Family
My husband, Edward Hudak, and I have lived in the Arvada/Westminster area -- in Senate District 19 -- for the past 33 years. Ed has worked for the law firm of Sherman and Howard for 32 years and is its Director of Information Technology. Our daughter, Genevieve, attended Thomson Elementary, North Arvada Middle School, and Arvada High School. She was one of the valedictorians of the Class of 2000 and went on to the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating from there in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. She now lives in Lakewood and works as a computer programmer in downtown Denver.

Involvement in the Community
I am involved in many community organizations, including the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters, and Business and Professional Women (BPW).  I am a regular attendee of the Arvada Roundtable, the Arvada Chamber’s 3rd Friday Issues Breakfasts, and the MetroNorth Chamber's Development Breakfasts. I participate in community events such as the Ralston House Endurance Challenge Benefit. As a member of the Northwest Metro BPW, I help organize and manage the Kids Parade at the Arvada Harvest Festival.  I participated on the RTD Gold Line Issue-Focused Team that helped plan the stations for the Gold Line.

Work in the State Legislature

I serve as the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee.  During my first two years in the Senate I was a member of the Education, Judiciary, and Finance Committees.  I represent the State Senate on the Advisory Committee to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the Education Commission of the States, the Read to Achieve Board, and the Multi-State Highway Transportation Agreement Committee.  In 2010 I represented the Senate on the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Board.  

In 2009 I sponsored a key education bill that aligned the state's three educational accountability systems, based on longitudinal student growth.  I also sponsored a major bill on parent involvement in education.  I serve on the Drug Policy Task Force of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, and in 2010, I sponsored a number of bills to reduce recidivism, reform the state's prison system, and increase public safety.  I also serve on the Economic Opportunity/Poverty Reduction Task Force and the Early Childhood/School Readiness Commission and sponsored some bills on their behalf in 2010.

Involvement in Politics
Before being elected to the State Senate, I was elected twice to the State Board of Education, representing the 2nd Congressional District.  My involvement in the Democratic Party has been extensive for the last 22 years; I have served as a member of the State Executive Committee and the State Central Committee, as well as a Precinct Committeeperson, Captain, and House District Chair in House District 29. I have worked on numerous ballot issue campaigns and was on the Steering Committee for the Colorado Education Network when it designed and promoted Amendment 23.