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Damon Davis
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Damon Davis (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Colorado House of Representatives to represent District 55. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Davis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Damon Davis earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Denver in 1999 and a J.D. from the University of Colorado in 2002. His career experience includes working as an attorney. Davis has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- Mesa County Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Foundation
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
- National Rifle Association
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Elections
2022
See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 55
Rick Taggart defeated Damon Davis in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 55 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rick Taggart (R)  | 63.6 | 25,411 |
 | Damon Davis (D) | 36.4 | 14,536 | |
| Total votes: 39,947 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 55
Damon Davis advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 55 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Damon Davis | 100.0 | 5,215 |
| Total votes: 5,215 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 55
Rick Taggart defeated Patricia Weber in the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 55 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rick Taggart | 52.7 | 9,789 |
| Patricia Weber | 47.3 | 8,787 | ||
| Total votes: 18,576 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Nina Anderson (R)
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Damon Davis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Davis' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I grew up in Mesa County, Colorado, and graduated from Palisade High School. After high school I went to the University of Denver for my Bachelor's degree and then to the University of Colorado for law school. After graduating law school, I returned home to Grand Junction to begin my legal career. Now my fiancée and I raise our family here: my son and her two daughters. We enjoy all the activities Western Colorado has to offer, everything from hiking and fishing, to concerts and art displays, to fairs and farmer's markets. I love this area and really cannot see building my life anywhere else.
As an attorney I have represented ordinary working people: police officers, construction workers, and roughnecks. I am proud to do this, as most of my family and friends are blue-collar workers. I believe ordinary people deserve the same quality legal representation that received by corporations and the wealthy. And as someone who has been through the legal system myself - due to my divorce - I know how difficult and confusing the process can be. My community involvement includes serving as president of the Mesa County Bar Association and treasurer of the Mesa County Access to Justice Committee. I am currently on Colorado Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee, where I try to advocate for simpler, more easily understood rules.
In addition to the activities above, I enjoy home exercise, video games, and board games; and when time allows I like to golf, go shooting, and play D&D.- I will fight for affordable housing. I addition to affordable rentals, we need to build affordable starter homes by removing barriers to higher density, lower cost housing, and funding the development of such housing if necessary.
- I will fight for worker rights and policies that will put more money in worker's pockets and less stress on their lives. This includes strengthening unions to put workers on an even footing with companies, and better enforcing existing worker protections.
- I will fight for more affordable higher education, including reducing in-state tuition rates for state colleges and promoting affordable vocational training for those who want to enter the trades.
I am passionate about affordable housing. Everyone needs a place to live. Beyond that, people of walks of life should have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of homeownership. Homeownership builds wealth and promotes investment in the community. Additionally, when people are "house poor" they have less money to spend at local businesses, inhibiting economic growth. But right now too many policies favor the interests of existing homeowners over first time buyers. And the economic incentives support building expensive homes over building starter homes. As a state we need to reverse these trends so that we are building and selling homes that are affordable to those with an average income. Many people with good credit and a reasonable down payment just cannot find a home they can afford, and this is something we can and should fix.
Although it is not one of my key messages, I am also passionate about criminal justice reform. To be clear, I support law enforcement and fully funding law enforcement. But I also believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - it is better to steer people away from crime than arrest them after the fact. There are social programs shown to reduce crime, especially among youth. And there are prison programs shown to reduce recidivism. We need to train prisoners in life and work skills so they have something to turn to other than crime. And as prisons are expensive, this is not just a humanitarian position, but a fiscally smart one.
Although it is not one of my key messages, I am also passionate about criminal justice reform. To be clear, I support law enforcement and fully funding law enforcement. But I also believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - it is better to steer people away from crime than arrest them after the fact. There are social programs shown to reduce crime, especially among youth. And there are prison programs shown to reduce recidivism. We need to train prisoners in life and work skills so they have something to turn to other than crime. And as prisons are expensive, this is not just a humanitarian position, but a fiscally smart one.
I really look up to the founding fathers, especially George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. They really laid the ground work for America's representative democracy and promoted the ideals that are the basis of modern America. I admire Washington for eschewing party politics and putting country first. Jefferson was a great political philosopher who established the foundation of our constitutional democracy. And as an attorney, I admire Adams' dedication to the rule of law. Although all three men were flawed, that just goes to show they were only human, which makes their accomplishments all the more impressive.
I also admire Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt was a patriot and was pro-military. But he was also a champion for environmental conservation and was willing to stand up to big corporations on behalf of the middle class.
As to whose example I'd like to follow, although he was a Republican, it would probably be John McCain. McCain was moderate with an independent spirit and was willing to buck his party for what he believed. And he was able to work with Democrats in order to find solutions and get legislation passed. And he was an proponent of campaign finance reform.
