Dez Packard
DemocraticQ1 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
“I recognize organizations with subject matter experts are vital to the policymaking. Listening and learning from these entities, and listening to and informing my constituents – these are is the best methods for effective policymaking.”
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?
“I am an accountant. Business management is about using the evidence from accounts to manage a business. State government is about providing for, utilizing and protecting our common wealth. I can advance data gathering at the state level that was performed by our federal government. I imagine using my role as a state legislator to support evidence-based advancements, study weather and climate, and support farmers while protecting resources for the future.”
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?
“AI may be an effective tool for assisting with work tasks, such as a radiologist reading an X-ray. However, AI is a tool to help, not a replacement for people. Furthermore, we are in a situation where there is speculative business to build data centers to support AI. We cannot let that economic bubble consume undue water and electricity. We cannot let the populace continue to be increasingly unemployed due to AI. We cannot allow data centers to despoil peaceful neighborhoods.”
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?
“Colorado has a robust, but hidden public health system, consisting of the CDPHE and of county and/or regional health departments. Given the abdication of the federal government of this responsibility we need to boost the visibility and outreach of our state resources. We can deal with infectious diseases and environmental hazards. However, the safety of our food supply is beyond our ability to control. I recommend building a coalition of states to perform food production and packaging inspections.”
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?
“The number one misperception about science is that it is magic for solving problems. Through project-based learning we can teach that science is a process of learning and discovery. Through engineering and management, we can harness advances to help people.”