David Torres

Goenaga-Torres was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2004.[1] His career experience includes working in the healthcare administration field.[2]

David Torres did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Santiago David Goenaga-Torres (DAVID TORRES) and my life and career have given me the experience and desire to serve my hometown of Colorado Springs and the county/district of El Paso CO. After high school I joined the United States Air Force Reserves where I served at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs CO. During that time I began my career in the healthcare administration field as well as coaching high school and semi-professional football. I moved to Colorado Springs when I was four years old because my mother desired to raise her children in a city and state that possessed the atmosphere, people, and mentality necessary to positively influence our future. I am not your father's candidate. I will bring vigor in representing and advocacy for ALL the people in this district, county, state, and country. I will give a voice to those who feel don't have one, and I will help reshape the expectations and demands for any elected official.

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?

People over Party, no matter what! I will hear the voice of the people to help determine what needs to change.Using my platform to elevate organizations that want to improve the lives of others is a must. We can no longer accept underrepresented communities. Everyone deserves a voice.Great leadership involves complete transparency and communication to the people. Elected officials serve the community, not the other way around.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Military member's benefits. The military establishment is very well served by current elected officials. It is time to elect someone who will actually serve the military members and veterans that served and continue to serve our country.

Real support and solutions to homelessness are necessary. This is one of the richest countries in the world, we need to provide a comprehensive pathway to help get adults and children off the streets. I will elevate and promote organizations whose mission is to help provide the right tools for this pathway.

Uniting this community that helped raise me will be a priority with me. Racism still exists, divisions in our community continue to rise, and no work to eradicate this is being done. El Paso is a culturally diverse community and when we work together, we ALL will prosper.

Easy and affordable access to education is necessary for the entire community. We need to promote trade schools, low-cost/free community college, and internships in desired careers is essential.

Supporting Climate Change initiatives to ensure we do our part to provide a healthy planet for our children, grandchildren, and future generations. We can do more together.

By partnering with local law enforcement, local and state legislators we can help decimate crime, specifically gun violence. I will also help bring accessible mental healthcare to veterans and law enforcement.

Note: Torres submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on February 14, 2022.

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April 12 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a professional in leadership, a father of two, and a husband of eighteen years. My leadership experience expands throughout the healthcare field, parenting, and through coaching sports for over six years. These experiences, along with my childhood and upbringing brought me an immense love for people and an unwavering desire to serve the people. Representing a district that I spent most of my life in would bring the district the leadership it needs and brings an impassioned interest and desire to the success, growth, and prosperity of everybody in Colorado and the country. My life has been centered around a desire to serve ALL the people as best as I can. My success is measured by how much I can do for others and that is what brings me joy. The public deserves the next generation of leadership and I am that person.

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?

In a society where we have become accustomed to having low expectations of those who govern through acrimonious tactics with the sole intent of dividing citizens, I will change the perspective and work alongside the people to create and support legislation that will benefit the people, not myself or my own beliefs. My job is to serve the public, not to impress my beliefs on them.There are strong opinions and aspirations in this district regarding a strong economy, jobs security, and the advancement of our society as population continues to expand. There is no way to understand the needs of a district without constantly investigating those needs by creating platforms for the community to voice them, regardless of their political affiliation. This is not being done for anyone and I will assure that I will not because I should, but because I enjoy this aspect of the work.My goal is to provide a new perspective and expectation for leadership involving important issues in the district, state, and country. I will work towards a cleaner environment, support different energy initiatives which will subsequently create more jobs. I will fight for the rights and entitlements of all veterans such as easily accessible healthcare such as primary, specialty and mental healthcare. These are a few of my priorities, however, I will also work with the public to explore, understand, and find solutions to those issues that the citizens of district 5 find essential.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Equality and the eradication of racism have always been at the forefront of my passion. I understand that this issue has not dissolved, and I understand that while I may not ever see it go away, I will contribute to the progress towards a hate-free community. I am also extremely fanatical about the success of the people and how we can provide additional and improved opportunities for our community regarding access to education, jobs, and better pay. The success and happiness of the public are my biggest focal points and while that may be a broad statement, through the issues that are important to the public, I will address all things that the people deem important regardless of my own personal views on them. If an issue is rooted in love, growth, success, or simply anything positive for the community, I will passionately advocate for them.

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

Throughout my life, many people have affected me in a positive manner, and could never pinpoint ONE person that I try to model myself on. The charisma and truth-speaking of Gary Vaynerchuk, the tenacity and desire to serve the public as demonstrated by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the ultimate search for perfection of a craft displayed every day by Simone Biles, the strength of character, desire for education, and the stamina to continuously fight for his people despite unsurmountable barriers shown by Frederick Douglass are some of the people that I look to regarding the characteristics I expect and demand of myself.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

My philosophy is not a difficult one to understand. I want to educate the people of my district, state, and country so that we can have civil and productive discussions regarding their needs. I will say that understanding our history can be rather compelling and gives a good foundation for what the United States is truly about. "America's Constitution" by Akhil Reed Amar is a great read and gives excellent insight into historical text regarding the Constitution of the United States.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An unrelenting desire to serve the public and to provide the leadership the people desire and deserve. The ability to communicate to anyone and everyone regardless of their background, beliefs, and ideals allows for a better understanding and appreciation for what is important to them so that an elected official may better serve their needs.

