KRDO 2020 Voter Guide: Daneya Esgar
Democrat incumbent Daneya Esgar is defending her seat in Colorado House District 46, which covers part of Pueblo County. Esgar, a former journalist, is the House Majority Caucus Chair in the State Legislature, and she is a member of several other House committees.
What is your top issue for the next legislative session, and how do you plan to fix it?
Esgar: My top issues for next legislative session will be completely focused on recovery. Our nation, our state, and my community of Pueblo County have all been hit hard by COVID-19. I will work on legislation that focuses on all different aspects of recovery from the pandemic such as: fixing the unemployment system, prioritizing access to affordable health care, helping our small businesses recover in a changed economic climate, and helping those who have permanently lost their jobs to find a new career or training.
How can the legislature address the state's housing and cost of living issues?
Esgar: In Colorado, we have some of the highest housing costs in the country, but we don’t boost wages at the same pace as these costs. We must find ways to protect and create jobs with livable wages that keep in balance the growing costs of living in Colorado. As housing costs continue to go up, wages stay stagnant. People are being forced out of their homes and displaced from their communities.
Should COVID-19 be handled more at a local level or from a top-level approach in the state?
Esgar: COVID-19 is an “all-hands-on-deck” issue. It’s a global pandemic that has killed thousands of people in our country, hundreds in our state, and completely destroyed our economy. From the top Federal offices, to the State Legislature and the Governor, to our County Commissioners and our City Council members, we all have a role to play in recovery. And, it is important we work together.
