Dr. Lynda Zamora Wilson
RepublicanQ1 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
“As a constitutional conservative with a PhD in Economics and 25 years in the Air Force analyzing data, science should not be politicized to justify government overreach. Scientific inquiry is strongest when data, assumptions, and methodologies are transparent and open to public scrutiny. I will support transparent advisory mechanisms including: independent, peer-reviewed studies from diverse sources (not just government-funded consensus), public hearings with cross-examination, rigorous cost-benefit and constitutional impact analyses, and input from affected Coloradans. Evidence must respect individual liberty, limited government, and empirical reality. I also support regular consultation with Colorado’s universities, research institutions, agricultural experts, public health professionals, and private-sector innovators to ensure policymakers have access to the best available evidence.”
Q2 Colorado farmers are facing multiple threats, amidst water scarcity and rising prices for fertilizer and other imported materials. As agriculture is our #1 export sector, in what ways do you imagine using your role to support evidence-based advancements to protect and support our farmers and natural resources in the years ahead?
“I support free-market solutions and limited government to empower Colorado’s farmers. Thus, it is imperative to reduce regulatory burdens, streamlining water rights protections under the prior appropriation doctrine, and incentivize innovation in efficient irrigation and domestic fertilizer production to combat scarcity and rising costs. I support voluntary advancements in soil health and resource stewardship that respect property rights. I voted for SB26-121 (Overtime Threshold for Agricultural Employees), which reduced regulation, helped farmers to establish a fair overtime threshold for agricultural employees, and balance worker needs with farm viability. I support voluntary adoption of precision agriculture technologies, drought-resistant crop research, advanced irrigation systems, and data-driven resource management practices that help farmers produce more with fewer inputs while protecting natural resources.”
Q3 America has a growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation but raising issues of resource use, privacy, and economics. What is the right balance of costs and benefits for new data center construction in Colorado, and how would your policies accomplish that balance?
“Data centers can drive technological innovation, economic growth, and high-quality job creation, but their development must be balanced with responsible stewardship of Colorado’s water, energy, and taxpayer resources. Private enterprise should bear full costs via market pricing and local zoning. Any incentives offered to large technology companies should be subject to rigorous public cost-benefit analysis to ensure taxpayers receive measurable returns and are not subsidizing private profits. Most importantly, property rights must be upheld for those who were first established. Large data center projects should provide transparent reporting of projected water consumption and demonstrate how their operations will avoid negatively impacting existing agricultural, residential, and environmental water users.”
Q4 Colorado has experienced a lingering measles outbreak since March of 2025. What evidence-based policies do you support to improve community and preventive health for your constituents, for infectious diseases and other threats?
“Vaccines have played a significant role in reducing the spread and severity of many infectious diseases, and public health communications should accurately reflect both the benefits and risks of available medical interventions. Individual rights and parental authority should be priority over government mandates. Evidence shows high vaccination rates in Colorado, with outbreaks often tied to pockets of low immunity. Thus, I support: -Transparent, evidence-based public education on vaccines and natural immunity. -Strong informed consent laws protecting medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions. -Local health departments focusing on voluntary outreach, not coercion. True public health improves through personal responsibility, not top-down control. Colorado families, not bureaucrats, make the best health decisions.”
Q5 What are your opinions on the current state of science literacy, and how could K-12 education standards be adapted to form a better public understanding of and relationship building in science?
“Science literacy in America is declining because many classrooms prioritize political narratives over the scientific method, critical thinking, and empirical evidence. Students deserve facts, not activism disguised as science. To improve K-12 standards, we must emphasize rigorous teaching of the scientific method, hypothesis testing, data analysis, and debate of competing evidence. Students should also develop a foundational understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, including how to evaluate AI-generated content, identify manipulated images and deepfake videos, and verify information using credible sources. AI should be a tool that enhances human intelligence, not a substitute for human judgment.”