PVA logo
A Colorado
non-profit organization
advocating for animals
in the political arena

PVA 2001 Election/Candidate Information ~ Thornton
This page contains candidate respnses to PVA's candidate questionnaire for a municipal election.

Please note that responses are given exactly as they were written. Spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors were not corrected.

Candidate questionnaire scores

1a. Did you grow up with animals? Yes/No
1b. If so, what kind?

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes/Dogs
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes/Horses, cattle, dogs and cats
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes/Dogs
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes/Dog
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


2a. Does your family have animals? Yes/No
2b. If so, what kind?


Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes/2 house cats a blind dog & 1 guinea pig
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes/Dog
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes/2 Dogs
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes/Dog, Hedgehog
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


3a. Do you feel that animal control issues are within the purview of the City Council? Yes/No/Undecided
3b. Would you be likely to support related humane legislation at the municipal level? Yes/No/Undecided


Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Undecided/Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Undecided/Yes - "Animals must be protected"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes/Yes - "I believe in the humane treatment and welfare of all animals."
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes/Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


4a. Do you feel that animal protection issues are within the purview of the City Council? Yes/No/Undecided
4b. Would you be likely to support related humane legislation at the municipal level? Yes/No/Undecided


Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Undecided/Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Undecided/Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik No answer selected/Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes/Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


5. Were you aware that animal abuse is often a precursor of child abuse? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes - "I believe that one leads to the other"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes - "Suspected neglect or abuse is reported."
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


6. Would you be willing to meet from time to time with representatives of one or more animal-protection groups to discuss their concerns? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes - "I would be willing to meet as often as needed"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


7a. Were you aware that almost all baby chickens and ducks purchased as Easter "gifts" die within a year? (PVA mistake - no answer choices were given for this question)
7b. Would you be likely to support legislation prohibiting the sale and purchase of baby animals as Easter "gifts"? Yes/No/Undecided


Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf No/No
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


8a. Which statement is closest to your position on the use of animals in entertainment (racing, circuses, etc.)? Please select one:
(a) Animals should not be used in entertainment.
(b) It's OK to use animals in entertainment but they should be protected from cruel treatment, regardless of the money that might be brought into the state by such an event.
(c) I think the status quo is all right.
(d) Wild animals, such as elephants and tigers, should not be used in entertainment but it's OK to use domestic animals, such as horses and dogs. The animals should be protected from cruel treatment, regardless of the money that might be brought into the state by such an event.

8b.
Would you be likely to support a city or county ban on acts, such as circuses, that use wild animals? Yes/No/Undecided


Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf (c)/No
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller (d)/Yes - "I do not like the way these animals are treated"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik (a) & (b)/Undecided - "Currently inevitable that this is occuring - until Federal laws change watchdog groups should monitor. I'm definitely against cockfighting & dogfighting and anything that is abusive to any animal."
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson (b)/Undecided
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


9. Would you be likely to support a city ordinance to require dog and cat owners, except licensed breeders, to spay and neuter their cats and dogs? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes - "We would not have all the stray's"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Undecided - "Hunters argue that hunting dogs shouldn't be neutered but I think it's healthier for animals (dogs & cats)."
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


10. Would you be likely to support a city ordinance specifying a maximum amount of time animals are to be tied or chained per day? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf No
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes - "I hate to see animals chained at all. Why have a "pet" if it's to be chained day in & day out 24 hrs a day"
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


11. Would you be likely to support a city ordinance requiring cat licensing? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf No
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes - "Yes, they should have licensing just like dogs"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Undecided - "Our city doesn't require dog licensing, so this would be tough."
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


12. Many people object to cats' running loose off their owners' property, because of (1) the dangers to the cats themselves from vehicles, other animals, and human beings and (2) the fact that cats often kill birds on other people's property, defecate in other people's yards and flower beds, and defecate in children's sandboxes. Some other cities have enacted ordinances requiring that cats, when loose outdoors, be kept on the property of the person responsible for them. Would you be likely to support such an ordinance here? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf No
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes - "I totally agree"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


13. It is well known that being in a parked, unventilated vehicle can lead to brain damage and to fatal heat stroke in animals. Several cities have passed legislation protecting animals from this abuse. Would you support such an ordinance here? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes - "No one should leave a animal in a vehicle hot or cold"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


14. Do you think more public education should be provided about dog and cat over-population in our area? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


15. Would you be likely to support legislation prohibiting the sale, purchase, and keeping (other than in a rescue context) of traditionally "wild" animals (e.g., rabbits, ducks, chickens, pot-bellied pigs) as pets? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Undecided
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Undecided
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


16. Would you be likely to support a city, county, or state ban on greyhound racing? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf No
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Undecided
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


17. Would you be likely to take animal-protection issues to county and state officials? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


18. Are you in favor of making cruelty to animals a felony, as opposed to a misdemeanor? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


19. Would you be likely to support a city, county, or state ban on dogs' riding in open beds of trucks? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik No answer selected
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


20. Would you be willing to consider factual documentation supporting PVA's position on a specific issue? Yes/No/Undecided

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Yes
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Yes
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Yes
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Yes
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


Please add any other comments ...

Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf None given
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller "If you have a animal take care of them or do not have them"
Ward 3 Beth Humenik "I support ASPCA. The American Humane Assoc., The Denver Dumb Friends League & Guide Dogs For The Blind & The World Wildlife Fund & Wolf protection."
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson None given
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond

Candidate questionnaire scores
Ward 1 Carol Beckler Did not respond
Ward 1 June D. Kuehn Did not respond
Ward 1 Richard Reeser Did not respond
Ward 1 William A. Zulauf Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 55%
Ward 2 Stephen Lebsock Did not respond
Ward 2 Jo Thorne Did not respond
Ward 3 Luis R. Alvarez Did not respond
Ward 3 John Burke Did not respond
Ward 3 Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 88%
Ward 3 Beth Humenik Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 68%
Ward 3 Patrick A. Kennedy Did not respond
Ward 3 John Lefebvre Did not respond
Ward 4 Erik Hansen Did not respond
Ward 4 Eric Johnson Did not respond
Ward 4 Janis Johnson Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 81%
Ward 4 Randal Smith Did not respond


Return to
top of page

(C)opyright Colorado Humane Voters League
Printouts of this web page may be reproduced on condition that the appearance and content are not changed.