Boulder County Employees Union

Bargaining Committee Candidates

  • Recovery & Resilience Program Manager, Office of the County Administrator

    I’m running for the bargaining committee because I believe in equity, fairness, and ensuring that all employees have a voice in shaping our future. Boulder County’s Policy 1.06 states that “good government is impossible without racial equity” and that everyone in this institution shares the responsibility to eliminate systemic barriers. I want to bring that same commitment to our union negotiations.

    I’ve spent years advocating in the background for structural change and making sure that the work of Boulder County matches our values and policies. Fair wages, job security, and safe working conditions are not just benefits—they are fundamental rights. We need a strong, organized bargaining team that will hold leadership accountable and ensure real change.

    True equity means full participation and shared power in decision-making. I will fight for a contract that reflects collective needs, protects workers, and moves us toward a just and inclusive workplace.

  • Building Services Dispatcher, Public Works

    Joining a union committee is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by advocating for the rights, well-being and professional growth of my colleagues. I am deeply committed to fostering a fair and inclusive workplace where ever voice is heard and valued. By being part of the committee, I aim to contribute to creating a stronger, more unified workforce that can collaboratively address challenges, negotiate better working conditions, and ensure equitable treatment for all. My passion for teamwork, communication and problem-solving aligns perfectly with the goals of a union committee, and I am eager to leverage these skills to drive positive changes and build a supportive environment for everyone.

  • Application Support Administrator, Commissioners

    I would be honored to be a member of our BCEU-CWA Bargaining Committee. I promise to advocate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for every person in our bargaining unit.

    I believe each of us deserves the privileges, rights, and dignity that come with a union contract. I am ready to collaborate with county leadership to get the best outcomes for our union. I have an excellent working relationship with the commissioners, after working in their office for the last 6 years, and I look forward to leveraging that good faith to strengthen our first contract.

    I have a realistic perspective of the budgetary constraints of the county, and an understanding of the issues Boulder County workers face after volunteering on the BCEU-CWA Organizing Committee since June 2023. I feel equipped and confident.

    Thanks for your support as we build our union. I am grateful for this opportunity.

  • Human Services Eligibility Tech B, Housing and Human Services

  • The reason why I would like to support this effort is to continue serving the Boulder County employee community and be an advocate for the many ways we can continue to improve our workplace and foster belonging. I seek to be at the bargaining table to build consensus with leadership and convey a message of abundance, where our workforce thrives and gives more to the community when we are listened to and cared for.

  • Building Services Maintenance Worker I, Public Works

  • Human Services Caseworker C, Housing and Human Services

    My name is Kelly Karson-Davies and I have worked in Family and Childrens Services for Boulder County for 20 years. I use the pronouns she/her and I am a white woman. I am currently the practice coach for FCS. In this roll, I touch numerous employees across FCS divisions and get to hear their concerns, worries, and heartaches on a regular basis. I have committed myself to my own ongoing individual journey into DEI work over the past five years and have the privilege of sharing spaces with my BIPOC peers as I continue to hear about their lived experience with the county. I strive to continue deepening my understanding of systematic racism and assess how I show up to use my positional power to take action. My goal would be to bring forth the voices of ALL staff, to the best of my ability, as we begin to negotiate.

  • Program Specialist II, Community Services

    I’ve been the bilingual PERL program coordinator at Boulder County for a little over a year. I am so thrilled that we have now won our union and we now move forward with negotiating a contract. I was fortunate to join the BCEU organizing committee right after I started and it’s been the highlight of the job for me. Before landing at Boulder County I helped organize graduate student workers at Indiana University and in my previous career I was a historian of labor movements in Latin America. I will put all of my past experience and lessons into fighting for a fair and good contract for ALL Boulder County workers. I believe we have the opportunity to protect the good things about working for the County while improving wages, working conditions, benefits, advancing racial equity, and protecting our most vulnerable coworkers. United we bargain, divided we beg.

  • Program Specialist II, Housing and Human Services

    With honor, I accept this nomination for the BCEU Bargaining Committee. Growing up, I watched my migrant Mexican mother carry out her role as a public servant janitor, giving her all for decades to the El Paso Independent School District. She died of lung cancer, I suspect it was partly because of the harsh chemicals she used during her years of service.

    Public service is a selfless and noble cause that is essential to the well-being of our communities. This work exemplifies the greatest imaginable love of community! I believe all dedicated public servants deserve to be cared for by their employers. They do their job out of genuine concern for the betterment of humanity. They put their health, safety, and well-being on the line. My ultimate goal is to positively impact the lives of our county workers who deserve the very best in wages, benefits, and working conditions! Solidarity!
    Program Specialist II for Housing and Human Services

  • Administrative Lead Technician, Housing and Human Services

    My name is Mason Lynch, I’m a White nonbinary person and I’ve worked for Boulder County Human Services for over a decade. I want to be a part of our Bargaining Committee because I believe in the transformative power of collective action, and in the benefit and protection that transformation will bring. I’ve lived or worked in Boulder County my entire life, this is my home, my community, my heart. I will bring my years of experience negotiating with county leadership as a member of the HS Equity Council and the BCEU-CWA Organizing Committee to this role. I’m not intimidated by management; I will listen intently to your concerns and fight for them at the bargaining table. I will conduct myself professionally, I will choose my words carefully, and I will leverage our collective power tactically to ensure our contract is fair, just, and generous.

