Walker Stapleton

Walker Stapleton

Republican Party

Prior offices

Colorado Treasurer

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Elections and appointments

Last election

November 6, 2018

Education

Bachelor's

Williams College

Graduate

London School of Economics

Personal

Profession

CEO and CFO

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Walker Stapleton (Republican Party) was the Colorado Treasurer. He assumed office on January 11, 2011. He left office in 2019.

Stapleton (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Colorado. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.

Stapleton ran on a joint ticket with the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, Lang Sias (R).

Biography

Prior to being elected, Stapleton served as CEO and CFO of various private and publicly traded companies. Stapleton and his wife Jenna have a son, Craig, and a daughter, Colette.

Education

• Graduate degree in business economics - London School of Economics
• Master of Business Administration - Harvard Business School
• Bachelor degree - Williams College

Political career

Colorado Treasurer (2011-2019)

Stapleton was elected to this position on November 2, 2010, and assumed office January 11, 2011. Stapleton won re-election in the 2014 election. He was prevented by term limits from seeking re-election in 2018.

Pensions

See also: Public pensions in Colorado

Colorado government pensions are governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA). In November 2013, the PERA voted to lower its expectations on investments from 8 percent to 7.5 percent. Stapleton estimated that the change would increase the unfunded liability by $6 billion. Stapleton had previously advocated for lowering the rate of return, while warning of the likelihood of a fund collapse. The vote passed narrowly, 8-7.

Presidential preference

2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Walker Stapleton endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.

Elections

2018

See also: Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

See also: Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Republican primary)

General election

General election for Governor of Colorado

Jared Polis defeated Walker Stapleton, Scott Helker, and Bill Hammons in the general election for Governor of Colorado on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jared Polis (D)	53.4	1,348,888
		Walker Stapleton (R)	42.8	1,080,801
	Submit photo	Scott Helker (L)	2.8	69,519
		Bill Hammons (Unity Party)	1.0	25,854

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,525,062
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Korey Paul Starkey (Independent)
• Veronique Bellamy (G)
• George Allen Cantrell (Constitution Party)
• Michael Wilbourn (Independent)
• Kathleen Cunningham (Unaffiliated)
• Paul Willmon (Unaffiliated)
• Richard Osada (Independent)
• Matthew Wood (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Colorado

Jared Polis defeated Cary Kennedy, Michael Johnston, and Donna Lynne in the Democratic primary for Governor of Colorado on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jared Polis	44.5	283,340
		Cary Kennedy	24.7	157,396
		Michael Johnston	23.5	149,884
		Donna Lynne	7.3	46,382

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 637,002
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Noel Ginsburg (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Colorado

Walker Stapleton defeated Victor Mitchell, Greg Lopez, and Doug Robinson in the Republican primary for Governor of Colorado on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Walker Stapleton	47.7	239,861
	Submit photo	Victor Mitchell	30.1	151,585
		Greg Lopez	13.2	66,432
		Doug Robinson	9.0	45,327

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 503,205
= 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.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Barry Farah (R)

2014

See also: Colorado down ballot state executive elections, 2014

Treasurer of Colorado, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Walker Stapleton Incumbent	49.9%	979,281
	Democratic	Betsy Markey	44.9%	882,437
	Libertarian	David Jurist	5.2%	101,826
Total Votes				1,963,544
Election results via Colorado Secretary of State

2010

Colorado Treasurer, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Walker Stapleton	50.7%	866,934
	Democratic	Cary Kennedy	49.3%	842,877
Total Votes				1,709,811
Election results via Colorado Secretary of State

Campaign themes

2018

Campaign website

Stapleton's campaign website stated the following:

