A voting record is a lasting testament of any elected representative’s stance on issues and personal values. Looking at J. Paul Brown’s record, it is obvious that he does not represent a majority of constituents.

J. Paul is known for having been the only elected state representative, Republican or Democrat, to vote against two common-sense bills with a final tally of 63-1 and 64-1. The first one was to protect child care centers from potential abusers with a previous record, while the second one was providing help for runaway and homeless youths.

There are other cases of him being out of touch. He submitted a bill to repeal the banned spring bear hunt, one of his earliest efforts as an elected representative. And he wants to drastically reduce government spending, yet he himself has received more than $100,000 of financial aid – a hypocritical stance.

In difference to J. Paul Brown, during the past two years, Mike McLachlan co-sponsored a sexual-predator law, voted to establish a child-abuse hotline, voted to make Colorado a leader in renewable energy, co-sponsored sorely needed educational funding, is responsible for Fort Lewis College getting more than $10 million to renovate Berndt Hall and was personally involved in 20 bills coming out of the agriculture committee.

When comparing the records of the two candidates, Mike McLachlan represents a majority of voters and deserves to be re-elected as our representative.

Werner Heiber

Durango