The Post Independent is publishing Q&As for our community’s house and senate district races ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Each candidate is provided 700 words including a bullet-point bio for a column along with 100 words for each of their answers in the Q&A section.

Rep. Elizabeth Velasco is the Democratic incumbent candidate for House District 57, which includes Garfield and Pitkin counties. You can read Republican candidate for HD57 Caleb Waller’s Q&A responses here.

If you are elected, what is the first issue you plan to act on and why?

As I did during my first term, I will keep on getting results for working families. I will continue addressing the pressing needs of our district: affordable housing, childcare, healthcare and safety. One of my priorities next session is sustainable funding for fire districts to make sure we don’t leave anyone behind in an emergency. The cost of responding to fire and other emergencies has increased, and we are seeing unprecedented incidents due to climate change. Our first responders put their lives on the line to support our community and they need the resources to continue to keep us safe. 

A large percentage of voters in your district have identified the high cost of living as the most important issue to them. How do you plan to address this district’s housing and economic challenges?

Increasing market housing is not enough. As your representative I have and will continue to support affordable and attainable housing projects, preserving existing affordable housing, and improving worker protections and wages. The municipalities in HD57 have been clear about their need for funding for affordable housing and transportation.  I have already increased transit funding, and will continue collaboration across all levels of government to increase those funding sources. We also have amazing opportunities to provide good jobs through diversifying the energy economy and supporting professions like careers in childcare. When working families have what they need, everybody thrives. 

Recently, municipalities in House District 57 have begun passing non-sanctuary resolutions in response to the recent influx of migrants to their communities, stating they don’t have sufficient resources to support them. What role, if any, should the state play in helping local communities deal with this influx? 

We must stand up for human rights. The district is 30% Latino, immigrants are valued members of our community, the foundation of our workforce, our cultural richness, and everything that makes this an amazing place to call home. One thing is acknowledging the need for resources, another is spreading hate, stereotypes and disinformation. Instead of sowing division, all levels of government should collaborate.  Everyone deserves access to basic necessities (shelter, hygiene, food, education), so newcomers can integrate safely into our communities. I advanced funding for schools and local governments to support newcomers, and the state will continue to provide resources. 

Several school districts in House District 57 are seeing significant achievement gaps for minority students and those with limited English proficiency. How do you plan to help address this disparity?

Our school districts are working hard to close the gap. The role of the state is to fund our schools appropriately, which we have taken big steps to accomplish in the last year.  There’s much more funding needed. The state can also help our families and teachers with affordable housing, childcare, healthcare, and mental healthcare. I will also continue supporting legislation that helps student success, like expanding language access standards in schools, and I will continue supporting quality, vetted, and culturally relevant curriculum. 

This part of the state is abundant in its natural resources, particularly in natural gas. What role do you think the state should have in regulating energy production and use in the district? 

Our district’s natural resources like public lands and water must be protected for future generations. Resource extraction is already regulated by the state and I will continue to hold polluters accountable.  The state has invested in remediation like closing orphan wells, and we are creating standards for other forms of energy production like hydrogen and geothermal that are setting standards nationwide.  I look forward to a future where we all have access to clean air and clean water as well as reliable, affordable clean energy.