The party-line battle continues in House District 30 as a political newcomer takes aim at another relative newbie with hopes of delivering the seat back to Democrats after two years of Republican leadership. Few districts have swung back and forth like House District 30, where Republican Kevin Priola in 2008 defeated Democrat Dave Rose by less than 500 votes to take over a seat held for eight years prior by Democrat Mary Hodge. Priola extended his term for another two years with a win in 2010 before vacating the seat in 2012, at which time Democrat Jenise May took over with a considerable victory in the three-party race, garnering 55 percent of the General Election votes.
Incumbent House District 30 Rep. JoAnn Windholz, president of pro-life religious group Crusade for Life in Colorado, began her political career in 2014 with a narrow, 106-vote victory over May. Author Dafna Michaelson Jenet is hoping that narrow margin in 2014 is indicative of voter indecision, and is looking to launch her political career this year, starting with House District 30.
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By RACHEL SAPIN, Staff writer
A relative newcomer squares off with a political newbie in flip-flopping H.D. 30
Incumbent Republican JoAnn Windholz will face off against Democratic challenger Dafna Michaelson Jenet for the House District 30 seat, which encompasses Commerce City and Aurora.
According to her website, Windholz’s priorities for the district include job creation through legislation, healthcare reform and protecting constitutional rights and education standards without federal interference.
“I would ask lawmakers to consider that the more time spent testing is less time spent in the classroom learning,” Windholz told The Aurora Sentinel. “To perform well, students need good teachers, safe learning environments, educational resources and appropriate academic interventions — all of which require adequate funding. I would ask lawmakers to consider legislation directing the Colorado Department of Education to collaborate with school districts to re-evaluate its funding algorithm so that those districts with the highest needs receive a fair share of funding.”
Windholz is against legalized recreational marijuana and also said the state should protect gun rights.
Additionally, Windholz is a proponent for the oil and gas industry in the state. She said the state should not cede local control of fracking to counties and municipalities.
“People who own property and mineral rights should have the right to exercise those rights as long as they do not cause public harm,” she said.
The most notable legislation Windholz supported this year was a proposed bill merged with similar legislation proposed by Democratic Aurora Rep. Su Ryden (formerly of House District 36) directing the Colorado Department of Human Services to complete the Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons by also providing space for homeless, low-income and disabled veterans and their families.
In 2014, Windholz beat longstanding incumbent Democratic Rep. Jenise May for the seat by a narrow margin. Windholz is a longtime Adams County resident who received her undergraduate degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Regis University in Denver.
A year into her role as a Colorado House representative, critics began an effort to recall Windholz — who is pro-life — following comments she made about Planned Parenthood being responsible for a deadly shooting at one of its clinics in Colorado Springs.
Running for office for the first time is Commerce City-based challenger Michaelson Jenet.
Michaelson Jenet is a Colorado author who won an International Book Award in 2015 for interviewing “change-makers” in all 50 U.S. states. Jenet also co-owns The Journey Institute with her husband, Michael, where they work with schools, businesses, organizations and individuals to train in community problem-solving.
“A major reason I am running for office is that my own child struggles in school,” Michaelson Jenet told The Aurora Sentinel. “Our teachers and our special education team are incredibly overburdened. They do not have enough hours in the day to meet the needs of our students and their different learning styles and needs.
“I believe that in order to address test scores we must begin by creating a manageable, safe classroom,” she added. “I will ask lawmakers to work with me to identify the funding we need to decrease class sizes, increase the availability of trained social workers who focus on learning differences, and teach our kids to be resilient, thereby returning teaching hours to the classroom through freeing up the teacher to do her primary job — teaching.”
Michaelson Jenet said she believes fracking as it relates to local control should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
She has vocally come out against Windholz’s Planned Parenthood comments. Michaelson Jenet responded to Windholz and also denounced Donald Trump’s comment in late March that women who seek abortions should be subject to “some form of punishment,” with the following statement: “It’s time for Rep. Windholz to stand up for the women of House District 30 by denouncing Trump’s statements and apologizing for her own outrageous attempt to place blame on the victims of the shooting in Colorado Springs. For an elected official to condone punishment and violence against women for their personal health care choices is irresponsible and reprehensible. I am saddened and alarmed at these extreme positions that have real consequences on the health and reproductive freedom of Colorado women.”