“	Health Care As I travel across Colorado’s 64 counties, a key concern of many Coloradans is the rising costs of health care. But let’s be clear, a government-run, single-payer health care program will result in higher taxes and less choices. It will bankrupt Colorado and drive families and businesses out of our state. As Governor, I will focus on improving quality and reducing the costs of health care in Colorado by working with a variety of groups and individuals to drive innovation, increase transparency, and improve the delivery of care to make health care more accessible. Our system needs to emphasize improving primary and preventive care. We must take proactive steps to promote healthy lifestyles and monitor health conditions before they become crises in the emergency room. A key component of this preventive care is greater integration of mental, behavioral, and physical health. Colorado is making inroads on this front and I will direct my administration to continue these efforts. We also need to focus on outcomes-based systems for our publicly administered programs and work to reduce costs. Medicaid covers nearly 1.4 million people in Colorado and is one of the largest parts of our state budget. As associated costs have grown, it has crowded out funding for our schools and roads. More can be done to improve our administrative processes, delivery of care, and patient-education to make improvements without sacrificing quality. Critically, we must work with a broad coalition of partners across the health care landscape, from patients and doctors to hospitals and payers, so as to not shift costs from the government’s programs onto consumers. I will work with the Legislature and evaluate the models other states have implemented to bring about necessary reforms. No family should be stuck with the decision of paying their mortgage or paying for health care. Too often these rising costs are preventing Coloradans from fulfilling the American dream of owning a home. We must create more choice and access for families in the types of coverage they can purchase. We have the ability to be creative and find solutions that work for Coloradans like the expansion of association plans, shorter-term plans, and catastrophic coverage options. In addition, new services like mobile clinics and tele-health will help patients gain access to care, especially in underserved communities. Make no mistake, I will defend patients with pre-existing conditions and continue to allow young adults under 26 to stay on their parents’ coverage. Any proposals to roll back these provisions will be rejected by my administration. Sanctuary Cities The proliferation of so-called ‘Sanctuary Cities’ is a direct threat to public safety and rule of law in Colorado. These policies have put new challenges in front of our law enforcement community who have now been told by certain jurisdictions to ignore federal immigration laws. No Sheriff, Police Chief or any of our public safety officer should EVER be fearful of retaliation or litigation simply for upholding their oath office to ensure public safety in Colorado. A recent decision by the city of Denver to fine and punish city employees that cooperate with federal immigration authorities is an egregious example of our local government holding back the law enforcement community from properly carrying out their duties. As governor, I will work to end Sanctuary Cities and the practice of local governments shielding illegal immigrants from the law. I will explore any avenue to prevent jurisdictions from pursuing these types of dangerous policies and will work to restore a cooperative relationship between local, state and federal law enforcement that ensures Colorado remains a safe and prosperous community. PERA As Treasurer, I have led the charge in reforming our Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA), which has surpassed $30 billion in unfunded liabilities. Years of unrealistic investment return projections, and a board filled with 11 of 15 members economically incentivized to uphold the status quo, have caused this liability to grow extensively year-over-year. Attempts at reform have been blocked by politicians on both sides of the aisle. Over the past seven years of working on this issue, I have learned that it’s not a Democrat or Republican issue – it is an issue of the “haves” versus the “have-nots.” This type of reckless behavior with taxpayer dollars is far too common in politics, and I am running for Governor to put an end to the special interest wants overriding taxpayers’ needs. Our PERA obligations are just one of many examples of government mismanagement and neglecting the taxpayer. I will bring the same persistence in fighting for economic reform to the Governor’s office as I have shown as Treasurer. As Governor, I will continue to fight for fiscal restraint and rational conservative reforms that will ensure individual liberty and economic freedom for all Coloradans. Education Education is an investment not only in our children, but in the future of Colorado. Unfortunately, we have far too many students who have become trapped in failing or under-achieving schools. We spend nearly 40% of our general fund budget on K-12 education, yet only one in four students graduate fully prepared for college or the workforce. As Governor, I will fight for the right of all Coloradans to have access to high-quality education. Expanding school choice is a critical component of this effort. Charter schools provide a low-cost, high-quality education that serves a more