Hello and thank you for visiting my campaign website. My name is Eric Nelson and I am running for House District 42! My goal is to represent the members of my community as a vocal advocate, working tirelessly to improve the lives of you and your family. Please join me as we work together to build a better Colorado.
Thank you so much for your support.
Service. Strength. Results.
My platform is centered on Education, Equal Rights, Economic Prosperity, Housing Justice, Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Seniors. My values are what lead me to base my service to you in these areas. I look forward to engaging with you further to better understand how we can continue to create a better HD 42.
Community & Civic Experience
Dr. Nelson has extensive volunteer and community organizing experience. The long list of organizations and causes in which he has been engaged includes community engagement in Aurora and surrounding cities serving on the following:
· Aurora Human Relations Commission
· Aurora Branch NAACP (Life member) & State Conference
· Aurora Key Community Response Team
· Aurora Project ACHIEVE Youth Mentoring
· Aurora Community of Faith
· Aurora Public School Board of Education
· Alzheimer's Association African-American Advisory committee of Colorado
· American Legion Post 30
· Blacks in Government (Life member)
· Bennie E. Goodwin After-School Academic Program for youth Advisory
· Colorado Mental Health Professionals (founding member)
· Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA)
· Colorado Peoples Alliance/Action (COPA)
· Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC)
· Congressional Black Caucus Leadership Institute (alumni)
· Colorado Association of School Boards
· Denver Rocky Mountain Association of Black Psychologists
· Denver Mayor's African American Commission
· Dr. Martin Luther King Committee
· Denver Consistory (Life member)
· Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance
· League of Women Voters of Arapahoe County
· Leaders are Readers/Read Across America
· Moms Demand Action
· National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) (Life member)
· Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC alumni)
· Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning The Board of Cooperative Educational Services
· Sims-Fayola Foundation
· Southern Christian Leadership Conference (Life member)
· Together Colorado Faith Leaders
· The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA)(Life member)
· The Gateway Optimist Club
· You Can Begin Again/You Can Begin Again Too, Inc.
· Warrior Now Inc
Overview of State House District 42, Colorado
On the
Issues
On Education,
We agree every child deserves a high quality education. Therefore, I will work to strengthen existing laws and establish more laws that would support teachers and administrators in stimulating the education of our youth. Rather than promote harsh disciplinary measures that discourages them from teaching and or leading. I will work with legislators to fully restore the negative factor of Amendment 23 in K12 education.
On Equal Rights,
I stand with the LGBT community in the fight to ensure that all Americans benefit from the civil rights that each of us deserves — because the fight for equality affects us all. I will continue to fight alongside the LGBT community as members, friends, family, and allies with the hope that one day each of us will be seen as equal under the law.
On Economic Prosperity,
We agree every worker deserves a good paying job and that minimum wage should be increased to keep up with the cost of living. Therefore, I will work to strengthen our existing laws to increase jobs, ensure the rights of low-income workers are protected and support the economic empowerment of minority communities.
On Criminal Justice,
I am running for the State Legislature because I do not want anyone to face the same challenges I had to face in order to support themselves or their family. I'll fight for comprehensive Criminal justice reform and for others alike.
To employers nationwide, we will not tolerate the denial of basic human rights - including the right to work - in this... era of mass incarceration, a time when tens of millions of people now have criminal records and are struggling to work, support their families, and lead meaningful, productive lives.
Of course discrimination against people with criminal records is nothing new, but recently the EEOC adopted guidelines making clear that employers are in violation of civil rights laws if they adopt a blanket policy of discrimination against people with criminal records. The EEOC concluded that employers must look at applicants' records on a case-by-case basis and conduct an individualized assessment of an applicant's criminal record and that person's behavior since the offense occurred. If the employer cannot demonstrate that denying someone a job or promotion based on a criminal record is "consistent with business necessity" it is in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. At a time when people across the political spectrum are coming together to seek criminal justice reform and to remove barriers to re-entry, Apple ought to be leading by example by actively seeking to hire people who have been locked out of the mainstream economy rather than engaging in these discriminatory tactics and closing the door of opportunity to people who want to work hard and support their families.
