Bob Marshall
DemocraticQ1 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
“My office is steeped in an evidentiary backed process. My two legislative aides are unique as both have scientific backgrounds. One in physics; the other in microbiology in contrast to the heavy concentration of political science and social science backgrounds in the rest of the legislative aide corps and legislators. This results in every time I ask my aides to perform research on a topic, I am given a rigorous fact based and statistically solid analysis that discloses gaps in what we know and confidence levels in what we do, even if it conflicts with our own pre-conceived notions or those of others.”
Q2 Colorado farmers are facing multiple threats, amidst water scarcity and rising prices for fertilizer and other imported materials. As agriculture is our #1 export sector, in what ways do you imagine using your role to support evidence-based advancements to protect and support our farmers and natural resources in the years ahead?
“As I do not represent a rural district, I generally rely upon legislators whom I trust to provide background and information on topics of which I do not view myself or my staff as experts. We do spot check and vet the information provided. In a scientific or evidence based effort in this field, it would be insane for me to try and “do my own research” and say I have greater expertise than an agronomist. But I certainly would have no problem challenging such an agronomist on spot details or information from another expert in the field.”
Q3 America has a growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation but raising issues of resource use, privacy, and economics. What is the right balance of costs and benefits for new data center construction in Colorado, and how would your policies accomplish that balance?
“My main goal would be to be as even handed as possible. We had two competing bills last year. One that was industry friendly and wanted to provide subsidies and incentives to data centers. Another that was pushed by the environmental community that essentially was trying to outlaw data centers through onerous regulations. Both are inappropriate. I think we need to set general industry standards that are applicable to protect our environment and not put our finger on the scale to support or deter such data centers.”
Q4 Colorado has experienced a lingering measles outbreak since March of 2025. What evidence-based policies do you support to improve community and preventive health for your constituents, for infectious diseases and other threats?
“We need to continue the effort to ensure all children are vaccinated which has been allowed to slip over the past few decades as people have not seen the harm of such outbreaks due to the success of vaccines. Once herd immunity was established, it is very easy for “free riders” to avoid vaccinations or make an argument for why they should be excepted. But if a person is going to participate in large government subsidized gathering places like schools or rec centers it is likely not onerous to require vaccinations proven safe and effective as a condition of intermingling with the public in those close quarters provided by public entities.”
Q5 What are your opinions on the current state of science literacy, and how could K-12 education standards be adapted to form a better public understanding of and relationship building in science?
“It’s atrocious. But the rot starts at the base and roots with basic mathematics literacy and literacy in general. A stronger focus on exceeding minimum standards in these should lead to higher state of science literacy as greater reading comprehension and facility with numbers should translate into better comprehension of scientific concepts when presented.”