What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
I am focused on the interconnected issues that impact people in our communities every day: The economy, the environment, and education. With the economy, the priorities I’m focused on are affordable housing, the early childcare crisis, high costs of living, and the workforce shortage. As for the environment, we must address our 22-year megadrought by supporting Western Slope water and advocating for wildfire mitigation and prevention efforts. To improve our education systems, we need to fully fund public education and utilize our education system as a tool to address the drug crisis and the mental health crisis.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
There are many Western Slope-specific issues that bring us together such as the need to protect our water resources with multi-benefit water projects and water security and the need to prioritize wildfire mitigation and compensation, both of which are compounded by our 22-year megadrought that is impacting our entire state. The impacts of these issues are felt acutely on the Western Slope as our economy is dependent on our environment. I look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats in order to get results for the people of House District 26.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
We need more teachers in the Colorado State Legislature. My education background, in part, inspired me to run. As a high school government teacher, I have always told my students that my favorite activities are learning and listening. We need more legislators who listen and learn. Having grown up in House District 26, I’m dedicated to this district, to Colorado, and to finding real solutions for the hardworking people of Northwest Colorado.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
It is necessary for the State Legislature to support a multi-layered approach to support a sustainable funding source, as well as partnerships with our local affordable housing leaders who are advocating for innovative solutions to increase our housing stock. We need a spectrum of housing options and innovative public-private partnerships in order to address the workforce shortage and improve economic resiliency, and this is also a great opportunity for environmentally sustainable options that rethink zoning laws to provide choice in the market. The Western Slope is already working together toward housing goals, and this can be further supported at the State Legislature.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
Fentanyl is dangerous and devastates our communities. The first solution needs to give law enforcement the resources to cut off the source of fentanyl by prosecuting drug dealers and their suppliers. The second is funding our substance abuse and mental health facilities, and the Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention bill that passed last legislative session was a step in the right direction. I have seen the power of fentanyl education as we covered this topic extensively at the high school I teach at, and students left feeling empowered by the knowledge they gained from informative presentations.
Savannah Wolfson has not returned the questionnaire.
How candidate order was determined: A lot drawing was held at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on Aug. 3 to determine the general election ballot order for major and minor party candidates. Colorado law (1-5-404, C.R.S.) requires that candidates are ordered on the ballot in three tiers: major party candidates followed by minor party candidates followed by unaffiliated candidates. Within each tier, the candidates are ordered by a lot drawing with the exception of the office of Governor and Lt. Governor, which are ordered by the last name of the gubernatorial candidate.
