Christopher Sweat

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Christopher Sweat completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sweat's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading-bio-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tChristopher Sweat is a technologist, entrepreneur, caretaker, and student working in industry with artificial intelligence and cybersecurity technologies. He has a sales, business development, technology strategy, and consulting background. Christopher is a nontraditional, first-generation student studying Political Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Christopher has been a resident of Colorado for 26 years and spent his most formative years in Colorado Springs from age 9 to 22 before venturing out to the Denver Metro, with short stints living in Washington, D.C., Boulder, New York, and Chicago, then returning to Colorado Springs to run for Congress. Christopher ascended from a working class upbringing of modest means to the heights of the technology industry and is very focused on improving conditions for the constituents in CD-5.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading-key-message-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>We are heading into wartime, still facing leftover economic turmoil from pandemic-related policies and monetary intervention, and we should be at the top of our game to remain competitive and strong as a people and a nation. But our politicians are out of line, inhibiting our growth. I will focus the house on the most important issues relevant to District 5, be a loud and dominant voice, and motivate other great people to step into leadership to get our country going in the right direction for our kids and our joint future. It’s time for a new party, a new guard, a transition, a movement, and a break up of the ineffective two-party system.</li><li>Technology companies repeatedly prove they are not accountable for the negative impact their systems create in our society. We must preempt them and prepare for a dramatic shift in the supply and demand of skills as technological advancements proceed. Some sectors most threatened by artificial intelligence are the services, which are a dominant part of the labor market in CD5. Growing up in the district, I was taught that you work hard, any job, with no shame, and work your way up. We must keep these pathways open and keep our hands busy so that we can continue to contribute to the growth of our community. While in Congress, I will seek to attract new manufacturing and robotics jobs and innovation projects to help advance our community.</li><li>Both parties thought it appropriate to print trillions of dollars due to pandemic-related policies, yet they cannot pass an annual budget. Then, the Fed took it upon themselves to raise interest rates to the highest in more than 20 years. Ordinary people like us have been hit incredibly hard by the high cost of borrowing, soaring food prices, extraordinary home prices, and historically high rents, while wealthy individuals are the richest they’ve ever been on record. 2/3rds of the $42 trillion of wealth created in the first two years of the pandemic has gone to the wealthiest 1% of the world’s people. Wealth inequality is at an all-time high, and Washington is doing nothing but ‘print and spend’. We must put an end to this bad behavior.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading1-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am most passionate about AI and its impact on labor, international and domestic security, foreign policy, economic policy, digital governance, freedom of speech, combatting crime, countering terrorism, space and cyber policy.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading2-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI look up to my mother, for her determination and fearlessness. She taught me to pursue my interests and made room for me to find my strengths and maximize my potential. She taught me about hard work, organization, tidiness, preparedness, creative thinking and so much more. She has had a major impact on my life. <br/><br/>\n<p>Other figures I look up to are Michael Jordan for his intensity towards his craft and for his business savvy and his brand that extends globally. <br/><br/>\n</p>\nMy political science professor, Dr. Sven Steinmo who made time to debate any idea that I wanted to debate, hosted epic lectures and introduced me to his peers in the United States and Europe so that I could learn more about politics and economics.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading3-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tFrederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., Milton Friedman, Aristotle, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Leo Strauss, Max Weber, Adam Smith, Thomas Sowell, W.E.B. Du Bois.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading4-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe most important characteristics of elected officials, is that they live the life of their constituents and know what it's like to struggle, work hard, and make sacrifices. Elected officials should be able to speak directly to constituents rather than through filters of interest groups, lobbying organizations and high-net worth individuals. Elected officials should be responsive to the needs of citizens and put the satisfaction of the voters at the forefront of their communications and policy objectives.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading5-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI know how to work with scarce resources, how to transform my skills, how to learn quickly, and how to deal with tough situations. I am a creative thinker and a leader and I believe my perspective will be unique in American politics broadly having growing up in a working class environment, being a non-traditional first generation university student, and ascending to the heights of the technology sector. I am commited to my friends, my colleagues, my family, and very discplined. I study far beyond the classroom. I am great at networking and socializing when necessary and have rigid hard skils and dynamic soft skills. I am outspoken, not afraid to voice my opinion and not afraid to stand up for what's right.