Consuelo Redhorse

Consuelo Redhorse was born in Boulder, Colorado. She graduated from Longmont High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Fort Lewis College in 2001. Her career experience includes working in accounting and small business.[1]

Redhorse has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

Summit School District Board of Education

Summit High School Pre-Collegiate

Smart Bellies

Summit County Animal Shelter

Sierra Club

Women of the Summit

Girls on the Run

Girl Scouts of Colorado

PTSO/PTSA at Frisco Elementary - Summit Middle School - Summit High School

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud member of the Navajo Nation, a lifelong Coloradan, a mom to a recent high school graduate, a small business professional, and President of the Summit School District Board of Education.

I love spending time with my family, being outside, volunteering in my community, traveling, visiting new places, and experiencing different cultures and communities. I grew up fishing, camping, hiking, and playing outdoors with friends and cousins, and those experiences helped shape my love for the outdoors and for community.

I am a hard worker who holds myself and others to high standards. I try to live in alignment with my values, treat others the way I want to be treated, and remember that some of life’s biggest lessons come through failure. I am inspired by strong women, especially my mom, my daughter, and my sister.

Education has been one of the most important parts of my public service. I have spent years investing time in our public schools and students because I believe education is key to a successful future and that schools should be the heart of a community.

I love a good challenge. At different points in my life, that has meant rock climbing, hiking 14ers, skiing terrain that pushes my limits, and running half-marathons. I also enjoy reading history, suspense, and thrillers, watching rom-coms, playing games, walking my dog, and listening to live music.

I believe in social justice, strong community safety nets, and leaving the world better than I found it.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I bring hands-on experience in business, public education, housing, budgeting, and local governance. I am an elected school board member with a career that has included financial audits for nonprofits and HOAs, and managing finances and operations for a small bookstore and local property manager specializing in long-term apartment rentals. My work and public service have taken place during complex and challenging years for public institutions and the local workforce. I understand how state decisions affect working families, schools, healthcare access, infrastructure, local economies, and housing sustainability because I have worked directly in those spaces. I will bring values-driven, community-informed decision making to the State House.I believe leadership means showing up, listening, making difficult decisions, and staying focused on long-term outcomes rather than political noise. As a school board member of Summit School District, I helped lead through COVID recovery, leadership changes, budget pressures, and increasing polarization around public education. My leadership has focused on balancing competing priorities, building consensus, maintaining accountability, and keeping people at the center of every decision, because lasting solutions require trust, collaboration, and a clear focus on who is affected. As your representative, I will bring steady, solutions-oriented leadership focused on collaboration, transparency, and results for mountain and rural communities.I believe public service should be grounded in honesty, transparency, accountability, and respect for the people being represented. For me, integrity means listening before making decisions, understanding tradeoffs, and staying rooted in my values even when facing political pressure or special interests. As your representative, I will represent the lived experiences of mountain and rural communities with authenticity, make sure your voices shape decisions at the Capitol, and stand up for fairness, equity, and community-centered policies. My commitment to integrity means staying grounded and accountable to the people most affected by policy decisions, with a focus on earning trust through transparency, collaboration, and follow-through.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My experience in education, rental housing, and raising a family in Summit County has shaped the public policy areas I am most passionate about: education, housing, healthcare, and environment. We need strong public schools, expanded access to early childhood education, and more pathways to postsecondary learning and workforce training. We need affordable housing solutions that help locals live, work, and stay in the communities they love. We need better access to quality healthcare, especially where services are limited. And we must protect our public lands, water, and climate while preparing for wildfires, drought, and the realities facing mountain and rural communities. Together, these priorities support healthy, sustainable communities.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

In my experience as an elected official, first as a director, then vice president, and now as president of Summit School District’s Board of Education, I have learned that some of the most important characteristics for an elected official are integrity, curiosity, and the ability to truly listen and learn.

Elected officials should not assume that they know all the answers and are aware of all perspectives. They should lead with an open mind, curiosity, and a desire to listen, especially to the people they represent. They should lead with integrity and listen to all constituents, not just those who are loudest or hold the most power, and connect with those whose voices are most often overlooked or ignored. This brings new perspectives that will help to create more effective and responsive policy. As your representative, I will be a strong advocate and make sure that rural and mountain voices, and those of marginalized communities, are heard in the Capitol.

Serving on the school board has taught me that leadership is not about being the loudest in the room but making sure everyone feels heard. Elected officials should make sure that people feel like they are the reason for the decisions being made, and take action that shows that the people they represent are at the heart of the process.

Elected officials make hard decisions and face complex challenges that often require holding multiple truths at once and balancing competing priorities. It is important for elected officials to bring a holistic view of the communities they represent, not just those that are politically convenient or driven by personal ego.

As an elected official, I am curious, act with integrity, and listen and learn. I have challenging conversations, make informed decisions, and take action advocating for the needs of the people I represent. As your representative, I will bring these values to the Capitol, listen deeply, advocate clearly, and work with you to build stronger communities.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the greatest struggles in my life was losing my sister when I was 28 years old. She was only 34. She was kind, resilient, adventurous, and carried a deep love for family. She supported others, showed up for her community, and was one of the most influential people in my life. Many of the qualities I value most in myself were shaped by her example.

My sister was also a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence. She faced significant challenges in her adult life while continuing to work toward building a better future for herself. Losing her changed me forever, and I love and miss her everyday.

In the years following her death, my family experienced a long and painful court process that was often retraumatizing. I became aware of the disproportionate violence experienced by Indigenous people, including the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives movement. I also began to understand how many survivors and families feel unheard, invisible, or unsupported by the systems meant to protect them. At the same time, our family was fortunate to have caring professionals who supported us through the process, and some of those relationships continue today.

Over time, I learned that honoring my sister also meant speaking up for others whose voices have historically been ignored or marginalized. That experience shaped the way I lead, advocate, and serve. It strengthened my commitment to elevating unheard voices, supporting mental health and accessible healthcare, advocating for safety and dignity, and making decisions that reflect people’s lived experiences. It has also highlighted my belief that we need more women and people of color in leadership to better reflect the experiences and values of the communities they serve.

Sharing this story is important to me because it honors my sister’s life, brings light to others who have experienced loss in this way, and reminds people that resilience, justice, and compassion matter in public service.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Advance Native Political Leadership, COLOR Action Fund, Voces Unidas Action Fund, Colorado Ceasefire PAC, Colorado Muslim Vote, Summit County Commissioner Nina Waters, Colorado Senators Janice Marchman and Julie Gonzales, and Colorado House Representatives Junie Joseph, Lori Goldstein, Javier Mabery, Brianna Titone, Lorena Garcia, and Elizabeth Velasco