Policies and my WorldView

I’m a parent, former Democratic Party of Denver captain, and longtime Denver resident who believes government should put people, not corporate special interests, first. I’m running to support workers, make sure kids are ready to learn, and build connected, affordable, car-optional communities.

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  • Fairness, affordability, and an economy that works for working people

    I believe working people deserve a fair shot, a real voice on the job, and an economy that rewards work — with a tax system that is fairer for working families.

    TABOR is holding Colorado back

    • I do not support TABOR (Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights) because it prevents Colorado from properly funding core services

    • TABOR locks the state into outdated revenue limits, even as our population grows and costs rise

    • As a result, schools, transportation, healthcare, and public safety are forced to do more with less

    Graduate Income Tax – a fairer tax system

    • Colorado’s current flat tax unfairly treats teachers and millionaires the same

    • I support efforts to move Colorado to a graduated income tax

    • I will oppose tax policies that increase the burden on low- and middle-income families

    Tax relief for working families

    • I support expanding refundable tax credits for working families

    • The tax code should help people keep up with rising costs— not fall behind

    • I will favor policies that put money back in the pockets of people who need it most

    Small and local businesses

    • Small businesses create local jobs and keep communities strong

    • I support cutting unnecessary red tape that doesn’t improve safety or fairness

    • Worker protections and a strong small-business economy go hand in hand

  • Strong Workers. Strong Middle Class.

    When workers have a real voice on the job, wages rise, workplaces are safer, and communities are stronger. Collective bargaining is how working people balance power, build the middle class, and create real opportunity for the next generation.

    The right to organize and bargain collectively

    • Workers deserve a fair path to organize and bargain collectively

    • Collective bargaining gives workers a real seat at the table on wages, benefits, and working conditions

    • An economy that works for working people depends on workers having a voice

    The Colorado Labor Peace Act

    • The Colorado Labor Peace Act embodies the principle that workers deserve a fair and practical path to organize

    • The legislature passed this bill in 2025, but it was vetoed by the Governor

    • I support removing the second vote in the bargaining process outlined in House Bill 26-1005

    Union security and fairness

    • I support union security, which requires employees to pay union dues

    • Unions negotiate wages, benefits, and protections that apply to all employees, not just union members

    • It is only fair that everyone who benefits from collective bargaining helps support the work required to negotiate, represent employees, and enforce agreements

    Partnerships that create real career pathways

    • I strongly support partnerships between school districts and unions to give students real alternatives to traditional four-year college paths

    • Schools should prepare students for a range of futures—not just college

    • When educators and unions work together, students gain real-world skills and opportunity

    Apprenticeships: a debt-free path to the middle class

    • I support apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs where students learn technical skills while earning a paycheck

    • These programs lead to good middle-class jobs with strong wages, benefits, and stability

    • Apprenticeships offer a path to success without student debt, while meeting real workforce needs

  • Yes to housing—and yes to connected, walkable and livable communities

    Colorado’s housing shortage isn’t just about affordability—it’s about whether people can build a life here. Too many people are leaving the state because they’re forced to choose between housing that doesn’t fit their lives and housing they can’t afford.

    Fixing the “missing middle”

    • Today, many Coloradans face an impossible choice:

      • A mid-rise apartment that may be affordable, but isn’t conducive to their lifestyle

      • Or a single-family home that’s financially out of reach

    • People looking to start a family are especially squeezed, with too few options that balance space, affordability, and location

    • What’s missing is housing that fits real life—homes that allow people to put down roots, not just get by

    Meeting demand for walkable, urban, and car-optional living

    • There is strong demand for walkable, connected neighborhoods where daily life doesn’t require a car

    • People want to live near schools, transit, jobs, and services

    • Walkable communities reduce household costs, strengthen local businesses, and improve quality of life

    Car-optional housing that lowers costs

    • Housing should be connected to public transportation, so families aren’t forced to own multiple cars

    • Car-optional living lowers household expenses and reduces congestion and emissions

    • Transportation and housing must be planned together to truly address affordability

    Updating zoning to allow more housing options

    • Our zoning rules haven’t kept up with how people want and need to live

    • I support updating zoning and codes to allow more missing middle housing, including duplexes, fourplexes, and bungalow courtyards