Michaelson Jenet holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business.
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Incumbent House District 30 Rep. JoAnn Windholz, president of pro-life religious group Crusade for Life in Colorado, began her political career in 2014 with a narrow, 106-vote victory over Democrat Jenise May. Windholz is a longtime Adams County resident who received her undergraduate degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Regis University in Denver.
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Dafna Michaelson Jenet is a Colorado author who won an International Book Award in 2015 for interviewing “change-makers” in all 50 U.S. states. Jenet also co-owns The Journey Institute with her husband, Michael, where they work with schools, businesses, organizations and individuals to train in community problem-solving.
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Would you vote to end capital punishment in Colorado? Yes, because 1) there is no credible proof that the death penalty is any more effective in deterring crime than long-term incarceration; 2) the number of innocent people who have been freed from death row because they were later proven innocent; 3) race and income levels appear to be a factor, such as the disproportionate number of African Americans on death row (while African Americans make up 13 percent of the population, 50 percent of those are on death row); 4) the increased cost of the death penalty versus life in prison (e.g. more pre-trial time, more experts, twice as many attorneys, two trials — one for guilt and one for punishment — and appeals); 5) the lack of constitutionality (cruel and unusual punishment); and 6) the morality of taking a life.
How should the state pay for substantial expansion of state roads? Currently there is a $25 billion gap in CDOT’s funding and almost all of its funding is being used to maintain the current transportation system. To help plug the gap, I would be in favor of public-private funding partnerships such as the one that resulted in recent improvements to U.S. Highway 36 between Denver and Boulder. Private money may help to fill the gap for projects that the state cannot fully fund on its own. Selling bonds might also be part of a solution, but only if the state could afford to pay those bonds back. Gas taxes currently fund 61 percent of CDOT ‘s budget. Raising the gas sales tax (currently 22 cents per gallon) should be considered only as a last resort.
Should the state cede some local control of fracking to counties and municipalities? How much? No, because people who own property and mineral rights should have the right to exercise those rights as long as they do not cause public harm.
Should Colorado repeal gun control laws from 2013? Yes, because there is no credible evidence suggesting that the new gun laws deter crime. Worse, they impede the ability of a person to protect him or herself in a crisis situation. The laws are unconstitutional and a violation of Second Amendment rights. They should be repealed.
Would you support a bill to ban red-light cameras? Yes, because red-light cameras have a high error rate, increase rear end collisions and are an invasion of privacy. Even if there wasn’t an outright ban on the cameras, at a minimum they should be restricted to areas with high traffic volume that have a disproportionate amount of accidents involving pedestrians, such as school zones or construction areas.
Would you support a measure to ask voters to rewrite the Taxpayer Bill of Rights to require a vote on tax increases but to remove all other state budget restrictions? The current limits imposed by TABOR make the state government accountable and forces more discipline over budget and tax practices. It also forces the government to periodically evaluate programs and prioritize services and determine which services might be outsourced to save money. I believe that we need to continue to balance the state budget so that we spend within our means.
Should a revised presidential primary system allow for non-affiliated voters to vote for party candidates? No. While I see the advantages of a primary system, I think that only party members should be allowed to pick their party’s candidates. There is too much of an opportunity for mischief. For example, a member of the opposite party could switch their voter registration to unaffiliated and vote for the weaker candidate in the opposing party’s primary to give their party a general election advantage. I would encourage unaffiliated voters to join a party so that they can participate in the nominating process and vote for the nominee they support.
Will you vote for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or someone else? I will vote for the Republican candidate, Donald J. Trump.
Should the state prevent counties, schools and municipalities from barring transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms for sexes other than what appears on their birth certificates? It makes more sense for counties, schools and municipalities to develop their own policies on bathroom use. They are the ones who are closest to the people they serve and best understand their needs.
