2026 Primary Election: Candidates for State Treasurer

I follow DEI guidelines and the Equal Protection Act JeffCo Treasurer. I will continue to follow as State Treasurer.

As Treasurer, I would treat the office as an active steward of public resources, not a passive manager of funds. Two of the most powerful tools of the office are fiduciary investment authority and the administration of unclaimed property, and I would use both to advance financial justice and economic security.

First, through investment and fiduciary oversight, including PERA and state operating funds, I would prioritize long-term stability over short-term gains. LGBTQ+ people and other under-represented communities are more likely to rely on public employment and pension security due to workplace discrimination elsewhere. Protecting PERA, opposing further benefit cuts, and strengthening transparent, diversified investment strategies directly supports long-term economic stability for these workers and their families.

Second, I would modernize the Unclaimed Property Program to return money directly to people who need it. Colorado holds more than two billion dollars in unclaimed property. For low-income households, LGBTQ+ people, rural residents, and those with unstable housing, this money can be life changing. I would proactively identify owners, reduce documentation barriers, and partner with trusted community organizations to ensure funds reach the people they belong to.

Together, these tools allow the Treasurer’s office to reduce disparities, protect earned benefits, and put real money back into people’s hands.

I will not invest in private prison corporations and/or corporations that have a history of violating DEI guidelines or human rights.

I believe strong returns and ethical responsibility are not in conflict. As Treasurer, I would pursue transparent, diversified investment strategies that deliver stable returns while ensuring public dollars do not support discrimination, exploitation, or harm.

I would require rigorous review of banking partners, vendors, and investment vehicles to ensure they comply with nondiscrimination laws and basic standards of equity. Public money should not flow to institutions that undermine LGBTQ+ rights, labor protections, or civil rights. That includes examining banking practices, lending behavior, and vendor contracts through a lens of accountability and public interest.

At the same time, I would not compromise financial performance. Long-term value is strengthened by investments that are stable, well-governed, and aligned with community needs. I would favor investments in infrastructure, housing, and public goods that create durable economic value while supporting working families.

As Colorado’s first openly transgender legislator, I understand how invisible harms can be when financial decisions are made without affected communities at the table. As Treasurer, I would bring transparency to investment decisions and make public reporting accessible so Coloradans can see where their money is invested and why.

I follow DEI guidelines and the Equal Protection Act JeffCo Treasurer. I will continue to follow as State Treasurer.

As the first openly transgender legislator in Colorado, I know firsthand how retirement systems can fail to reflect the realities of LGBTQ+ families. Survivorship benefits, family recognition, and long-term security are not abstract issues. They shape whether people can retire with dignity.

As Treasurer and a fiduciary for PERA, I would advocate for inclusive policies that ensure retirement systems recognize diverse family structures and provide clear, fair access to benefits. That includes transparent administration, survivor protections, and outreach so LGBTQ+ workers understand their options and rights.

I would also oppose further benefit cuts that disproportionately harm workers who already face wage gaps and employment discrimination. Many LGBTQ+ Coloradans rely on public employment precisely because it offers stability and protections that the private sector often does not. Undermining retirement security deepens inequity.

Finally, I would push for clear public reporting and accountability so workers and retirees can trust the system meant to protect them.

I follow DEI guidelines and the Equal Protection Act JeffCo Treasurer. I will continue to follow as State Treasurer.

Please see my YouTube videos on this subject.

As Treasurer, I would use the office’s relationships with banks, credit unions, schools, and local governments to expand access to safe, affordable financial tools. That includes promoting low-fee accounts, supporting credit unions, and partnering with community organizations to reach people excluded from traditional banking.

I would also heavily focus on expanding financial education efforts through schools and community groups, focusing on practical skills like avoiding high-cost credit, understanding interest rates, and protecting against fraud. Financial education should be accessible, culturally competent, and relevant to real life decisions.

While enforcement sits with the Attorney General, the Treasurer plays a key role in prevention. I would collect and elevate data on predatory lending trends, support public awareness campaigns, and ensure state financial partnerships do not reinforce harmful practices; as well as work directly with the Attorney General and partners throughout the state to ensure that predatory practices are stopped in their tracks. These predatory practices are in many ways systemic, which means Coloradans need a strong leader in the Treasure's office who is willing to call out these injustices and never bend to the whim of corporations lodging these financial attacks on our most vulnerable residents - I believe I am the only candidate in this race willing to boldly do just that.

Please see my YouTube videos on this subject.

As Treasurer, I would treat long-term savings tools as equity infrastructure, not niche financial products. Programs like CollegeInvest, disability savings plans, and SecureSavings should actively close wealth gaps, not passively serve families who already have resources.

