Two candidates seek state Senate District 15 seat

Two candidates have recently announced their interest in representing Larimer County residents in state Senate District 15.

Incumbent Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, will seek a second term, and Jennifer Miller of Fort Collins has announced her intention to run on the Democratic ticket.

In a press release, Miller said she would support child-care-through-college education. She also wants to help adult Coloradans by supporting a living wage, affordable health care and the business communities.

Miller works as a sign language interpreter, primarily in the post-secondary, legal and video relay areas. Her goal is to enhance communication services to ensure all Coloradans have equal access in their lives. Miller also works as a case manager for the deaf and hard of hearing through Disabled Resource Services.

In seeking re-election, Johnson, 46, said that his number one goal is to insure that Referendum C revenue is spent exactly as was stated in the November campaign - for K-12 education, higher education, health care and transportation. Johnson was the Senate sponsor of Referendum C, a bipartisan measure that allows the state to keep all tax revenue above limits set by the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights for the next five years.

This is Johnson's 10th year in the Colorado Legislature. He was first elected to the state House in 1996, where he served for six years, and was first elected to the state Senate in 2002. Johnson practiced veterinary medicine in Loveland for 16 years and was the former owner of the Allard Animal Hospital.

Senate District 15 represents all of Larimer County outside of the Fort Collins city limits, including the communities of Loveland, Estes Park, Berthoud, Wellington, LaPorte and Timnath.

Candidates for other state legislative seats announced earlier this year.

• In House District 49, Democrat Sue Radford, 44, of Fort Collins is opposing Republican incumbent Kevin Lundberg, 53, of Berthoud.
• In House District 52, Democrat John Kefalas, 51, of Fort Collins will run against Republican incumbent Bob McCluskey, 55, of Fort Collins.
• House District 53 has no incumbent seeking re-election. Democrat Randy Fischer, 54, of Fort Collins will run against Republican Anne Yeldell, 49, of Fort Collins.
• Two-term Rep. Angie Paccione, a Democrat, who currently represents House District 53, is instead seeking the District 4 seat in the U.S. Congress.

The general election will be held Nov. 7.