Janice Marchman
DemocraticQ1 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
“To deliver evidence-based, fiscally responsible policies, I will establish a Non-Partisan Science and Economic Advisory Council composed of local researchers, agricultural leaders, energy sector specialists, and public health professionals from our district. This advisory body will review major legislative proposals prior to committee hearings to assess scientific consensus, cost-effectiveness, and real-world impacts on our local communities and workforce. Furthermore, I will prioritize regular working sessions with Colorado’s research institutions, state agencies, and regional stakeholder groups to ensure local data directly informs balanced policymaking.”
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?
“Supporting our agricultural producers requires pragmatic solutions that protect both our agricultural economy and natural resources. I support state partnerships with higher education institutions to expand research into drought-tolerant crops, soil health management, and advanced precision irrigation technologies that help farmers optimize water and fertilizer use. Additionally, I will advocate for streamlined state grant programs and tax incentives that reduce operational costs for family farms adopting sustainable water conservation methods, ensuring our farming communities remain economically viable and resilient against changing climate conditions.”
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?
“State inaction on data centers has forced communities like Fort Collins, Loveland, and Boulder to pass fragmented local moratoriums. Uniform statewide guardrails are urgently needed. In 2027, I look forward to supporting Senator Cathy Kipp’s bill. This bill establishes utility-phased clean energy matching (40% by year three, 100% by year six), strict water efficiency standards, cumulative environmental impact analyses before construction, and mandatory community benefit agreements with robust labor standards, including prevailing wages and registered apprenticeships. While I have supported strong consumer protections negotiated by the Colorado Energy Consumers Coalition and full Public Utilities Commission review requirements, bringing clean energy-first guardrails to Colorado in 2027 remains a firm commitment.”
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?
“Public health strategies must focus on proactive, cost-effective community protection. I support strengthening state and local public health partnerships to boost voluntary vaccination access, mobile health clinics, and educational campaigns in rural and underserved areas. Utilizing real-time epidemiological data, we can target outreach and localized healthcare resources efficiently, mitigating disease spread without imposing broad mandates or unnecessary regulatory burdens on small businesses and school districts.”
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?
“Improving STEM education is essential for building a workforce prepared for Colorado’s modern economy. I support updating K-12 science standards to emphasize practical, inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and data literacy across all grade levels. Expanding career-technical education (CTE) pathways, including the recently passed seal of climate literacy endorsement that allows graduating high school students to earn an environmental credential—alongside partnerships with local universities, agriculture, and energy industries will expose students to hands-on scientific applications and prepare them for high-paying regional careers without expanding state administrative overhead.”