Election 2020: Meet Mary Young, the Democratic candidate running unopposed for State Representative in House District 50
By Kelly Ragan
Mary Young is the Democratic candidate running unopposed for State Representative in House District 50. She was appointed to the seat in 2019. House District 50 includes Greeley, Evans and Garden City (to see a map, click here.)
Though Young is running unopposed, we think it’s important for voters to get to know their elected officials.
Colorado has 65 state representatives – each is elected for a two-year term and is limited to serving for four consecutive terms.
State representatives help to write bills, vote on legislation and approve the state’s budget.
The NoCo Optimist sent a questionnaire out to local candidates who will appear on the Weld County ballot. We will publish them as candidates respond. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
Why did you decide to run for office?
I decided to run for the State Representative office in House District 50 when there was a vacancy in June 2019. Primarily, I made that decision because of my concern about the availability of behavioral health (mental health and substance use) services for our youth in schools and in the community.
After the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting, it was clear that we were failing our students. Students at the high school identified mental health was an unaddressed need, which in their opinion led to the shooting. With my long-time experience addressing these issues in schools, I knew I could be an effective leader and participant in this conversation in the legislature.
I also have personal experience working with mental health issues. I am the co-guardian of my sister-in-law, along with my husband, Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young. We became her guardians because she needed a guardian in order to have a liver transplant, since she is an individual with an intellectual disability in addition to medical and mental health challenges. I am running for re-election to continue working on these issues I care about and to continue listening to constituents to create a community where people can the live the lives that they want.
What issues are most important to you?
Right now, achieving recovery in both the public health and economic realm are my prime concerns. We have learned during the pandemic that public health and economic health are intertwined.
I was prime sponsor of a bill during the last session that provided grants and loans to small businesses that were not able to access PPP loans. Originally, there was $15 million dollars of CARES money dedicated to this, with $6 million dollars recently being added to these funds. These opportunities targeted small businesses that were women, veteran and minority owned. In addition, small businesses which focus on tourism were also included. This grant program has been named the Energize program. There was also a bill that provided loans to bigger small businesses called the Climber Bill.
The pandemic has also highlighted the social inequities which exist and need to be addressed. Future legislation needs to be looked at through this lens. Having spent my professional career in public education, I realize education is the great equalizer. The issues of adequate funding for teacher salaries, mental health services and other essential school services including assessment continues to be paramount.
If elected, what are the top three things you’d like to accomplish?
The top three things I plan to do is:
Continue my commitment to improved mental health services and educational issues.
Continue to focus on the issues that affect working families in part by continuing to work on public health and the economy.
Focusing on issues related to education funding and educational system improvements both Pre-K-12 and higher education.
All of this needs to be in the light of a need for social equity.
How do you plan to do so?
The challenge is to meet needs under the current fiscal constraints of our state. We had to cut the state budget over $3 billion last year and it is uncertain what it will look like this year. As a result, successful bills will have little or no fiscal impact.
I have already begun work working on these issues. I have plans to sponsor a bill that would build a high-performing conflict free case management system to serve all populations – people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, elderly, persons with physical disabilities and individuals with mental health needs. This bill will not only not require additional funds to run but it also will save money by eliminating a current additional layer of personnel to provide services.
I have several bills I needed to withdraw because of the financial constraints of the pandemic. Among those are a bill to provide training to increase the number of professionals who can respond to the behavioral health crisis needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, among others. This population needs services provided by specially trained individuals that provide services appropriate to these individuals so they don’t require more intervention, hospitalization, or end up in the court system. Also, I had a bill to increase the number of school psychologists in schools which will increase access to mental health services.
What relevant, previous experience do you have?
I have been in the legislature for a year. I was effective during a session with very unique challenges as we worked to meet the needs of Coloradoans during the pandemic. I have spent the last year in the legislature achieving important legislation. Please look at my website to see all the work I did: maryyoungforcolorado.com.
What skills, training, resources, and expertise do you feel you have to offer?
My training includes a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. I have a master’s degree in Teaching the Emotionally Disturbed from Duke University. I have a professional career with extensive additional research-based training in many areas including providing prevention, anti-bullying school wide plans, crisis training, mental health services and effective behavioral change. I also have training in the assessment and the intervention for autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and other issues.
What would you most like voters to know about you?
I am committed to effectively representing HD 50. I am a listener and want to hear from my constituents about what their concerns are. I have lived in HD 50 for close to 40 years and love this community. I want to see it weather the current turbulent times and move on to an even more successful future