I well remember being a young Navy wife and saying goodbye to my husband when he deployed for more than half a year and the subsequent tours of duty. The isolation and the stress falls upon our military service members and their dependents during their years of service. As a military wife, I personally understand the sacrifices that our military families make each and every day to keep us safe.

It’s now more important than ever to have an experienced, proven and effective leader bringing people together to champion our military bases and installations, the families who sacrifice to serve our country and the veterans who have served with honor. Approximately 1/3 of our county’s population is connected to our armed forces. Our five proud military installations and supporting businesses keep our community strong. Fort Carson Army Post, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Academy are vital components of our city’s strength and well-being.

I am a small-business owner and community leader, and a passionate volunteer and military-related nonprofit board member. For me, it’s about helping our military families, and the nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to assisting both active duty and veterans with everything from mental health connections to emergency financial assistance.

As a councilmember, I testified on behalf of our military facilities in our successful effort to keep them open after a round of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) discussions in Washington. As a commissioner, I worked with my county colleagues, the Nature Conservancy and the Economic Development Corporation to establish the Fort Carson Buffer Zone (now a national model) to preserve critical night training capabilities for our soldiers. When the Sheriff’s Office required additional firearms training facilities, I worked alongside my fellow commissioners, advocates and Ft. Carson leaders to establish the Cheyenne Mountain Shooting Complex, the first of its kind in the nation, in partnership with the Army. As Board Chair of the County Commissioners, I initiated and led the effort to create the County’s Veteran of the Year award to recognize those who honor our local veterans.  When serving as President and a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo), I served on the NACo Veterans and Military Services Committee, advocating for county Veteran Service Offices throughout the nation. These are just a few examples of how leadership matters in maintaining a healthy and vibrant economy related to our military. According to the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC’s Military Affairs Council (MAC), “With 5 military installations that contribute to a $7 billion annual economic impact, Colorado Springs lives and breathes defense operations.”

My past record of advocating for our armed forces will continue as Mayor, fighting to keep U.S. Space Command Headquarters here in our community and using my experience interfacing and navigating through multiple layers of government and in D.C. I’ll be a “strong” Mayor, using my position to influence this important economic and national security issue to keep our community whole and healthy.

-As our Mayor, I will provide strong and effective support for our military families, veterans and local employers who provide the foundation for the economic development and vitality of Colorado Springs and the Greater Pikes Peak Region.