What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Public Education
Affordable Housing
Affordable Healthcare (including Behavioral Healthcare)
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
Affordable housing and behavioral health are two big issues where we have found common ground. We all recognize these are big issues in Colorado and we continue to work to find solutions. Aside from these, there are actually many areas where we do work across the aisle, because there is almost always some amount of common ground. I think it is actually easier to name the small number of issues on which we have difficulty finding common ground. The majority of my bills have had bi-partisan sponsorship and support.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
My seven years of experience as an elected member of the Poudre School Board has served me well during my time in the Colorado House. It is critical to have some members of the general assembly who have a good understanding of the school finance landscape here in Colorado and appreciation of how local school districts operate. My four years in the Colorado House have also given me the opportunity to learn more about issues in many other areas, all of which are important context to have in the state legislature.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
Colorado has put considerable federal and state resources into easing the affordable housing crisis in Colorado. Part of the issue is a supply and demand problem. The legislature has been working to increase the supply of affordable housing units in Colorado. We have also been working to make sure that more innovative housing solutions are part of the answer as well. We need to continue to look for barriers to affordable housing and see what we can do to eliminate them.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
Yes. I voted for the fentanyl bill the legislature passed in 2022 and believe we reached a reasonable compromise between criminalizing fentanyl possession and keeping people safe. I also really appreciate the resources the legislature allocated for fentanyl detection and treatment.
Deborah “Dee Dee” Vicino 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.