diverse student body than traditional public schools. These schools are at the forefront of education reform and have made tremendous strides in providing equal access to education for all children in Colorado. We must continue to drive for innovation in education that increases student achievement, while ensuring we have transparency and accountability for all teachers and schools. In order to transform our system to one that prioritizes education, we must allow the money to follow the students, not the other way around. Expanding school choice and shifting our focus from schools to students can re-vitalize our education system and turn it into a model for the rest of the nation to follow. Energy and Land Colorado is blessed with an abundance of natural resources: coal, oil, gas, as well as wind, sunshine and rivers that are not only a part of our way of life, but a vital supply of energy. Together, these elements power our economy and our homes. Our state has become a pioneer in balancing responsible economic development with environmental stewardship, and I look to continue this trend in the Governor’s office. Colorado’s oil and gas industry contributes over 200,000 jobs and over $30 billion to Colorado’s economy. Over the past five years, the industry has averaged nearly $60 million in annual payments to county coffers alone. The University of Colorado Leeds School of Business estimates that total industry payments to federal, state and local governments totaled $1.2 billion in 2014, funding everything from schools to roads and bridges. As Governor, I will work with the energy industry with an understanding that new technology and innovation drive constant changes to the business practices of the industry. Further, Colorado needs a leader that understands we must present a stable business environment to ensure a low-cost energy supply that will attract and retain businesses in Colorado. Under my leadership, businesses can be certain that they will not be hit with agenda-driven, burdensome, job-killing regulations. The federal government owns roughly 47% of the land in the West, and the various federal laws that govern land management practices place an emphasis on the concept of multiple uses. Federal land management agencies should consult with the states where this land is located and involve them in the decision-making process for how these lands are managed. Furthermore, I support moving the Department of Interior to Colorado, where significant federal lands are located, so Washington bureaucrats can better understand the impact and consequences of their top-down mandates. Together, we can safely develop our natural resources. We can have a booming energy sector, create thousands of well-paying jobs, and protect Colorado’s environment for current and future generations. Transportation Our infrastructure problem in Colorado is a sad example of government losing track of its purpose: serving the taxpayers of our state. Failing infrastructure impacts all of us in Colorado, from the Eastern Plains, through the Front Range, to the Western Slope. Numerous studies show that deficiencies in our infrastructure cost Colorado drivers almost $7 billion per year. Our transportation gridlock amounts to a hidden tax on all Coloradans, and fixing this issue is of the utmost importance, not only to our overall quality of life, but also to our state economy as a whole. As Governor, I will demand results from the Department of Transportation (CDOT). Our gas tax revenues have increased by over 30 percent since 1999. We should re-bond a portion of our gas tax revenue, as was accomplished successfully in 1999 without increasing Coloradans’ taxes by a dime. This simple fix will allow us to complete big projects, today, providing meaningful relief to the congestion we are all facing. CDOT has refused to make tough decisions to find room in their budget for ongoing maintenance, and keeps attempting to return to the taxpayers for more of your hard-earned dollars. As your Governor, I will remind CDOT that they work for you, and make them find the money in their existing budget. Solving big problems takes big solutions, and I will restore transparency and accountability to CDOT to ensure our tax dollars are being properly spent on projects for taxpayers, not special interests and bureaucrats. Second Amendment The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right, enshrined in the Second Amendment of our Constitution. It is deeply embedded in the American ideals of self-reliance and independence. Whether used for hunting, sport, or self-defense, Colorado gun owners proudly embody this American spirit. As Governor, I will protect the rights of law abiding gun owners and fight back against efforts to limit our Second Amendment freedoms. I support repealing the misguided 2013 gun control laws that limit Second Amendment freedoms and caused job creators like Magpul to flee our state. We all agree that our children are Colorado’s most precious resource and I support giving local communities the ability to empower teachers to voluntarily carry firearms in case they are ever presented with the worst case scenario. Responsible leadership will require further addressing the mental illness challenges we face in Colorado and I will be a responsible voice in the debate to find solutions that protect our children and our citizens. Jobs In Colorado, our unemployment has been falling, and job creation in certain sectors of our state is going strong. However, these numbers do not tell the complete story of Colorado’s