Shared Responsibility and Sacrifice

For four years she has been the voice of the minority on the eastern plains, as a Democratic leader.  She’s fought for shared unity and sacrifice.  She’s fought for more accountability by government and corporations.  She believes that there are no rights without responsibility— and anything worth mandating is worth funding.  She won’t support unfunded mandates, or taxes levied on a minority to fund programs benefiting everyone.  She won ‘t engage in the divide and conquer mentality so prevalent in politics today.

At a time when insurance companies are allowed to cancel policies of people who have paid premiums for years and are now in the midst of catastrophic crises— whether the crisis is a natural disaster, like Katrina, or an individual diagnosed and undergoing treatment for cancer, Diane opposes any new “mandatory insurance” laws.  She believes that insurance companies must be accountable to policy holders as well as shareholders.  She will vote in favor of commonsense regulations to hold the insurance industry accountable.  She believes that all corporations should be held accountable for the under funding and misuse of funds allocated for workers’ retirement accounts.  While bankruptcy laws for the individual are becoming more restrictive— corporations are allowed to file bankruptcy and retired workers are forced to settle for pennies on the dollar paid into retirement funds.  While corporate CEO’s who mismanage corporate funds are given “golden parachutes” worth millions of dollars— workers are laid off with little or no severance package, while  their jobs are outsourced overseas.  These regulations must be amended to achieve equity.

At a time when troop deployments are being extended for up to 18 months for National Guard and reservists— corporations should be required to hold open these soldiers’ jobs for the length of deployment plus one day.  The current law— passed at a time when deployments were for a year— should be changed to reflect the new reality.  Our soldiers and their families should not be asked for a disproportionate sacrifice. 

Education

Diane is a graduate of a rural school district in southern New Jersey.  She attended a regional public high school, as well as a nondenominational private Christian high school, in an era devoid of vouchers.  She consistently made the Dean’s list at  a community college where she earned an A.A.S. in Law Enforcement & Security.  She has continued her education throughout her lifetime earning her NJ Real Estate License, Firefighting 1, Hazardous Materials training and Hazmat Supervisory certifications.  She has also been certified here in Colorado by NICET in Construction Materials Testing for Soils, Concrete and Asphalt.  She believes that a quality  education for our children is the first step to restoring America to its place as a leader and innovator in the global economy.  

She applauds recent proposals to increase funding for rural school districts through responsible use of the federal royalties paid by mining operations in Colorado.  If elected, she would establish educational priorities and continue to look for innovative solutions for funding the repair, maintenance, improvement and expansion of our schools.  She is also an advocate of lifetime learning— and would work to expand the opportunities for those wishing to attend Colorado’s higher learning institutes.  She has served her New Jersey community in the past as a volunteer firefighter and as Chairperson of the Paulsboro Environmental Commission.  She would encourage graduates to give back to their communities by volunteering.  She is a former 4-H member and leader and supports the goals and mission of 4-H organizations across the country and around the world. She believes that they have a unique function in encouraging and preparing the youth of America for the leadership challenges of tomorrow.

Memberships and Associations

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

  Colorado Senate District 10

Chairperson 

(January 2005-present)

Precinct #79 Chairperson

(June 2004– present)

  EPC  Central Committee

    (January 2005-present)

   EPC  Executive Committee

    (November 2006– present)

  Colorado State Central Committee

    (November 2006– present)

 Member of

Pikes Peak Coop

Member of

M V E A Coop

   (March 1999-present)

 Paulsboro Environmental Commission Chairperson 

 (January 1988-January 1992)

  Billingsport Volunteer Fire Department

        (May 1989– October 1991)

Former 4-H Member and Leader

Listed in Barron’s Who’s Who in Environmental Professionals 1992

Endorsed by 

AFL-CIO

AFSCME

IBEW