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading6-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWe need more professional people who respect our political institutions and democratic process in office, who want to improve America, not tear it down. We need to take action and help young voters become more engaged in the political process. We need to instill trust in politicians through doing what we say we are going to do and through honest and truthful communications when issues arise or mistakes are made.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading7-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\t9/11. I was 12 or 13 years old, in middle school at Irving Middle School in District 11. I was very confused at the time and couldn't rationalize what I was seeing. We watched the first tower collapse on live television from the classroom. Many of my teachers were retired military veterans or had prior service. That event must have had a significant impact on my world view and helped me understand the lengths that other groups will go to harm Americans. I remember feeling very sad and afraid.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading8-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was your very first job? How long did you have it?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI was a Tour Guide at Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs and did this for one year while finishing high school. I was paid $5.25 per hour and was not allowed to except tips. I memorized a 25 page script and gave 45 minute tours for groups of 25-30 people.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading9-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is something that has been a struggle in your life?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTaking care of my moms health through multiple life altering health issues while studying at University as a first-generation university student and working. No excuses, 3.8 GPA. Some semesters I took 5 classes. I know how important education is, just I realized a bit later, but I didn't stop studying although my mom became ill in my first semester. I studied even harder because I knew the long run impact on my family and future kids/wife would be signficant.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading10-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading10-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tIt has extrodinary influence on what bills make it to the upper chamber which means it is a great place to negotiate hard for the right measure which help the most constituents possible.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading11-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tNo, previous experience just means that you know how to collaborate with the lobby and interest groups and have connections who are established and influencing your communications and policy efforts, rather than voters. We need more fresh faces to join in on political discourse and to participate in the process with the believe that change is possible.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading12-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tInterstate war, supply chain disruptions, a fracturing global economy, security threats from China, Russia, and Iran, making the military a more attractive form of employment, the decline of the US dollar, domestic political disruptions and protest, unstable or declining domestic economy, inflexibility or inability to adapt to changing political and economic conditions in Washington, detached wealthy people with too much influence making decisions, over emphasis on intense security competition.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-243705-2024-05-30\" id=\"heading13-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse13-243705-2024-05-30\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading13-243705-2024-05-30\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse13-243705-2024-05-30\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYes, compromise is imperative in a functioning democratic system. All sides need to be able to sit down at the table and work through solutions and find opportunities to improve the situation for Americans regardless of party ID or political leanings.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nChristopher Sweat completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sweat's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. Christopher Sweat is a technologist, entrepreneur, caretaker, and student working in industry with artificial intelligence and cybersecurity technologies. He has a sales, business development, technology strategy, and consulting background. Christopher is a nontraditional, first-generation student studying Political Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Christopher has been a resident of Colorado for 26 years and spent his most formative years in Colorado Springs from age 9 to 22 before venturing out to the Denver Metro, with short stints living in Washington, D.C., Boulder, New York, and Chicago, then returning to Colorado Springs to run for Congress. Christopher ascended from a working class upbringing of modest means to the heights of the technology industry and is very focused on improving conditions for the constituents in CD-5. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? We are heading into wartime, still facing leftover economic turmoil from pandemic-related policies and monetary intervention, and we should be at the top of our game to remain competitive and strong as a people and a nation. But our politicians are out of line, inhibiting our growth. I will focus the house on the most important issues relevant to District 5, be a loud and dominant voice, and motivate other great people to step into leadership to get our country going in the right direction for our kids and our joint future. It’s time for a new party, a new guard, a transition, a movement, and a break up of the ineffective two-party system. Technology companies repeatedly prove they are not accountable for the negative impact their systems create in our society. We must preempt them and prepare for a dramatic shift in the supply and demand of skills as technological advancements proceed. Some sectors most threatened by artificial intelligence are the services, which are a dominant part of the labor market in CD5. Growing up in the district, I was taught that you work hard, any job, with no shame, and work your way up. We must keep these pathways open and keep our hands busy so that we can continue to contribute to the growth of our community. While in Congress, I will seek to attract new manufacturing and robotics jobs and innovation projects to help advance our community. Both parties thought it appropriate to print trillions of dollars due to pandemic-related policies, yet they cannot pass an annual budget. Then, the Fed took it upon themselves to raise interest rates to the highest in more than 20 years. Ordinary people like us have been hit incredibly hard by the high cost of borrowing, soaring food prices, extraordinary home prices, and historically high rents, while wealthy individuals are the richest they’ve ever been on record. 2/3rds of the $42 trillion of wealth created in the first two years of the pandemic has gone to the wealthiest 1% of the world’s people. Wealth inequality is at an all-time high, and Washington is doing nothing but ‘print and spend’. We must put an end to this bad behavior. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I am most passionate about AI and its impact on labor, international and domestic security, foreign policy, economic policy, digital governance, freedom of speech, combatting crime, countering terrorism, space and cyber policy. Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why? I look up to my mother, for her determination and fearlessness. She taught me to pursue my interests and made room for me to find my strengths and maximize my potential. She taught me about hard work, organization, tidiness, preparedness, creative thinking and so much more. She has had a major impact on my life. Other figures I look up to are Michael Jordan for his intensity towards his craft and for his business savvy and his brand that extends globally. My political science professor, Dr. Sven Steinmo who made time to debate any idea that I wanted to debate, hosted epic lectures and introduced me to his peers in the United States and Europe so that I could learn more about politics and economics. Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy? Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., Milton Friedman, Aristotle, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Leo Strauss, Max Weber, Adam Smith, Thomas Sowell, W.E.B. Du Bois. What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? The most important characteristics of elected officials, is that they live the life of their constituents and know what it's like to struggle, work hard, and make sacrifices. Elected officials should be able to speak directly to constituents rather than through filters of interest groups, lobbying organizations and high-net worth individuals. Elected officials should be responsive to the needs of citizens and put the satisfaction of the voters at the forefront of their communications and policy objectives. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? I know how to work with scarce resources, how to transform my skills, how to learn quickly, and how to deal with tough situations. I am a creative thinker and a leader and I believe my perspective will be unique in American politics broadly having growing up in a working class environment, being a non-traditional first generation university student, and ascending to the heights of the technology sector. I am commited to my friends, my colleagues, my family, and very discplined. I study far beyond the classroom. I am great at networking and socializing when necessary and have rigid hard skils and dynamic soft skills. I am outspoken, not afraid to voice my opinion and not afraid to stand up for what's right. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? We need more professional people who respect our political institutions and democratic process in office, who want to improve America, not tear it down. We need to take action and help young voters become more engaged in the political process. We need to instill trust in politicians through doing what we say we are going to do and through honest and truthful communications when issues arise or mistakes are made. What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time? 9/11. I was 12 or 13 years old, in middle school at Irving Middle School in District 11. I was very confused at the time and couldn't rationalize what I was seeing. We watched the first tower collapse on live television from the classroom. Many of my teachers were retired military veterans or had prior service. That event must have had a significant impact on my world view and helped me understand the lengths that other groups will go to harm Americans. I remember feeling very sad and afraid. What was your very first job? How long did you have it? I was a Tour Guide at Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs and did this for one year while finishing high school. I was paid $5.25 per hour and was not allowed to except tips. I memorized a 25 page script and gave 45 minute tours for groups of 25-30 people. What is something that has been a struggle in your life? Taking care of my moms health through multiple life altering health issues while studying at University as a first-generation university student and working. No excuses, 3.8 GPA. Some semesters I took 5 classes. I know how important education is, just I realized a bit later, but I didn't stop studying although my mom became ill in my first semester. I studied even harder because I knew the long run impact on my family and future kids/wife would be signficant. What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution? It has extrodinary influence on what bills make it to the upper chamber which means it is a great place to negotiate hard for the right measure which help the most constituents possible. Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? No, previous experience just means that you know how to collaborate with the lobby and interest groups and have connections who are established and influencing your communications and policy efforts, rather than voters. We need more fresh faces to join in on political discourse and to participate in the process with the believe that change is possible. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? Interstate war, supply chain disruptions, a fracturing global economy, security threats from China, Russia, and Iran, making the military a more attractive form of employment, the decline of the US dollar, domestic political disruptions and protest, unstable or declining domestic economy, inflexibility or inability to adapt to changing political and economic conditions in Washington, detached wealthy people with too much influence making decisions, over emphasis on intense security competition. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? Yes, compromise is imperative in a functioning democratic system. All sides need to be able to sit down at the table and work through solutions and find opportunities to improve the situation for Americans regardless of party ID or political leanings.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Sweat's campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>What I Believe</b>\n</p><p>We are heading into wartime, still facing leftover economic turmoil from pandemic-related policies and monetary intervention, and we should be at the top of our game to remain competitive and strong as a people and a nation. But our politicians are out of line, inhibiting our growth. I will focus the house on the most important issues relevant to District 5, be a loud and dominant voice, and motivate other great people to step into leadership to get our country going in the right direction for our kids and our joint future. It’s time for a new party, a new guard, a transition, a movement, and a break up of the ineffective two-party system. I am sick and tired of outsourcing political decision-making to lawyers and wealthy businessmen detached from today’s reality.\n</p><p><b>Immigration</b>\n</p><p>Global immigration flows are changing the dynamics at our southern border, and the federal government is doing nothing to prevent unauthorized people from entering our communities. Over 2 million immigrants entered the United States in 2023, a record high, and only a tiny fraction were deported. The rest are increasing our tax burden and threatening domestic security. We must cap and control the flow of unauthorized immigration with increased border security, increased coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and the ability to detain and expel criminals and those who pose a threat to our safety.\n</p><p><b>Economy, Labor, &amp; Artificial Intelligence</b>\n</p><p>Technology companies repeatedly prove they are not accountable for the negative impact their systems create in our society. We must preempt them and prepare for a dramatic shift in the supply and demand of skills as technological advancements proceed. Some sectors most threatened by artificial intelligence are the services, which are a dominant part of the labor market in CD5. Growing up in the district, I was taught that you work hard, any job, with no shame, and work your way up. We must keep these pathways open and keep our hands busy so that we can continue to contribute to the growth of our community. While in Congress, I will seek to attract new manufacturing and robotics jobs and innovation projects that ensure the district is a haven for new technologies and programs to help the community participate in the future of our economy.\n</p><p><b>Cost of Living &amp; Inflation</b>\n</p><p>Both parties thought it appropriate to print trillions of dollars due to pandemic-related policies, yet they cannot pass an annual budget. Then, the Fed took it upon themselves to raise interest rates to the highest in more than 20 years. Ordinary people like us have been hit incredibly hard by the high cost of borrowing, soaring food prices, extraordinary home prices, and historically high rents, while wealthy individuals are the richest they’ve ever been on record. 2/3rds of the $42 trillion of wealth created in the first two years of the pandemic has gone to the wealthiest 1% of the world’s people. Wealth inequality is at an all-time high, and Washington is doing nothing but ‘print and spend’. We must cease money printing, ease interest rates, and call for a dramatic reduction in wasteful federal spending.\n</p><p><b>Education</b>\n</p><p>Education is critical to achieving a ‘good life,’ but the programs available through traditional academic institutions need to catch up to the labor market and be in touch with the changing pace of the economy. We should be able to reskill people for a fraction of the cost of tuition at a state university, using nuanced solutions to adult learning, the abundance of technology that is available today, and targeted programs that find people with emerging talents or skills, and give them an expedited pathway to a fruitful career, with an income they can own a home and raise a family on. Gone are the days when we sat by while the best jobs went to the children of the wealthiest people, and everyone else was left to pick up scraps or take on extraordinary amounts of debt. It’s time to redefine education, increase accessibility, and help our youth be more competitive in the global economy.\n</p><p><b>Veterans</b>\n</p><p>Imagine if the programs we can instantly spin up to print money were spun up for our veterans, some in dire need, educating them on the resources that are available to them from their prior military service, helping them transition back into civilian life, and assisting them in finding new opportunities be it to work in industry, or as an entrepreneur. Our veterans have faced things many of us will not in our lifetimes to protect our freedom, making significant sacrifices for our country. Many of our veterans, when they aren’t able to find options, may turn to alcohol or drugs to deal with their pain. But we should walk hand in hand with them, building and maintaining a robust system that helps veterans use their unique gifts here at home, and we should learn from their commitment to our country. I will advocate for programs to quickly align veterans with the necessary resources they need, including housing, retraining, job preparation, mental health, and awareness programs so that all veterans know who to call and talk to when they are in need, have questions, or need essential assistance. Helping veterans make faster and safer transitions is better for our families and community.