City of Highlands Ranch
Not in City of Highlands Ranch? Find your guide.
Ballot Drop Boxes
Return Ballots by Tuesday, November 4th
Welcome to the Colorado Progressive Voters Guide! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
Douglas County School District
Depending on where you live, you may have the following school district races on your ballot.
Clark Callahan is running for school board member for District E of Douglas County School District. Callahan has experience as an educator and administrator. Having successfully assisted the revamp of an alternative high school in Denver, Callahan knows the importance of student-centered education and attentive administrations. Currently serving as an executive director, Callahan has finance and systems-thinking experience that will benefit Douglas County schools.
Opposing Parker is Dede Kramer, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. She does not have her own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Clark Callahan is the progressive choice for the Douglas County School Board District E seat.
Clark Callahan is running for school board member for District E of Douglas County School District. Callahan has experience as an educator and administrator. Having successfully assisted the revamp of an alternative high school in Denver, Callahan knows the importance of student-centered education and attentive administrations. Currently serving as an executive director, Callahan has finance and systems-thinking experience that will benefit Douglas County schools.
Opposing Parker is Dede Kramer, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. She does not have her own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Clark Callahan is the progressive choice for the Douglas County School Board District E seat.
Clark Callahan is running for school board member for District E of Douglas County School District. Callahan has experience as an educator and administrator. Having successfully assisted the revamp of an alternative high school in Denver, Callahan knows the importance of student-centered education and attentive administrations. Currently serving as an executive director, Callahan has finance and systems-thinking experience that will benefit Douglas County schools.
Opposing Parker is Dede Kramer, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. She does not have her own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Clark Callahan is the progressive choice for the Douglas County School Board District E seat.
Kelly Denzler is the progressive choice for the District G seat of the Douglas County School Board. Denzler is a third generation educator and holds a Masters of Education in Educational leadership. She has experience in classrooms, leadership, and, now, in curriculum and resource publishing. Denzler is running to support and sustain educators, facilitate access to high-quality learning, and improve relationship building between families, schools, and communities.
Opposing Denzler is Steve Vail, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
With her wealth of experience and upholding of progressive values, voters can count on Kelly Denzler as the progressive choice for District G of the Douglas County School District Board.
Kelly Denzler is the progressive choice for the District G seat of the Douglas County School Board. Denzler is a third generation educator and holds a Masters of Education in Educational leadership. She has experience in classrooms, leadership, and, now, in curriculum and resource publishing. Denzler is running to support and sustain educators, facilitate access to high-quality learning, and improve relationship building between families, schools, and communities.
Opposing Denzler is Steve Vail, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
With her wealth of experience and upholding of progressive values, voters can count on Kelly Denzler as the progressive choice for District G of the Douglas County School District Board.
Endorsed By: Colorado Working Families Party
Kelly Denzler is the progressive choice for the District G seat of the Douglas County School Board. Denzler is a third generation educator and holds a Masters of Education in Educational leadership. She has experience in classrooms, leadership, and, now, in curriculum and resource publishing. Denzler is running to support and sustain educators, facilitate access to high-quality learning, and improve relationship building between families, schools, and communities.
Opposing Denzler is Steve Vail, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
With her wealth of experience and upholding of progressive values, voters can count on Kelly Denzler as the progressive choice for District G of the Douglas County School District Board.
Endorsed By: Colorado Working Families Party
Tony Ryan is running for District D of the Douglas County School Board. Though a practicing attorney now, Ryan has a background in both the performing arts and sciences and taught theater in camps and classrooms for several years. Ryan is running to support student wellbeing and safety, protect extracurricular funding, and prevent lawsuits.
Opposing Ryan is Keaton Gambill, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Tony Ryan is the progressive choice for the Douglas County School Board District D seat.
Tony Ryan is running for District D of the Douglas County School Board. Though a practicing attorney now, Ryan has a background in both the performing arts and sciences and taught theater in camps and classrooms for several years. Ryan is running to support student wellbeing and safety, protect extracurricular funding, and prevent lawsuits.
Opposing Ryan is Keaton Gambill, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Tony Ryan is the progressive choice for the Douglas County School Board District D seat.
Tony Ryan is running for District D of the Douglas County School Board. Though a practicing attorney now, Ryan has a background in both the performing arts and sciences and taught theater in camps and classrooms for several years. Ryan is running to support student wellbeing and safety, protect extracurricular funding, and prevent lawsuits.
