Representative, Colorado State House of Representatives, District 8, 2008-2017

Majority Whip, Colorado State House of Representatives, 2014-2015

Candidate, Denver District Attorney, 2004

Former Member, Appropriations Committee, Colorado State House of Representatives

Former Chair, Health, Insurance and Environment Committee, Colorado State House of Representatives

Member, Colorado Criminal Task Force, Subcommittee of Sentencing Reform/Juvenile Justice, 2009-2017

Member, Higher Education Legislative Advisory Committee, 2010-2017

Member, Health Care Task Force, Interim House Committee, 2009

Member, Supreme Court/Court of Appeals Nominating Commission, 2000-2006

Deputy Attorney General, Colorado Attorney General's Office, 1999-2008

Executive Director, Department of Excise and Licensing, City and County of Denver, 1994-1999

Coordinator, Denver Safe City Office, 1994-1995

Manager of Safety, City and County of Denver, 1991-1994

Partner, Cooper and Kelley, Professional Corporation, 1982-1991

Associate, Cooper and Kelley, 1983-1984

Chief Deputy, Denver District Attorney, 1975-1982

Deputy District Attorney, Denver District Attorney, 1975-1982

Law Clerk, Judge Sherman G. Finesilver, 1974-1975

Member, Board of Trustees, Chair of Long Range Planning, Denver Botanic Garden, 2005-present

Member, Board of Trustees, Denver Bar Association, 1976-present

Founding Member, Colorado Women's Bar Association, 1976-present

Former Trustee, Board of Governors, Colorado Bar Association

Member, Board of Governors, Colorado Bar Association, 1975-present

Member/Volunteer, Denver Democratic Party, 1975-2010

Board Member, Legal Aid Society, 2003-2008

Awards:

Angel Award - East High School
Outstanding Young Lawyer - Denver Bar Association - 1985
2001 Woman of the Year - Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition.

Current Car:

1997 Toyota Previa - great car - 121,000 miles!

Father's Occupation:

Career Army

Hobbies or Special Talents:

I love the outdoors - jogging, hiking, skiing, bicycling. Also theater, reading, and photography (and politics of course).

Mother's Occupation:

Teacher of special education children

Pets (include names):

Rascal, our golden retriever

Priority Issues:

1) Health Care Reform: Our current health care system is not working. Health care is too expensive and unavailable for many working people. Colorado is at the forefront of meaningful reform and I will make it a legislative priority. I will work toward a single payer system including provisions for mental health and people with disabilities.

2) Education: We must provide all our children with the tools they need to build secure futures. Public education must be a top priority. I support full-day kindergarten, funding early childhood education, higher pay for teachers, and smaller class sizes. I support testing that will measure the progress of individual children.

3) Revision of the Constitution ? If the ballot initiative being proposed by Speaker Romanoff and others is not successful in November, revision of the Constitution to alleviate the devastating effects of TABOR has to be a high priority. I will work on helping the state find a way out of the fiscal constraints imposed by the various amendments to the Constitution as well as the statutory restriction on general fund spending.

4) Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform: Safe neighborhoods are a priority. I support prevention efforts in the form of funding for community based programs that work with young people to keep them from starting down a life of crime. This is tied in with education but also involves support for after school programs, mentoring programs, parenting programs and so forth. We must also look at our sentencing laws to make sure we are putting the right people in jail and prison. We must provide better mental health care in prisons and support reintegration and job training programs. The recidivism rate of 50% within 3 years of release is not acceptable.

5) Energy Security: Global warming and dependence on foreign oil are two consequences of our nation's addiction to fossil fuels. I support the use of incentives for individuals (such as solar panels or hybrid cars) as well as companies (development of wind power). Colorado is in a unique position to show the nation how to use a wealth of natural resources to grow our economy and protect our environment.

6) Job Security: Our jobs must pay a living wage. I'll focus on strengthening our economy so our workers are employed. I will work to help small businesses survive.

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

I am excited about the opportunity to move Colorado forward. With Democrats in control in the state, I look forward to tackling some major issues like health care reform, public education, public safety, and alternative energy. I have a great deal of experience to offer and believe that my background and contacts will make me effective quickly. My father was a career army man and he instilled in me the understanding of how important it is to commit to public service. Most of my professional career has been in public service and I would like to contribute in the policy area since there is so much to do. We have a great state but we can do better. We should not be at the bottom of the heap when it comes to education, higher ed, health care, and in other areas. We need to be at the top.