What one thing above all that you would ask fellow lawmakers to do or change to increase student performance on standardized tests? I would ask lawmakers to consider that the more time spent testing is less time spent in the classroom learning. I spoke to one school district who said they spend 28 days away from class instruction to administer standardized tests! To perform well, students need good teachers, safe learning environments, educational resources and appropriate academic interventions — all of which require adequate funding. I would ask lawmakers to consider legislation directing the Colorado Department of Education to collaborate with school districts to re-evaluate its funding algorithm so that those districts with the highest needs receive a fair share of funding.
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Would you vote to end capital punishment in Colorado? Yes. I would like to take a comprehensive look at our criminal justice system and work with the interested parties: the corrections officers, inmates, prison systems, victims, etc., to take a good look at whether our current system does for the community what it is supposed to.
How should the state pay for substantial expansion of state roads? I believe there are several pathways to explore, including but not limited to public private partnership and passing the hospital provider fee fix. I would like to explore the options available to us and then get to work. It is critical that our infrastructure be sufficient to meet the growing needs of our community so we can travel safely to and from school and work, and businesses can thrive in our state to meet the needs of our hard-working families.
Should the state cede some local control of fracking to counties and municipalities? How much? Fracking is an electric conversation in our community and an important one to have. Coloradans have a fierce independent streak and thus the demand for local control is understandable. We care about our communities and our natural resources. As we continue to learn and discover the impact of fracking, we naturally want to have a say. I believe at this point in the industry it is important to look at each case of request for local control and see what we can do to work with community members. You have a right to have your voice heard.
Should Colorado repeal gun-control laws from 2013? No.
Would you support a bill to ban red-light traffic cameras? I can tell you as a citizen I don’t love red-light cameras. I can also tell you that in Commerce City we have one of the most dangerous intersections in the state. The city council of Commerce City reports that after the installation of red light cameras at the intersection of 56th Avenue and State Highway 2/Vasquez Boulevard, fatal accidents have decreased. That sort of data impacts how I view the cameras. Our job is to create a safe community and if red light cameras help protect our citizens, I would be inclined to oppose a bill to ban them. In this situation, as in every, I will seek direct comment from community members. My decisions will always be based on conversations with the community because my opinion is not the only one that matters. I represent you and your opinions.
Would you support a measure to ask voters to re-write the Taxpayer Bill of Rights to require a vote on tax increases, but to remove all other state budget restrictions? I would. TABOR’s budget restrictions have put us in a position where our schools are desperately underfunded. We rank 49th in the nation for school funding. Our students and families deserve better. We are raising the next generation of leaders and our workforce. If we do not give them the highest quality education, we will find ourselves in a far worse situation.
Should a revised presidential primary system allow for non-affiliated voters to vote for party candidates? Yes. This past election cycle and the cycle before that left members of our community feeling isolated, frustrated and left out. We can do better and should explore the options available to us so that as many as possible can be involved in all steps of the election process.
Will you vote for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or someone else? Every day at the doors I speak to at least one community member who is disappointed in the options available for president this year. I ask people to consider that the state-level election and other local elections have the most direct impact on their daily lives and to please consider that.
I will be voting for Hillary Clinton this year. I look at her record of pushing for expanded access to healthcare, to focusing on getting people to work, to recognizing that our economy has not yet improved for the majority of us, and her dedication to working on these issues. I also respect her attempts to work “across the aisle,” which her record exhibits. I believe we can only make change if we can work with and have authentic two-way communication with people on every side of the issue. I believe she will attempt this on the federal level and I believe we can succeed with this at home.
I am happy to talk more about my thoughts on this and will once again request that you pay closest attention to our local races. Local leadership impacts our daily lives. The leaders who focus on working together to build solutions are the leaders who will listen to your concerns and build solutions based on your input.
Should the state prevent counties, schools and municipalities from barring transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms for sexes other than what appears on their birth certificates? Yes. It is Colorado law.
