Office and district sought: Colorado State House, District 29
Name: Affie Ellis
Affiliation: Republican
Website: www.AffieEllis.com
E-mail: affie@affieellis.com
Age: 28
Last degree earned: Bachelor of arts in political science and American Indian Studies (2000) University of Wyoming; Candidate for Law Degree (63 of 89 hours completed) University of Colorado School of Law
Occupation: Senior policy advisor, U.S. Senate; Director of public affairs, U.S. Department of Interior ; Aide, Governor Owens’ Office of Legal Counsel
Hobbies: I like to sew gifts for my family and friends and I love to cook. I also enjoy hiking, biking, and running with my husband.
Family: Husband Dennis, who serves in the Governor’s Cabinet as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
How long have you lived in Colorado? Where did you live before? I am originally from Wyoming. I spent a few years in Washington, D.C., but my husband and I have always wanted to make Colorado our home and we have lived here for more than two years.
Last book read: “Beyond the Hundredth Meridian,” by Wallace Stegner.
Civic Involvement: Spirit of Christ Catholic Church, Arvada; University of Colorado Indian Law Clinic; Federalist Society; Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; Colorado Indian Bar association.
Major endorsements: Why are you running? Coloradans have a right to expect solutions, results and success for our state. I will put my energy, experience and love of Colorado to work.
What are the top three challenges facing Colorado or the institution you seek to represent?
1. Ethics reform. We must create an Independent Ethics Committee to address ethics complaints against politicians down at the Capitol to ensure the public there is integrity and honesty in the legislative process.
2. Education. We must move forward our educational system to ensure that more money is spent in the classroom on teachers and students; that our schools are crime and drug free so that children only worry about their next exam and not their safety; and find innovative and creative ways to increase and encourage more parental involvement in our children’s education.
3. Water policy. Colorado must find a path forward to end the gridlock on water policy between the Western Slope and Front Range, and work collaboratively to find solutions that maximize our use and re-use of the water Colorado enjoys as a headwaters state, before this water continues to other states.
What is your top priority in the next session should you win? Create an Independent Ethics Committee, made up of regular citizens, which will have authority to enforce laws on unethical politicians who break the law.
What proposal in the last session did you oppose the most? House Bill 1363, sponsored by my opponent (later vetoed), would have created a new program costing $3 million/year, despite promises to create no new programs.
What proposal in the last session did you agree with the most? House Bill 1200 provided $60 million in low-income energy assistance and increased energy efficiency to help the poor, disabled and elderly to battle heating costs.
