Government

Democratic primary candidate Elizabeth Velasco wants to increase voter turnout in the House District 57 race

Aspen Public Radio | By Eleanor Bennett

Published April 15, 2022 at 10:11 AM MDT

Local resident Elizabeth Velasco is one of two Democratic candidates running in the June 28 primary for House District 57. The district, redrawn late last year for this election cycle, now includes all of the Roaring Fork valley and a portion of the Colorado River valley from Glenwood Springs to Parachute.

Democrats Elizabeth Velasco and Cole Buerger of Glenwood Springs are running in the June 28 primary for the Colorado House of Representatives’ District 57.

The winner in the primary will challenge Republican incumbent Perry Will of New Castle in the November election.

Aspen Public Radio is speaking with the candidates from both parties this week and next.

Today’s interview is with Democratic candidate Elizabeth Velasco, who has worn many hats in the community over the years.

House District 57 candidate Elizabeth Velasco, right, and local chef Mawa McQueen attend a recent Equal Pay Day event at the Public House. The event was organized by Aspen Public Radio. In her recent candidate interview, Velasco said tackling the wage gap for working families is one of her top priorities.

She is trained as a wildland firefighter and worked as a public information officer on the Sylvan fire near Eagle last summer.

Velasco now runs her own language-services company based in Glenwood Springs. (Her company, for the record, provides translation and interpretation services to Aspen Public Radio.)

Aspen Public Radio talked with Velasco to learn more about her campaign.

Listen to the conversation above.