Candidate for Colorado Senate (Colorado Springs, SD10).
I am a maternal and child health activist and family advocate, I'm running for office because I believe families and children deserve stronger representation in our government. Improving our health and healthcare, protecting our environment, and strengthening our community/family supports is important to me.
Please reach out and let me know what is important to YOU!
It’s obvious that the voices at the policy table have been mostly men; often *only* men. And though ‘free labor’ from women enabled this system — our voices, our experiences and knowledge, have been utterly absent from governance and the distribution of resources.
But there’s a way to change this system. A simple strategy to overturn the status quo.
Imagine a woman in your life that you look up to. The one that organizes holidays and family gatherings. Empathizes with those who need to be heard the most. She’s strong, courageous, and fierce.
Imagine her on City Council – how much more organized and family-centered our communities and cities would be…
Imagine having a majority of State Legislatures, City Councils, and School Boards with a majority of women.
We’ve never had that.
We’ve never had the perspectives, experiences, and knowledge of women LEADING our country. A room of *only* women creating policy, protecting children and communities, and planning for the future. That hasn’t been done.
Elect women. We will all be better off for it.
And the research agrees. When women lead, more people benefit. When women lead, all of our ships rise.
And if you are a woman who is interested in running for office, do it. Local positions like School Boards, City Councils, County Commissioners, and State Legislatures need YOU!
Volunteer for female candidates. Donate. Canvass. Donate. Talk. About. Politics. Tell your friends to vote. Remind your neighbors to vote.
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS – A Newsletter from a People-Powered Campaign
Donate to Randi and support her campaign for Colorado State Senate!
Protecting Colorado
Coloradans share a love for beautiful scenery and the great outdoors. Like you, I value the incredible opportunities our landscape provides to our happiness and the economy. I believe that our lives and communities will be better if we protect our land and invest in our infrastructure. Growing up in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains, I came to know Colorado as the most beautiful and healthy state in the nation – as your Senator, I will keep it that way.
Women who run for office face more barriers than their male counterparts, one of those is having a harder time fundraising! You can help us achieve equal representation by donating to female candidates.
Every month we would like to recognize every-day people who have donated and continue to donate to the campaign.A special thanks this month to:
Alysha S.
Paul A.
Chelsea L.
Bradley K.
Sandy M.
Adonis M.
Where’s Randi?
– Colorado Springs Food Rescue Fundraiser Goat Patch Brewing Company – November 26th Event is 5:00pm-9:00pm, Randi will be there 7:00pm-9:00pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/522258898336951/
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS – A Newsletter from a People-Powered Campaign
“I’m so glad to see a woman of education, integrity, and experience running for office. Far too often I’ve found politicians to be disconnected and unconcerned with that which is important to me and my military family, but Randi is what I’d never dare to imagine- representation in government.”
– Heather Z. (SD10 Resident)
Where’s Randi?
We know that one of the most frustrating things about politics is that we never actually get to meet who we elect. So every month we would like to let you know about a couple events Randi will definitely be at, here is where Randi’s going to be this month!
13th Annual Legislative Town Hall for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities https://m.facebook.com/events/385245548845509/permalink/413974605972603/ – Join Randi as she gathers with The Resource Exchange and other local leaders about what can be done to help the developmentally and intellectually disabled.
District 11 School Board Candidate Forum https://m.facebook.com/events/698680520615745/ – Come and see Randi as she helps the D-11 Community decide what future is best for our children!
I believe Colorado’s families are its most important institution and key to our prosperity. Quality education, affordable childcare, and much-needed family leave are the foundations for a strong family. Our children have the right to reach their potential, to follow their path, and grow up with opportunity. It is our responsibility to protect their future!
I am a mother of two young children and I have served to support and strengthen families for over 10 years. I respect the dedication and hard work that parents, caregivers, and educators devote to helping children thrive. I value your right to a strong family and I believe your government should protect that right.
A “Yes” vote on Prop CC means that together we will invest $88 million in K-12 Schools, Higher Education, and Transportation Infrastructure.
“Your vote matters.” This is something we tell our kids when we first start teaching them about our great democracy. It turns out that this is something we all need to hear. In 2016 only 61% of people who are able to vote actually voted. How can we have a government represent our values if only 61% of the nation takes part in our political process? We can’t.