    • These homes fit naturally into neighborhoods, support families, and expand housing options without changing community character

    Housing shortages lead to school closures

    • Too many people who want to start or raise a family can’t find housing that works, so they are leaving Colorado

    • When families leave, school enrollment declines, forcing districts into painful decisions about program cuts and school closures

    • Fewer families means fewer students, fewer workers, and long-term economic harm to communities across the state

    Building community, not just units

    • Good housing creates a strong sense of community, not isolation

    • Neighborhood-scale housing supports connection, stability, and long-term residency

    • When people can stay in their community, neighborhoods thrive

  • Safe, affordable ways to get around—without being forced into a car

    I bike to commute and regularly use RTD because it works for my daily life. Transportation policy should reflect how people actually get around—and give everyone safe, affordable choices, not force families into car dependence.

    Safety first — for everyone

    • Safety for pedestrians, people on bikes, and drivers must be a top priority

    • Streets should be designed so kids can walk to school, seniors can cross safely, and people can bike without risking their lives

    • Safe streets aren’t anti-car—they’re pro-people.

    Transportation and housing are inseparable

    • Where we build housing determines how people get around — and how much they spend

    • Car-optional transportation supports walkable, connected communities, especially the “missing middle” housing families need

    • Housing near transit and safe bike routes lowers costs and strengthens neighborhoods

    Making biking and e-bikes real alternatives

    • I support expanding protected bike lanes so biking is safe and practical, not just for the brave

    • E-bikes can replace many car trips—if people feel safe using them

    • Investing in bike infrastructure makes e-bikes a real alternative to driving, not just a niche option

    Lowering one of the biggest household expenses

    • Transportation is often the second-largest expense for families, after housing

    • When people are forced to own multiple cars, costs skyrocket

    • Giving people real alternatives — transit, biking, walking —puts money back in people’s pockets

    • Lower transportation costs are a direct pay raise for working families.

    Transportation and the middle class

    • Affordable transportation helps people access jobs, education, and opportunity

    • It reduces the cost of living, making middle-class life more attainable

    • Strong transportation systems support local businesses, stable communities, and long-term economic growth

    Building the middle class means building systems that make everyday life affordable.

  • Helping kids arrive at school ready to learn

    Academic success starts before the first bell rings. As a parent with two kids in public schools, I see the challenges clearly—and I’m not willing to accept distractions or absenteeism as “normal.”

    Smaller class sizes

    • Smaller class sizes are not a luxury—they’re a learning condition

    • Teachers can’t do their best work in overcrowded classrooms

    • I will support decisions that cut class sizes, especially in early grades and high-need schools

    Classrooms without cell phone distractions

    • Cell phones don’t belong in classrooms during the school day

    • Clear, enforceable limits to cell phones in the classroom help students  focus and teachers teach

    • Research shows that when students can’t access their phones during school, they are more engaged socially and academically

    Chronic absenteeism

    • Chronic absenteeism is one of the biggest threats to student success

    • Punitive approaches don’t work—early support does

    • I will support policies that remove barriers to attendance, including transportation, health, and housing instability

    Kids’ mental health

    • Social media companies should not be allowed to profit at the expense of kids’ mental health

    • I support commonsense limits on social media for kids 16 and under

    • Student well-being comes before corporate interests

    Youth nicotine addiction

    • Flavored tobacco and vaping products are designed to hook kids

    • I support strong rules that stop youth-targeted marketing

    • This is a public health issue, and it should be treated like one

    Healthier school start times

    • School schedules should reflect science, not convenience

    • Healthier start times improve learning and safety

    • I will support evidence-based approaches that help students succeed

  • Protecting families, communities, and kids

    Gun violence is not abstract to me. As a teenager, I worked at Chuck E. Cheese in Aurora, Colorado, and worked alongside Nathan Dunlap, who later carried out the 1993 shooting that killed four co-workers and severely injured another. That experience stays with me—and it shapes how I think about gun safety, mental health, and the role of government. Preventing gun violence is a moral obligation.

