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advocating for animals
in the political arena

CHVL 2006 Candidate Information
~ State House District 1 ~

This page contains candidate information about the candidates for State House District 1.

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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Yes - pigeons, which my brother raised - he became an ornithologist and managed a U.S. Wildlife Refuge. For a short while, I also had a beautiful cocker spaniel that I called Honey because of her color. I won her when a new filling station opened in town, and I lost her when she got pregnant, because my father then took her out to a farm, saying that town is no place for a dog.
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (R) Did not respond


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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Yes - two parakeets - We also had a cat for over a year, but I developed severe allergies and was taken to the emergency room, so we gave the cat away.
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (R) Did not respond


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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Yes
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Yes
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) No - From my biology days in high school, I remember being entranced by how a frog's body works. I believe that dissection is necessary for the "hands on" approach which enlightens students and which inspires students to enter science and medical fields.
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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)

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Undecided
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) No - Elephants have been used for domestic purposes for millennia. I would not want to deprive children of the fun of riding atop an elephant in a zoo, nor of watching them perform in traveling shows.
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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.

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) (a)
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Yes
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Undecided - what forms are you referring to? - I grew up in South Texas, surrounded by hunters. I didn't know of any unethical acts by those hunters, and I don't know what you are referring to as unethical hunting. Please enlighten me!
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Undecided
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) No - I believe in representative government. Ballot initiatives take away the discussion and consideration that lead to good laws, and replaces that with sound bites.
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (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?

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) (b) - Many constitutional amendments have passed which should not be in the Constitution; as an example, I give TABOR, which strangled our state government and required a statewide vote to allow Colorado to save our institutions of higher learning. As I said above, ballot initiatives only require a cute sound bite to pass. Laws that have an impact on our economy or society should require more than a sound bite.
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (R) Did not respond


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

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Yes
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (R) Did not respond


Please add any other comments ...

SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) I value the work that you do, and I hope to meet you. I hope that you will contact me for an interview, or just for a cup of coffee!
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (R) Did not respond


Candidate questionnaire scores
SHD01 Jeanne Labuda (D) Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 25%
SHD01 Aimee Rathburn (R) Did not respond

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