Lindsay Gilchrist

Lindsay Gilchrist was born in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from East High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of San Diego in 2004 and a graduate degree from UCLA in 2012. Her career experience includes founding Gilchrist & Company and volunteering as a court appointed special advocate. She has been affiliated with Step Up.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am running for the Colorado State Legislature to represent House District 8. I was born and raised in Denver and am deeply proud of my roots. I went to East High School like my uncles and grandmother before me. I live in Park Hill with my wife and three kids, just a block away from where my Dad grew up. I consider it a privilege to be running to represent HD8 and the community that I hold so dear.

For over a decade I has been working on policy issues from outside and alongside the government. Now I would like to bring that expertise and dedication to the inside, to be a champion for those issues I have fought for my whole career. I hope to put my passion for public service and my extensive policy experience to work in the Colorado State Legislature.

I have always deeply believed in public service and that government should be a place where we come together to solve real problems. That is why I am running, and I am looking forward to earning your support.

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?

Criminal Justice Reform - My stance on criminal justice reform is rooted in a profound commitment to community safety and well-being. This approach seeks to enhance accountability and transparency and promote a more equitable system, breaking the cycle of crime by offering essential services for rehabilitation and fresh starts.Child Welfare - I am passionately committed to improving Colorado’s child welfare system, and my campaign is driven by firsthand experience as a foster and adoptive parent, personally witnessing the urgent need for reform.Gun Violence Prevention - To address this crisis, I believe in supporting community-driven prevention initiatives that curb youth violence, pursuing avenues to reduce firearm accessibility and banning assault weapons.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Given my background in public policy I am interested and passionate about many areas of public policy. As mentioned above, I deeply care about improving the child welfare system, preventing gun violence, and reforming the criminal justice system. I also believe we must invest in a robust public education system, and we must ensure we have affordable housing options for all Coloradans. To read more about my policy positions please see my website: https://www.gilchristforcolorado.com/issues

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Senator Ted Kennedy - I worked in Sen. Kennedy's office and saw firsthand how hard he worked to find common ground with other legislators in order to make progress.

USAID Administrator Samantha Powers - Samantha Powers has done extraordinary work both representing the United States at the United Nations and her work in International Development. She has been a role model of mine for years, dating back to my work in HIV prevention abroad.

Congressman John Lewis - Congressman Lewis was an unwavering civil rights leader who showed an entire nation how to stand unconditionally for civil liberties. His work changed the lives of millions and his determination to continue his work throughout his entire life is absolutely inspiring.

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

Integrity, willingness to listen, collaborative.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

In addition to qualities mentioned earlier, I have over a decade of experience working with legislatures and navigating legislative processes.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Making sure the people they are representing feel that they are heard and that their priorities are being addressed.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to make sure that the residents of District 8 feel they were well represented and that we were able to make tangible change that improved the lives of Coloradans.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was babysitting for my neighbors. I started when I was 12 and it is where my passion and love for children began.

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

My wife and I identify as a part of the LGBTQ community. The coming out process for us, like so many, was painful. We are both people of faith and unfortunately we lost many friends in the process. We are so grateful for our community now and for all the people before us that fought so hard for our rights including our right to marry.

We also have two children with disabilities. It was a slow process in determining their diagnoses and even slower to get the right supports in place. We learned how to access services in a school setting and to get the right supports as parents to ensure each kid's needs are being met. We are so proud of our kids who overcome daily challenges and are such kind and wonderful little people.

Both of these experiences are a large part of my drive to ensure all people are treated fairly and have the necessary supports to thrive in our society.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

I think their needs to be a healthy balance between the Governor and the State Legislature. Coloradans elected our Governor for a reason - they trust his leadership. The State Legislature has the responsibility of taking district concerns to his desk to ensure progress is being made.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I think it is very clearly managing the inevitable growth of our state and all that entails - Housing, Affordability, Climate Change, Education and Investing in our Economy.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe it is incredibly beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes absolutely. Legislators are like coworkers, and similar to any other job it is crucial to have a healthy working relationship with the folks on your team.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Hillary Clinton for her unwavering commitment to helping Americans and the fearlessness with which she approached her positions.

Michael Bennet for how he has represented all Coloradans, from Denver to the Western Slope and how he has prided himself on being accessible and transparent in his decision making processes.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I would like to focus on doing the best job I can in the state legislature.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

While canvassing, I spoke to an older gentleman who told me about how he had lost his partner to COVID and was now at risk of losing his home and having to move his kids away from their current school. It was a heartbreaking story not unlike many others, where a health tragedy immediately leads to economic uncertainty. I was also deeply inspired by this gentleman who was facing such real challenges and also spending his free time volunteering with the Democratic Party to ensure we elect good public servants.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Absolutely. I don't think it is possible to truly represent a diverse district or state without compromise. This does not mean compromising on your principles, but it means listening and truly hearing other perspectives on best practices and approaches to various issues.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Please see my campaign website for a list of endorsements. https://www.gilchristforcolorado.com/endorsements-1

What committees interest you?

Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services

Appropriations

Education

Energy and Environment