August 08, 2010 12:09 AM UTC

Rhonda Fields Wins HD-42 Democratic Nomination

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• by: Colorado Pols

Rhonda Fields has won the nomination to serve as the Democratic candidate in HD-42, replacing Rep. Karen Middleton, who chose not to run for re-election. Press release after the jump.

Winning the House District 42 vacancy committee election on the first ballot, Rhonda Fields has been designated the Democratic nominee for the seat. The vacancy committee was called after the withdrawal of State Rep. Karen Middleton from her re-election campaign.

“I am honored to have earned the confidence of my fellow Democrats,” said Fields. “I will fight hard to win the trust of the voters on the campaign trail, and in the state house I will fight to make sure Aurora families have the strongest voice in their state government.”

State Rep. Karen Middleton offered her immediate support to Fields. “Rhonda is going to be a powerful voice for Aurora families,” she stated. “Rhonda is exactly the kind of leader who will help our state by holding powerful special interests accountable and increasing government transparency.”

Terrance Carroll, Speaker of the Colorado State House, was unequivocal in support of Fields’ candidacy.

“Rhonda’s contributions to Colorado have already been remarkable,” stated Carroll. “She understands how the process works, as well as how to make it work better for Colorado families. As a state representative, Rhonda will be a strong voice for Aurora and a leader for justice, fairness and equality for all of Colorado.”

Fields was designated by the committee on the first ballot, and Arapahoe County Democratic Chair Mike Hamrick noted the turnout and enthusiasm of the vacancy committee. “Democrats in this district are fired up for this election, because they know Rhonda is the right leader to help Colorado get back on track.”

Fields is a lifelong Aurora resident, raising her two children in the Aurora Public School system. A 24-year employee of United Airlines, she holds a Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

Fields is the founder of the Fields Wolfe Memorial Fund, a nonprofit started in memory of her son Javad Fields, and his fiancé, Vivian Wolfe. The two CSU graduates were murdered on June 20, 2005, less than a week before Javad planned to testify as a key witness in the murder of his best friend. In April 2007, Fields was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter to serve on the Colorado Commission on Criminal Juvenile Justice, and she is Board President of Voices of Victims. Fields has testified before the Colorado legislature on two successful bills, one strengthening the state’s Witness Protection Programs, as well as the Javad Marshall Fields & Vivian Wolfe Witness Protection Act that is designed to develop better risk-assessment tools to elevate the safety and security of witnesses in criminal trials.<blockquote>