A Boulder County Democratic vacancy committee chose Katie Wallace on Tuesday night to replace former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis of Longmont.

Jaquez Lewis resigned earlier this month after allegations surfaced that she mistreated legislative aides and that she allegedly falsified one or more letters of support submitted to a state Senate ethics committee. 

Jaquez Lewis is now under investigation by both the Boulder County District Attorney and the Denver District Attorney.

The vacancy committee in Senate District 17, which includes Longmont, has 114 members.

Eight candidates submitted nomination letters. 

If any candidate did not win a majority of votes, those who received at least 15% of the vote would advance to the next round.

But Katie Wallace, the executive director of the Colorado Democratic Senate Campaign Fund, won on the first ballot with 58.78% of the vote.

Andrew Barton, a program manager for Colorado Common Cause, was nominated by state Sen. Janice Marchman of Loveland. Barton called for repealing TABOR and said he will hold oil and gas developers accountable.

Justin Brooks, the former mayor of Erie, was nominated by Marie Knowles. He told the committee that he led the town’s conversion to home rule, grew sales tax revenue and invested in capital improvements without raising taxes. He said he would advocate for public schools and for teachers.

Kathy Hagen, the state legislative lead for Moms Demand Action, was nominated by Steve Sullivan. “I believe in the power of collaboration, community and meaningful action,” Hagen said. She said she supports early childhood education and K-12, that she will fight to invest in schools, support health care, advocate for gun safety legislation and for affordable housing.

Julie Marshall, the public relations director of The Center for a Humane Economy, was nominated by former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall. Marshall said every day is a new threat: cuts to Medicaid, failure to put kids and community first, and she wants it to stop. She said she will not let Medicaid “fail or fall,” and will work for climate resilience. She also said she will hold RTD accountable. 

Peter Salas was nominated by Lisa Moreno. Salas, a community activist and former member of the Boulder Valley School Board, said he wouldn’t talk about himself, it’s about who isn’t in the room, he said. Who does the Democratic Party represent? Voters are tired of the same-old-same-old and whether the party really represents working families, labor and other disenfranchised communities, Salas said.

He pledged to represent those not in the room.

Wallace was nominated by Melissa Tumblin with a second from Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont.

Wallace said every day, oil and gas pollutes the air and “we must stand up for our future,” for stronger regulations and for renewable energy. She’s a renter and says she will fight for affordable housing. Wallace also noted the $1 billion budget shortfall and said she will fight to preserve funding for Medicaid, food assistance and child care, and to fight against the “disastrous” effects of TABOR.

Martha Wilson, a clinical consultant for the Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel, was nominated by Melanie Jordan. She said she will address health care, fight for life-saving prescription drugs, create jobs that don’t pollute and fight against TABOR.

Shiquita Yarbrough, a member of the Longmont City Council, was nominated by Nia Wassink. She said she’s addressed issues such as housing affordability, economic development, environmental sustainability and sustainable transportation and said she will take that fight to the state Senate. She said she will fight to restore funding for critical programs supporting children, veterans and small businesses, and work to protect the environment and for immigration reform that reflects Colorado values.