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

Empathy, gratefulness, and an unwavering desire to serve others. My experience and upbringing have taught me that the more I positively affect others, the harder I want to unify and provide a voice to those who otherwise feel have none. I am unlike other candidates in that my happiness and success come from the positive change I am involved with. We must continue to strive for progress and expect more from those we elect to be our voice. Our country is the best, but we still have so much we can do to improve it.

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

This is a great question because the public may not be aware of the actual responsibilities or have ceased to expect them. That cannot continue. As a member of congress, I work for the people in my district first and foremost. Being a single voice for the public in Washington through legislation, service, and education. There are several obligations of congress that necessitate a representative willing to work extremely long hours to ensure they are fulfilling the oath taken. We have a lazy congress right now and the people are not being served in totality. My responsibility is to ensure that the public is informed and represented in a manner that serves their interest.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A positive one, that is it.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job, when I was 14 years old, was in the Citadel Mall at Giovanni’s Pizzeria. I was only there about a year when my mother was transferred to the north part of town which took away my ride to work. I would transfer to Burger King where I worked for three years.

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

Joe Esposito’s “You’re the Best” has been on television a lot lately in commercials and I cannot get it out of my head. Now, I feel like I should go work out.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The ability to discern the needs and expectations of the citizens is crucial and yet overlooked by leadership today. We have lost touch of who representatives work for and represent. House Representatives have the honor, duty, and privilege of communicating with their constituents and advocating for them in Washington. I am one who will not only propose and pass legislature for the betterment of their district but will also study and learn about other legislations to properly communicate it to the people they serve so they are not only informed but are also able to voice opinions regarding it.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Experience is always good, no matter what it is. I do believe, however, that we have been conditioned to have low expectations of our elected officials. We need people with experience in life and in people. Congresspeople with a true understanding of how to lead diverse groups in a manner that is positive and effective for the entire district. Understanding politics and processes within the organization can be learned quickly, understanding how to serve others and to be effective cannot be learned overnight, which is made quite obvious with many of the officials we have today.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Simply put, division. We are so divided right now, even more than I can ever recall. I know our government and officials who have flamed the fires of this division should be held accountable, but a new generation of leaders must come and repair this lack of unity in all parties and better instill the rights of the people and what it truly means to be the United States. The view of our leadership, by many if not most Americans is at an all-time low and the new movement of leadership is vital to the continual growth of our cities, counties, states, and country.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Where to begin?? I am very interested in serving in Energy and Water Development, Defense, Civil Rights and Human Services, Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions to name a few.

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

Yes, I do. It provides plenty of time to prove your effectiveness in the realm of leadership and representation.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

No. As I previously mentioned, I have a great deal of respect for many people including past and present representatives and figures. I will, however, model my leadership on my own experiences and I simply want to raise the bar for what we expect from those who govern.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

I am in tune with the needs of revenue and how taxes can and will affect the public. I understand that I must represent the people in my district to ensure that if raising revenue is necessary, the people must be able to understand why and exactly how it may affect them. Taxes are an important subject to the people in Colorado's 5th District and while raising taxes or reducing tax breaks is a necessary tactic at times, I must know my constituents enough to know whether the policy being proposed benefits them through economic activity, income, or the overall growth of the area. My stance is what is best for the people. And the only way the people will know whether it is or not is my responsibility through transparency and communication.

Campaign website

Torres' campaign website stated the following:

Veterans’ Healthcare Benefits

The Veterans’ Health Administration received an enormous increase in funding in the 2021 budget, and we now have a chance to vastly improve medical care provided by the VHA. Studies have shown that veterans who get their care at the VA live longer during and after a medical emergency, and at lower cost, than those receiving non-VA care, and this was before the dramatic increase in funding by Congress this year.

For this reason, I oppose privatizing VHA care, and I oppose outsourcing VA services to the private sector. This is irresponsible policy and may cost veterans their lives. The healthcare of our veterans is too important to be left to the whims of political infighting or the pursuit of maximum profits. As congressman, I will work tirelessly to ensure new resources are devoted to decreasing wait times, expanding healthcare facilities, and increasing services offered to our veterans.

Economy

We believe in an economy that allows for every American, regardless of education, background, race, or ethnicity to be able to share in American prosperity. We need an approach to the economy that encourages growth and innovation while protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. This can be done! We do not have to choose one over the other. As congressman, I will sponsor and support policies that ensure the economy works for everyone.

Health Care

Healthcare is a fundamental human right. No person or family in the richest country on Earth should have to go without healthcare.

