I have lived in Colorado nearly 40 years, arriving here in 1965 to attend college at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I was born in New York City and grew up in New York and Missouri. Both of my parents were teachers – my maternal grandparents were farmers in northern Missouri, and my paternal grandparents worked for the railroad in Kansas and Colorado (Cripple Creek).

My bachelor’s degree is in Humanities: German and English literature, and I have a Masters Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in environmental management. I moved from Boulder to Cañon City in 1977, and was a stay-at-home mom when my two sons were young. In 1983 I began work in the field of human services at the county and state levels, primarily in the areas of child protection and foster care. I am also a trained mediator, and a trainer in conflict resolution, negotiation and facilitation skills. I retired from the State of Colorado in 2002.

Always interested in public service, I first ran for public office in 1983, and beat an incumbent candidate for a seat on the City Council of Cañon City. When I ran for re-election in 1987 I won by a landslide against my opponents. I served two four-year terms on the City Council, and also served on several other local boards and commissions during that time including the City Planning Commission, the Fremont County Economic Development Corporation Board, and the Main Street USA Board for Cañon City. During my eight-year tenure on City Council, I was selected by Governor Romer as a member of the original Great Outdoors Colorado committee. I was also appointed by the Governor’s Office to the Judicial Performance Commission for Colorado’s 11th Judicial District in 1989, and served eight years on the Commission.

I am a Charter Member of Action 22, Inc., an advocacy group representing cities, counties, individuals and businesses in the 22 counties of southern and southeastern Colorado. I served as the Fremont County Alternate to the Action 22 Board of Directors for three years, and I now chair the Board of the newly created Action 22 Foundation, Inc. I am an active member of several Action 22 committees including Water, Agriculture and Public Lands, and Telecommunications.

I was honored in 2001 to be selected for a Fellowship in the Political Leadership Development Class of the Bighorn Center for Public Policy, and completed the six-month Fellowship in 2002.

I am a member of several organizations including the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the American Association of University Women, the Colorado Environmental Coalition, and a retiree member of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees).