Colorado Governor Jared Polis came to Central City to meet Gilpin County residents in the Central City Courthouse on March 4, 2022. He announced that he is running for his second term as governor.

“I would be honored to be your governor for the next four years,” he said. He discussed some of the State’s accomplishments during the past three years and some of his goals for the future if elected.

Gilpin County Democratic Party Chair Eric Douglas introduced Governor Polis and said he has been a very effective leader. Polis recognized elected officials in attendance at the meeting including Gilpin County Commissioners Sandy Hollingsworth and Linda Isenhart, County Assessor Anne Schafer, Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick and Sheriff Kevin Armstrong. Also in attendance was former Colorado Senator and Gilpin County Commissioner Jeanne Nicholson.

Polis was elected as Colorado’s 43rd governor in 2018. He was born in Boulder, Colorado, in 1975 and spent his high school years in San Diego.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton in 1996. During his time there, Polis co-founded an internet service provider with fellow students that became American Information Systems and later sold for $22 million. He previously served Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District in Congress from 2009 to 2019. He is also a philanthropist, entrepreneur and founder of several businesses besides American Information Systems, including ProFlowers.

Three years ago, when he ran for governor, he pledged that the state would have 100 percent renewable energy by 2040, and he was told it couldn’t be done. He said that by 2030 the State will be at 80 percent renewable energy. That is happening so fast, Polis said.

Texas had winter storms on February 13, to 17, 2021, unofficially referred to as Winter Storm Uri that was a major winter and ice storm that had widespread impacts across the United States. Polis said every utility in the state had to find natural gas, so costs were extreme.

Now with the hostile invasion of Ukraine by Russia, gas prices will get higher. Solar costs so much less and he hopes to provide lower rates for everyone.

Power provides the utility grid, which has been supported by coal and other resources. The State is moving to solar, wind and a little bit of hydro. Last month, 13 percent of vehicles purchased were electric

Polis advocates for clean air and reducing pollution. The State is purchasing electric school buses, which will be better for the children and save gas costs.

For automobile power stations, Polis said the State has a dedicated funding source for charging stations and will provide them at all of the State parks. The State has funded a record increase of 9 percent for public schools which can be used for better teacher pay and restoring programs that have been cut, such as the arts and mental health support.

In health care, Polis said COVID-19 cases are very low right now with about 150 people in the hospital. The Congress has passed a bill for universal kindergarten for free, and by the fall of 2023 pre-school will also be free. Polis said this is a cost-of-living issue, because it saves a family $7,00 a year, and two people in the household can work.

The State has made a lot of progress and has helped reduce insurance rates by24 percent statewide and 30 percent in Gilpin County for people who have to buy their own insurance. Polis said that the United States is the only country that pays as much for prescriptions as the United States, so we need to get costs out of the system.

Polis advocates for a Colorado Health Insurance Option with $500 million available for treatments of those who battle with addiction and shouldn’t be on the streets, so the funds will assist with substance abuse, recovery and to reduce homelessness.

For internet connection, he said $800 million to $1.2 billion has been passed for homes to be connected, and they are filling some patches.

Regarding affordable housing, he said it’s an issue all over the state, which needs more affordable housing near people’s work, and the State has passed $500 million for affordable housing.

The event ended for Governor Polis to attend the ribbon cutting for the Monarch Hotel and Casino in Black Hawk.

For more information about Governor Polis, go to https:// polisforcolorado.com/.