Democrat running for House District 49

Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca, a third-generation Coloradoan and Wellington Democrat, in January announced his candidacy for the state House of Representatives from District 49. The seat is currently held by Republican Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud.

The bilingual Cienfuegos-Baca, 35, is a senior employment specialist at the Larimer County Workforce Center, working with people on temporary assistance and helping them to create job skills and receive job training. He has a degree in business administration from Adams State College and is finishing his master's degree at Regis College. He and his wife, Tanya, who teaches sixth grade at Irish Elementary School in Fort Collins, have two children, Michael, 10, and Cora, 2.

Cienfuegos-Baca is not the first member of his family to serve in politics. His great-grandfather Joe Baca was the mayor of Santa Fe, N.M., for six years.

As a legislator, Cienfuegos-Baca said he will be a link between local communities and the state, just as he now works to match new workers with the needs of businesses.

The candidate criticized the current Republican administration for not being fiscally conservative. He also said Lundberg, his likely opponent, is "so far right he's wrong." Lundberg ran unopposed in the general election two years ago.

"I think you have to trust the people," Cienfuegos-Baca said. "And the ultra-conservative right is reluctant to do that."

Betsy Markey, chairperson of the Larimer County Democratic Party, said Cienfuegos-Baca "is one of the most thoughtful, honest and hardworking people I know."