions to reporters. In fact, Rick Sallinger left saying, “There’s no story here.” Yet, I did not back down. The political world is a tough, shrewd, corrupt world. There’s no question about that. But if you show the people that you truly are out for their best interest and not out for the interests of a party, corporation, special interest, etc. they know that and they in turn are loyal. The public trust is so hard to gain and easy to lose. I realize that.
As for campaign secrets, I am not sharing! I am not going to tell my opponent how to defeat me!
10. A lot of voters might not understand what a county treasurer does. How would you describe the job?
The job, as I define it, is more than just processing tax payments, disbursing funds to the taxing authorities and investing the funds prior to disbursement, although these are the specific statutory duties of the County Treasurer. I am the county banker. My first duty is to uphold and defend the Constitution and next, to faithfully perform the duties of my office. I work to get the best rates of return on investments with regard to safety, liquidity, and yield. I also search out the best vendors for the taxpayers, and conduct my office in the most efficient, accountable manner possible. That’s why the people I have on my staff feel accountable to the taxpayers. It comes from the top down and if I am not accountable, my office will not be. The buck stops here all the time.
Yes, I follow tax initiatives and have tried to inform the taxpayers of the increased burden of taxes if ballot measures are approved. Let me tell you, when you have seniors calling to ask why you raised their taxes and hear their stories of having to leave their homes of 30 years because the government is growing at a rate larger than their incomes, then yes, the obligation to me is clear. I can’t just sit back and watch it happen and take the attitude that it’s not my business, just shut up and pay your taxes. Too many people shirk their responsibilities as citizens and human beings because it is “not my business.” Well, look at our world today.
11. There’s an old line in politics that it’s hard to get elected if you have facial hair, though you seem to have proved that wrong to some degree. Is there any basis to that idea that voters don’t like facial hair?
The first time I ran for office, I ran and I won. I think Coloradans are independent enough to accept a person for what they are and not what they look like. When I announce, you’ll be the first to know. Right now, I have gone from a full beard to a goatee. Once the goatee comes off, you’ll know I am in the race (though my wife tells me I need to lose 10 lbs first).
Do you have a question for Mark Paschall? Ask it in the COMMENTS section below…
To USATERMLIMITS:
No! I believe term limits is an abridgment of our 1st Amendment right to vote for the one we want to represent us. An elected official is subject to term limits every time there is an election. Furthermore, have you observed the laws passed by "lame ducks?" Virtually everyone expands governmental powers and programs and the resultant cost of government. Here in Colorado, prior to term limits, the average life of a Legislator was 4.5 years. After term limits, the average is north of 6 years. The solution of term limits was worse than the problem.
If the people are unhappy with an elected official's performance, it is their right and within their power to kick them out! We don't need a law that addresses a symptom but not the problem.
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 01:13 PM
To steve-o:
I am absolutely opposed to both Ref. C & D.
This amounts to a $3.1 Billion check from our pockets to the government's pockets over and above the growth plus inflation rate government growth is afforded by TABOR.
Isn't it interesting that the collectivists want us to believe that it is the RIGHT of government to grow and anything less than the stipulated rate (for Colorado State government it is a General Fund growth of 6%) is considered a "structural deficit." Under that standard most of us have been operating and managing our family in a perpetual "structural deficit!" How much worse for us, individually, if we give up yet another $3.1 billion (over the next five years) to government?
Yes, I will be campaigning in opposition to them.
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 01:29 PM
To rightwinger:
Given the strict terms of your question, I pick the latter i.e. repeal the tax code.
I am decidedly Pro-Life!
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 01:34 PM
Mr. Paschall, I thought you were for openness and transparency in government. Why won't you release your discharge records? Do you have sometime to hide?
Also, I recall a story a few years ago about you having your background check run during a legislative tour and an arrest involving marijuana possession came up. Can you explain that for us, the story wasn't very clear. Here is an exerpt from one of the stories:
Be careful what information you seek. You might find out more than you want to know.
Rep. Mark Paschall, R-Arvada, is chairman of the new House Information and Technology Committee, which doesn't have many bills to consider. On slow days he sometimes takes the members on field trips to look at high-tech operations whose issues may end up in front of the committee some day.
Monday the committee traveled to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Paschall ended up in the room that does instant background checks on would-be gun purchasers.
The curious Paschall volunteered to have his own record called up. Big mistake. Up popped an arrest in Aurora for marijuana possession on Dec. 15, 1972 - just a month after his 18th birthday.