Although I have not read them in years, John Locke's Second Treatise on Government, Alexis de Toqueville's On Democracy in America, and the Federalist Papers all influenced my thought and would helps someone understand my political philosophy.
I believe the most important characteristic for an elected official is that they believe in a moral principle beyond themselves; that they have a moral base or center. This could be a moral code, a philosophy, or a religion. But it means they believe in something greater than themselves and in serving something greater than themselves. A democracy depends on people's and leaders willingness to serve the greater good and a belief in the exercise power, not for its own sake, but to serve that greater good.
I believe the greatest threat to our democracy right now is leaders who are only interested in self-aggrandizement and the exercise of power simply for its own sake. So having leaders who believe in a moral principle beyond themselves is critical.
I believe the greatest threat to our democracy right now is leaders who are only interested in self-aggrandizement and the exercise of power simply for its own sake. So having leaders who believe in a moral principle beyond themselves is critical.
I am intelligent, hardworking, and have integrity. I am good at coming up with creative solutions. In addition to coming up with my own ideas, I am good at helping others improve and strengthen their own ideas and solutions.
The core responsibility of a state legislator is to pass laws that will solve, or at least alleviate problems, while protecting our essential rights. Now, the problem might be there is a bad law, or too many laws, so repealing laws can solve problems too. But the core responsibility is to protect protect people's rights and solve problems.
I would like to leave a legacy of building a better community for my son and step-daughters to grow and thrive in. If I can go into office, meaningfully address important the important issues my campaign is focuses on - which I believe will build better communities - and then be done with politics, I would be satisfied.
As a secondary matter, I would like to leave a legacy of civility and courtesy in politics, but building a better community for my children will live in comes first.
As a secondary matter, I would like to leave a legacy of civility and courtesy in politics, but building a better community for my children will live in comes first.
The first historic event in my lifetime that I remember is the space shuttle Challenger explosion. I was nine years old. I remember our teacher coming in, obviously upset, and telling us that the space shuttle had exploded. We were not watching it happen in school, but I saw it on the news when I got home. I was really too young to understand what it all meant, but it was clear it was a big deal. Although I recall the explosion, it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for space flight and space exploration and I'm still hoping space tourism will reach an affordable level in my lifetime.
My first job was working in the Frost Valley YMCA camp cafeteria during summer breaks in high school. It involved cleaning dishwashing, food prep, and unloading delivery trucks. I worked there for three summers.
Currently the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. I really enjoy sci-fi/fantasy books. This series is written as sci-fi, but I think deep down it's really fantasy. Regardless, the books have great plots with interesting characters. There are numerous twists, so the books keep you on your toes. And I like that the main character makes mistakes along the way, but learns from them. Not everything goes right the first time. And I like that the main characters are underdogs fighting a corrupt system. The books are really enjoyable, and you'll think a bit while reading them, but not so much it takes away from the joy of reading fiction.
Westley from the Princess Bride. He was a farmer, a pirate, a swordsman, a verbal duelist, and he stormed a castle and found true love - it's hard to beat all of that.
Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, baby shark...
I just saw the words "Daddy Shark" and the song got stuck in my head for the day. It's probably stuck in your head too now...
I just saw the words "Daddy Shark" and the song got stuck in my head for the day. It's probably stuck in your head too now...
I very much believe in separation of powers, including at the state level. So the legislature should legislate and the governor should execute the laws. I think the governor can and should use the greater information possessed by the executive branch to make proposals to the legislature, but ultimately it is up to the legislature to pass the laws. I think the governor can also help mediate on important issues when it is clear the legislature wants to act, but parties are reaching an impasse. But I do not believe the governor should attempt to force his or her point of view or attempt to force legislation through. Nor should the legislature seek to overly tie the governor's hands when it comes to executing the laws. Ultimately, each branch of government should stay in its own lane.
The greatest challenge Colorado faces over the next decade is the drought. We are facing a thousand-year drought. Water is the lifeblood of Colorado, affecting key industries like tourism and agriculture. The last time a drought was this bad the Vikings were raiding Europe and algebra had just been developed by the Arabs. We are going to have to take greater steps to conserve and protect our water, and to address climate change, which is exacerbating the drought. With no clue when the drought will end, we need to begin taking steps now.
I think it is good to have a mix. It is good to have some legislators with experience in government and politics, as they will have a sense of how things work. But there is also the risk they will do things simply because "that is how it is done." So it is also good to have people with different experiences who will be open to new ways of doing things.
Overall, I think it is more important that a state legislator has had some role in leadership or policymaking in some field, even if it is business or charity work, than that the the individual has specific experience in government or politics.