Have you received your ballot yet? You should have. Make sure to turn it in by Nov. 5 of 2019.
Every month we would like to recognize every-day people who are making a difference in Randi’s campaign.
The El Paso County Colorado Progressive Veterans is a non-profit organization, focused on the many ways that they can help our Veterans, Active Duty Military, and their families. By giving a voice to veterans in El Paso County, this organization has provided homelessness solutions, free trained support dogs and many more resources for local veterans.
Want a sticker? Get some free swag! We’ll mail you one for donating!
Community outreach (sharing information about Randi with the community)
Strategic organizing for 2020 field operations
Organizing and hosting events (i.e houseparties)
Canvassing, texting, calling …. stayed tuned! Please let Randi know you want to help with voter outreach – we plan to begin doing them early 2020!
CRAFTING! A few things the campaign needs:
“Photo frame” for the campaign! (a large size to fit 2-3 people for a picture)
Posters for parades, pictures, rallies
More fun ideas: Paint a rock, sidewalk chalk (send us a picture of your artwork), design a coloring sheet for the campaign … the possibilities are endless! Help us spread the word about the campaign in new and creative ways. Name recognition is what counts… so pair my name with precious kitten videos, (or maybe a goat-yoga video for the campaign!?!), and let’s WIN this! 😉
ENDORSEMENTS!
If you own a small business, hold an elected or appointed position, serve as a leader in your community, represent a group or non-profit, or are otherwise interested, please consider endorsing Randi for Senator of CO-SD10! We would use your photo (or your logo) and make an announcement on social media, as well as listing you/your business on the campaign website. Send me an email at RandiforColorado@gmail.com
For those who missed our first e-newsletter, here it is! Please send us your email here to receive our next one.
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS – A Newsletter from a People-Powered Campaign
“I’m so glad to see a woman of education, integrity, and experience running for office. Far too often I’ve found politicians to be disconnected and unconcerned with that which is important to me and my military family, but Randi is what I’d never dare to imagine- representation in government.”
– Heather Z. (SD10 Resident)
Where’s Randi?
We know that one of the most frustrating things about politicians is that we never actually get to meet them. So every month we would like to let you know about a couple events Randi will definitely be at, here is where Randi’s going to be this month!
Colorado Springs Climate Strike – Friday, September 20th https://www.facebook.com/events/421180445271971/ – Come and join Randi at the Colorado Springs City Hall from 10am-1pm as she stands with Colorado against our greatest threat, climate change.
Inside Out Youth Breakfast – Thursday, October 3rd https://m.facebook.com/events/623873904777083/ – Enjoy breakfast with Randi from 7am-8:30am as she joins Inside Out to discuss the most important issues facing our youth.
Get to Know Randi
I am running for office to represent our district and a progressive future for Colorado; one in which we support all families, protect our beautiful land, and become leaders in renewable energy.
For over a decade, I have supported families as a birth and postpartum doula, behavioral therapist for children with Autism, Early Head Start Home-Visitor, and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). My work experience includes positions with a state-wide perinatal health collaborative and as the Director of a 3-year, multi-state, maternal and child health program.
Serving hundreds of families, and my own challenging journey as a parent myself, have given me a strong understanding of the supports we need to help families thrive. Safe and respectful maternity care, paid leave policies, quality and affordable childcare… these are not our hurdles to face alone. I care deeply about protecting our environment and ensuring our children have a more stable economy as they enter increasingly unstable times.
Every month we’d like to recognize every-day people who are making a difference in Randi’s campaign. Special thanks to:
Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) HB19-1177
has been portrayed as a controversial bill, but after listening to the experts
who crafted the bill, I feel more confident advocating for this common-sense gun
legislation that will take us past simply thoughts and prayers.
The Colorado Springs Dems hosted an information session and
discussion with Katie March, the Colorado House of Representatives Senior
Advisor to the Majority Leader, presenting for Representative Alec Garnett (who
wrote and sponsored the bill), and Dr. Erik Wallace, University of Colorado School
of Medicine, who presented on public health data about gun-related violence and
death.
Here’s some information I learned about the ERPO:
The only people who can submit an ERPO are
household/family members or law enforcement.
