Office and district sought: State House District 35
Name: Cherylin Peniston
Party affiliation: Democrat
Website: www.cherylinpeniston.com
E-mail: cpeniston@msn.com
Age: 58
Last degree earned: Master’s Degree from the University of Denver – 1990
Occupation: Retired public school teacher
Hobbies: bicycle riding, traveling, gardening, reading, home decorating
Family: Husband, W.J.; 2 grown children, Erin and Geoffry; 1 son-in-law, James; 1 granddaughter, Ava
How long have you lived in Colorado? Where did you live before? I have lived in Colorado since 1971. Prior to that I lived in several places, both coast to coast and abroad.
Last book read: I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
Civic Involvement: Adams County Democratic Party officer; former board member of the District 50 Education Foundation; Westminster Citizens Police Academy alumni; “Growing Home,” a program for the homeless of Adams County, Westminster Adopt-A-Street.
Major endorsements: The Fund for Public Education, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, AFL-CIO, The Colorado Latino Initiative, Colorado Medical Society PAC
Why are you running? Over the past 35 years I have become a strong advocate for the diverse people who live in HD35. I want to represent them at the Capitol.
What are the top three challenges facing Colorado or the institution you seek to represent?
Affordable and accessible healthcare for all Coloradans.
Strengthening our public schools.
Encouraging Colorado to become a center for the development of renewable energy sources.
What is your top priority in the next session if you should win? Making sure the trust that Coloradans placed in the legislature (by passing Referendum C) is not broken.
What proposal in the last session did you oppose the most? I opposed the proposal to privatize PERA. It is a bad idea for Social Security and it’s a bad idea for PERA.
What proposal in the last session did you agree with the most? Restoring cuts made to mental health agencies, preschool education and higher education.
