Colin Wilhelm

Colin Wilhelm was born in Troy, Michigan. Wilhelm's professional experience includes working as an attorney. He earned a bachelor's degree from Marquette University in 2006 and a J.D. from New England School of Law in 2011.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress running to defeat U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. Colorado's 3rd District deserves a U.S. Representative that strongly supports everyone's right to healthcare, including mental healthcare, will work to roll back the damage done to our environment, supports working families, and ensures fairness, equality, and equity for all.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Water is the lifeblood of CD3 and Colin's focus is to keep CD3 water in CD3. To do this, we must work backward and manage our obligation to the Colorado River, the Rio Grande, and the Arkansas River Compacts.Colin is running for Congress to create good-paying jobs and a Colorado economy that works for everyone. As your congressman, He will use his years of experience to continue to work with all stakeholders to create more economic opportunities for everyone and help retain and attract investments to Colorado's third congressional district. Colin recognizes that a full economic recovery will require everyone at the table—including both businesses and workers—to work together to reinvest into our people and communities.Colin believes that health care is a fundamental right and in the richest country on Earth, it is irreconcilable that anyone should go broke because they had to go to the hospital or pay for a prescription. Colin is committed to bringing down health care costs and giving Coloradans more options for how they get the care they need. This is a focus not only on physical health care but also mental health care – a whole health care model. He also knows we must invest in rural health care and find new ways to attract health care workers to underserved and rural areas so every Coloradan can get high-quality, affordable care without having to travel far from home. Finally, Colin has long been an outspoken advocate for the Coloradans impacted by ad

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Colin believes that health care is a fundamental right and in the richest country on Earth, it is irreconcilable that anyone should go broke because they had to go to the hospital or pay for a prescription. Colin is committed to bringing down health care costs and giving Coloradans more options for how they get the care they need. This is a focus not only on physical health care but also mental health care – a whole health care model. He also knows we must invest in rural health care and find new ways to attract health care workers to underserved and rural areas so every Coloradan can get high-quality, affordable care without having to travel far from home.

Finally, Colin has long been an outspoken advocate for the Coloradans impacted by addiction and the opioid epidemic. It is heartbreaking and unacceptable that we are losing over 100,000 Americans to overdoses annually. With a nearly 50% surge in overdoses since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Colin has worked across party lines to advocate for an approach to this emergency that combines treatment, law enforcement, and prevention.

There’s always been a stigma surrounding addiction and mental health. Colin Wilhelm has personal experience with both and knows the time is now to finally reckon with these tough issues.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I admire my uncle Robert Wilhelm more than most people. Never one for the spotlight or even much for more glam he always has preferred doing a good job and living a wonderful life. His work ethic and drive don't appear to be, striving for the best in his field, but just to be the best he can be. I think that inherent in this mentality is a belief that one can always do better for themselves with the next opportunity, but that recognition is not necessary when success can be measured by in-house achievements and jobs well done. The other aspect of his character that I admire is his steadfast positivity. Throughout personal, professional, and family troubles he is always able to find some shred of light and continue to move towards a better future. But he does so in a common-sense way that doesn't neglect the facts of the present. It is so much of a "this will pass mentality" but more of a how can we find a better tomorrow when this does pass. Asking the questions of what solutions do we have no and how will they help to get us in a better position in the future.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have a background in law and have studied the Constitution. I am a small business owner, a soon-to-be father, and a recovering alcoholic. I think it is important to have someone in office who not only respects the Constitution and all the laws of this country, but also understands them, and can speak about them.

It is important to have someone who understands the life experiences and hardships that people in rural America, and even urban and suburban America go through. While I live in a rural mountain town now, I grew up in suburban Detroit, and have lived in major cities in this Country. That along with my travel around the world has given me the ability to see issues from many points of view.

Suffering from addiction, I have a special real connection that I can make with all voters. 1 in 3 Americans has been touched by addiction in their life in some form. This is an issue that doesn’t care about party, race, sex, orientation, ethnicity, or personality. That struggle has made me stronger and more empathetic to the needs of the people.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I think that my beliefs on an issue are only as important as anyone else’s in this district. It’s one opinion — one belief out of approximately 750,000 people. I’m honor-bound and duty-bound to vote the way that the majority of the district points, even if my belief doesn’t fit that way. And I think that that’s the job of a representative.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Automatic by Miranda Lambert

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No two years is much too short. In our day of the never-ending news cycle that means that the campaign season for House candidates is 2 years. Creating a 4-year term would allow each rep to get some understanding of their job as a representative and as a legislator, and then also get some good work done before the hard effect of a political campaign come back. It would allow for deal-making and compromise to be much more at the ready with less of a political monkey hanging over everyone's head.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe that Congress should have term limits. I believe it should be there should be Four-year terms in the House with a limit of 4 terms. In the Senate, I believe the terms should stay at 6 years but with a maximum of 3 terms allowed. Upon completion of these term limits, I would propose that they couldn't run for either legislative body for 10 years should they wish to serve again. This would prevent people from jumping from chamber to chamber after their terms have ended and would also diminish their ability to re-run within a few years of completing their terms.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, compromise is the cornerstone of policymaking.

Colin Wilhelm did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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