CANDIDATE PROFILES: The race for Adams County Commission District 1
Commerce City’s representation on the Adams County Commission is up for grabs. Longtime Commissioner Eva Henry is wrapping up her third and final term and cannot run again because of term limits.
Two contenders — Julie Duran Mullica and Valerie Vigil — are vying to replace her. In order to win the seat, either Mullica or Vigil will have to win the support of voters countywide in the June 25 Democratic Party primary election even though they will represent only District 1, which includes Commerce City, on the county commission.
Here’s a closer look at the two candidates — in the order in which they appear on the June 25 mail ballot — and where they stand on the issues.
JULIE DURAN MULLICA
The Adams County native, University of Colorado grad and former Northglenn City Council member also has served on the Tri-County Board of Health, the Front Range Passenger Rail District Board and the North Area Transportation Alliance. Mullica is an infection prevention specialist who works in health care. She is married to state Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn.
Mullica’s campaign website touts a platform she calls, “An Adams County for all of us,” addressing affordable housing, “smart growth” and public health.
On housing: “Attainable housing is at its lowest levels across our region and Adams County should continue to lean in on this issue and find innovative ways to bring more housing solutions to our communities.”
On growth: “The economic opportunities of our county are vast but we must balance that with investments in infrastructure and water management.”
On public health: “As a public health professional, I am so excited to support the work of the new Adams County Public Health Department. After I served as Co-Chair of the Tri-County Health Department Board of Health, I realized that the health disparities experienced in our community need a different approach. We now have the opportunity to build deep connections with the community, serve the diversity of our residents, and prioritize the health initiatives that matter most to Adams County.”
The endorsements Mullica posts on her website include Democratic state Attorney General Phil Weiser; Adams County Commissioners Lynn Baca and Steve O’Dorisio, and Adams County Treasurer Alex Villagran. She also lists a number of members of the state Legislature who have endorsed her, including state Sens. Janet Buckner, Rhonda Fields and Faith Winter, and state Reps. Shannon Bird and Jenny Willford. Various past and present elected officials in Adams County cities are also among those endorsing her.
VALERIE VIGIL
An educator who grew up in Northglenn, Vigil holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice as well as master’s degrees in educational counseling and in teaching and learning. She has worked at the Division of Youth Corrections at the Adams Youth Service Center in Brighton as well as at Adams 12 Five Star Schools. She notes on her website, “Going back to the school district where I went to school has been a great adventure. I had wonderful adults outside my family that helped shaped my life and I wanted to help students the same way.”
Vigil also expresses pride in her longtime membership in several labor unions — “I am a union leader, union organizer, and union supporter” — as well as her upbringing and activism in Democratic Party politics. Vigil’s late father was state Rep. Val Vigil of Thornton.
In her campaign platform, Vigil pledges to work on affordable housing, responsible growth, mental health services, clean water and air, fair living wages and care for the elderly.
The endorsements of Vigil posted on her campaign website include Commerce City Mayor Steve Douglas, City Council member Kristi Douglas, current Democratic state Rep. Lorena Garcia and prominent Adams County attorney and activist Joe Salazar, who is a former state House member.