Overall, I think it is more important that a state legislator has had some role in leadership or policymaking in some field, even if it is business or charity work, than that the the individual has specific experience in government or politics.
I do believe it is beneficial to build relationships with other legislators, and hopefully with legislators of both parties. To accomplish things in a legislative body, you have to work together. That can be done without building relationships, but it is easier if you have those relationships. It is also easier to build trust, and trust others, because trust has to be earned. Finally, building relationships helps improve civility. When you see people as individuals, its harder to by uncivil to them. And we need more civility in politics right now.
I favor Colorado's process of having an independent redistricting commission.
As an attorney, and someone interested in criminal justice reform, I am interested in the Judiciary committee. The Judiciary committee has responsibility for the courts, civil liberties, and the correctional system and prison facilities.
I am also interested in the Business Affairs & Labor committee. It touches on several areas I am interested in, including insurance, real estate, labor law. I am familiar with insurance issues through my work. And I am interested in strengthening labor unions and protecting workers.
I am also interested in the Business Affairs & Labor committee. It touches on several areas I am interested in, including insurance, real estate, labor law. I am familiar with insurance issues through my work. And I am interested in strengthening labor unions and protecting workers.
I could possibly see running for state senate at some point. I have doubts beyond that, as I am not terribly interested in moving away from Grand Junction or living in someplace like Denver of Washington D.C. full time. I would not rule it out, but it certainly is not high on my radar.
The nature of emergencies is that they are unexpected, so you don't know when emergency powers will be needed, or what powers will be needed. Certainly, the legislature should be involved in setting parameters for emergency powers. And the legislature should monitor the use of emergency powers to avoid abuses. But often it is best to let the use of emergency powers play out for the course of the emergency, and then hold the actors responsible if they engaged in excesses.
Yes, compromise is absolutely essential for policymaking. The goal of political leadership should be to get things done. And to get things done, you need to work with other people. As an attorney, I have often found that the best deals are the ones no one is happy with, but everyone can live with. If we are going to solve problems we need to concentrate on our points of agreement and work together on solutions everyone can live with.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 31, 2022
Current members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Julie McCluskie
Majority Leader:Monica Duran
Representatives
District 1
Javier Mabrey (D)
District 2
Steven Woodrow (D)
District 3
Meg Froelich (D)
District 4
Cecelia Espenoza (D)
District 5
Alex Valdez (D)
District 6
Sean Camacho (D)
District 7
Jennifer Bacon (D)
District 8
District 9
Emily Sirota (D)
District 10
Junie Joseph (D)
District 11
Karen McCormick (D)
District 12
Kyle Brown (D)
District 13
Julie McCluskie (D)
District 14
Rose Pugliese (R)
District 15
Scott Bottoms (R)
District 16
Rebecca Keltie (R)
District 17
Regina English (D)
District 18
Amy Paschal (D)
District 19
Dan Woog (R)
District 20
Jarvis Caldwell (R)
District 21
Mary Bradfield (R)
District 22
Kenneth DeGraaf (R)
District 23
Monica Duran (D)
District 24
Lisa Feret (D)
District 25
Tammy Story (D)
District 26
Meghan Lukens (D)
District 27
Brianna Titone (D)
District 28
Sheila Lieder (D)
District 29
Shannon Bird (D)
District 30
Rebekah Stewart (D)
District 31
Jacque Phillips (D)
District 32
Manny Rutinel (D)
District 33
District 34
Jenny Willford (D)
District 35
Lorena Garcia (D)
District 36
Michael Carter (D)
District 37
Chad Clifford (D)
District 38
Gretchen Rydin (D)
District 39
Brandi Bradley (R)
District 40
Naquetta Ricks (D)
District 41
Jamie Jackson (D)
District 42
Mandy Lindsay (D)
District 43
Robert Marshall (D)
District 44
Anthony Hartsook (R)
District 45
Max Brooks (R)
District 46
Tisha Mauro (D)
District 47
Ty Winter (R)
District 48
Carlos Barron (R)
District 49
Lesley Smith (D)
District 50
Ryan Gonzalez (R)
District 51
Ron Weinberg (R)
District 52
Yara Zokaie (D)
District 53
District 54
Matt Soper (R)
District 55
Rick Taggart (R)
District 56
Chris Richardson (R)
District 57
District 58
Larry Suckla (R)
District 59
Katie Stewart (D)
District 60
Stephanie Luck (R)
District 61
Eliza Hamrick (D)
District 62
Matthew Martinez (D)
District 63
Dusty Johnson (R)
District 64
Vacant
District 65
Lori Sander (R)
Democratic Party (43)
Republican Party (21)
Vacancies (1)