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_3-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-3\">[3]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Christopher Sweat's campaign website (2024)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-4\"><a href=\"#cite_note-4\">[4]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>", "answer_text": "Sweat's campaign website stated the following:\n“ What I Believe We are heading into wartime, still facing leftover economic turmoil from pandemic-related policies and monetary intervention, and we should be at the top of our game to remain competitive and strong as a people and a nation. But our politicians are out of line, inhibiting our growth. I will focus the house on the most important issues relevant to District 5, be a loud and dominant voice, and motivate other great people to step into leadership to get our country going in the right direction for our kids and our joint future. It’s time for a new party, a new guard, a transition, a movement, and a break up of the ineffective two-party system. I am sick and tired of outsourcing political decision-making to lawyers and wealthy businessmen detached from today’s reality. Immigration Global immigration flows are changing the dynamics at our southern border, and the federal government is doing nothing to prevent unauthorized people from entering our communities. Over 2 million immigrants entered the United States in 2023, a record high, and only a tiny fraction were deported. The rest are increasing our tax burden and threatening domestic security. We must cap and control the flow of unauthorized immigration with increased border security, increased coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and the ability to detain and expel criminals and those who pose a threat to our safety. Economy, Labor, & Artificial Intelligence Technology companies repeatedly prove they are not accountable for the negative impact their systems create in our society. We must preempt them and prepare for a dramatic shift in the supply and demand of skills as technological advancements proceed. Some sectors most threatened by artificial intelligence are the services, which are a dominant part of the labor market in CD5. Growing up in the district, I was taught that you work hard, any job, with no shame, and work your way up. We must keep these pathways open and keep our hands busy so that we can continue to contribute to the growth of our community. While in Congress, I will seek to attract new manufacturing and robotics jobs and innovation projects that ensure the district is a haven for new technologies and programs to help the community participate in the future of our economy. Cost of Living & Inflation Both parties thought it appropriate to print trillions of dollars due to pandemic-related policies, yet they cannot pass an annual budget. Then, the Fed took it upon themselves to raise interest rates to the highest in more than 20 years. Ordinary people like us have been hit incredibly hard by the high cost of borrowing, soaring food prices, extraordinary home prices, and historically high rents, while wealthy individuals are the richest they’ve ever been on record. 2/3rds of the $42 trillion of wealth created in the first two years of the pandemic has gone to the wealthiest 1% of the world’s people. Wealth inequality is at an all-time high, and Washington is doing nothing but ‘print and spend’. We must cease money printing, ease interest rates, and call for a dramatic reduction in wasteful federal spending. Education Education is critical to achieving a ‘good life,’ but the programs available through traditional academic institutions need to catch up to the labor market and be in touch with the changing pace of the economy. We should be able to reskill people for a fraction of the cost of tuition at a state university, using nuanced solutions to adult learning, the abundance of technology that is available today, and targeted programs that find people with emerging talents or skills, and give them an expedited pathway to a fruitful career, with an income they can own a home and raise a family on. Gone are the days when we sat by while the best jobs went to the children of the wealthiest people, and everyone else was left to pick up scraps or take on extraordinary amounts of debt. It’s time to redefine education, increase accessibility, and help our youth be more competitive in the global economy. Veterans Imagine if the programs we can instantly spin up to print money were spun up for our veterans, some in dire need, educating them on the resources that are available to them from their prior military service, helping them transition back into civilian life, and assisting them in finding new opportunities be it to work in industry, or as an entrepreneur. Our veterans have faced things many of us will not in our lifetimes to protect our freedom, making significant sacrifices for our country. Many of our veterans, when they aren’t able to find options, may turn to alcohol or drugs to deal with their pain. But we should walk hand in hand with them, building and maintaining a robust system that helps veterans use their unique gifts here at home, and we should learn from their commitment to our country. I will advocate for programs to quickly align veterans with the necessary resources they need, including housing, retraining, job preparation, mental health, and awareness programs so that all veterans know who to call and talk to when they are in need, have questions, or need essential assistance. Helping veterans make faster and safer transitions is better for our families and community. [3] ” —Christopher Sweat's campaign website (2024) [4]"}]