The Issues

Responsible Land Use

Thoughtful land use planning is about more than growth, it is about preserving what makes Jefferson County special while ensuring people at every stage of life can afford to call our community home. We must balance housing affordability, environmental stewardship, transportation, economic development, and neighborhood character through responsible, community-informed decision making.

The recently completed Together Jeffco Comprehensive Plan reflects two years of community engagement and establishes a thoughtful framework for the County's future. The plan recognizes the need to expand housing choices by supporting "missing middle" housing, multifamily development in appropriate locations, and a broader range of housing options for people of different incomes, ages, and life stages. At the same time, it emphasizes protecting the unique character, historic resources, and rural identity of our mountain communities.

My experience on the Lakewood City Council has prepared me to lead these conversations. During Lakewood's recent zoning code update, I experienced firsthand how challenging land use decisions can be. The community response, including a citizen-led effort that stopped the implementation and returned the code back to the drawing board, demonstrated the importance of transparency, meaningful public engagement, and building consensus around change. That experience reinforced my belief that successful land use policy must bring residents along in the process while addressing the very real need for more attainable housing.

As County Commissioner, I will focus on practical, balanced solutions that expand housing opportunities while respecting local communities. I will work to:

• Expand housing choices by supporting missing-middle housing, accessory dwelling units, workforce housing, and other housing types that meet the needs of young families, seniors, and working adults.

• Invest in affordable and workforce housing through strategic public-private partnerships with nonprofit housing providers, developers, employers, and housing authorities.

• Coordinate housing goals across Jefferson County while respecting the planning authority and unique character of our municipalities and unincorporated communities.

• Support aging in place by expanding home accessibility programs, connecting seniors with available property tax relief, and investing in services that allow older adults to remain safely in their homes.

• Ensure land use decisions are guided by infrastructure capacity, transportation access, environmental sustainability, and community input.

Jefferson County does not have to choose between preserving our quality of life and creating opportunities for future generations. With thoughtful planning and collaborative leadership, we can grow responsibly, protect the places we love, and ensure that teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, young families, and longtime residents can continue to call Jefferson County home.

Climate action must remain a top priority for Jefferson County. During my time on the Lakewood City Council, I supported policies that advance sustainability while encouraging responsible growth. This includes passing a comprehensive Enhanced Development Menu that holds new development to higher environmental standards and encourages greener building practices. I also advocated for expanding the City's sustainability staff to ensure we have the capacity to implement meaningful climate initiatives.

As Lakewood's representative to the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), I have championed regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate policies, and establish greenhouse gas benchmarking standards that help communities measure progress and improve accountability. These experiences have reinforced my belief that addressing climate change requires collaboration across jurisdictions and a commitment to data-driven solutions.

As a parent of school-aged children, I am deeply invested in the future we are creating. Jefferson County, the 4th largest county in Colorado, has both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead on climate action. As County Commissioner, I will work to reduce emissions, support resilient and sustainable communities, and ensure we leave a healthier, more livable county for future generations.

A strong transportation system is essential to Jefferson County's economy, public safety, and quality of life. As County Commissioner, I will work to ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with our growing and evolving communities while making smart investments that improve mobility, safety, and resilience.

For the past five years, I have served on the Jefferson County Transportation Action and Advisory Group (TAAG), collaborating with state, regional, and local leaders to identify long-term, multimodal transportation priorities and advocate for the legislative and funding solutions needed to meet the transportation demands of the 21st century. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the County's transportation network, infrastructure challenges, and future investment needs.

I have also worked to bring critical transportation investments to Jefferson County. I advocated with Colorado's congressional delegation in support of the federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant that is helping transform the aging Wadsworth Boulevard and U.S. 6 interchange—one of the most significant transportation infrastructure projects in the county. As County Commissioner, I will continue pursuing federal, state, and regional funding to modernize our roads, bridges, and transportation systems.

As a member of the Denver Regional Council of Governments Executive Committee, I have helped advance Vision Zero initiatives across the metro region, promoting transportation policies that reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries while making our streets safer for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and people of all ages and abilities.

Jefferson County's transportation needs are diverse. From maintaining reliable evacuation routes in our mountain communities, to improving regional mobility, to supporting the continued success of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport while addressing neighborhood impacts, our infrastructure investments must reflect the unique needs of every part of the county. I will work to ensure transportation decisions are fiscally responsible, forward-looking, and focused on keeping our communities connected, safe, and economically competitive.

Protecting the health and safety of Jefferson County residents is one of the County Commission's most important responsibilities. At a time when federal funding cuts are placing increased pressure on local governments, Jefferson County must continue investing in the services that keep our communities healthy, safe, and resilient.

For the past 20 years, I have worked in the nonprofit sector providing direct services to individuals and families. That experience has given me a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing our most vulnerable neighbors and the critical role that Health and Human Services plays in connecting people to behavioral health care, food assistance, housing stability, workforce development, and other essential supports. As County Commissioner, I will advocate for the resources and partnerships needed to protect these services and ensure Jefferson County residents continue to receive the care they need.

Public safety also means preparing for the challenges of the future. Earlier in my career, I worked for a youth corps that trained the next generation of wildland firefighters, giving me a deep appreciation for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and emergency preparedness. Jefferson County has one of Colorado's largest wildland-urban interface areas, making wildfire resilience a critical priority. I strongly support the County's Wildfire Resiliency Code and will continue advancing policies that reduce wildfire risk, strengthen community preparedness, and protect lives and property.

Addressing homelessness is another public safety and public health priority that requires regional collaboration. Over the past two years, Jefferson County and its municipal partners have worked together to strengthen a coordinated response to homelessness. As a Lakewood City Councilmember representing the Colfax Corridor, and the only municipality in Jefferson County that operates a homeless shelter, I have been directly involved in these conversations and understand both the opportunities and challenges of this work. As County Commissioner, I will continue fostering strong partnerships with cities, nonprofit providers, and regional agencies to expand effective solutions, improve coordination, and ensure every community shares responsibility for addressing homelessness with compassion, accountability, and measurable results.

Fiscal responsibility is one of the most important responsibilities of a County Commissioner. Through my service on Lakewood's Budget and Audit Board, I helped shape and oversee the City's more than $300 million annual budget. That experience gave me a deep understanding of balancing day-to-day service needs with long-term capital investments while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently.

I also understand the importance of maintaining the County's long-term financial stability. Jefferson County voters recognized the challenges created by rising costs when they approved Ballot Measure 1A, allowing the County to retain TABOR revenue and providing approximately $30 million annually to sustain essential services and strengthen the County's financial foundation after years of revenue constraints.

Beyond my public service, I have managed medium and large-scale budgets in the nonprofit sector, where every dollar must demonstrate measurable impact. My experience on the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority also strengthened my understanding of how strategic public investments can leverage private investment, revitalize commercial corridors, and expand economic opportunity.

As County Commissioner, I will bring a disciplined, results-driven approach to budgeting, one that protects taxpayers, invests in the services residents rely on, and positions Jefferson County for long-term success. In a time of economic uncertainty, every public dollar should be spent with purpose, accountability, and a clear focus on delivering value for our community.