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AGE 58 RESIDENCE Littleton PROFESSION Public Relations Executive EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Business with Marketing Emphasis EXPERIENCE Over 25 years in communications and public relations, including extensive work in business and non-profit communities. I have served as a legislator for four years. WEBSITE • FACEBOOK • TWITTER
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session? Ensuring healthcare is accessible and affordable, including mental health and comprehensive reproductive healthcare. No one should have to choose between medical treatment and food or rent.
Continuing my environmental work, including addressing climate change, ensuring healthy air and water, and protecting our forest and communities from wildfire.
Working to protect our democracy, including promoting media literacy and reducing mis- and disinformation, which has prevented us from working together to solve real problems. We are fortunate to have one of the most secure voting systems in the country, and I will continue to seek ways to increase election security and transparency.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party? I have enjoyed working on the Wildfire Interim committee for the last four years. My Republican colleagues all see the risk wildfire poses to our state, and with a few exceptions, we nearly always agree on the solutions. When we agree that there is a problem, it is easy to find common ground and make allowances for other points of view. I believe wildfire will continue to be an issue we can work together on for the benefit of all of us.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing? Colorado has a strong history of uplifting women’s voices and it is even more important now when so much policy is centered around issues that deeply affect us. Three women are leaving the Senate, with only two running to fill those seats. I believe it is important to maintain a healthy number of women representing Coloradans at the Capitol.
In addition, I’m a professional communicator and helped organize the first two Women’s Marches. I truly understand the power of communications and advocacy, and believe it enhances our communities and the work we do at the legislature.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado? Most complicated issues aren’t solved by a one-dimensional approach. That’s why I enthusiastically supported legislation last year to address housing in Colorado, including establishing several grant funds, a revolving loan fund to provide low-interest capital for affordable housing, incentives for manufactures of modular and manufactured homes and support for small non-profits providing wrap around services to help keep people housed. In addition, I am supporting the Make A Colorado Affordable ballot measure which, among other things, will provide $300 million in permanent annual funding for affordable housing and help local governments increase affordable housing by 3% every year.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment? I voted in support of this legislation. The treatment resources provided by this bill are critical, and we must also hold those who deal such a dangerous drug accountable. I will work to continue to invest in behavioral health care, and address root causes that lead to crime and addiction. I hope we continue to revisit this law and watch the issue to see what further work needs to be done.
AGE 60 RESIDENCE Evergreen PROFESSION Business Owner EDUCATION BS – USMA, West Point; MS – Stanford University EXPERIENCE Led Army soldiers in combat during the Gulf War; Officer in Army Corps of Engineers; led Mortenson Construction in Colorado; Founder/CEO of Confluence Builders, LLC WEBSITE • FACEBOOK • TWITTER
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session? 1) Make housing, healthcare, and energy affordable for all Coloradans by reducing regulations, fees, and taxes that are barriers to job growth and small business creation. 2) Tackle the crime wave by supporting law enforcement and making sure those that commit crimes are held accountable. Criminalize fentanyl and crack down on drug dealers. Develop real solutions to addressing homelessness, mental health, and drug/alcohol addiction. 3) Support K-12 educational excellence and opportunities. Have the funds follow the students so parents can chose the best educational options for their children. Address the learn loss from the pandemic with funding for tutoring and learning resources.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party? I will work hard to find common ground to address the most pressing issues Colorado is facing. We can all agree that crime, homelessness, mental health, and drug and alcohol addition is on the rise, affects us all, and harms small businesses. We also should be honest that our current k-12 educational system is failing our kids when 40% can’t read, write, and do math at grade level. We can find common sense solutions to improve our k-12 education.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing? What we are missing is common sense leadership, experience, collaboration and wisdom that comes from serving our country as a combat veteran, from running a large construction company, and from starting and growing small businesses.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado? To ease housing costs, we need to reduce the cost of building housing starting with reducing costly regulation and fees. We also need to incentivize the construction of all types of housing including condos, apartments, attached/paired homes, patio homes, and starter homes. Frivolous lawsuits targeting condos is still hampering the construction of condos and driving up costs. HB22-1362 will drive up construction costs and home electrical bills.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment? No – it is not working. Every law enforcement officer and frontline worker I talk to says fentanyl is driving the crime wave including car thefts and property crimes. We need to be honest, fentanyl is highly addictive, it is a poison and it is lethal. A clear message needs to be sent by making it a felony for possession. I believe we do need to treat the underlying addiction and provide required treatment.
AGE 69 RESIDENCE Lakewood PROFESSION Publisher EDUCATION BS in Mathematics EXPERIENCE Member of two boards; business owner
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session? Improve fire protection Improve our infrastructure Giving a quality education to all children
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party? I have common ground with the other parties on various issues including the education of our children; the protection of private property and the individual; securing our elections while making it easy for all Coloradans to vote; and a host of other issues. I, by nature, am a moderate as many Coloradans are. I would ensure that moderate voice is heard in the Senate. I would work to lower taxes while working to care for those in need.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing? I have worked in various fields throughout my life. I worked in the service industry and did blue collar work while putting myself through college. I taught school and I served in the Army. After retirement, I started a small business. I understand what it is like to be extremely poor and what it is like to be well off. I can speak for all classes of workers because I was once there myself and I understand their needs. I will bring balance to the legislature.
Secondly, I have seen the results of unintended consequences from ill thought out laws. One of my focuses will be to exam each law for those side effects.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado? We need to rethink our zoning laws and see if there is a way to ease the burden of building homes and a way to encourage creating unique housing communities. We need to look at what regulations can be eliminated without compromising safety. We need to eliminate subsidies that favor large developers for upscale housing while leaving the poorer of our people without decent housing.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment? I do but I want to see more done to help those in trouble.
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How candidate order was determined: A lot drawing was held at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on Aug. 3 to determine the general election ballot order for major and minor party candidates. Colorado law (1-5-404, C.R.S.) requires that candidates are ordered on the ballot in three tiers: major party candidates followed by minor party candidates followed by unaffiliated candidates. Within each tier, the candidates are ordered by a lot drawing with the exception of the office of Governor and Lt. Governor, which are ordered by the last name of the gubernatorial candidate.
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