Throughout the ERPO, the burden of proof is on
the Petitioner (the person submitting the claim) – NOT on the Respondent (the
person who the claim is filed against). The only time the burden of proof is on
the Respondent, is if they want to demonstrate they are no longer a risk to
themselves or others before the natural end of the ERPO (364 days).
Fourteen states (and D.C.) have enacted
bipartisan ERPO laws, they are relatively new, so data is still limited.
“In
a recent statewide survey, 87% of Coloradans support ERPOs, including 78% of Trump
voters.” (Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, 2019)
So
there’s that!
Shockingly, most gun deaths are overwhelmingly suicides, and
Colorado has a SERIOUS problem.
In Colorado, 76% of gun deaths are suicides; compared
to 60% nationally.
A gun is used in half of all suicide attempts.
Making a suicide attempt with a gun has an 85%
chance of ending the person’s life, whereas attempting to take one’s life using
pills is around 2% effective.
The argument that ‘people should be allowed to
commit suicide if they want to’ isn’t supported by the data… only one in ten
survivors of a suicide attempt will take their life (or attempt to) in the
future.
An ERPO can help. This law (signed by Governor Polis on 04/12/19)
is a valid attempt to save lives in a Constitutional and data-informed manner.
I look forward to seeing more data and models to help us move forward in making
even better decisions in the future.
BUT, this presentation also made it shockingly clear how
much we need to address our access to high-quality, affordable healthcare –
including, and especially, mental health. We need to address systemic issues
that contribute to feelings of hopelessness and despair, and enact legislation
that will ease economic suffering. We can work to ensure everyone has a stable home,
people are paid a living wage, and our public education and family support
systems are robust and extensive. Investing in Coloradans will invigorate the
economy and create healthier and stronger citizens.
As a candidate for Colorado’s Senate District 10, in the
heart of Colorado Springs, I stand with you to ensure that we push Colorado’s
politics in the direction of supporting public health and well-being. I will
stand for our families, for the future of our children, and for the health of
this beautiful state. Let’s move Colorado forward together!
In solidarity,
~Randi
Many thanks to the C Springs Dems and Moms Demand Action for
the wonderful event!
Please support this grassroots campaign with a donation! Every donor counts!
March began with a flurry of activities for the Pikes Peak
Breastfeeding Coalition. As the President, I hosted our monthly meeting at a
new location ~ Beginnings Birth Center ~ which is Colorado Springs’ first
free-standing birth center!
The Coalition also hosted a screening of ‘Milk’, a documentary about the politics of motherhood and infant feeding, on March 9 at the 21c Library. I have been dedicated to helping mothers and children thrive in environments where corporate greed is prioritized over public health, and hosting this documentary was a great way to bring more community members into a place of awareness and empowerment.
Hosting a screening of the documentary ‘Milk’ by Noemi Weiss.
I planned to attend the Sierra Club’s monthly “Beyond Coal”
meeting for the first time, but it had been moved and I wasn’t in-the-know; I’ll
check back in for a future meeting!
Now that the campaign is registered and official with the
state, I took the next obvious step and opened a campaign bank account. This
was no easy task, and took over 3.5 hours across two days, but the conversations
I had with bank staff about local politics and the importance of having
representatives that are more “like us”, were invaluable.
Already meeting such great people 🙂
I attended, for the third time, the Air Quality Technical Committee (AQTC) meeting at the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and spoke as a representative of our community. This group is tasked with providing recommendations and technical plans to the Community Advisory Board, which reports to the City Council.
The AQTC disbanded a couple years ago because, and I quote, “they thought they had the issue of air quality covered here when they were meeting the federal standards.” When the person in charge of the committee resigned their position, the group just ceased to exist. Fast forward only one year later, and we are registering poor air quality readings that may lead to violating federal EPA standards and incurring a huge fine … not to mention the subsequent public health effects from increasingly more dangerous pollutants in our air.
It may go without saying that the lack of focus on public
health around here is distressing.
At the end of the month, I was moved to tears by the powerful and inspiring indigenous activist and performer, Radmilla Cody. Her words moved the ancient memories held within my ancestral genes – we must protect our mother, and all mothers. Water is life.
As for our family, we rented a large van, picked up my brother’s family of four, and road-tripped to Kansas to visit our extended family. It was a long drive, but well worth the bonding time and chance to cultivate our own family traditions.
It was also a birthday month around here, Happy 1st Birthday to our littlest one!