What one thing, above all, would you ask fellow lawmakers to do or change to increase student performance on standardized tests? A major reason I am running for office is that my own child struggles in school. And for the life of me I have not been able to get him an appropriate Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to help him become a successful classroom learner. Our teachers and our special education team are incredibly overburdened. They do not have enough hours in the day to meet the needs of our students and their different learning styles and needs. I believe that in order to address test scores we must begin by creating a manageable, safe classroom. I will ask lawmakers to work with me to identify the funding we need to decrease class sizes, increase the availability of trained social workers who focus on learning differences, and teaching our kids to be resilient, thereby returning teaching hours to the classroom through freeing up the teacher to do her primary job — teaching. I firmly believe that a student who feels safe and seen at school is a child who will have access to learn, and thereby the test scores will take care of themselves.
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What food do you hate the most? Brussels sprouts. They lack the motivation to grow to their full potential as full-sized cabbages.
Do you indulge in recreational marijuana? My indulgence would be chocolate ice cream.
Would you play you in a movie about your life? I think I would prefer to see Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) in the role as me.
What Olympic Sport do you wish you could win gold? Marathon running. It would have helped me with endurance conditioning for the State House representative race, not to mention fleeing from unleashed dogs while on the campaign trail.
What was your favorite childhood candy? Jawbreakers. I’ve had a few recently.
If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be? I would want to be an eyewitness of the passionate debates and discussions between our nation’s founding fathers as they worked to compromise and resolve the type of government and freedoms we should have as citizens of a United States. Everyone should read “Decision in Philadelphia: The Constitutional Convention of 1787,” by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier. We must not take the decisions they made lightly.
If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be? Energizer Bunny.
If you had to sing karaoke what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts. In early November I would like to be singing, “We are the Champions.”
What epitaph would you want written on your tombstone? No regrets. She gave it her ALL!
Is a hot dog a sandwich? No. A hot dog is in its own category.
What is the last concert you attended? My granddaughter’s rendition of “I Love a Parade.”
What movie do you never tire of watching? “The Wizard of Oz.”
Dogs or cats? Both! I’m bipartisan!
What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado? Marijuana.
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What food do you hate most? I love food. It’s hard for me to pick a thing I hate. If pressed I struggle with black pepper. Too much and I have to pass on the dish.
Do you indulge in recreational marijuana? No.
Who would play you in a movie about your life? I love Sandra Bullock!
What Olympic Sport do you wish you could win gold at? Is coffee drinking an Olympic sport yet? In my dream world I’d win gold in gymnastics.
What was your favorite childhood candy? One word: SNICKERS.
If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be? My grandfather was a U.S. Army medic during World War II. He was in the second group into the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, Germany. I would have liked to have been there to understand what our men faced when they learned the true atrocities of the Nazi Holocaust by coming face-to-face with the victims as they set them free.
If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be? JourneyWoman
If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts. “Defying Gravity,” from “Wicked,” my favorite musical of all time. Love my show tunes and car karaoke happens every day.
What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone? She never complained about a problem without working on the solution.
Is a hot dog a sandwich? No. It’s a complete meal.
What is the last concert you attended? Sara Bareilles
What movie do you never tire of watching? “Ever After”
Dogs or cats? Dogs.
What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado? Nothing. I love living here.
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Click here for Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s Campaign Finance Reports
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Joann Windholz’s campaign finance“]
Click here for Joann Windholz’s Campaign Finance Reports
[/wc_accordion_section] [wc_accordion_section title=”Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s endorsements“]
Sen. Mary Hodge, Senate District 25
Rep. Joseph Salazar, House District 31
Rep. Faith Winter, House District 35
Rep. Paul Rosenthal, House District 9
Fmr. Sen. Joyce Foster
Chaz Tedesco, Adams County Commissioner
Emma Pinter, Westminster City Council
Shannon Bird, Westminster City Council
Anita Seitz, Westminster City Council
Maria De Cambra, Westminster City Council
Paolo Diaz, Commerce City Council – Ward IV
Crystal Elliot, Commerce City, City Councilwoman At-Large
Mark Ferrandino, Former Speaker of the House
Jenise May, Former Representative HD30
Karen Middleton, Former Representative HD42
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Metro North Chamber of Commerce
NRA
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