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Susan Crutchfield
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Susan Crutchfield (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Colorado House of Representatives to represent District 20. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 30, 2020.
Crutchfield completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Susan Crutchfield was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University in 2012. Crutchfield’s career experience includes working on political campaigns and on a ballot initiative. She has also worked as a small business owner.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 20
Incumbent Terri Carver defeated Megan Fossinger and Judith Darcy in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 20 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Terri Carver (R)  | 58.7 | 27,376 |
 | Megan Fossinger (D) | 38.2 | 17,799 | |
| Judith Darcy (L) | 3.1 | 1,446 | ||
| Total votes: 46,621 | |||
| = 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 Colorado House of Representatives District 20
Megan Fossinger defeated Susan Crutchfield in the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 20 on June 30, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Megan Fossinger | 63.6 | 6,371 |
 | Susan Crutchfield | 36.4 | 3,640 | |
| Total votes: 10,011 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 20
Incumbent Terri Carver advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 20 on June 30, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Terri Carver | 100.0 | 11,777 |
| Total votes: 11,777 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 20
Judith Darcy advanced from the Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 20 on April 13, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Judith Darcy (L) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Susan Crutchfield completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Crutchfield's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Born in Texas and raised in Tennessee, Susan graduated Cum Laude from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology in December of 2012. In March of 2013, Susan relocated to Colorado Springs. Since arriving in Colorado, Susan has worked with various political campaigns as well as starting a small business from the ground up. After successfully running her business for a year, Susan decided to spend time with her family after the birth of her son in 2016. Ready for success again, Susan is now running for State House District 20.
Susan started her college education with Pre-Law as a History major. Realizing that it is important to understand society as a whole when writing and passing laws, the choice to major in Sociology was made instead. Sociology has so far been an excellent foundation for participating in politics as studies evaluate policies in place and identify key strengths and weaknesses as well as identifying needs within the community. Susan's philosophy in life is to "roll up my sleeves, work hard and solve problems." This dedication proved to be a great strength when Susan owned her small business and will continue to be an asset throughout Susan's career.
- I will listen to the issues that are important to my constituents rather than pushing my own agenda.
- Social problems have root causes, and addressing problems at the root is the most efficient way to solve them.
- Tax money should be invested rather than just spent, so that we all get a solid return.
Mental health is the issue I am most passionate about, as it is a root cause for so many problems. Gun violence, domestic violence, bullying in schools, crime and recidivism, are all effected by our current poor investments in mental health. If we were to spend our money on mental health services as a preventative measure, we could save untold amounts of money on expenditures like incarceration - which has zero monetary return. Helping people be more functional in society by providing mental health services DOES have a return of investment - people become employed and pay taxes back into the system, or at the very least they are much less likely to commit crime and need incarceration. Other issues I am passionate about are environmental health and addressing climate change, criminal justice reform and restorative justice, education (pre-k through higher education) and addressing homelessness. Many of these issues are interconnected, and with the right approach and the right investments, we can solve a host of problems all at once. We are in a critical time of change, and it is time to seize the opportunity to make some drastic shifts towards a better and more efficient way of governing ourselves.
I look up to so many democratic presidents. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who brought us out of the Great Depression with his revolutionary New Deal. John F. Kennedy, who continued New Deal efforts with his policies and brought us out of another recession and established the Peace Corps. Lyndon B. Johnson and his Great Society reforms, which brought us beneficial programs like Head Start, and who passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
I would like to follow the examples of all of these trailblazing presidents who envisioned a better society and took great strides to make those dreams a reality. I too have great hopes and dreams for America, and I too hope to have a chance one day to see them realized.
I would like to follow the examples of all of these trailblazing presidents who envisioned a better society and took great strides to make those dreams a reality. I too have great hopes and dreams for America, and I too hope to have a chance one day to see them realized.
Scale, by Geoffrey West.
It Didn't Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle, by Mark Wolynn.
Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair, by Danielle Sered.
Honesty is of the utmost importance. No elected official will be a perfect person, but every elected official should be honest and open when answering questions, and when conveying messages from their constituents.
I also think the willingness to keep up with current research is very important. We can not afford to have legislators who are coming from a perspective of dated ideas or who ignore sociological studies that can guide us in the right direction for crafting policy.
I also think the willingness to keep up with current research is very important. We can not afford to have legislators who are coming from a perspective of dated ideas or who ignore sociological studies that can guide us in the right direction for crafting policy.
I believe in approaching problems from different angles, and using existing examples of successful policy as framework for writing new policies. I am also very open to new information and listening to the personal experience of others; I acknowledge that the opinions and experiences of all Coloradans are equally important. Lastly, I am very tenacious and energetic, qualities that many have told me we desperately need in our legislative body.
Listening to constituents, reading new studies, looking for other examples of how problems have been solved with policy in other states, or even other countries, and using that wealth of knowledge to craft public policy.
I would like to leave the legacy of a strong female politician, who stood up for common people who don't have lobbyists, and who put the needs of the average person over the needs of big business or the desires of other government officials.
