Julie Marshall for SD 17
We Are Better Together!
Dear Vacancy Committee Members
Hello!
​My name is Julie Marshall and thank you for serving as a member of the SD 17 Vacancy Committee. I imagine it can be a thankless job and so I thank you.
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You can feel proud to confidently vote for me.
I champion policy aligned with Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, who was elected by Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont and Erie voters of my district.
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Not one word on this website was AI generated. I will never use cliches or words that sound senatorial without offering any substance or reason.
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I wasn't even going to do a website, because seasoned politicians (name drop here, former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall and First Gentleman Marlon Reis who both endorse me) told me to instead focus on meeting you, one by one. If this website is not perfect, this is why. I blame them. But I will divert my attention in between calls to you, to share a few things online that show you that I have the experience, background, skills and desire to do you proud.
I enthusiastically plan to earn your vote to serve you, our neighbors and friends of our wonderful Senate District 17.
So let's get this party going.
We are Better Together!
Brief Bio
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(Lafayette, CO) Julie has more than 35 years of experience in professional journalism and was the Opinion Editor for the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper before working as Director for Western Wildlife & Ecology at the Center for a Humane Economy. She worked as a public information officer for the state Division of Wildlife, focusing on building and promoting Watchable Wildlife Programs in partnership with local nonprofits. She has advocated for families with special needs for 21 years, including as founder of the nonprofit, Brainsong, which has opened doors to meaningful access for education, the arts and the outdoors.
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Her many accomplishments in serving her community include co-founding the inclusive Gentle Nutcracker, now a seasonal tradition in Longmont, and launching sensory-friendly events at Boulder County libraries. She continues to volunteer as a trained, professional parent mentor for parents of young children with disabilities navigating the educational system. Her Facebook page, LafayetteWild has been publicized in the Daily Camera, for promoting local wildlife. She earned a grant for a public art installation called “What If” to inspire youth to envision a brighter future based on the natural world. She has won many awards from community and journalism organizations for her work to promote healthy lands, wildlife and human communities.
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Julie was born in Pueblo, and lives in Lafayette, with her husband, who comes from a fourth-generation farming family in Rocky Ford, Colorado, and has worked as a physician assistant at Kaiser for 28 years. They have two daughters ages 18 and 20.
BOARD MEMBER/VOLUNTEER:
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Colorado Democratic Party Platform Committee
​Boulder County Democratic Party Platform Committee
​Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife and Habitat Roundtable
​Lafayette Parks and Open Space
​Boulder County Advisory Council for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities -- First Chair elected
​L'Arche of Longmont, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity
​Parent-to-Parent, mentoring parents with children with disabilities
​​Association for Community Living
​Project Yes, Lafayette
​Empowerment Center of Lafayette
Brainsong, No Shushing Events -- founder
​Artism -- a sibling group for kids with siblings who have autism
Julie Marshall and Leo, AKA Mr. Barkypants.
Endorsed By:
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Mark Udall, Former U.S. Senator
Marlon Reis, Colorado First Gentleman
Ruth Wright, Former House Minority Leader
Lisa Morzel, former City Council member
Gwen Dooley, former City Council member
Crystal Gray, former City Council member
Spense Havlick, former City Council member
Delia Malone, Wildlife Chair, Sierra Club
Barrie Hartman, former Editor, Daily Camera
Jim Martin, Former CU Regent
Endangered Species Coalition
The Center for a Humane Economy
Animal Wellness Action
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"Julie is smart, an excellent listener, and has waged the right battles on the policy and political fronts. She would bring great energy and an understanding of the rapidly changing world of communication and media. She's a strong advocate on the environment and for wildlife. She would add great energy to our leadership team at the Capitol. Please vote for her to fill SD 17."
-- former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall
Service Past and Present
BOARD MEMBER/VOLUNTEER:
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Colorado Democratic Party Platform Committee
​Boulder County Democratic Party Platform Committee
​Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife and Habitat Roundtable
​Lafayette Parks and Open Space
​Boulder County Advisory Council for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities -- First Chair elected
​L'Arche of Longmont, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity
​Parent-to-Parent, mentoring parents with children with disabilities
​​Association for Community Living
​Project Yes, Lafayette
​Empowerment Center of Lafayette
Brainsong, No Shushing Events -- founder
​Artism -- a sibling group
policy positions
01.
Housing and Human Services
As mom to a 21year old with autism, I am battle-tested in the fight for fair and meaningful public education, affordable housing and health care via Medicaid. I am primed and ready to fight for all of our families and disenfranchised communities on these life-altering fronts.
Guest opinion: There is a hidden housing crisis in Colorado for adults with disabilities: With 40% of group homes shuttered and more planned to close – it’s well past time to include high needs adults in future plans
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"Our adult kids qualify for Section 8 vouchers handed out randomly in a lottery, but there is a years-long wait list just to get on the wait list along with thousands of others across the state."
02.
Environmental Health for Humans, Habitats and our Wildlife
As a native Coloradan who has seen the changes, and has covered these issues intimately as a professional homegrown journalist for 35 years, I can say that it's all hands-on deck to address the climate crisis. There is no "fire season" anymore, biodiversity loss with epidemic and endemic environmental disease threatens the health of our public lands and the wildlife we cherish as Coloradans. We need key solutions to mitigate damage and to build resiliency and I am fully up to the task.
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“Reversing course may seem insurmountable and no doubt, people are feeling deep despair about the climate crisis. But we can all draw hope from even the smallest creative efforts for change. We owe it to the next generation to help them dream and find their own way to love our planet.”
03.
Good, Just and Fair Government For the People
As a journalist who has covered politics for more than three decades, and shaped its direction with editorials, I yearn for leadership with integrity that goes the distance to call out threats to our democracy and address them head on. I will do just that.
Editorial: When Democrats don't sell in rural America. including Colorado
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“Trump … accelerated the pace of any president who broke with our country’s tradition of statesmanship — a quality our elected leaders once aspired to encompass, both Republican and Democrat alike …
While awaiting the return of true statesmen and stateswomen, …Take a good look at presidents Jimmy Carter, as well as JFK and Harry S. Truman as Democrats who appealed to Logan County businesses and were sponsored by them without coercion. Businesses in a red county were proud to be associated with these individuals with a D for some reason or another.”