Opposing Ryan is Keaton Gambill, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Tony Ryan is the progressive choice for the Douglas County School Board District D seat.
Kyrzia Parker is the progressive choice for Douglas County School Board. A licensed social worker, Parker has supervised in-school social workers and has worked closely with students, educators, and staff members. Parker has experience navigating the school system to facilitate success for students and families. As a mother and a person with a disability, Parker will advocate for support, opportunity, and access for all students regardless of background or identity.
Opposing Parker is Matt Smith, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Kyrzia Parker is the progressive choice for Douglas County School Board. A licensed social worker, Parker has supervised in-school social workers and has worked closely with students, educators, and staff members. Parker has experience navigating the school system to facilitate success for students and families. As a mother and a person with a disability, Parker will advocate for support, opportunity, and access for all students regardless of background or identity.
Opposing Parker is Matt Smith, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Kyrzia Parker is the progressive choice for Douglas County School Board. A licensed social worker, Parker has supervised in-school social workers and has worked closely with students, educators, and staff members. Parker has experience navigating the school system to facilitate success for students and families. As a mother and a person with a disability, Parker will advocate for support, opportunity, and access for all students regardless of background or identity.
Opposing Parker is Matt Smith, a member of the conservative leaning Common Sense slate. He does not have his own website. The Common Sense slate cites “biological sex” and parental involvement in curriculum and class materials as important issues for Douglas County School District. No one on the slate has experience as an educator.
Statewide Ballot Measures
Proposition LL asks if the state should be allowed to keep and spend the revenue collected from Proposition FF. Prop FF established the Healthy School Meals for All Program and has accrued $12.4 million in revenue since its original voter approval in 2022. The Healthy School Meals for All Program is funded through state income taxes and supports free school meals for all students, regardless of family income. Due to the Tax Payers Bill of Rights, the state of Colorado must ask for approval in order to keep and spend tax revenue that has already been collected. If voters do not approve LL, households that paid the state income tax will have the tax revenue reimbursed to them. With the additional funds from LL, the Healthy School Meals for All Program would be able to further support the purchasing and use of Colorado grown products, increase wages for cafeteria employees, and offer training and technical assistance to schools.
Food is necessary for growing and learning brains. For any number of reasons, many children do not have access to quality nutrition. Free and nutritious meals can help support students from all economic and social backgrounds in becoming empowered learners and leaders.
Proposition LL asks if the state should be allowed to keep and spend the revenue collected from Proposition FF. Prop FF established the Healthy School Meals for All Program and has accrued $12.4 million in revenue since its original voter approval in 2022. The Healthy School Meals for All Program is funded through state income taxes and supports free school meals for all students, regardless of family income. Due to the Tax Payers Bill of Rights, the state of Colorado must ask for approval in order to keep and spend tax revenue that has already been collected. If voters do not approve LL, households that paid the state income tax will have the tax revenue reimbursed to them. With the additional funds from LL, the Healthy School Meals for All Program would be able to further support the purchasing and use of Colorado grown products, increase wages for cafeteria employees, and offer training and technical assistance to schools.
Food is necessary for growing and learning brains. For any number of reasons, many children do not have access to quality nutrition. Free and nutritious meals can help support students from all economic and social backgrounds in becoming empowered learners and leaders.
Proposition MM asks if the state income tax should be increased. The tax increase would go towards free school meals to all public school students and food assistance and education to low-income families through the Healthy School Meals for All and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP). In tandem with Proposition LL, MM will increase the state’s funding capacity for food and nutrition programming by building the funding reservoir for such programming. Ultimately, programs like this support countless children and families and do a great deal to curb hunger in Colorado. All children need and deserve access to quality nutrition. Proposition MM helps provide government support for pathways to success among school age children of all backgrounds and identities.
Proposition MM asks if the state income tax should be increased. The tax increase would go towards free school meals to all public school students and food assistance and education to low-income families through the Healthy School Meals for All and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP). In tandem with Proposition LL, MM will increase the state’s funding capacity for food and nutrition programming by building the funding reservoir for such programming. Ultimately, programs like this support countless children and families and do a great deal to curb hunger in Colorado. All children need and deserve access to quality nutrition. Proposition MM helps provide government support for pathways to success among school age children of all backgrounds and identities.