economy. Despite these seemingly optimistic figures, many people across Colorado still struggle with underemployment, looking for more hours and income to try to make ends meet. Much of the growth in Colorado’s economy has been centered on the Front Range, up and down the I-25 corridor. While I will champion policies that spur job growth throughout Colorado, as Governor I will never forget about rural Colorado and the Western Slope, whose priorities have too often have been forgotten in the halls of our State Capitol. Small businesses are the driving force behind Colorado’s economy, adding up to nearly half of all jobs in the state. Creating a positive business environment that does not pick winners and losers, and works for businesses big and small, will be essential to restoring equitable growth that extends to all Coloradans in all corners of our great state. As Governor, I will apply a strict cost-benefit analysis to any bill that crosses my desk, and will work actively with the legislature to promote common sense solutions that will create jobs and improve the lives of families across our state. Water Colorado’s future depends on Water. The next four years are critical for implementing the Colorado Water Plan and closing the supply and demand gap by 2030. As a steward for the environment, our economy, and Colorado’s future, I will use an all-of-the-above approach to water. I believe we can close the supply-demand gap and protect Colorado’s water resources in a financially and environmentally responsible way. To achieve this we need to both improve conservation and build more storage to prepare for more variable precipitation. Today, despite a growing population, Denverites use about the same amount of water we used 30 years ago. But Denver only uses 2% of the state’s total water. The real savings are coming from the cutting edge work in our agricultural community. Agriculture accounts for approximately 89% of Colorado’s annual water usage, and I believe that Colorado’s reputation as the Silicon Valley of agriculture, farming, and ranching, will shine in regards to water. Our continued investment in agricultural technology and best practices will pay outsized dividends in the areas of water conservation and efficient usage. We have made good progress in conservation, but ultimately we are not going to reduce and save our way out of this problem. We also need to focus on storage and funding mechanisms. We need to build large storage projects and new reservoirs, but we also need to focus on dynamic and medium-sized projects that help us store water in innovative ways and balance environmental protection with our needs to build out storage. A key part of getting this storage on line is to improve the permitting process. In many cases we will need to engage the federal government. We will coordinate to get the state agencies permitting process streamlined so that our steps in the process can be faster, unified, and orderly when we approach the federal government. Likewise, when we have multiple agencies with jurisdiction, I will support designating a lead agency to spearhead the process. The Colorado Water Plan calls for an additional $100 million a year to adequately fund infrastructure projects. I support directing more financial resources to water projects, but do not believe this should come in the form of new taxes. A key part of this will be utilizing public private partnerships. Because of the finite nature of water and return potential we are on the cusp of recognizing more valuable ways that the public and private sector can work together. Local water companies and developers have the ability to raise capital and fund projects through capital markets at low rates, which will help spur development. A key role for the state government is to help enhance creditworthiness and attract best terms for these borrowers who are developing water projects and infrastructure. On a state level, I will defend our rights, making sure we are getting every drop we are entitled to under our inter-state compacts. On an individual level, water rights are property rights. I will protect these rights for our citizens. As Governor, I will be charged with making appointments to the Inter-basin Compact Committee. In addition, I will follow in the footsteps of my predecessor and make sure that water has a place at the table. I will expand the authority of my cabinet level appointee on water to work with all stakeholders to get our water agenda implemented.	”
—Stapleton for Colorado

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Walker Stapleton campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2014	Colorado Treasurer	Won	$866,148	N/A**
2010	Colorado Treasurer	Won	$934,971	N/A**
Grand total			$1,801,119	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

• Governor of Colorado
• Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Colorado Treasurer
• Treasurer
• Governor of Colorado
• Lieutenant Governor of Colorado
• Colorado down ballot state executive elections, 2014

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Governor of Colorado
• Facebook Page
• Colorado Department of the Treasury
• Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010
• Biography from Treasury Department

Campaign links

• Walker Stapleton for Treasurer 2014 Official campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Facebook

Campaign YouTube

Campaign Instagram

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Cary Kennedy (D)	Colorado Treasurer 2011–2019	Succeeded by Dave Young (D)