Seat you are seeking: State Representative HD8

Age:59

Family: Husband: Christopher (Toff) Linsmayer; son: Chris Linsmayer (19); daughter Lizzy Linsmayer (16)

Occupation:Deputy Attorney General in charge of the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section of the Colorado Attorney General's office supervising 32 attorneys, 16 staff members

Hometown: I have lived in Denver 33 years; my father was in the Army so we lived in many places. I was born in Radford Virginia and when my father retired from the Army, we moved back to BlacksburgVirginia where my father was Assistant Commandant of Cadets at Virginia Tech. I went to high school in Blacksburg, and my mother still lives there. My father is deceased.

Your Web site: McCann08.com

Favorite local place to hang out:I jog and take my dog running in CheesmanPark.

What do you like most about living here?I moved to Colorado right after I graduated from law school. I came here for the outdoor lifestyle, the openness of the people, the independent spirit of the West, and the many opportunities Denver afforded for a young woman attorney. I continue to love the diversity and inclusiveness of the city, the energy and optimism of the people who live and work in Denver and Colorado, and the close access to the beauty, peace, and outdoor activities of the gorgeous natural world around us.

Interests & hobbies:I love the outdoors. I love to jog, hike, bicycle, ski, and canoe. I also love politics and being involved in important causes to improve our lives. I love to read, and I enjoy photography and the theater. I enjoy music and concerts, both classical and otherwise. I love playing with our golden retriever, Rascal.

Favorite TV show: Meet the Press

Favorite Web site: www.bigthink.com

People who inspired you (and how): I believe that I was influenced to go into public service by my father who was a career Army man. He served with honor in WWII and continued his career in the military. For him, serving his country was a true honor, and he taught me the value of public service and hard work and diligence. My first job as a lawyer was as a law clerk for Judge Sherman Finesilver in the U.S. District Court in Colorado. I was a nervous brand new lawyer, and I was so fortunate to have Judge Finesilver as a mentor. I watched him conduct his courtroom with a fair and open mind. He taught me that those of us in law must always act with integrity and respect for all. I learned the importance of thorough research and hard work. Another mentor was former District Attorney Dale Tooley who also modeled fair and just treatment for all. He also taught me the importance of trusting in those you hire to work for you. I also must also mention several great leaders during my late teenage years: John F. Kennedy,Bobby Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King. They were a tremendous inspiration to those of my generation who wanted to change the world and our country for the better. Their ideas and courage set the stage for many of the profound changes that have occurred in our country over the last several decades. Finally, the very early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony and the ones of my generation: Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem and many others who were willing to take risks in order to move the cause of women everywhere forward. I owe much of my own opportunities to succeed to their leadership.

How you have contributed to the community: One of the programs of which I am most proud is the SafeCity program which I, along with many others, started in 1993 after the 1993 Summer of Violence. I am a big believer in putting resources into our kids when they are young and helping guide them away from substance abuse, gangs, violent behavior. Through that program, we reached hundreds of young people and helped reduce the level of juvenile crime throughout Denver. We spent many hours out in the community talking to people about how we could work with the community to address these issues, and the programs we supported were very influential in the lives of many young people. I have also been active in the East High School community, serving as co-chair of the Safety and Security Committee and working with other groups to keep East a terrific school. I have also served on many committees and boards seeking to improve our community such as the Supreme Court/Court of Appeals Nominating Commission which sends the names of potential judges to the Governor, the Board of Trustees of the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Board of Trustees of the Legal Aid Foundation, Chair of the SEATS for Kids Board (a car seat loaner program for families that couldn't afford car seats), Denver andColorado Bar Associations, I was one of the founders of the Colorado Women's Bar Association, and I am a member of Montview Presbyterian Church.

What are the biggest issues facingyour constituency now:

adequate and affordable health care

public education that is focused on meeting the needs of individual children and providing a supportive and encouraging environment for teachers

the economy - jobs that pay a fair wage and affordable housing

public safety

development of alternative energy sources