Meet Katie Stewart
Katie is a fourth-generation Durangoan whose life and values are rooted right here in Southwest Colorado. She has spent her career focused on serving this community and has built a sincere understanding of House District 59’s unique opportunities and challenges. As your representative at the Colorado State House, she has spent the past two years fighting for what Southwest Colorado needs.
Katie’s commitment to family and community echoes generations past. Together with her husband Dan, they raise five children in the very home that has been a cornerstone of her family for generations – the same one where her mother and grandmother were raised. Early in her career, Katie worked as an EMT in Silverton and later volunteered with Durango’s EMS as well and has built strong relationships with first responders across the district.
Katie has proven her dedication to service through her work strengthening public education, which she believes is one of our most important tools to build a better future for Colorado. During her four years on the Durango 9-R Board of Education, Katie put in tireless efforts to empower students and educators alike. Her first hand experience with the complexities of Colorado school finance ensures she brings an informed approach to the House Education Committee, where she works to ensure our children step into the world well prepared.
Katie knows that it will take more than a strong education system to open up more opportunity in rural Colorado. The cost of living and housing has skyrocketed, making it difficult for many to live and work here – especially families, teachers, first responders and our workforce. She believes we need to increase collaboration and planning between communities and development projects to ensure the district gets the affordable housing supply it needs. With health insurance premiums skyrocketing because of federal policy changes, Katie is working with the rest of the House Health and Human Services Committee to build up protections for Coloradans.
Water is also becoming increasingly valuable, putting even more pressure on the hard working families in our communities. Our ways of life, from agriculture and ranching to the outdoor recreation industry, are all threatened by the changing climate and sustainable development is one of Katie’s top priorities on the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee.
Katie has also actively engaged with campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Through these experiences, she has cultivated meaningful connections with stakeholders across the region, both sharing her knowledge and learning from others. Katie focuses her efforts on working together with other representatives from across the state of Colorado on achievable, productive initiatives that will help Southwest Colorado move forward without leaving anyone behind. House District 59 encompasses Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties and most of Montezuma County.
Her life experiences have given Katie an understanding of rural dynamics that she brings to the state house as a tireless advocate for the betterment of Southwest Colorado and its future.
