WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 29
FREE
Bob Marshall and Matt Burcham square off in 2024 House District 43 race Democratic incumbent faces Republican challenger
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Bob Marshall and Matt Burcham are going head-to-head in November in a race that will determine whether Highlands Ranch will continue to be represented by a Democrat at the state Capitol. Marshall, the incumbent Democratic representative for House District 43, points to his 35 years in public service. Meanwhile, Burcham, the Republican nominee, says less experience might be a good thing. Marshall became the district’s representative in 2022 and says he is a voice for good governance, transparency and the rule of law. “The most fundamental thing to have in an effective government is to have the people’s trust in it,” said Marshall. “People can usually accept losing a policy argument or things going one way or another as long as they feel they were engaged and it was an open process.” Having previously run for the Centennial Water and Sanitation District’s board, Burcham said that not having extensive government experience might be a good thing for the district. He supports “letting normal people” from all walks of life, including those from the business world and community, “take a shot at” serving in the legislature. Burcham’s campaign website states that he is a “limited-government Constitutional conservative
Academic recovery across school districts is mixed, with persistent achievement gaps
Democratic state Rep. Bob Marshall, left, is opposing Republican candidate Matt COURTESY PHOTOS Burcham in the race to represent Highlands Ranch at the state Capitol.
who will never waver on his principles.” Yet he told the Highlands Ranch Herald while elected officials may be on opposite sides, they have to meet in the middle. Whether it’s through meet-andgreets or knocking on doors, both candidates said they are ready to listen to the community and ensure that its voices are represented at the state level. Get to know House District 43
There are multiple House districts within Douglas County. Each elected representative serves a two-year term, joining a total of 65 representatives at the Capitol. The current House breakdown is 46 Democrats and 19 Republicans, according to the Colorado General Assembly. Following a 2021 Colorado Supreme Court redistricting decision, House District 43 was shaped to encompass Highlands Ranch and a sliver of Littleton.
VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | PUZZLES: 25
For years prior to Marshall, Republican Kevin Van Winkle was the representative for Highlands Ranch. In 2022, after Van Winkle stepped aside, Marshall defeated Republican Kurt Huffman for the seat. For Marshall, it was a time of change. He had only joined the Democratic Party in late 2021, after dedicating 30 years to the Republican Party and roughly four years as unaffiliated. Marshall touts his efforts to get several bills passed with bipartisan support, including the Purple Star School Program and Senior Housing Income Tax Credit. In the last two years, Marshall served on the House Finance Committee and Tax Oversight Committee. He was also on the Judiciary Committee, but was removed from it late last year. SEE HD 43, P6
The latest release of standardized test score results provide a glimpse into how well students across the metro area are doing. The data shows they’re still rebounding from the effects of the pandemic, and many students are struggling with the basics, including reading and math. For instance, the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, or CMAS, results show only a third of students at Adams Five Star Schools meet grade-level standards in math. And, a little more than half of third through eighth-graders in Jefferson County Schools achieved grade level or above in reading scores. In both examples, the scores are a little higher than the year before, a common trend in the tests, which measure proficiency in districts across Colorado. Growth scores are calculated on a 100-point scale based on their grade level. Numbers greater than 50 indicate that struggling students below grade level are gaining ground and catching up with their peers. The district results across metroarea counties, including Adams 12, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Elizabeth and Jefferson County, are mixed. Some saw steady growth from last year and others, decline. All but Adams 12 Five Star Schools surpassed the state’s average proficiency rates in the test’s English Language Arts (ELA) and math portions. SEE CMAS, P7
LONETREEVOICE.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA