Yadira Caraveo, candidate for House District 31

Party: Democrat

City: Eastlake

Profession: Pediatrician

Contact: 720-280-9405, yadira@caraveoforcolorado.com, facebook.com/caraveoforcolorado; https://twitter.com/yadiracaraveo

caraveoforcolorado.com

What makes you the best choice for this office?

As a pediatrician, labor advocate and environmental activist, I have never backed down from tackling the issues that Coloradans face. Whether it was my advocacy for the Affordable Care Act, my designation as a Champion of Change by the Obama administration, or my work on the boards of the Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County and the Colorado Behavioral Health Transformation Council, I have demonstrated the progressive leadership that we need in the State House.

What can the Legislature do to ease the strain of rising housing prices on Colorado residents?

To reduce the pressure of rising housing costs, we need to ensure that every Adams County resident earns a living wage. This means raising the minimum wage in order to match the costs of living here. Plus, we need to cut the costs of transportation by supporting public transit. Driving every day is a large budget expense for households, so providing cheaper, alternative forms of transportation will help families afford to stay in Adams County.

What can be done to ensure the state's transportation system will be able to accommodate continued population growth?

We have to invest in public transit and move away from the conservative approach of building more highway lanes. In Adams County, these projects lead to more toll lanes and private roads designed to support corporate profits, not our communities. This is why we need to increase funding for multimodal transportation and ensure that every community in Adams County has access to affordable bus and light rail services.

What two issues demand more attention in the upcoming Legislative session than they received in the previous one, and why?

First, we need to focus on increasing resources for vocational education and apprenticeship programs. Adams County residents should not have to spend a fortune at a four-year college in order to prosper. Second, we need to examine how we can expand health care access to all Coloradans. I am the only candidate for HD-31 who believes that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, a sentiment shared by the rest of the developed world.

If elected, what must you accomplish in order for you to consider your term a success?

Success for me entails expanding funds for public education, ensuring that every child in Adams County can go to schools that offer five-day class weeks and making sure that all teachers are earning living wages. A successful term also includes sponsoring legislation to expand health care access and rebuke conservative attempts to throw people off Medicaid. Finally, it means securing funding for multimodal transportation infrastructure in Adams County so that we can reduce commute times.