Candidate for State Representative, HD3: Colleen O'Brien

16 March 2009

Dear House District 3 Activist:

As you know, Anne McGihon has decided to continue her work serving the people of Colorado outside of the Legislature and is vacating her seat in the House of Representatives. We all are grateful to Anne for her leadership in the Capitol and are very fortunate to have had her as a leader and a friend in House District 3. As we begin a new stage in HD 3, I ask for your support for my candidacy as our next State Representative.

Coloradans are facing economic challenges. These challenge give us the opportunity to refine our thinking and to take action around the issues of energy, education, and health care. The economic crisis is compounded by our complicated state constitution that will force us to ratchet back spending in the future based on this year’s revenues and expenditures. I have sat with many of you at the state and county assemblies over the years, and we have dreamed of the day our state would take strong action on these three issues we all care so much about. We know from participation in the caucuses that snowy night in February, we now have a new force to help us with these issues.

Because of this crisis, we now have an opportunity. We can make a change in our economy that will benefit clean energy, education, and health care. To meet the promise of this clean energy economy, we need to make wise investments in jobs and job-training opportunities that will help us become more efficient with how we use energy. Our strong educators need the resources to train the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, and policy makers in our Colorado schools by engaging students in real world curriculum. Quality health care is a service all people deserve. Even in hard economic times we need to make sure that we continue to work towards a system that delivers effective treatment and preventative care which can reduce emergency health care costs that burden our economy.

I have had the opportunity to work with many of you at phone banks, at voter registration drives, knocking on doors, handing out snacks in long voting lines, and waving signs on street corners to support the issues and candidates we care about. Because of our work together, HD3 has the highest voter turnout in the state. We who are active in HD3 know that Anne has been the glue that keeps these efforts together. I share Anne’s commitment to keeping our local House District a united force in the Democratic Party in all election cycles. If chosen to serve in the House, I will continue to seek your advice and support to meet the needs of our neighbors.

HD 3 includes Denver and Arapahoe counties--I grew up in Arapahoe county and have worked there as a teacher and staff developer in Cherry Creek Schools for the last 18 years. My husband, a South Denver native, and I live in Platt Park, and our daughters attend Denver Public Schools. Together we own PushGym Fitness and Physical Therapy near downtown and co-sponsor the Mile High Mile Race with the Greenway Foundation.

Optimism, a strong work ethic, a collaborative nature, curiosity, and energy are the personal assets I will bring with me to serve you at the Capitol. I believe in the power and the importance of the citizen legislature and am asking for your vote and your support at the Vacancy Committee Meeting. If you would like to discuss any concerns or issues please contact me by phone or email. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Colleen O’Brien

Precinct Captain 306

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