Boulder County Commissioner District 3: Ashley Stolzmann
Jun. 5—Name: Ashley Stolzmann
Website: StolzmannForBoulderCounty.com
Age: 37
Family: Husband Brian Stolzmann
How long have you lived in Boulder County? 16 years
Professional background: Chemical engineering, product and process engineering
Political/community experience: Louisville Mayor 2019-present, City Council member 2013-present, Louisville Finance Committee chair, Denver Regional Council of Governments chair 2021-2022, Denver Regional Council of Governments Executive and Finance Committee, Regional Transportation Committee member, State Transportation Advisory Committee, Mile High Flood District director and Finance Committee member
Education: Chemical engineering degree with highest scholastic honors (1st in class) from Colorado School of Mines
This year, eastern Boulder County saw the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. How can we be better prepared for the next disaster?
Because of East County residents' quick thinking and neighborliness, we had a low loss of life in this event. While I am eternally thankful for the community members' response, we expect a better system to address emergencies and I am dedicated to correcting the deficiencies that have been identified from this disaster. Some areas include: modernization of our emergency notification system, addressing the procedures and collaboration between agencies, streamlining disaster response, addressing systematic underinsurance, and disaster prevention and mitigation programs. As a commissioner, I can directly help countywide holistic efforts with firsthand knowledge.
What is a unique perspective that, as commissioner, you would bring to the county?
As an elected official since 2013, I have been serving our community on several regional boards. Elected officials from the 58 member governments elected me to serve as the chair of the Denver Regional Council of Governments, and I have learned so much through the regional partnerships. Relationships developed during this time will be critical for Boulder County's success in major multi-jurisdictional programs. From transportation to open space to housing to disaster preparedness, this experience and proven leadership will be directly relevant as a commissioner from day 1.
Few elected officials have an engineering background, and many county areas benefit from technical understanding of complex systems, details, and strategy. We have leaders that will continue serving with legal and business backgrounds, and my technical and local government experience will nicely compliment the commission.
In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing Boulder County right now?
Taking climate action is the most important issue facing Boulder County and the world. The actions we take in the next decade will determine our path for the future. In Boulder County, we can lead on reducing emissions by transitioning to 100% renewable electricity and by reducing our consumption. Transportation and building emissions will need to be significantly cut in the next decade, and our county government must implement programs to ensure that all members of the community have access to the needed technologies. Boulder County has what it takes to make meaningful change to realize our collective sustainability vision. My focus on people, background in engineering and proven leadership in local government give me the tools to help lead the charge.
