AURORA | With the beginning of a new legislative session just about a month away, legislators are locked into policy committees, and many of Aurora’s delegation received leadership roles.
Rep. Janet Buckner, a Democrat who was appointed and then elected to fill the seat vacated by her late husband, John Buckner, was appointed Speaker Pro Tem by House Speaker-designate KC Becker. She will preside over the House when the speaker is absent.
“Janet has been a respected figure in the Capitol, a leader within our caucus and a tireless advocate for the community,” Becker said in a statement. “This position will allow her to continue to build bridges. I can think of no better person to join our leadership team in this key role than Janet Buckner.”
Buckner will continue to serve on the House Education Committee and serve on a new Health and Insurance Committee.
Some committees have been revamped, at least in the House, with the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee changed to a House Rural Affairs Committee. Environment and health will now be split into two separate committees, while transportation and local government panels will now be a single committee.
Newly-elected Democratic Rep. Tom Sullivan, who beat Republican Rep. Cole Wist of Centennial, will serve on the House Business Affairs and Labor committee and the House Finance Committee.
Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Democrat, from neighboring Commerce City will serve on the Education Committee and vice chair of the House Public Health Care and Human Services Committee.
Rep. Dominique Jackson, an Aurora Democrat, was named chairwoman of the Energy and Environment committee and will sit on the Health and Insurance committee.
Rep. Mike Weissman, also an Aurora Democrat, will chair the Judiciary Committee and sit on the Energy and Environment committee.
Aurora Democrat Rep. Jovan Melton will serve on the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. Last session Melton served as the deputy majority whip for the House. But he agreed to renounce any leadership position after his arrest record came to light this year, and Democratic leaders called on the lawmaker to resign his seat before the midterm election.
He told the Sentinel he’s taking the year to focus on relationships within the community instead of leading any committees.
In the state Senate, Sen. Nancy Todd, a Democrat who is serving her final year in the legislature, was appointed to chairwoman of the Education Committee, she will also sit on the Appropriations and Finance committees.
“As a retired teacher of 25 years and a member of the Education Committee in both the House and Senate for 14 years, I am honored to have the opportunity to chair the Senate Education Committee,” Todd said in a statement. “I look forward to working with all groups invested in providing the best education for every student in Colorado.”
Sen. Rhonda Fields, also a Democrat, will be the chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Senate Committee and serve on the State Affairs Committee.
“We are committed to preserving and ensuring fair access to affordable healthcare as well as addressing the mental health and addiction crises affecting our state,” Fields said in a statement. “I look forward to working with my colleagues, who are both knowledgeable and passionate about these issues, to improve the life of every Coloradan.”
Sen. Daniel Kagan, a Democrat who represents portions of Aurora, Foxfield, Greenwood Village, Englewood and Littleton, will sit on the Local Government Committee.
Earlier this year an investigation found it was more likely than not that Kagan had used the women’s bathroom at the State Capitol more than once. It was an allegation from several anonymous tips and one from former state Sen. Beth Humenik Martinez. She told multiple media outlets she wanted an apology from Kagan, and that she wasn’t looking for the lawmaker to resign, be expelled or lose any committee assignments from the incidents.
Republican assignments, including newly-elected Rep. Rod Bockenfeld of Watkins, have not yet been announced.
A spokesperson for Senate Republicans said leadership anticipate assignments due out later this week. A spokesperson for House Republicans could not be reached.
— KARA MASON, Staff Writer