Nothing serious came of the incident. The CBI report says he was released with no formal charges filed. But Paschall became alarmed about what goes into - and comes out of - computerized crime files.
He recalled the arrest vividly. He said he'd accompanied a friend from his construction crew to a party in Aurora. But the friend soon disappeared in Paschall's truck (he could start it without a key) leaving the future lawmaker in a house full of pot smokers.
In those days, said Paschall, he was "what you would call a Jesus freak" and neither smoked nor drank. While waiting for his friend to bring his truck back, he went to sleep in another room of the house.
He was awoken at 3:30 a.m. by a police raid, and was hauled off to jail with everybody else.
He vigorously protested his innocence, he said, and when the other party- goers admitted they had no idea who he was, the police let him go.
"There should be no record of this whatsoever," Paschall said Tuesday. " That's why I'm skeptical about these data bases. It could be damaging to me, and I wonder how many other cases are out there that will end up hurting somebody?"
The CBI report popped up just hours after Paschall had called up an immunization bill he didn't like two days ahead of schedule and had it killed.
Posted by: col.klink | June 14, 2005 at 01:44 PM
To closetheborder:
If our government followed the Constitution and enforced our laws, the question would be moot. However, since our elected officials have neglected their #1 duty, your question is valid.
A wall is extreme! A sensible and effective policy would include:
1) the militarization of our land borders as our sea borders are;
2) denial of government programs and benefits to non-American citizens or foreign nationals;
3) punish employers who knowingly employ illegals.
Our American workers, skilled craftsmen, and laborers are seeing the American dream disappear before their very eyes to a people who have demonstrated their contempt for our laws. (Regardless of motives or origin!)
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 01:50 PM
Why won't you come clean about your military service. Men and women are dying for our country and you won't share with us your discharge records.
From the Canyon Courier:
We learned that our former-state-legislator-and-now-county-treasurer, who has used his military service to bolster his electability, doesn't have quite the proud record he would have you believe. In fact, in a rarity for the United States Navy, Paschall's enlistment back in the '70s was "voided," which is curiously absent from his own publicity. Courier reporter Jonathan Ellis asked a Navy spokesman if he could come up with any conceivable reason for a "voided" enlistment. His guess: "fraud." The spokesman said Paschall's "voided" enlistment -- which the treasurer attributes to bad legal advice -- is the only one he has ever seen after 40 years in the Navy.
Posted by: lt.klink | June 14, 2005 at 01:53 PM
To Confused:
You will remain confused after my answer.
As long as the "full faith and credit" clause of the U.S. Constitution is subjectively interpreted under the jurisdiction of a "results-oriented" Supreme Court, even Colorado's D.O.M.A. is at risk.
If I am elected to Congress, I will work with my former collegue, U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave, to insure the U.S. Constitution is not violated or circumvented.
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 02:06 PM
To Marshall:
If you read the 2nd Amendment, it is clear that the right to keep and bear arms predates governmental powers, Federal, State, and Local.
Regarding Marriage and to save time, please refer to my previous answers.
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 02:19 PM
Mark - up to now I've been a bit of a fan, but now that I read more about your discharge, you're really starting to cause me serious concern. Either you have something to hide, or you don't. My husband (a combat vet) and I have discussed this many times; there is a difference between an honorable, general and dishonorable discharge. Which is it for you?
Posted by: Vet's_Wife | June 14, 2005 at 02:21 PM
To thinkin:
I don't need to pledge, my record speaks for itself. I am committed to the protection of innocent human life.
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 02:24 PM
To All - especially ColKlink -
I took it upon myself to ask Mr. Paschall to view his military record since I am a citizen of the county and he graciously accepted. I, too, read the news article by the Canyon Courier during the time that he was dealing with Lawrence and Sheehan.
The DD214 I PERSONALLY viewed showed an honorable discharge. I think ColKlink is following the journalistic responsibility of Dan Rather.
Posted by: wexford98 | June 14, 2005 at 02:30 PM
To Vet's Wife:
I invite you to come my office and I will show you my DD214's and answer any of your questions.
As far as I know the Canyon Courier obtained these documents illegally, because they did not get them from me, nor did I authorize their release.
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 02:38 PM
Weford98 - Gee, some random anonymous poster on a blog saw the record, let's take her/his word for it!
Posted by: Col.Klink | June 14, 2005 at 02:38 PM
To all:
Thank you for your questions and involvment in the political process! Isn't it great that we can have this kind of discourse and guard each others dignity?
