January 9, 1961 and the Colorado 75th General Assembly of 2025
State decisions impact cities
If you missed it, see my previous newsletter:
Agenda
Important Announcements
New essay “On this Day: January 9, 1961 and the Colorado 75th General Assembly of 2025”
Announcements
Quick Update:
Results from 1/6/25 City Council Study Session:
We gave positive direction for a new development of 122 independent senior housing (all for-sale)
We gave positive direction for a new cell tower near Walmart on 136th Avenue, and I advocated for similar improvements in the city’s southern parts.
We reviewed the draft Parks, Rec, and Libraries Vision Plan, which will guide development and programming for the next 10-20 years, with input from the PRL Board (tonight, 1/9/25), where I serve as City Council liaison.
New essay: Yesterday, the Colorado State Legislature opened, and my essay highlights how its decisions shape life in Westminster and beyond.
On this Day: January 9, 1961 and the Colorado 75th General Assembly of 2025
On this day, January 9, 1961, a young politician ascended the frigid steps of the Massachusetts State House. The air was sharp with the cold of midwinter, but inside the halls of the state legislature, the atmosphere buzzed with expectation. A crowd of lawmakers and staff had gathered in the chamber, their focus on the man preparing to address them—a figure who had risen rapidly in both stature and responsibility.
This speech was a call to action for a new era. The speaker came to urge the audience to consider their shared responsibilities in a rapidly changing world. The chamber fell silent as he stepped to the podium, his figure framed against the gilded walls and towering windows.
The man, recently elected to the highest office in the land, began his address by invoking a phrase that carried deep resonance: “the city upon a hill.” A leader rooted in his state’s history, he used the words of John Winthrop, a Puritan whose vision of Massachusetts as a moral beacon had inspired generations. Today, he called on the state legislature to embody the qualities required of those who guide their communities: courage, judgment, integrity, and dedication.
The young politician was John F. Kennedy, and this moment—eleven days before his inauguration as President of the United States—was his chance to remind the legislature that state and local governments are the backbone of the republic. While his gaze was set on global challenges, he understood that governance begins in statehouses and city halls, where the laws and policies that touch people’s lives are shaped. Kennedy’s speech underscored a timeless truth: the strength of a nation depends on the strength of its local institutions.
Moments of great challenge often demand the best from our leaders, whether in 1961 Massachusetts or 2025 Colorado. Yesterday—63 years later—Colorado began its own legislative session, a challenging 120 days shaped by a significant budget shortfall of ~$700+ million. Even with $73.9–97.6 million in projected available funds, lawmakers face tough decisions, such as school finance changes, provider rate cuts, and controversial one-time revenue tactics. Meanwhile, the $350 million law enforcement funding approved by voters, declining K-12 enrollment, and supplemental needs for FY 2024-25 add more pressure. With federal policy shifts looming, balancing urgent needs and long-term fixes will require focus and resolve.
But it takes skill to balance the state budget without cutting corners on your quality of life.
As someone deeply invested in addressing challenges in education, housing, and economic mobility, I see the state budget as a critical tool for shaping equitable solutions and building long-term stability. Last month, Governor Polis released a budget proposal that includes delaying school finance reforms, eliminating enrollment averaging, and offering minimal increases in higher education funding—changes that education advocates like myself believe undermine stability and growth in our schools. The Joint Budget Committee (JBC), responsible for shaping Colorado’s budget, will play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges, underscoring the importance of the legislature’s power to set priorities and craft solutions that meet the state’s needs.
Colorado’s budgetary priorities are shaped by the critical work of legislative committees and leadership, which play a pivotal role in addressing the state’s most pressing challenges. Below is a breakdown of committee leadership assignments and Democratic leadership selections for the new 2025 legislative session, highlighting the chairs and vice chairs tasked with guiding Colorado’s key priorities.
The only state lawmakers from Jefferson or Adams County in leadership positions (incl. Chair / Vice Chair of a committee) are: Lisa Cutter, Rebekah Stewart, Faith Winter, Jessie Danielson, Brianna Titone, Monica Duran, Shannon Bird, Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Kyle Mullica.
Note: Leadership roles are typically reserved for lawmakers their peers trust to help shape Colorado's future. A big congratulations to Representative-Elect Rebekah Stewart (go JeffCo!), Representative-Elect Michael Carter, and Senator-Elect Mike Weissman for being newly-elected legislators in their respective chambers to earn leadership positions.
Depending on your area of interest, I encourage you to use the links below to contact the respective legislators and hold them accountable for representing your voice and meeting your needs.
STATE SENATE
Senate President: James Coleman
Senate President Pro-Tem: Dafna Michaelson Janet
Majority Leader: Robert Rodriguez
Assistant Majority Leader: Lisa Cutter
Majority Whip: Nick Hinrichsen
Joint Budget Committee: Jeff Bridges (Chair), Shannon Bird (Vice Chair)
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources (4-3)
Chair - Senator Dylan Roberts (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Jessie Danielson (D)
Chair - Senator-Elect Judy Amabile (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Jeff Bridges (D)
Senate Business Labor & Technology (4-3)
Chair - Senator Jessie Danielson (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Nick Hinrichsen (D)
Chair - Senator Chris Kolker (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Janice Marchman (D)
Chair - Senator-Elect Cathy Kipp (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Janice Marchman (D)
Senate Health & Human Services (6-3)
Chair - Senator Kyle Mullica (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D)
Chair - Senator Julie Gonzales (D)
Vice Chair - Senator-Elect Mike Weissman (D)
Senate Local Government & Housing (4-3)
Chair - Senator Tony Exum Sr. (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Julie Gonzales (D)
Senate State Veterans & Military Affairs (3-2)
Chair - Senator-Elect Mike Weissman (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Tom Sullivan (D)
Senate Transportation & Energy (6-3)
Chair - Senator Faith Winter (D)
Vice Chair - Senator Lisa Cutter (D)
STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Speaker of the House: Julie McCluskie
Majority Leader: Monica Duran
Assistant Majority Leader: Jennifer Bacon
Caucus Chairs: Junie Joseph and Mandy Lindsay
House Agriculture Water and Natural Resources (9-4)
Chair - Representative Karen McCormick (D)
Vice Chair - Representative Tisha Mauro (D)
Chair - Representative Emily Sirota (D)
Vice Chair - Representative Shannon Bird (D)
House Business Affairs and Labor (8-5)
Chair - Representative Naquetta Ricks (D)
Vice Chair - Representative Steven Woodrow (D)
Chair - Representative Meghan Lukens (D)
Vice Chair - Representative Matthew Martinez (D)
House Energy and Environment (9-4)
Chair - Representative Alex Valdez (D)
Vice Chair - Representative Elizabeth Velasco (D)
Chair - Representative William Lindstedt (D)
Vice Chair - Representative Brianna Titone (D)
Chair - Representative Javier Mabrey (D)
Vice Chair - Representative-Elect Michael Carter (D)
House State Civic Military and Veterans Affairs (8-3)
Chair - Representative Jenny Willford (D)
Vice Chair - Representative Chad Clifford (D)
House Transportation Housing and Local Government (9-4)
Chair - Representative Meg Froelich (D)
Vice Chair - Representative-Elect Rebekah Stewart (D)
Just as Kennedy called on his colleagues to meet the challenges of their time with courage and integrity, we must demand the same of Colorado’s leaders today. From the statehouse to our City Halls, every decision and every dollar must prioritize the public good.
Yours in service and hope,
Obi Ezeadi
Westminster City Council Member (at-large)
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