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PVA 2004 Candidate Information
~ State House District 25 ~

This page contains candidate information about the candidates for State House District 25.

Highlights from this race: Notes:
Candidate questionnaire scores
1a. Did you grow up with animals? Yes/No
1b. If so, what kind?

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes - Dogs, cats
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


2a. Does your family have animals? Yes/No
2b. If so, what kind?

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes - 2 Rescue dogs - wire-haired dacshund and a Golden Aussie
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


3. Are you in favor of the spaying/neutering of dogs and cats to reduce overpopulation? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


4. Would you be likely to support state legislation to require that animals raised for slaughter be protected from inhumane forms of slaughter, housing, and transportation? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


5. Would you be likely to support state legislation to require that educational institutions at all levels provide (and advertise to students) an alternative to animal dissection? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


6. Do you believe that aggravated cruelty/violence to animals should be a felony? (Choose Y, N, U, or C.)
(Y) yes; (N) no; (U) undecided; (C) yes, in certain cases (e.g., extreme cases only, or after the first offense)

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) (Y)
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


7. Would you be likely to support state legislation prohibiting the use of elephants in traveling acts, such as circuses? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Undecided - I simply do not know enough. I lean towards "Yes"
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


8. Of the two following value statements, to which are you likely to give higher priority?
(a) Wildlife and their environment are to be protected and preserved.
(b) Wildlife and their environment are to be managed.

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) (a)
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


9. Section 33-1-101 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, states, "It is the policy of the state of Colorado that the wildlife and their environment are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and its visitors."
Do you believe that all Colorado residents should have a voice in wildlife policy? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


10. Do you believe that there are forms of hunting that are unethical and that wildlife should be protected from them? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


11. Do you believe that Amendment 14, the anti-trapping initiative passed by Colorado voters in 1996, should be overturned or weakened in any way? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) No
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


12. Would you be likely to support state legislation to (1) require counties to allow county-level ballot initiatives and (2) establish consistent procedures and criteria for such initiatives? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Undecided - I need to look at how best we can strengthen such initiatives
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


13. Do you think that initiating a state ballot issue should be (a) easier; (b) harder; or (c) as it is now?

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) (c)
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


14. Would you be willing to consider factual documentation from PVA on a given issue? Yes/No/Undecided

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Yes
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


Please add any other comments ...

SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) While my family has always enjoyed the companionship of cats and dogs, for a period of three years I lived on a nature sanctuary where in our rehabilitation program I learned first-hand about what humans do to animals - sometimes out of ignorance and sometimes from a place of violence.

I cared for a red-tailed hawk, a gaggle of Canada geese & an old crow - all had been shot and could no longer fly.

I "mothered" dozens of baby birds each spring because people had pulled nests out of trees.

One summer I raised baby racoons, oppossum and wood ducks, from infancy to their final release into the wild.

I believe that we have an obligation to ensure that the animals we share this planet with - whether they are part of our family, or wild, need our respect & our protection.
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond


Candidate questionnaire scores
SHD25 Donna Red Wing (D) Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 79%
SHD25 John Witwer (R) Did not respond

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