Kathy Henson

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Kathy Henson

Democratic Party

Adams County Commission District 2

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

0

Predecessor

Chaz Tedesco

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Millard North High School

Bachelor's

Capital University, 1990

Personal

Religion

Christian: Lutheran

Profession

Politician

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Kathy Henson (Democratic Party) is a member of the Adams County Commission in Colorado, representing District 2. She assumed office on January 14, 2025. Her current term ends on January 9, 2029.

Henson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Adams County Commission to represent District 2 in Colorado. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Henson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kathy Henson earned a high school diploma from Millard North High School and a bachelor's degree from Capital University in 1990. Her career experience includes working as a politician, actor, singer, choreographer, and director.

Henson has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• LEAD Metro North with Adams County Regional Economic Partnership
• The Five Star Leadership Academy
• Adams County Regional Economic Partnership
• North Area Transit Alliance
• Airport Coordinating Committee
• Colorado Municipal League Policy Committee
• Adams County Aging Network
• Adams 12 School District Finance and Audit Committee
• Lutheran Church of Hope

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Adams County, Colorado (2024)

General election

General election for Adams County Commission District 2

Kathy Henson defeated Bernadette Tedesco in the general election for Adams County Commission District 2 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kathy Henson (D)	61.7	117,176
	Submit photo	Bernadette Tedesco (Colorado Center Party)	38.3	72,848

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 190,024
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Adams County Commission District 2

Kathy Henson advanced from the Democratic primary for Adams County Commission District 2 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kathy Henson	100.0	27,427

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 27,427
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Henson's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Henson in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kathy Henson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Henson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived most of my life in Colorado, and my husband, Dennis, and I moved to Adams County twenty years ago and proudly raised our sons here. I am the proud daughter of a preacher and a teacher, and I was raised to believe that serving our community is both a privilege and a responsibility. I am a leader, artist, education advocate and elected council member. Always passionate about the performing arts, I have a degree in vocal performance and worked for years in musical theater as a performer, director and choreographer. I have been an education advocate for students with special needs and served on the Adams 12 District Finance and Audit Committee for five years. I was a member of the Thornton Active Adult Board, an advisory board to the council on issues impacting residents ages 55+. My community activism to clean up and redevelop the blighted Thornton Shopping Center led to my successful campaign and election to Thornton City Council in 2021.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Managing Growth & Fostering a Vibrant Economy: As Adams County experiences rapid population growth, the demand for diverse housing options and robust commercial development increases.Adams County needs increased housing inventory so that families can live in the community of their choice, even as their housing needs change over time. I am proud to be endorsed by the Metro Housing Coalition and to have good relationships with home builders and affordable housing advocates. We need good commercial development throughout the area and revitalization in our older neighborhoods to provide the amenities residents need and generate revenue to meet the needs of our county.
• Enhancing Comprehensive Public Safety: We need to ensure we are addressing needs effectively. Adams County needs more wraparound services to support our first responders so the needs of the community are met without looking to police/sheriff and firefighters to be our response to all mental health crises and homelessness issues. Co-responder programs and increased mental health support are programs we need to explore/expand. We also need to expand our human services delivery to help stabilize our neighborhoods, which also improves public safety. We particularly need to expand services for seniors and families with children. Partnering with our Adams County Health Department will be critical to the success of these efforts.
• Environmental Protections & Sustainability: We all deserve clean air and water. Water supply and management are critical issues in Colorado and must be planned for accordingly to ensure the future health of the community. Employers need to provide a safe workplace for employees and protect the residents who live near their business. We need a strong economy, and it does not have to come at the expense of public health and worker safety. We get our energy from a variety of sources, and it is critical that the health and welfare of residents and protection of our natural environment guide our decision making in these matters. I have been endorsed by Conservation Colorado and will speak with all stakeholders on environmental issues.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Our housing supply and affordability issues are critical. We need more inventory and housing options to ease this crisis. This, along with land use issues, are top of mind for me. I want to engage and collaborate with our state legislators on these critical issues to find solutions that will help our county.

I am also passionate about economic development, and supporting our small businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and employ many people. Well-paying jobs and a healthy business community will strengthen our community.

Expanding and improving our human services will also be an area of focus for me, because these are what improve the lives of residents and build stable communities where everyone can thrive.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The role of an Adams County Commissioners is to manage the operations and affairs of the county as authorized by the state. The responsibilities are wide ranging, from infrastructure to human services, public safety, appointing staff and determining the operating budget. There are many interests and priorities to balance, but whatever the issue, I think commissioners have to look at how their work and decisions can best benefit the county, residents and stakeholders.
Engaging with all stakeholders - having conversations and asking questions - is imperative to learning what leaders need to know to make tough decisions. Collaboration is also critical to effective leadership, and while that is not always easy, it can be vital to making progress that will benefit the community. Finally, it is always necessary to remember that commissioners are public servants who work for all taxpayers and residents. We are elected to serve the people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy that reflects how much I enjoy working with people and serving the public to make our community the best it can be. I actually love meetings, because I love collaboration and problem solving with a team. My background is in theater, which is a very collaborative art with lots of moving parts to create success. I see similarities to local government there - lots of people working on many issues to help our community succeed. I enjoy working with staff and other elected leaders, and I truly enjoy being at community events and interacting with residents. Building community is a vital and fun part of public service and what I truly love about the opportunity to serve in office. Celebrating seasonal festivals and events are my favorite part of the job!

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

A full list of endorsements is available at www.kathyforadams.com/endorsements/

My list of endorsements includes:
Attorney General Phil Weiser
Senator Michael Bennet
Senator John Hickenlooper
Congresswoman Dr. Yadira Caraveo
Congressowman Brittany Pettersen
Congressman Jason Crow
Congressman Joe Neguse
Former Congressman Ed Perlmutter
District Attorney Brian Mason
Commissioner Steve O'Dorisio
Commissioner Emma Pinter
Commissioner Eva Henry
Commissioner Lynn Baca
Many other elected leaders

Denver Area Labor Federation
Metro Housing Coalition
Conservation Colorado
BlueFlower Fund
Int'l Assoc. of Fire Fighters Local #2376
Int'l Assoc. of Fire Fighters Local #5124
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 16

CO Working Families Party

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