Nathan Wilkes is running for a Colorado Senate District 27 seat and answered a questionnaire for YourHub.com. To read all of the candidate questionnaires,
click here.
Name: Nathan WilkesSeat you are seeking: Senate District 27
Age: 34
Family: wife of 12 years, Sonji; three children, Nora (6), Thomas (5), and Natalie (2)
Occupation: Business owner, data networking and security consulting
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Your Web site: www.nathanwilkes.com
Favorite local place to hang out: Anywhere the kids want to go... Koelbel Library, Denver Zoo, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, our local parks
What do you like most about living here?: The altitude and the attitude. I love the environment and enjoy the people that I've met and worked with in the 10 years that we have lived here. There is always something interesting for families to do. It's a great place to raise a family, and there is still a lot of untapped potential waiting to be explored.
Interests & hobbies: science & technology, public speaking, health care reform, volleyball, reading
Favorite TV show: Mythbusters, The Amazing Race
Favorite Web site:www.slashdot.org (a technology-oriented news site)
People who inspired you (and how): My grandmother, the matriarch of our family, who always encouraged me to challenge myself and think creatively and independently; Many people I volunteered with over the years, who mentored me and helped me develop my leadership skills. They demonstrated the great benefits of teamwork and altruism through their actions.
How you have contributed to the community: I have been a strong advocate of community service my whole life, volunteering in the community since at least the age of 15. During four years of high school I logged over 2,000 hours of volunteer service, but that was only the beginning. Since then, I've always tried to find ways to serve my community. Here in Colorado, I've been an active participant in the Arapahoe County Community Emergency Response Team. I have served on several non-profit or legislative boards, committees, and task forces, including Health Care for All Colorado Foundation, the Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform Business Task Force, the National Hemophilia Foundation Preparedness Task Force and Public Policy Working Group, and the Hemophilia Society of Colorado Advocacy Committee. In my spare time I work on patient advocacy issues, helping people navigate the maze of the current health care system and offering solutions. I also volunteer with my kids' schools throughout the school year.
What are the biggest issues facing your constituency now: Nearly everyone I speak to is worried about the economy. When I look at what is driving much of that worry, they tell me it is health care costs, energy costs, lack of educational opportunities, a failing housing market, and stagnant job growth. I propose a comprehensive solution based on a complete long-term state-wide vision that invests in education, reduces annual health care spending by over $1 Billion per year while simultaneously providing access to higher quality care to everyone, creates tens of thousands of new green energy jobs, expands renewable energy sources in the state, encourages entrepreneurship and attracts companies with new higher-paying jobs, and ultimately creates significant sustainable growth in our economy.