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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • Certified, Adult Learning, Traning, & Development, Regis University
  • MA, Adult Education, Regis University, 2000-2011
  • BA, Education, Regis University, 1993-1998

Professional Experience

  • Certified, Adult Learning, Traning, & Development, Regis University
  • MA, Adult Education, Regis University, 2000-2011
  • BA, Education, Regis University, 1993-1998
  • State Manager, the Colorado Educator Voice Fellowship- America Achieves, 2015-2016
  • Program Advisor and Community Outreach Coordinator, Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, 2015
  • Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Education Program, Regis University, 2012-2014
  • Secretary/Board Member, Denver Regional Council of Governments, 2009-2013
  • Campaign Manager, Evie Hudak Colorado State Senate Campaign, 2012
  • Legislative Aide, Senator Mary Hodge, 2011-2012
  • Community/Donor Relations, Catholic Charities Denver, 2007-2010
  • Coordinator, Expelled Program, Vantage Point Campus, 2003-2005
  • Assistant Director, Alumni and Parent Programs, Regis University, 2000-2003

Political Experience

  • Certified, Adult Learning, Traning, & Development, Regis University
  • MA, Adult Education, Regis University, 2000-2011
  • BA, Education, Regis University, 1993-1998
  • State Manager, the Colorado Educator Voice Fellowship- America Achieves, 2015-2016
  • Program Advisor and Community Outreach Coordinator, Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, 2015
  • Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Education Program, Regis University, 2012-2014
  • Secretary/Board Member, Denver Regional Council of Governments, 2009-2013
  • Campaign Manager, Evie Hudak Colorado State Senate Campaign, 2012
  • Legislative Aide, Senator Mary Hodge, 2011-2012
  • Community/Donor Relations, Catholic Charities Denver, 2007-2010
  • Coordinator, Expelled Program, Vantage Point Campus, 2003-2005
  • Assistant Director, Alumni and Parent Programs, Regis University, 2000-2003
  • Senator, Colorado State Senate, District 19, 2013-2015, 2017-present
  • Candidate, Colorado State Senate, District 19, 2014, 2020
  • Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tempore, Arvada City Council, 2009-2013

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Education Committee, Colorado State Senate

Former Member, Transportation Committee, Colorado State Senate

Current Legislative Committees

Chair, Appropriations Committee

Member, Joint Budget Committee

Chair, Joint Committee on Statutory Revision

Member, Joint Interim Study Committee on Making Higher Education Attainable

Member, Joint Legislative Interim Committee on School Finance

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Certified, Adult Learning, Traning, & Development, Regis University
  • MA, Adult Education, Regis University, 2000-2011
  • BA, Education, Regis University, 1993-1998
  • State Manager, the Colorado Educator Voice Fellowship- America Achieves, 2015-2016
  • Program Advisor and Community Outreach Coordinator, Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, 2015
  • Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Education Program, Regis University, 2012-2014
  • Secretary/Board Member, Denver Regional Council of Governments, 2009-2013
  • Campaign Manager, Evie Hudak Colorado State Senate Campaign, 2012
  • Legislative Aide, Senator Mary Hodge, 2011-2012
  • Community/Donor Relations, Catholic Charities Denver, 2007-2010
  • Coordinator, Expelled Program, Vantage Point Campus, 2003-2005
  • Assistant Director, Alumni and Parent Programs, Regis University, 2000-2003
  • Senator, Colorado State Senate, District 19, 2013-2015, 2017-present
  • Candidate, Colorado State Senate, District 19, 2014, 2020
  • Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tempore, Arvada City Council, 2009-2013
  • Board Member, The Transit Alliance, 2015-present
  • Member, Westminster Chamber of Commerce, 2014-present
  • Member, Arvada Chamber of Commerce, 2009-present
  • Member, Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis, 2007-present
  • Board Member, Denver Urban Drainage and Flood Control District
  • Member, Spirit of Christ Catholic Community
  • Board Member, Ralston House, 2011-2014
  • Board Member, Jefferson County Child and Youth Leadership Commission, 2011-2013
  • Board Member, Arvada Community Food Bank, 2010-2011
  • Board Member, Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities, 2003-2009
  • Member, Transportation Implementation Committee, City of Arvada, 2008-2009
  • Member, Citizens' Capital Improvement Project Committee, City of Arvada, 2007-2008
  • Board Member, Childrens' Charity Incorporated, 2005-2007

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Friend of Adult Education, Colorado Adult Education Professional Association, 2015
  • Outstanding Citizens' Academy Graduate, Transit Alliance, 2014
  • Legislator of the Year, Colorado Community College System, 2014
  • Woman of the Year, Northwest Business & Professional Women, 2012
  • Named by Denver Post at one of Colorado's "Up and Coming" Most Influential Women
  • Arvada Young Professional Award
  • Regis University Service to Others Award

Policy Positions

Colorado State Legislative Election 2016 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- Yes

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Colorado's budget.

1. Tapping into Colorado's "rainy day" fund
- No

2. Decreasing funding for public universities
- No

3. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No

4. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No

5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

State Spending:

Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Small business taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

7. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

8. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Maintain Status

9. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Maintain Status

10. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Maintain Status

11. Do you support applying sales taxes to all online purchases?
- Yes

12. Other or expanded principles
- According to TABOR legislators are not allowed to increase taxes in the State of Colorado. All taxes increases must go before a vote of the people.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- No

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

5. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

7. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

8. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- Yes

9. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- Yes

10. Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them?
- Yes

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- Yes

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- Yes

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Colorado high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- Yes

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to Colorado's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

5. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

6. Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- Yes

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes

7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Colorado's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Colorado's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Colorado?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My top three priorities are making improvements to the economy, education and the environment. I am a proponent of reclassifying the Hospital Provider Fee as a way to generate new revenue.

Speeches
Events

2020

Jul. 30
General Election Kickoff

Thur 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM MDT

Jun. 20
Legislative Wrap-Up

Sat 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM MDT