Americans routinely avoid healthcare until they are seriously ill and the emergency room is the only option. No one should have to decide between prescription drugs and feeding their family, yet this choice happens every day in the United States.

Medicare for All would cost less per individual than private insurance, and the costs of Medicare for All would be covered if billionaires start paying their fair share of taxes. The economy can only benefit from Medicare for All. Two-thirds of all bankruptcies in the United States are caused by medical bills. Imagine what the economy would look like if these bankruptcies were eliminated!

As congressman, I look forward to working with people on all sides of the issue to craft a sensible Medicare for All program to provide healthcare to all Americans.

Gun Violence

When the right talks about guns, they focus on individual rights, often at the expense of responsibility.

When the left talks about guns, they focus on impose bans that are either unenforceable or are superficial “band-aid” approaches.

What we all should be talking about are data driven, realistic solutions that will reduce gun violence, including:

A graduated licensing system with mandatory training

Higher age limits for certain firearms.

Universal firearms registration.

Mandatory safe storage requirements.

Reforming the NFA and classifying suppressors as accessories, not firearms.

Education

Everyone in America deserves to receive a world class education, regardless of where they live. We will meet that requirement by:

making Universal Early Childhood Education available

providing local school boards and parents the tools required to ensure the best quality K-12 schools

promoting the necessity and importance of trades and trade schools

making college accessible and affordable

Mental Health

Mental healthcare is healthcare, period. Access to mental health care and substance abuse treatment should be available to every American NO MATTER WHAT. I will work to ensure that insurance companies cannot discriminate in the coverage of these real medical conditions. It is equally important to invest in hiring more mental health providers, substance abuse counselors, and peer support counselors.

Additionally, the privacy rights of people with mental illness must be safeguarded at all costs. Most importantly, I will fight to eliminate the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse, so that those who need help the most are able to receive it with humanity and dignity.

Reproductive Rights

An almost fifty year campaign to rob Americans of Federally protected bodily autonomy came to an end with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June.

When a minority of America bans abortion access, they condemn the population to forced birth, regardless of the impacts to the health of the parent, which disproportionately affects poor and people of color.

This is not over. Our fight does not end here. I pledge to do everything I can to protect access to abortion, birth control, and all healthcare.

Climate Change

Climate change is not coming. It’s here. We are already feeling the effects right here in the front range. When I was growing up in Colorado Springs, the conversation of a climate calamity was not omnipresent. Now the constant threat of wildland fires and alarmingly low level of our reservoirs and waterways are already making a major impact in our community. Climate change is an issue that demands more than just awareness, it demands action.

Right now in Colorado, a House Resolution is calling for an economy-wide carbon price to be enacted. We need Congress to do the same on a Federal level. These fees would contribute to the local economy and incentivize businesses to switch to clean renewable energy. This opportunity would not only provide clean energy solutions but also clean energy JOBS. This is a win-win for both our planet and our economy.

Voting Rights

Colorado is the gold standard for voter registration, accessibility and election integrity. I am proud of our state and how we conduct free, fair and accessible elections, and I will fight to make this a national norm. I will fight for national voting rights initiatives on the first day I take office and will not stop until I leave.

To emphasize the importance of this fight, we look back on January 6, 2021 when a mob of extremists stormed the Capitol in an attempt to subvert our democracy. They refused to acknowledge that President Biden won in a free and fair election, perpetuating the Big Lie.

If Republicans take the majority in 2022, it will be another step towards the end of governance by consent, equal justice under law, and majority rule.

It will be another step towards authoritarianism.

With radical extremists working hard to implement voter suppression and even voter subversion efforts around the country, I want to take the example of how we do things in Colorado nationwide.

Social Equality

America was founded on the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice and has been a beacon to the rest of the world for over 240 years. However, the Founding Fathers did not include women and black people in these noble beginnings and thus America has failed to keep its promises to all of its citizens. Until we reconcile the injustice of our foundation and ways it permeates our society, we cannot truly have individual freedom, self-determination, and equality for all.

That is why I will fight for equal rights and opportunities for ALL Americans including but not limited to: women, the LGBTQ+ community, religious minorities, people with disabilities, black and brown people, & Native Americans. I will confront the ignorance and hate I see, both in the halls of Congress and in our own community here in El Paso County.

Immigration

Immigration is woven deeply into the fabric of not only America’s identity, but also is the bedrock of America’s greatness. For generations, immigrants from other nations have come to this country to build new lives; and in turn have built up our economy, brought critical labor and innovation to our shores, and have even made the ultimate sacrifice wearing our nation’s uniform. Together, we must demand comprehensive immigration reform.

America deserves an immigration policy that establishes a path to citizenship for Dreamers, one that provides valuable labor in all skill categories to employers, that treats refugees and asylum seekers with compassion and dignity, and that secures our borders by providing an orderly, transparent and fair process to visit or emigrate to the United States.[3]

—David Torres' campaign website (2022)[4]