On Immigration,
I fully support just and humane immigration reform. I would support undocumented immigrant protections in bills like SB20-083 and SB21-009.
Immigration status should not determine who gets to care for themselves and their families, who gets to decide if and when to become parents, and who is denied care. SB9 addresses obstacles that undocumented communities face in accessing the contraception they need.
Right now, Latinas are twice as likely to experience an unintended pregnancy. Ensuring access to contraception is critical to improving and strengthening the health, wellbeing, and dignity of the people of our state.
A recent study found that providing a full year’s worth of contraception pills at one time decreased unintended pregnancy by 30% compared to those who received either one or three packs of pills at a time. We are excited to be able to support a policy that is shown to be effective and helps support people in our community.
“Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights,” (2021) Policy priorities. https://www.colorlatina.org/sb9/. https://www.colorlatina.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Final-Policy-Report-2021.pdf
On Seniors,
I will help to strengthen existing laws and establish more laws that would ensure that resources, protection and support systems are in place so that seniors are able to be treated fairly with respect to their conditions.
On Housing Justice,
I would support bills like HB14-1017.
Housing issues affect all segments of the society, from children’s ability to succeed in school, to working class families struggling to pay monthly rent, to business owners trying to retain staff, to seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities consumed with housing costs and unable to focus on their health needs.
Meanwhile however, the availability of housing options in Colorado is drastically insufficient. Affordable housing is typically defined as paying no more than 30% of gross income for housing, including utilities; paying more than that is considered "rent burdened households” and paying more than 50% on housing is considered severely cost-burdened. Yet in 2010, 24% of Colorado renters paid more than 50% of their income on housing and nearly 40% paid more than 30% of their income on housing.
On Mental Health,
It’s time we invest resources required to assess what ails the homeless, and diagnose their problem. Some simply need a job to get back on their feet and we should offer one to those able to work. Some suffer from addiction, thanks to pharmaceutical companies that knowingly peddled pills they knew to be addictive. They belong in drug counseling or detox facilities. Some have mental health issues that require care. Many are simply in need of a warm bed, and hot meal and temporary housing.
On Environment,
I believe that human-caused climate change is real and would institute and support Colorado Green.
With all of the new science coming out that show the damage that fracking does to the environment from air and water pollution to man caused earthquakes. I believe fracking does more damage to our communities than the benefits of the revenue that is brought in from the industry. I believe the local government has a better read on the desires of their community and should be able to protect their communities in the way its residents feel is the best fit for their community.
On Veterans,
I will help to strengthen existing laws and establish more laws that would ensure that veterans have the resources they need when returning home from active duty. It is hard to separate the homeless problem from the shortcomings of our government. Somewhere along the way someone failed to notice they had a problem. Someone failed to help them fix it. That may not be the total fault of our government system, but it cannot be denied that our government have not always served all of our veterans well.
I will support organizations that are committed to the wellbeing and lives of veterans.
“It is well known that Veteran suicide is a serious problem. The numbers are staggering and the statistics continue to shock us all. Overall, Veterans are 4x's more likely to die by suicide than they are at war. The suicide rate among Veterans is 52% higher than non Veteran U.S. adults. We need to do better. WarriorNOW is committed to ending Veteran suicide by addressing the root cause of the problem, mental illness and addiction.”
This is our State. Together we can tackle our toughest issues and keep our future bright.
This race is about the future of Aurora and not about our past history. I am ready and prepared to do the important work for our neighbors.
My deepest condolences to a great and inspiring Leader
I'm very saddened by the transition on high of one of our greatest leaders in our nation. One who I found to be inspiring and a transformative leader! In our conversations, he enlightened me on many things, but most importantly his passion and support for educating our youth leaders of tomorrow! Honorable Congressman Mr. Elijah E. Cummings, MD-07, brother, you are missed and your legacy will live on for many generations to come! You've inspired so many of us to be effective leaders in our own respective right and, to be Change-Agents in our society! Man of Honor and Man of God. Sir, may you Rest in Power with the Supreme Architect of the Universe!
