Dear Friends:

Having served 10 successful years on the Denver City Council, and based on a record of positive accomplishment and strong Democratic values, I respectfully ask for your support for Colorado Senate District 35.

Colorado’s term-limit law is forcing our own Senator Ken Gordon to retire from the Colorado Senate. Ken is a progressive, insightful leader, a gifted public servant, and a highly effective legislator whose shoes will be difficult to fill. While I am genuinely disappointed to see this magnificent public servant leave, I’m proud to have his friendship, support, and endorsement.

I’m running for the Colorado Senate to be the same positive, effective, responsive, problem solving voice I was on Denver City Council. I’m eager to partner with my longtime friend Governor Bill Ritter to bring both Democratic and Republican legislators together to help Colorado’s people, economy, and infrastructure thrive with a particular focus on:

• Access to quality, affordable health care for all Coloradoans
• P-20 education
• Economic development
• Transportation and infrastructure

In visiting with Democrats throughout our district, an insightful theme emerges: I’m surprised at the volume of Democrats who express frustration and exhaustion at the bitter partisanship that often dominates federal and state governments.

Having served as a Denver City Councilwoman for 10 years representing many of Senate District 35’s people and neighborhoods, my record of legislative success was the direct result of staying positive and possessing a tenacious can-do attitude while maintaining a sense of humor. Even more important, the key to legislative success was consistently bringing stakeholders – often of diametrically opposed interests – together in my office or my home to listen and collaboratively problem solve. That approach allowed me to play effective leadership roles on several major community and regional initiatives including:

• Southeast Corridor/T-Rex (a lightrail/highway expansion project)
• University Hills Shopping Center Redevelopment
• Reopening Slavens and Southmoor as K-8 public schools
• Denver’s outdoor youth Skate Park
• Bible Park/Goldsmith Gulch Flood Control Project
• Cherry Creek Bike Trail Completion
• SE Denver Neighborhood Forum
• Transportation Solutions – a transportation management organization
• Denver’s Tow Truck Ordinance (a “no-chase” law)

I had similar experiences serving as Denver’s representative on the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Board of Directors comprised of 54 elected Mayors, County Commissioners and City Councilmembers throughout the Denver-metro region as well as the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Board of Directors, also comprised of dozens of local elected officials throughout the metro region.

Rest assured, effective representation in both contexts required reaching across the political spectrum and collaborating with liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans (in some cases it felt more like Libertarians and Socialists) to establish regional transportation and land-use plans and funding priorities and regional infrastructure development to meet the needs of our rapidly growing population.

No PAC $
I’m the cheapest date in town! While I welcome endorsements from diverse people, community and professional associations, and while I’m available to listen to all sides, interests and parties, I have never – nor will I now – accept campaign contributions from special interest groups or PACs.

Because there is only one of me and thousands of you, please contact me to schedule a time and place convenient for you so we can visit. The better I know and understand you and your family, the more effectively I can carry your expectations and priorities to our State Capitol.

Sincerely,

Joyce Foster
Democratic Candidate
Colorado Senate District 35