Melanie Diane Tomitsch

Melanie Tomitsch was born in Jackson, Mississippi. She attended the University of Denver for her undergraduate and graduate studies, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2004 and a master's degree in finance in 2006. Her career experience includes working for a federal contracting firm and as a consultant, developing proposals for environmental cleanup and construction work.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in Colorado since 1977, when my father decided to do a second residency at UCHSC to become a Psychiatrist. I was eight years old.

I am interested in running at this time because I seem to have always struggled. I was always juggling several things at once instead of a linear progression. For example, instead of going to school, then home, then marriage, then children. I did them all at once. Like, I always worked full time while attending college, and carried all three of my boys (24, 19, 12) while doing both. I slowly plodded my way through college over the 19 years from when I started college to complete high school in 1987. Finally, I attained my Master's Degree in Finance from the University of Denver in 2006.

My professional career is diverse. I started in the restaurant business and some retail before spending about ten years in non-profit health organizations, several years at Alzheimer's Association and more than seven at Easters Seals of Colorado (which has a gorgeous camp up in Empire for those individuals with disabilities.) The last 20, yes 20 years, I have been working in the Federal government sector as an employee and lately as a consultant to many large and small businesses doing estimating/cost volumes.

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?

Equality: Health, Financial, Justice, LGBTQ+, Racial, and Opportunity.Cultural Changes through Legislation (setting national standards like recently with the Emmet Till Anti-Lynching Law)Reenact Environmental Protections that have been rolled back under this administration, develop capacity to enact a Green New Deal through education/training programs and infrastructure development.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Making policies that will help the everyday person grow and succeed like policies revamping student loan programs, home purchase programs, and salary parity.

I am also very passionate about criminal and social justice. I would like to address the school-to-prison pipeline, cash bail/bond, racial disparity between sentencing, process the rape kit backlog and increase - greatly - the incarceration rate, develop innocence court at the Federal level to speed up the release of innocent individuals.

to be continued.

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

I look up to people who are intellectually curious and kind. I love Twitter because it gives me, and anyone, access to great voices and topics/perspectives that add to my growth as a person and candidate.

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

To have empathy and to be thoughtful, willingness to learn from those with experience, to listen to constituents, to be intellectually curious and dig into the details.

To understand the solemn power of developing legislation for the all of the people that call the United States home.

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

I am intellectually curious and want to make decisions that positively impact the country and its people as a whole.

A lifelong, learner/reader and I want to learn from others, others in office, staff, and constituents.

I love details and data key aspects necessary to understand when developing laws.

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

To study the needs of the country and it's people and develop new laws to support those needs. To revise or abandon laws that do not serve the people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I gave relief to the middle class and help everyone succeed.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Reagan getting shot, I was in elementary school and we immediately had it on TV, approximately 12 years old. I also know exactly where I was walking in high school when the Space Shuttle blew up, approximately 17 years old.

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

I was a hostess at Perkins that just opened by my house as a teenager. They overhired at launch so I was one of many that were laid off within six months.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer-Bradley). MoA is King Arthur legend told from the women's perspective in the story. I also made me think that if people at the time weren't so intent on quashing other religions that we might be in a much better place environmentally. The major part of the storyline is the intersection between the stronghold of Christianity and Paganism. Paganism worshiped through nature.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Morgan Le Fey. She was a misunderstood lady in the Arthurian legend that very deeply cared about her craft and studied voraciously to be the best and lead and defend her beliefs and way of life.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Silver and Gold by Burl Ives. Yes, really in March.

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

I have never felt financially secure. Instead of the linear path that people are 'supposed' to take. College, Marriage, House, Kids. I did them all at once. I worked full time not to pay for school but to live and pay for daycare. I went to college right before online education became prevalent. Additionally, my husband worked a factory rotating schedule. Therefore, I went to a private university that had a weekend college. It's 14 years later and my debt is the same and cannot afford the payment since the payment is calculated on discretional income without accounting for the expenses.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The power of impeachment. Many of the powers are shared between house and sentate, but the house has the sole power of impeachment.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

It sure would make running a campaign easier. Starting from scratch is very difficult. So, previous experience would mean that endorsements are already in place, likely funding, and name/brand recognition.

I do not think experience defines how effective a person could be if elected. A person with no experience can be very effective just as much as some people currently in office have not been effective at sponsoring and passing bills.

The individual with the drive and determination can get things done using compromise.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The climate, it will take developing resources/infrastructure that do not yet exist it will require trillions of dollars and an extreme cultural shift to ensure we are developing the resources to even begin to tackle such a problem.

The hate that has been sown by this administration through white supremacist ideals, which has emboldened others to target and kill those not like themselves. We have to work hard to reset the culture.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Committee and specific area of interest.

Agriculture as it will relate to climate change

Energy & Commerce as it relates to Health, Climate Change, Consumer Protection & Commerce

Financial Services as it relates to Diversity & Inclusion, Housing, Community Development & Insurance

House Administration as it relates to elections

Judiciary as it relates to the Constitution, Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Immigration & Citizenship

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I think it's too short. Four years would be more reasonable. Two years means you're spending half the time trying to get reelected and that absorbs a lot of money in donations that could be used for other things. Critically, when the makeup of Congress changes every two years it is hard to maintain momentum to solidify party goals, especially if the majority party also changes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I think term limits would help bring new people into government. It is a barrier to running if there is a long-term incumbent in place, especially if it is the same party. We need new ideas and perspectives all the time to develop the kind of government that serves equitably.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

At some point I would be interested. I just need to learn a lot and gain experience in order to do so.

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

There are so many that I follow. Really was pulling for Elizabeth Warren to be the presidential nominee. I also appreciate Kamala Harris' perspective.

Diana DeGette is a Colorado Representative - currently the only woman. I hope to be the next one.

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