Article Contributed on: 9/18/2008 1:55:05 PM
Sue Windels is running for Jefferson County Commissioner District 1 and answered a questionnaire for YourHub.com. To read all of the candidate questionnaires,
click here.
My name: Sue Windels
My age: 62 years young
My Family: Husband
Carl,
Son Derek (28) and
Son Daniel (26) Carl is a semi-retired Geophysicist, Derek is an Architect living in California, and Dan is a 3rd year medical student at CU Health Sciences.
Education: M.A. in Education, Eastern Washington University
What I do: Teacher, State Senator, Chairman of Senate Education Committee, Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis member, LWV member, AAUW member, CPTA member.
My favorite place in town to hang out: My own home. Because of the many meetings and civic activities, that fill my calendar for my professional life, I just love putting on my grubby clothes and hanging out at my own home.
What I like most about living here: Colorado is a beautiful state with great weather. We have wonderful recreation opportunities, no muggy humidity, few pesky bugs, cool nights in the hot summer, and lots of sunshine in the cold winter. Just perfect!
My interests and hobbies: Volunteering for any of the many worthy causes needing help, gardening, and travelling.
My favorite thing to cook: Lasagna and apple pie. My family says they've never tasted any better than mine!
People who inspire me (and how):John F. Kennedy first inspired my career of public service with the creation of the Peace Corps. I served in El Salvador and Honduras and wish every American citizen had such an experience. It gave me a deep appreciation for all the rights, privileges and comforts we enjoy here in the U.S. and a clear understanding that it is my obligation to work to preserve what we have for future generations.
How I have contributed to the community: I've been a soccer mom, a PTA member and leader, a teacher, a Colorado State Representative and a Colorado State Senator. I've written, published and distributed my legislative newsletter,
The Voters' Voice, for 10 years. I've been a tireless advocate for schools working for successful passage of school bond and mill levy proposals over the years knowing a quality education is the key to the future of both our children's and our state's future.
The biggest issues facing us now: Protecting and preserving our quality of life. For too many Coloradans, health insurance is unaffordable. College tuition is unaffordable. Mortgage payments are unaffordable. Putting gas in the car is unaffordable. Our quality of life is threatened as the middle class fades away, sinking into poverty.
Why I am running: With strong, insightful leadership, we can change this downward spiral that is causing the rich to get richer and the rest of us to sink into varying levels of poverty. I am outraged by the domination of TV and Radio by special interest negative, false-messaging that is often designed to mislead the uninformed voter into voting against his/her own best interests. I'm running because the people of Jefferson County deserve to have a commissioner who truly works for the average citizen, rather than those with money and power. I'm running for our children's future.