Judicial Retention, Voting Republican, and the Hidden Dangers of School Choice Funding

On October 28, 2022, Kim Monson explored the complexities of judicial retention elections with Commission on Judicial Review member Terri Goon, the case for voting Republican with writer Rick Turnquist, and the hidden dangers of government-funded school choice with CHEC Director Carolyn Martin.

Understanding Judicial Retention Elections

Start listening at 17:34 – Hour 1

Terri Goon, appointed to the Commission on Judicial Review by the Senate Minority Leader, provides an insider perspective on how Colorado judges are evaluated for retention. She explains that the commission conducts extensive reviews including courtroom observations, interviews with district attorneys and defense attorneys, and surveys from those who interact with the courts.

Goon pushes back against blanket “vote no on all judges” recommendations, arguing that citizens should do their due diligence rather than dismiss qualified jurists. She acknowledges that judges who receive poor evaluations often choose to retire rather than face retention votes, demonstrating the system has built-in accountability mechanisms.

“To say vote no on all of them, that doesn’t make any sense. You have to do your due diligence. The blue book is about whether the commission has found that they have followed the law properly, and they deserve to have their job.”

Terri Goon, Commission on Judicial Review Member

The Case for Voting Republican

Start listening at 30:44 – Hour 1

Rick Turnquist argues that despite imperfect candidates, conservatives must vote Republican to halt America’s decline under Democrat policies. He points to the recent GDP growth report, noting that while the headline numbers appear positive, consumer spending remains weak and the economy faces significant headwinds from inflation and rising interest rates.

Turnquist acknowledges that candidates like Joe O’Day and Pam Anderson may not align perfectly with conservative values, but emphasizes that partial alignment beats zero alignment with Democrat opponents. He rejects the notion that third-party votes or abstentions are principled choices, citing historical examples where narrow margins delivered power to Democrats.

“My mantra is elect them and hold them accountable. And even, let’s go back a little bit further, recruit good candidates, elect them, and then hold them accountable.”

Rick Turnquist, Conservative Writer

The Hidden Dangers of School Choice Funding

Start listening at 59:03 – Hour 2

Carolyn Martin, Director of Government Relations for Christian Home Educators of Colorado, sounds the alarm on education savings account programs that appear to offer freedom but come with government control. She recounts how Democrats in the Colorado Senate explicitly rejected amendments that would have protected private schools from becoming “agents of the state.”

Martin traces the roots of compulsory public education to Marxist reformers Horace Mann and John Dewey, who sought to use schools as instruments of social transformation. She warns that new curriculum standards emphasizing social-emotional learning, global citizenship, and media literacy serve as vehicles for ideological indoctrination rather than academic excellence.

The conversation turns to data collection, with Martin revealing that recent legislation authorizes tracking of every preschool child in Colorado to monitor “long-term life outcomes,” a system she connects to social credit scoring. She cites a Columbia Law professor who argues that government schools fundamentally violate parents’ First Amendment rights by controlling what their children learn.

“It’s parents’ fundamental and unalienable right to educate their children. We need to keep pounding that in because the state thinks it’s their job. So we need to make sure to get that jurisdiction back to the family.”

Carolyn Martin, CHEC Director of Government Relations

Economic Outlook and Financial Planning

Start listening at 62:41 – Hour 2

Steve Cruz of Three Points Financial provides context for the third-quarter GDP growth, noting that while the headline number looks positive after two quarters of decline, underlying fundamentals remain concerning. Consumer demand for goods continues to fall, housing activity has dropped significantly, and much of the growth came from temporary factors like pent-up travel demand and energy exports to Europe.

Cruz advises clients to focus on what they can control rather than worrying about macroeconomic uncertainties. He emphasizes the importance of having a financial plan that accounts for various scenarios, from recession to continued inflation.

“A lot of outcomes are outside of the individual control. So we help people really focus on what can you control.”

Steve Cruz, Three Points Financial