The first historical event that I can remember was 9/11. I was in high school chemistry class when we got the announcement. My teacher who delivered the news was very somber, and said he had not had to deliver such news since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
My first job was at 15 years old. I was a tour guide at Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, TN. I worked there for the summer of 2001 and continued working there until the end of the year when I turned 16 and could work another job with more demand for employees; Ruby Falls is not very busy in the off season. I also worked another summer there a couple of years later because it was such a fun job; the second time I rotated between being a tour guide and a gift shop cashier because the position needed to be filled and I am the kind of employee who is willing to do whatever job needs to be done.
Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carrol. It is a story about curiosity and discovery. It is about looking at the world from a different perspective and Alice coming to an understanding about our own place in it. Above all though, it is my favorite because of the fact that it is a story about a young woman maturing, coming into an acceptance of her own personality and finding her inner strength.
If I were a fictional character, I would want to be Wonder Woman. I have always wanted to be a "warrior" for peace and justice, and Wonder Woman is just that.
Trampoline, by SHAED
I have had many struggles in my life. I was born into a working class family and grew up in poverty. I started working informally for neighbors, babysitting and doing lawn work, until I could legally work a job and started my first formal job at 15. I worked throughout high school and college, taking odd jobs when no formal work was available. I secured scholarships, grants and loans to help pay for my higher education, and worked full time as well whenever I could. I had my oldest son in my senior year of college and had to work even harder to be able to graduate. Not only was I studying late into the night, but also waking every two hours to care for my child. I have approached all of my hardships in life the same way, with the idea that hard work and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. This philosophy has not failed me to date.
The most important difference to me is the function of each legislative body. The house can both propose and amend legislature, while the senate can propose and approve legislature.
Experience in government and politics has a very broad definition and can include everything from participating in political events and discussions as a citizen to holding an elected office. I would say some level of experience is paramount.
I think the biggest challenge for Colorado over the next decade will be in properly addressing mental health needs. Other challenges will be transitioning to more sustainable energy sources, transitioning from a punitive criminal justice system to one of restorative justice, and funding education in a more efficient way so that the money used is an investment rather than an expenditure.
Open lines of communication and a willingness to work together and compromise.
Yes, it is beneficial to build relationships with one's coworkers in any capacity. I think that with politics especially, it is important to build relationships across the aisle. Every legislator should think of themselves as American first, and a Democrat or Republican second.
I am very interested in the following committees: House Public Health Care & Human Services Committee, House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Education Committee.
As a junior legislator, I will not be seeking a leadership role within the legislature at this time.
There are many positive qualities I have observed in various legislators that I wish to model.
Yes, I plan to continue a career in politics and public service. I have no specific future offices in mind at this time, and plan to devote myself solely to performing the duties of state representative to the best of my ability.
I have heard multiple stories of women who have children who are suicidal and they cannot find mental health help for them because we simply do not have an adequate number of facilities. Those stories weigh especially heavy on my heart as I know we have lost many teens to suicide and gun violence in this state.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 20, 2020
Current members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Julie McCluskie
Majority Leader:Monica Duran
Representatives
District 1
Javier Mabrey (D)
District 2
Steven Woodrow (D)
District 3
Meg Froelich (D)
District 4
Cecelia Espenoza (D)
District 5
Alex Valdez (D)
District 6
Sean Camacho (D)
District 7
Jennifer Bacon (D)
District 8
District 9
Emily Sirota (D)
District 10
Junie Joseph (D)
District 11
Karen McCormick (D)
District 12
Kyle Brown (D)
District 13
Julie McCluskie (D)
District 14
Ava Flanell (R)
District 15
Scott Bottoms (R)
District 16
Rebecca Keltie (R)
District 17
Regina English (D)
District 18
Amy Paschal (D)
District 19
Dan Woog (R)
District 20
Jarvis Caldwell (R)
District 21
Mary Bradfield (R)
District 22
Kenneth DeGraaf (R)
District 23
Monica Duran (D)
District 24
Lisa Feret (D)
District 25
Tammy Story (D)
District 26
Meghan Lukens (D)
District 27
Brianna Titone (D)
District 28
Sheila Lieder (D)
District 29
Shannon Bird (D)
District 30
Rebekah Stewart (D)
District 31
Jacque Phillips (D)
District 32
Manny Rutinel (D)
District 33
District 34
Jenny Willford (D)
District 35
Lorena Garcia (D)
District 36
Michael Carter (D)
District 37
Chad Clifford (D)
District 38
Gretchen Rydin (D)
District 39
Brandi Bradley (R)
District 40
Naquetta Ricks (D)
District 41
Jamie Jackson (D)
District 42
Mandy Lindsay (D)
District 43
Robert Marshall (D)
District 44
Anthony Hartsook (R)
District 45
Max Brooks (R)
District 46
Tisha Mauro (D)
District 47
Ty Winter (R)
District 48
Carlos Barron (R)
District 49
Lesley Smith (D)
District 50
Ryan Gonzalez (R)
District 51
Ron Weinberg (R)
District 52
Yara Zokaie (D)
District 53
District 54
Matt Soper (R)
District 55
Rick Taggart (R)
District 56
Chris Richardson (R)
District 57
District 58
Larry Suckla (R)
District 59
Katie Stewart (D)
District 60
Stephanie Luck (R)
District 61
Eliza Hamrick (D)
District 62
Matthew Martinez (D)
District 63
Dusty Johnson (R)
District 64
Scott Slaugh (R)
District 65
Lori Sander (R)
Democratic Party (43)
Republican Party (22)
