Junie Joseph (incumbent)
Priorities
- Economic security and affordability
- Climate change
- Equity and social justice
From the time Joseph first ran for elected office — 2019, for a seat on Boulder’s city council — her focus hasn’t changed much: Ensure better representation in governance, help alleviate financial stress for the working class and don’t forget about the climate.
Joseph’s interest in those topics goes further back, serving on student government in college and fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House.
“Since I was little, I knew I wanted to lead a life of service,” she says. “I had seen so much suffering around me. I knew poverty was wrong, I knew the wealth gap was wrong.”
During her two sessions in the legislature, Joseph sponsored a number of bills intended to benefit marginalized groups, from expanded access to child care, increased benefits for low-income older adults and an eviction prevention bill.
“People told me this bill is going to die, no matter how hard you work on it,” says Joseph, the only candidate on Boulder County ballots who is currently a renter. During her freshman term, 13 of the 14 bills on which she was primary sponsor were sent to the governor’s desk.
A vacancy committee initially put Joseph in the District 10 seat after then-representative and Democratic candidate Edie Hooton withdrew from the race. Though Joseph won the general election, she has faced criticism for earning the seat via appointment and for taking on the role in addition to her post on Boulder’s City Council.
Joseph acknowledges these concerns but prefers to stay focused on the work. For residents who question her dedication or qualifications, she points to her record as an elected official.
“Because of the type of legislation I sponsor, it’s a 120-day fight, every day, from January to May,” she says. “I have done the work, and that’s what it has been about for me.”
Do you support the state’s elimination of local occupancy limits? Yes
Do you support ending the state’s prohibition on local rent control? Yes
Do you support requiring or allowing more density in your jurisdiction as a way to address the affordable housing crisis? Yes
Do you support the Front Range train as the state’s highest priority for passenger rail? Yes
Learn more about Joseph’s platform and proposals at bit.ly/JunieJosephBW
Tina Mueh
Priorities
- Public education
- Affordability for workers and families
- The shift to clean energy
Despite never having held a publicly elected office, Mueh feels like she is ready for a seat at the state house.
“My experience is regional and statewide and fits these issues,” says Mueh of her time as a trustee for the public employees’ organization, work on policy with Planned Parenthood across four states and president of the Boulder Valley teachers union. “All this stuff I have done, I’ve been working with legislators.”
Mueh’s reason for running — or at least a “big” one, she says — is that House District 10 voters “didn’t get a choice in this representation,” referring to opponent Junie Joseph’s appointment to the seat by a vacancy committee. Joseph did win the general election, but hasn’t yet bested a fellow Democrat.
“It’s very important that somebody has been in our community advocating for what’s right and actively listening over decades,” Mueh says.
By Mueh’s own estimation, a few things set her apart from Joseph. While she supports “gentle” infill such as accessory dwelling units, Mueh is in favor of more local and community control when it comes to housing. She’s also “stronger about public safety and public spaces,” she says.
Mueh was a supporter of Boulder’s Safe Zones 4 Kids initiative, which prioritizes removal of homeless encampments near schools and on common transportation routes to schools. Organizers behind the 2023 ballot measure have used the campaign’s communication channels to promote her candidacy.
Mueh sees herself as someone who can use her “relational skills” to bridge political divides while pursuing solutions. “I have represented thousands of people and worked with different viewpoints. I know how to work collaboratively.”
Yes/no questions
Do you support the state’s elimination of local occupancy limits? No
Do you support ending the state’s prohibition on local rent control? Yes
Do you support more density in your jurisdiction as a way to address the affordable housing crisis? Yes
Do you support the Front Range train as the state’s highest priority for passenger rail? Yes
Learn more about Mueh’s platform and proposals at bit.ly/TinaMuehBW