Candidate Q&A: Colorado House District 19

Boxes of stickers stating “I voted” are seen at the Adams County Government Center in Brighton, Nov. 7, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

All 65 seats in the Colorado House of Representatives are up for election this year. Democrats currently hold a 56-19 supermajority and will likely retain the majority next year.

Democratic Rep. Jennifer Parenti defeated Republican former state Rep. Dan Woog in 2022 with 50.3% of the vote in House District 19. Parenti decided to withdraw from the race this year and Democrats chose Jillaire McMillan to replace her on the ballot to face Woog.

The district is north of Broomfield along Interstate 25 and includes parts of northeast Boulder County and parts of southwest Weld County, including Erie and Firestone.

Registered voters in Colorado should soon receive their ballots in the mail for the November 5 general election, which includes races for president, Congress, the state Legislature, the University of Colorado Board of Regents and other local positions, as well as a handful of statewide ballot measures.

Voters can contact their county clerk if they have not received their ballot or check the online BallotTrax system. They can also visit the secretary of state’s website to make a plan to vote in person ahead of or on Election Day. Ballots need to be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on that day, so voters should make a plan to mail their ballot at least eight days ahead of time or drop it off in person.

Voters can find their state legislative districts at the General Assembly’s website.

Woog did not return survey responses.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities during the 2025 legislative session?

MCMILLAN: Health care access can be improved by increasing the number of health care providers in our state. I want to explore policies to train, attract, and retain more providers in Colorado. Public transportation helps traffic congestion and the environment, and reduces personal transportation expenses. HD19 residents have limited or no access to mass transit. Taxpayers in the northwest metro region have been paying taxes since 2005 for a rail line that hasn’t been built. Increasing transportation access for constituents will be a priority for me. Gun violence prevention is an issue I really care about. My four children grew up experiencing active shooter drills. I want guns to stay out of schools and other sensitive spaces. We need safe storage laws to keep guns out of the hands of our children. We can have safer communities without infringing on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners.

What unique perspective and life experiences would you bring to the General Assembly?

MCMILLAN: My life has uniquely positioned me to build coalitions and get things done with people from across the political spectrum. Engaging in local schools, I have worked proactively with parents from many backgrounds. In my church congregation, being a Democrat makes me a minority, but I have served alongside my co-congregants — no matter our politics. For nearly a decade I have been a leader in a nonpartisan political nonprofit that is dedicated to empowering women as civic actors and to being peacemakers in the public sphere. Our membership consists of a roughly equal number of Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters, a unique facet of an organization during such polarized times. This experience working with people from all along the political spectrum has taught me how to really listen with curiosity and communicate with respect when exploring solutions to controversial issues. I am an optimist and want to bring positivity to politics.

Coloradans told us through the Voter Voices survey that rising cost of living is a top issue for them this election year. How do you feel the Legislature can most effectively address the cost-of-living for Coloradans across all backgrounds?

MCMILLAN: As a mother and small business owner, I see rising expenses create challenges for my family and company. Many factors contribute to the high cost of living, and there are several policy measures I would explore as a legislator. We can increase the supply of affordable housing by streamlining permitting processes, supporting public-private partnerships, creating incentives for building starter homes, and updating zoning laws. We can also support workers and families through better wages, affordable child care options, and expanding access to cost-saving public transportation. As we see prices for everyday goods and services increasing, there may also be a need for consumer protection laws that will ensure fair pricing and curb exploitative practices. One of my natural skills is looking at situations and finding efficient, effective processes and solutions that make sense of complex conditions, and that is how I will approach the cost of living issue in Colorado.

Democrats are expected to hold onto a wide majority next year. What does good governance look like in that political environment?

MCMILLAN: I believe that a democracy is healthiest when many voices are heard. While Democrats are expected to have a strong majority in the Colorado Legislature next year, I think we would do our state a disservice by not including our Republican colleagues when creating solutions to the problems we face. House district 19 is a swing district, meaning my race will be close. I will have constituents that didn’t vote for me that still deserve to be represented, and it will be part of my duty in office to take their concerns under consideration.

Residents across the state are concerned with air quality, from wildfire effects in the northwest to pollution along the Front Range. How can the Legislature work to ensure clean air for all Coloradans?

MCMILLAN: We all want cleaner air. Colorado’s changing climate results in less precipitation, creating conditions ripe for fires. We must address the root causes of these changes, and that means addressing greenhouse gas emissions. Colorado has a Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap that is already making gains in reducing emissions and improving air quality in our state. The Legislature can continue to create policies that support this data-driven work. We must ensure orphan wells are capped and that methane leaks in pipelines and elsewhere are managed. We need to continue to transition to cleaner energy sources, including training the workers that power these industries. I will also support more public transportation options and develop improved infrastructure for electric vehicles so that we will also reduce the pollution caused by cars.