Rachel Zenzinger (born 1984) is an American politician from the state of Colorado. A Democrat, Zenzinger is the Jefferson County Commissioner-elect for District 1.[1] She has also represented the 19th district of the Colorado Senate beginning in 2017, defeating of Laura J. Woods; she previously represented the same seat from her appointment in 2013 until 2015.[2][3] Before that, Zenzinger served on the Arvada City Council.

Rachel Zenzinger
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 19th district
Assumed office
January 11, 2017
Preceded byLaura J. Woods
In office
December 10, 2013 – January 14, 2015
Preceded byEvie Hudak
Succeeded byLaura J. Woods
Personal details
Born1974 (age 49–50)
Colorado
Political partyDemocratic
EducationRegis University (BA, MA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Personal life and education

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Zenzinger earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Regis University.[4]

Career

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Zenzinger was elected to the Arvada City Council in 2008. She became Mayor Pro Tem in 2011.[4]

Zenzinger was appointed to the state senate following the resignation of Evie Hudak.[5] Zenzinger was the campaign manager of Hudak's 2012 campaign.[6]

In 2023, she played an important role in removing upzoning provisions from a major land use reform bill that Colorado Democrats were writing to address the housing crisis in Colorado. Zensinger wrote an editorial with Republican Colorado legislator Barbara Kirkmeyer that argued that the reform bill "should be amended to eliminate state control of local land-use planning."[7] The bill subsequently was left to languish in the Senate, preventing its passage in the 2023 legislative session.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Westeman, Corinne (November 6, 2024). "Zenzinger, Kerr elected Jeffco commissioners". Jeffco Transcript. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Bartels, Lynn (November 8, 2014). "GOP win Colorado Senate, Democrats vow to hold party accountable". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Aguilar, Josh (November 8, 2016). "GOP on track to maintain control of Colorado Senate; Democrats widen edge in House". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Rachel Zenzinger". Arvada. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  5. ^ Lee, Kurtis (December 10, 2013). "Rachel Zenzinger picked to fill Evie Hudak's Colorado Senate seat". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  6. ^ Mitchell, David (December 10, 2013). "Dems appoint Rachel Zenzinger to fill Hudak's senate seat". KWGN. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  7. ^ Paul, Jesse; Wenzler, Elliott (April 25, 2023). "Major land-use bill from Colorado governor, Democrats will likely be gutted to remove all upzoning requirements". The Colorado Sun.
  8. ^ "Sweeping land use proposal backed by Polis dies in last hours of legislative session". The Denver Post. 2023.
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