First, I would expand and formalize partnerships with schools, disability advocates, labor unions, community-based organizations, and local governments to ensure outreach reaches low-income families, first-generation students, LGBTQ+ households, and people with disabilities. Trusted messengers matter. Outreach must be multilingual, accessible, and designed for people who may not have prior experience with financial institutions.

Second, I would improve program design and affordability by simplifying enrollment, reducing administrative friction, and modernizing digital tools so families can participate without navigating unnecessary red tape. I would also evaluate fee structures and investment options to ensure these programs are cost-effective and transparent, particularly for families making small but consistent contributions.

Third, I would leverage and expand the Treasury’s interstate relationships, similar to the partnerships we have built through Colorado SecureSavings, to strengthen CollegeInvest’s portability and flexibility. Families should not lose tax advantages or savings momentum when they move for work, education, or caregiving. Savings tools must reflect how people actually live.

Finally, I would use the Treasurer’s platform to integrate savings education into broader financial literacy efforts, including coordination with K-12 schools, workforce programs, and disability services. Building long-term security requires both access and knowledge. As Treasurer, I will ensure these programs are designed to meet people where they are and help them build real, lasting economic stability.

I will always support returning assets to their owner. After due process of notifying the public and nobody steps forward to claim the asset over a given period of time, the funds should be used for the public good, such as education, healthcare or public safety. The fund was created in 1987 and has $2 billion in assets. I contend that some assets will never be claimed because no one is alive to claim the assets. At that point, the asset should be allocated for the public good.

I would modernize the claims process by proactively identifying owners, reducing documentation barriers, and improving customer service training. Staff should be trained on name changes, gender marker changes, and safety concerns so transgender Coloradans can claim property without risking privacy or harm.

I would expand outreach through trusted community partners and ensure privacy protections are central to system design. Returning unclaimed property is one of the most direct ways to reduce financial stress.

I support LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. The bigger community, which all people are a member of, is being a taxpayer. I am a Real Treasurer for State Treasurer known for my proven service, transparency and accessibility.

Supporting taxpayers means supporting the people who make our communities strong—workers, seniors, and families. John F. Kennedy reminded us that service to country is about serving one another. I am proud of my service as both a teacher and elected official, and I strive to be transparent and accessible. My goal has always been simple: to leave things better than I found them.

While I disagreed with much of Washington’s H.R. 1 (Big Beautiful Bill), I supported its provision to end federal income tax on overtime and tips. Unfortunately, some in the Colorado legislature — including two of my opponents — voted to continue taxing these earnings at the state level. This policy disproportionately harms first responders, service workers, and families who rely on overtime pay and tips.

Colorado should align with H.R. 1 and stop taxing overtime and tips. As State Treasurer, I will advocate for fair taxation that supports, labor, seniors, and families across our state. Tax fairness is people fairness, and I will fight to ensure Colorado taxpayers are treated with respect.

Colorado deserves my proactive approach in the State Treasurer’s Office — one grounded in expertise, accountability, and vision. Managing billions in taxpayer funds demands a leader with the right financial background and proven experience. After all, you wouldn’t hire an electrician to fix a plumbing problem. Why settle for anything less when it comes to safeguarding Colorado’s fiscal future?

As Colorado’s first openly transgender legislator, I understand that visibility alone is not enough. Engagement must be continuous, accessible, and tied directly to decision-making. As Treasurer, I would build formal, ongoing structures to ensure LGBTQ+ communities help shape the office’s priorities, not just react to them.

First, I would establish regular listening sessions and advisory convenings with LGBTQ+ organizations across the state, including rural communities, the Western Slope, and areas outside the Front Range. These would not be one-off meetings, but recurring forums scheduled throughout the year and rotated geographically to reduce barriers to participation. Virtual participation options would always be available to ensure accessibility.

Second, I would integrate community input directly into program design and investment decisions. Feedback from LGBTQ+ organizations would inform how we structure outreach for programs like unclaimed property, SecureSavings, and CollegeInvest, how we design privacy protections, and how we evaluate banking partners and vendors. Community input would also help guide decisions about which financial partnerships align with Colorado’s values and which do not.

Third, I would ensure transparency and accountability by publicly reporting how community engagement has influenced specific decisions. That includes explaining how feedback shaped changes to program rules, outreach strategies, investment policies, or partnerships. Engagement only builds trust when people can see their input reflected in outcomes.

Finally, I would use the Treasurer’s public platform to elevate LGBTQ+ voices in conversations about state finances, making complex financial issues accessible and relevant. Economic policy is never neutral. By grounding financial decisions in lived experience, we can build systems that truly serve all Coloradans.