AURORA | While Rep. Karen Middleton’s term in the state House has spanned less than nine months, it’s been enough time for the freshman representative to stake out her priorities.

Middleton was appointed to the state House District 42 seat in February, filling former Rep. Michael Garcia’s seat after he stepped down amid a personal controversy. Less than a year later, the Democratic incumbent is defending her seat against two challengers, Republican candidate George P. Carouthers and Libertarian candidate Jim Frye.

Carouthers, an ordained minister at the Church Triumphant in Aurora who holds a doctorate in theology, has advocated a platform that stresses tax reform, immigration enforcement, domestic energy development and education. Frye, a veteran of the Air Force and a former telecommunications manager, has struck a similar tone in his campaign, calling for less government regulations and lower taxes.

Middleton’s prior professional experience in K-12 and higher education, as well as her time on the Colorado Board of Education, has helped forge the tone and tenor of her platform. In making the transition to the Legislature, Middleton carried her concern for education in the state, calling for reform in the current CSAP structure and other state programs.

While she’s continued to call for reform in these areas, Middleton has also stressed the current state of the local and national economy as a major policy issue.

“As I walk door to door, I continue to hear the three key issues that I’m focusing on, and what I’ve focused on down at the Legislature,” Middleton said. “The economy and jobs; health care and solving our health care issues and education. I hear a little bit about transportation and immigration, but really, these top three issues — pocketbook issues, bread and butter issues — are what are so important to my neighbors and my family.”

Carouthers has spelled out a separate list of priorities, a roster that de-emphasizes the role of government and stresses the development of local sources of energy.

“I have four main issues that I will work hard on if I’m elected to the state House,” Carouthers said. “Taxes, education, energy and immigration. I know in a time of budget shortfalls and so forth, it’s tempting for government to raise taxes, but I think that that would be the worst thing we could do. We need to actually lower taxes, which I believe promotes growth.”

Frye has placed a similar stress on cutting taxes and blocking any tax increases.

“Why is it that personal households are always looking for ways to make their expenditures more efficient, but the state government feels it is entitled to demand more funds at every turn?” Frye wrote on his website. “I will oppose any scheme to increase taxes in this state.”

In terms of education, all of the candidates have stressed funding solutions for both K-12 and higher education as a priority. While Middleton has voiced cautious support for measures like Amendments 50 and 59 that are currently on the ballot as means of solving structural budget problems, she’s also addressed solutions for current gaps in achievement in public schools as a priority.

“The one strategy that I saw work most effectively and most rapidly in schools is around closing the achievement gap, and the Department of Education already has a mechanism for ... going with a team, and actually helping a school district to diagnose where they are having issues and where they can make the quickest improvements,” Middleton said. “That is the thing that if we can really figure out how to expand that for other schools and make it available, I’ve seen it work, I’ve seen it be effective.”

Carouthers has stressed the content in the state’s public schools, calling for changes to curriculum and teaching methods.

“I think our kids need to be taught basic economics ... I think as young adults, they get into trouble a lot of times because they just don’t know basic economics,” Carouthers said. “I would like to see an improved curriculum.”

Frye has voiced support for an overhaul of the way public schools are funded and the set of options parents are provided.

“The amount of money that federal, state, and local governments provide to schools in House District 42, ranges from $9,000 to almost $12,000 per year,” Frye wrote. “Parents should have the choice of where and what type of school their children can attend. Parents should not be held hostage to only having government schools available to them. Parents should be given the money directly, or in a voucher form to spend on any type of school they choose.”