What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Heidi’s top priorities for Colorado are a safe community to live in, an affordable cost of living, and a quality education for our children. With Colorado No. 1 in the nation in car theft, bank robberies, and with Colorado at a 25-year violent crime high, we must change the trajectory we are on. Criminal behavior must have consequences significant enough to change that behavior. Inflation in Colorado is higher than the national average with cost of living expenses having skyrocketed. I support an all inclusive energy policy. Third graders test results in Colorado show only 40% reading proficiently on grade level and a 30% proficiency rate for math in 3rd graders. We must do a better job of teaching basic, vital skills to our children. Our children deserve a strong foundation to build on.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
I welcome working with people who put children first, put safety for all our citizens first, and who put making Colorado affordable for her citizens first.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
I’m an adopted, naturalized citizen of the U.S. who has lived as an adult in other countries. Other cities and countries have dealt with some of the same issues facing Colorado. Germany is open to a variety of energy sources after realizing going ‘green’ may mean not having the energy to heat your house this winter. I want to bring the successes and failures of others’ policies to the table as a blueprint to build upon. Being a mom of a large family and making sure their varied educational needs were met was and is a passion of mine.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
From March 2021- March 2022 housing costs increased by 23.6%.
The Marshall Fire showed how regulation increased rebuild costs $40-50,000 per home. Now is not the time to add regulations and fees that increase the cost of housing.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
With the Denver Post reporting 1,881 overdose deaths in 2021 and fentanyl being the biggest culprit, legislators need to address the rising death toll from the drug — which death toll has increased at a faster rate in Colorado than any other state except Alaska in recent years — with policies to punish suppliers while getting users into treatment. Possession of fentanyl should not be a misdemeanor offense.
Said Sharbini 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.
