COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser made a few stops in Colorado Springs on Tuesday. Weiser is one of 45 candidates registered to run for governor.
The Democratic candidate visited Mount Carmel Veteran Service Center. He listed to local veterans' expectations for the upcoming governors race.
Weiser says if he becomes governor, he wants to help with veteran trauma and provide more economic opportunities for veterans and their spouses.
"We need to recognize that people who put their lives on the line for freedom and for us deserve our support, and a job that I take seriously as Attorney General and as governor is to show that support, to honor that support and to remember their service," said Wesier.
Weiser also stopped by Safe Passage, the local nonprofit that helps children and their families navigate and heal from abuse. Two mental health therapists are new to the staff.
Mo Basenberg, the Executive Director of Safe Passage, says southern Colorado has a shortage of mental health providers, and children can't wait to get help.
"We do that free of charge for those children, which is really a huge game changer to equalizing that care, so, we went from seeing two kids to seeing over 50 in just one year," said Basenberg.
Safe Passage is the only child advocacy center in the state that has several partner agencies, which include medical and law enforcement, all operating under one roof.
The co-location minimizes the trauma to families as they go through abuse investigators.
Another Democratic candidate running for governor is U.S. Senator Michael Bennet.
Candidates running for the Republican nomination include Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell and U.S. Representative Greg Lopez, who currently represents Colorado's Fourth Congressional District.
Voters will decide on a new governor on November 3.
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