    Thank you for your consideration.

  • Data Analyst II, Assessor

    I am interested in joining the union contract bargaining committee because I am committed to advocating for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions that reflect the dedication of our employees. Having worked for the county for over three years as a data analyst, I bring a strong analytical perspective to negotiations. My experience in data analysis allows me to assess proposals objectively, identify trends, and provide data-driven insights that support fair and informed decision-making.

    I understand the challenges employees face and believe that transparency and collaboration are key to achieving a balanced contract. My ability to interpret complex information and communicate it effectively will help ensure our members' interests are well-represented. By serving on the committee, I hope to contribute to a fair and sustainable agreement that supports job security, professional growth, and workplace satisfaction for all employees.

  • Program Specialist II, Community Services

    Why I’d like to be part of this committee: I believe!

  • Admin Technician, Clerk and Recorder

    My name is Colin O’Neill. I’ve been working with the county in the elections office for three years. I would like to help represent the wonderful people who work here. We are all entitled to a healthy and equitable working environment as well as compensation that allows us to live in the community that we serve every day.

  • Resource Park Ranger, Parks and Open Space

    I am a Park Ranger for Boulder County and was recently injured on the job, requiring surgery and a lengthy recovery. This experience has motivated me to advocate for stronger protections for injured workers. Specifically, I aim to extend the current 90-day wage continuation benefit to ensure wage continuation until an employee is fully recovered and ready to return to work. I believe all recovery activities related to a workplace injury should be considered paid work.

    My approach to bargaining is balanced and focused on improvements that benefit all employees. As a frontline, public-facing worker, I do not support rigid protections for remote work. While hybrid schedules can be beneficial, they are not equally accessible to all staff. I am concerned that prioritizing remote work guarantees could slow progress on more widely shared benefits, such as higher wages, wellness incentives, improved sick and vacation accrual rates, and increased full-time opportunities for seasonal workers.

  • Human Services Caseworker, Housing and Human Services

    I’m running for Bargaining Committee because our voices matter! Our contract must reflect the real needs of Boulder County employees. For ten years, I’ve worked in equity, mental health, and human rights, fighting for the most vulnerable in our community. As a queer person of color, I understand how to navigate complex systems while keeping people at the center of the work.

    Bargaining isn’t just about demands, but building something strong, fair, and transparent. I’ll advocate fiercely and listen deeply to everyone involved, ensuring this process remains inclusive and worker-driven. My experience facilitating multidisciplinary teams equips me to stand firm in our values while fostering progress.

    I won’t make empty promises, but I will show up with integrity, thoughtfulness, and empathy. This would become my sole commitment outside of work, so I can give it the time it deserves. I’d be honored to have your vote! Learn more: linkedin.com/in/donavensmith

    With     hope,
    Donaven Smith, MA

  • Program Specialist II, Community Services

    I’m honored to be nominated for the bargaining team. With over 20 years at the county and as the initiator of our union movement, I’ve spent 3.5 years fighting for a stronger, more just workplace. I want to continue that advocacy at the bargaining table, ensuring real change for all of us.

    Throughout this journey, I’ve faced challenges - including “progressive discipline” and that experience only strengthened my resolve to secure respect and protections for EVERY worker. As a full-time single mother of three, I know the struggle of surviving on one salary. No county worker should have to take extra jobs just to stay afloat.

    I am committed to fair wages, better benefits, and strong workplace protections. With a background in solution-focused therapy, I bring thoughtfulness, advocacy, negotiation, and problem-solving skills to represent us with strength and clarity. Our power is in comm/unity - and together, we can achieve lasting change.

  • Building Services Maintenance Worker II, Public Works

    I am a 20-year Coast Guard Vet with leadership experience. I spent many years working to ensure that my co-workers had a voice to the command leadership. I want to represent public works and rally for their best interest.

  • Data analyst, Community Services

    I was with BCPH for 3 years and transitioned to CS as a data analyst in late 2024. I started organizing with BCEU-CWA in May of 2023.I firmly believe we need a strong union to protect our interests and the interests of our community. Foremost, we need a strong first contract that sets us up for stronger contracts in the years to come.
    I want to join our bargaining committee to:

    • Strengthen our unit and ensure BCPH and BCHA are included in negotiations.

    • Advance a shorter work week and flexible schedules.

    • Protect remote work and expand it, especially for in-person workers with duties that can be done remotely.

    • Get our coworkers the sick, mental health, vacation, and family days they need.

    • Negotiate broad pay increases, especially for bilingual workers and our coworkers struggling to make ends meet.

    • Drastically increase worker protections and job security, especially for our most vulnerable coworkers.