About Me

We need sensible, positive solutions, now more than ever. The fact that we're in a struggling economy does not mean that I'm going to give up fighting for the community where I have grown up - and where I hope to start a family some day. We need to elect more honest people willing to engage all sectors: private... nonprofit... government and the public to solve big problems.

Like so many other women in our community I volunteer, help my neighbors, and raise money for charities that help those in need, but not nearly enough women run for office. This is just one more way I want to help our community.

Home...

My parents moved to Colorado more than eighteen years ago and I am grateful every day that they made that decision for our family. I received an amazing public education. I graduated from Arapahoe High School and earned a degree in Political Science from Colorado State University, where I met my husband, Aaron. In 2003, we were married and bought our first house in Highlands Ranch, where we still live today.

Aaron's family has lived in Colorado for generations. We have a real sense of community, pride, and tradition living minutes from our parents, grandparents, siblings, a rather large extended family, and many friends. I know that my family is proud of me for running for office and it means so much to have their support. I love you all very much. Thank you. Highlands Ranch... is home.

Government needs to work - for all of us

I'm driven to run for State Senate because I am passionate about making government work - for us. The number of public employees is less important than getting the job done right. In a democracy, We the People are the government - and we're doing ourselves a real disservice when we let ideological issues stand in the way of fulfilling our potential.

This unique perspective stems from my work as the Development and Communications Manager for the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, a non-profit organization that protects and saves the lives of abused and neglected children. Our attorneys make a broken system work. These children are growing up in a bureaucratic nightmare that is Colorado's child protection system.

In the years I have worked at the Children’s Law Center I have learned one important truth: our expectations for government are not being met. Let's face it: it's simply unrealistic to expect children who have grown up in foster care, been shifted around from home to home, or never received a quality education to become healthy adults. There are 12,000 kids in Colorado that can identify with these struggles - and we all pay the price in the end when troubled children... become problem adults.

Children are not a partisan issue. Education is not a partisan issue. But for some reason, kids and education are the first to go when it comes time to make the hard choices. Years of experience has shown us that this neglect is corrosive and costly to our society in the long run. We know what to do - what's needed is the courage and commitment to make the hard choices.

Unintended Consequences

Decisions from Washington and in Colorado targeting large industries impact families and small businesses. The middle class and small business are the engines that make America run. They are struggling and clearly what looks good on paper doesn’t always work out.

We need to recognize that you can’t pay public employees salaries if you have less revenue in our state. In these difficult times, we all need to make tough choices. I want to make sure the decisions our state government makes are sensible, productive and, above all, fair.

A "Colorado Democrat"

This is why I am a Colorado Democrat. I say “Colorado” Democrat because I think we're different from what many people think of as Democrats. Government's responsibility is to be a voice for the voiceless, while at the same time formulating solutions that are economically responsible. It means that I listen first. I need to know how policy affects you and I want to make government work for you, because, after all, that's what democracy means. These are my values.

But I need you to help me. I'm hoping I can count on your support in making our state government all that it can be - both now, and in the future.