    Prevention comes first

    • I align with the values and priorities of Moms Demand Action

    • I support red flag laws, waiting periods, and safe gun storage because they prevent violence before it happens

    • I support Moms Demand Action’s BE SMART program, which helps families keep firearms secured and out of the hands of children and people in crisis

    Banning the most dangerous weapons

    • I support banning assault weapons under the GOSAFE Act

    • I support banning ghost guns, which are untraceable firearms designed to evade background checks

    • Weapons and large-capacity magazines designed to fire many rounds quickly—and weapons that cannot be traced—do not belong in civilian settings

    Gun buyback programs

    • Gun buyback programs offer a practical way to reduce the number of firearms in circulation

    • I observed a gun buyback event in Denver where firearms were purchased from civilians and repurposed by Rawtools, turning weapons into tools and art

    • Buybacks are voluntary, community-based efforts focused on prevention and risk reduction

    School safety without criminalizing kids

    • The role of school resource officers—police officers assigned to schools—should be limited to safety, prevention, and community building

    • Police officers in schools should not be involved in routine student discipline or classroom management

    • Discipline belongs with educators—not law enforcement

  • Dignity, safety, and freedom to be who you are

    Everyone deserves to live openly, safely, and with dignity—without fear of discrimination or political attacks. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and that belief guides how I vote and how I serve.

    Equality under the law

    • LGBTQ+ people deserve the same rights, protections, and opportunities as everyone else

    • Discrimination has no place in housing, employment, healthcare, or public life

    • I supported Amendment J, which removed the ban on same-sex marriage from the Colorado Constitution

    Protecting LGBTQ+ students

    • Schools must be safe and welcoming for every student

    • When I served on the Denver School Board, I supported a policy that required a gender-neutral bathroom in every school

    Healthcare decisions belong to patients, families, and doctors

    • I support gender-affirming care

    • Medical decisions should be made by patients, families, and qualified healthcare professionals—not politicians

    • Care should be evidence-based, compassionate, and centered on patient well-being

  • Responsible innovation that protects people and democracy

    Artificial intelligence is already shaping our economy, our schools, media, and our daily lives. I believe AI can be a powerful tool — but only if it is governed responsibly.

    Preventing algorithmic discrimination

    • I support strong guardrails to ensure AI is not used in ways that discriminate against people

    • I support SB 24-205, which requires developers to take steps to prevent algorithmic discrimination

    • When AI is used in areas like hiring, housing, education, credit, or public services, fairness and accountability must come first

    Common-sense rules for AI in schools

    • School districts need clear guidance on what is acceptable and unacceptable use of AI

    • AI should support learning — not undermine academic integrity or student development

    • Decisions about AI in schools should be made with educators, parents, and students — not dictated by tech companies and profit

    Protecting students comes first

    • I support actions like those taken by Denver Public Schools to protect students from accessing adult content and group texting features through the use of ChatGPT

    • Until strong safeguards and age-appropriate protections are in place, student safety should come before convenience

    Transparency and accountability

    • When AI systems affect people’s lives, there must be transparency about how decisions are made

    • Developers and deployers should be held accountable for how their tools are used

  • Protecting our future while lowering costs today

    Climate change is affecting our air quality, our health, and our cost of living. I believe climate action should focus on practical, science-based solutions that reduce pollution, lower household costs, and improve daily life.

    Electrifying buildings and building smarter

    • I support investing in electrifying homes and buildings to reduce reliance on fossil fuels

    • Clean electric heating, cooling, and appliances improve indoor air quality and public health

    • Earlier in my career, I was a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)–certified architect, and I support LEED standards in construction because efficient, well-designed buildings reduce emissions and lower long-term energy costs

    Clean transportation that reduces emissions and costs

    • I support investing in public transportation to cut pollution and lower household transportation costs

    • I support expanding bike lanes to reduce our carbon footprint and make biking a safe, realistic option

    • Expanded bike infrastructure also supports e-bike adoption, giving more people an affordable, low-carbon way to get around

    Preparing students for a changing world

    • I support incorporating climate science and climate solutions into school curriculum

    • When I served on the Denver School Board, I co-authored the first climate action policy for Denver Public Schools

    • Students deserve accurate and science-based education that prepares them for future careers and real-world challenges

    Climate-smart communities

    • Housing, transportation, and land-use decisions affect emissions and affordability

    • Building near transit and investing in biking and walking reduces pollution and costs

    • Smart planning helps communities adapt to climate impacts