God Bless!
Mark
Posted by: Mark Paschall | June 14, 2005 at 02:42 PM
Col Klink-
The media has a better reputation?
Then take Paschall up on his offer and ask to see it yourself - then why dont YOU report back to the rest of the site that you were wrong and so was the media.
Yes, that's a challenge.
Posted by: wexford98 | June 14, 2005 at 02:48 PM
There is no good reason for a candidate to conceal his military records.
I would vote for an ind. or maybe even a dem. before voting for a man who is not being open and honest, and I think most republicans feel the same way.
Posted by: colorado vet | June 14, 2005 at 03:13 PM
To Quote Klink-
Oh yeah, like I'll believe a random anonymous poster on a blog site is a Republican Paschall supporter who just changed her views and decided not to take a look at the record for herself. Nice try. :)
Posted by: wexford98 | June 14, 2005 at 03:44 PM
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Kerry say anybody could see his military records at his office too!?
Come on, if this guy was waiting to recieve a report from his "exploritory committee", they should read this blog and tell him he is screwed!
I guess ROD won't have much competition this time. This Q&A has secured that much. Is Paschall taking PR tips from Lamm? What's in the water over there guys?
Posted by: Rebel Rep | June 14, 2005 at 10:14 PM
I think that O'Donnell needs to haul himself in here for a session; if he's not willing to answer the questions, he's not gaining ground relative to Paschall in my eyes.
Posted by: Phoenix Rising | June 14, 2005 at 10:31 PM
After reading this exchange I had to laugh. Mr. Paschall's answers to these questions are just down right strange!
Did anybody notice when he was asked about being "of government" for the last 11 years he pointed to working in the private sector going as far back at 1970? By my math that would mean he was 15 or 16 years old.
So all those summer jobs count, I bet there are a lot of politicians that would be happy to hear that!
Posted by: The Math | June 15, 2005 at 05:21 AM
The reason Paschall's answers are strange is because is speaking in very criptic phrases meant to only be understood by the Dobsonite cult. If this sounds weird read this article about Bush, Republicans do this all the time.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2108083/
Take this answer as example
-------------------------------
As long as the "full faith and credit" clause of the U.S. Constitution is subjectively interpreted under the jurisdiction of a "results-oriented" Supreme Court, even Colorado's D.O.M.A. is at risk.
If I am elected to Congress, I will work with my former collegue, U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave, to insure the U.S. Constitution is not violated or circumvented."
----------------------------
I dare anybody to try to decode this answer. It is full of phrases that only the Dobsonite cult is going to understand.
Posted by: marshall | June 15, 2005 at 07:23 AM
Marshall,
PLEASE ANSWER THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA JURY QUESTION!
Please explain to me the term dobsonite and how Paschall's response to the Consitutionality of Marriage applies...
Posted by: wexford98 | June 15, 2005 at 01:19 PM
The Math -
scroll down - I think you are Marshall. You'll see Paschall worked for over a decade in the finance field which is private sector. Hmmm...how about some of your democrat contenders....
Posted by: wexford98 | June 15, 2005 at 01:21 PM
Paschall says:As long as the "full faith and credit" clause of the U.S. Constitution is subjectively interpreted under the jurisdiction of a "results-oriented" Supreme Court, even Colorado's D.O.M.A. is at risk.
If I am elected to Congress, I will work with my former collegue, U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave, to insure the U.S. Constitution is not violated or circumvented.
Translation:
So long as the Supreme Court has members who are willing to rule in favor of the plain intent of the "full faith and credit" clause (Art. IV, Sect. 1) of the Constitution - i.e. that States must respect the official rulings of other States (e.g. marriage licenses) - the D.O.M.A. will not prevent the entrance and recognition of married gay couples to Colorado.
If Paschall is elected, he vows to work to violate and circumvent the plain language of the Constitution to prevent someone from "violat[ing] or circumvent[ing]" the Constitution.
This kind of rhetoric works well if you don't read the Constitution, but it doesn't hold up with good lighting.
Posted by: Phoenix Rising | June 15, 2005 at 01:58 PM
Wexford, you make a good point. Instead of determining guilt or innocence, we should move to nullify the jury if we disagree with the law. My misogynistic beliefs have always led me to believe that domestic violence is not only okay, but sometimes necessary. I’m just happy to learn that the constitution supports my position, and that I will never have to convict someone unjustly!
Posted by: A | June 15, 2005 at 02:38 PM