Mallory Martin

“For me, using evidence to make policy decisions would be standard practice. Colorado has a wealth of scientific expertise we can draw on, from Colorado Mesa University and Colorado State University to local researchers, experts, and state agencies. I would also look for ways to build and encourage independent and local scientific advisory networks that can provide objective and useful information.

Before sponsoring major legislation—especially on issues like water, wildfire, public lands, agriculture, energy, and public health—I would seek out the best available evidence, understand where there is still uncertainty, and make that information available to the public. I also want to make sure we’re listening to people who know these issues firsthand. This means seeking input from water managers, agricultural researchers, land managers, and communities across the Western Slope.

Where it makes sense, I would support pilot programs with measurable goals so we can see what actually works. If the evidence changes, our policies should be willing to change with it.

Colorado already has valuable nonpartisan resources through the Legislative Council and legislative staff, including research and fiscal analysis. I would make use of those resources while also seeking independent scientific expertise to help make informed decisions.”

“Farmers and ranchers here in western Colorado need policies that support both their livelihoods and the water, soil, and ecosystems they depend on. The goal should be practical and scientifically supported solutions that help agriculture stay profitable while keeping our land and natural resources healthy for the next generation. As a legislator, I would make evidence-based agricultural innovation a priority by:

1) Investing in water efficiency: We should expand funding and technical assistance for tools like precision irrigation and soil-moisture monitoring. CSU’s research centers in western Colorado are already doing important work on water conservation, crop varieties, pests, and resilient production, giving us a strong foundation to build on. 2) Supporting farmer- and rancher-led research: Partnering with CSU Extension, Colorado’s Agricultural Experiment Station, conservation districts, and local growers to test drought-tolerant crops, soil-health practices, and technologies that can reduce costs under Western Slope conditions connects and strengthens different areas of expertise. 3) Protecting agricultural water: I support conservation efforts that don’t unnecessarily reduce agricultural production, protect existing agricultural water rights, and make sure farmers and ranchers have a meaningful voice in Colorado River and basin-management decisions. 4) Reducing vulnerability: Colorado must encourage research and incentives for healthier soils, better nutrient management, and more diverse supply chains so producers are less dependent on volatile prices for imported fertilizers and other materials. 5) Measuring what works: We must make sure public investments are focused on practices that show real improvements in farm profitability, water conservation, soil health, and environmental outcomes—and adjust programs when the data tells us something isn’t working.

In the state legislature we need to find ways to give producers the tools and flexibility to find practical solutions that are proven to work here in western Colorado.”

“The jury is out about whether data centers can provide ANY long-term positive benefits for the communities in which they’re built. At the same time, Colorado’s Legislative Council has identified higher electricity/energy costs, dramatic water consumption, negative public health outcomes, noise exposure, environmental and habitat degradation, and loss of surrounding land value as very real and critically negative AI data-center impacts.

Because of this, Colorado’s legislators must all take full responsibility for making sure that any approved data centers pay their fair share of the costs and negative impacts (economic, environmental, land value etc.) that they create.

So, before approving any project, I would demand rigorous, transparent analysis of its impacts on electricity rates, water supplies, grid reliability, emissions, land use, and local infrastructure, as well as any potential long-term jobs and economic benefits. I believe that to be approved anywhere in Colorado, a data center must at a minimum:

1) Pay the full incremental cost of new generation, transmission, and grid upgrades so existing ratepayers are not left subsidizing private development. 2) Demonstrate and commit to sustainable, self-contained, efficient and non-potable cooling technologies. Data centers in Colorado must not be allowed to jeopardize the precious, limited, and already over-taxed water resources that support ALL life and livelihoods in Colorado. 3) Meet strong energy-efficiency and clean-energy standards, with transparent reporting of electricity and water consumption. Standards must be maintained or operations must stop. 4) Provide measurable public benefits—quality and long-term jobs, workforce training, tax revenue, and infrastructure investment—before any state or local incentives are offered. 5) Protect privacy and communities through appropriate data-security standards and meaningful local review.

Innovation should be encouraged when its benefits exceed its public costs. Our state legislature must require developers—not Colorado ratepayers or water users—to bear these costs.”

“Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. We got to that point through prevention, early detection, and decisions based on the best available evidence. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective against measles, and Colorado’s experience in 2025 showed that quick contact tracing, testing, and clear public communication can help limit the spread. If we want a healthier Colorado, we should:

1) Make vaccines easier to access: Support public-health clinics, school-based vaccination programs, mobile clinics, and outreach that helps remove barriers to recommended vaccines. 2) Invest in early detection: Maintain and expand Colorado’s disease surveillance systems, including wastewater monitoring. In Mesa County, wastewater detection helped identify the potential for additional measles cases and focus the public-health response. 3) Support local public health: Make sure county health departments have the resources they need for contact tracing, testing, outbreak response, and clear communication with healthcare providers and the public. 4) Use prevention to address other health threats: Apply the same evidence-based approach to issues like substance use, chronic disease, air quality, and environmental exposures. We should set measurable goals, track what works, and adjust when it doesn’t. 5) Build trust through transparency: Be clear about what the evidence tells us, what we’re still uncertain about, and why recommendations may change as we learn more.

We can make Colorado’s House District 54 healthier by using scientific evidence to identify what works, making proven prevention accessible, measuring the results, and being willing to change course when the evidence changes.”

“Unfortunately, I think public science literacy is fairly low. Colorado has made an effort to improve science literacy and education, and we rank above average nationally in overall educational attainment. At the same time, despite having a strong adult STEM workforce, a high concentration of federal research labs, and significant recent state investments, Colorado’s local K-12 scores are still closer to the national average.

There are several reasons for this. Unequal access to quality science education, limited time and resources for teachers, misinformation on social media, and declining trust in institutions can all make it harder for people to tell reliable and rigorous scientific evidence from unsupported claims. Science can also feel disconnected from everyday life when we aren’t shown how it relates to the decisions we make or the tools we use every day. Colorado’s K-12 standards could help by putting more emphasis on scientific reasoning and building stronger relationships with science. This could include:

1) Ensuring that our teachers have quality tools and reasonable class sizes. Science teachers should never have to curtail labs because overcrowded classes or outdated equipment jeopardize lab safety. We must support schools and teachers so they can provide more hands-on opportunities to investigate real-world questions, collect evidence, and develop and revise explanations. 2) Teaching students how scientific knowledge is developed, including uncertainty, peer review, replication, and the difference between evidence and opinion. 3) Building media and information literacy skills so students can evaluate scientific claims, sources, statistics, and misinformation. 4) Connecting science to issues that matter here in Colorado, such as water, wildfires, agriculture, energy, and ecosystems. 5) Creating space for respectful conversations about controversial scientific topics while recognizing legitimate uncertainty. 6) Providing teachers with professional development and resources to support inquiry-based and culturally responsive science instruction. Students should be able to explore the historical and cultural contexts of science.

Ultimately, we shouldn’t just be teaching students scientific facts. We should be helping them understand how science works, how to evaluate evidence, and to feel comfortable engaging with science throughout their lives.”