Servant Leadership
Bottom Line Up Front: Ultimately, Servant Leadership means Colorado’s government will remember it works for the people. As servant-leaders, we will lead by example – rolling up our sleeves to solve constituents’ problems. Whether it’s helping a town recover from wildfire, fixing a broken policy that harms a group, or simply returning calls – no issue is too small if it affects a Coloradan’s life. We reject the cynicism of politics-as-power; we embrace the ideal of politics-as-service. By doing so, we believe we can restore trust in government and unify our communities. When leaders serve with humility and integrity, the people prosper and freedom flourishes.
a. Biblical & Ethical Foundations: Servant Leadership is the idea that those in authority are first and foremost public servants, not rulers seeking gain or glory. Jesus taught this profoundly: “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Mark 10:43). He modeled it by washing His disciples’ feet (John 13) and ultimately sacrificing Himself. The biblical model for leadership – whether in church or civil society – is servant-hearted. Our Founders likewise envisioned political office as a temporary trust, not a means of self-enrichment. George Washington set the tone by willingly relinquishing power after two terms, showing humility and service to the nation over personal ambition. In Federalist No. 57, Madison wrote that elected officials must have an immediate dependence on and sympathy with the people, ensuring they serve the public good. We embrace this model: leaders should “wash the feet” of those they lead, metaphorically – prioritizing constituents’ needs, listening, and remaining humble.
​
b. Constitutional & Governance Perspective: The very term “public service” indicates that holding office is about serving the people’s interests as defined in the Constitution (the general welfare, security of rights). We will institute a culture of servant leadership in Colorado’s government. Practically, this means: Transparency and Accountability: Servant leaders operate in daylight. We support strengthened transparency laws, open meetings, and easy public access to records. A servant has nothing to hide from his master – and in our system, the people are sovereign.
​
1. Accessibility: We’ll require officials (from the Governor’s office down to agency heads) to routinely hold town halls, respond promptly to citizen inquiries, and genuinely welcome feedback. Too often Coloradans feel unheard by a distant bureaucracy. That will change – our administration will be known for an open door and receptive ear.
​
2. Ethics and Selflessness: We support strict ethics rules to prevent corruption and self-dealing. For example, Colorado recently ended the ban on legislators immediately becoming lobbyists after office – a move we disagree with, as it can encourage serving special interests for future gain. We will push to restore a sensible “cooling-off” period. Elected officials and bureaucrats should not view public office as an opportunity for personal profit or a stepping stone to lucrative private influence-peddling. We’ll enforce conflict-of interest laws and demand that decision-makers recuse themselves when appropriate. The people’s interest comes first.
​
c. Colorado Policy Conflicts: In Colorado politics, we’ve seen instances contrary to servant leadership:
1. Indifference to Constituents: There have been times when state leaders imposed policies despite clear public opposition or without proper consultation – such as the hurried passing of a major oil and gas regulation overhaul (SB19-181) with limited stakeholder input, affecting thousands of jobs. A servant leader would engage all affected parties and seek consensus or at least mutual understanding. We vow to never treat any group of Coloradans as a nuisance; rural, urban, energy worker, or environmentalist – all will be heard and respected in policy-making.
​
2. Elitism: There is a growing sense that an elite in Denver makes decisions for the whole state, sometimes with condescension toward different perspectives (e.g., treating parents concerned about curriculum as impediments, or dismissing religious citizens’ values). This is antithetical to servant leadership. We will populate our administration with individuals from diverse backgrounds and regions of Colorado to ensure policy isn’t crafted in a bubble. Every community matters – Western Slope, Eastern Plains, Front Range, Mountain towns alike – and we commit to serving them, not dictating to them.
3. Fiscal Irresponsibility: Using taxpayer money lavishly on government itself is not servant-like. Instances of excessive spending on government buildings, politician perks, or bloated administrative costs betray a mindset of ruling rather than serving. We pledge frugality (tying into Fiscal Discipline & Frugality section) – every dollar spent by government is a dollar taken from a hardworking family. We will treat public funds as a sacred trust, budgeting for essential services and public benefit, not comfort of the bureaucracy. For example, we’ll scrutinize travel and offices expenses, cut redundancies, and direct savings to better serve citizens (like improving DMV wait times, infrastructure, etc.).