Dear Gov. Hickenlooper:

As governor, you are given the opportunity every day to set policy that will have a positive impact on the lives of all Coloradoans. Over the last five years, you’ve tackled many hot-button issues. But very rarely are you presented with the opportunity to set an example for the entire country that women’s leadership matters — that, in Colorado, political parity is not just an option, it’s an expectation.

You need to choose, and enthusiastically advocate for, a woman as lieutenant governor.

Our state was built on a pioneering spirit. During the early days of statehood, it did not matter if you were a man or a woman; work on the ranch was a way of life and a rite of survival. Our pioneering spirit compels our state and people to be leaders — to be innovators and to be trailblazers.

From the ranches to elected office, Colorado has a proud tradition of electing women. Not only were we the first parliamentary body in the world to elect women, but we were the first state where state voters gave women the right to vote, and we are the No. 1 state in the country for electing women to the state legislature.

When women are elected, government works more efficiently. According to the Center for American Women in Politics, women tend to pass more bills, garner more co-sponsors and pass more legislation that affects their districts. More women elected to office means more diversity, more perspectives, more experiences and more problem-solving when tackling the complex issues facing our state, counties and municipalities.

The truth is that, while we excel at women’s representation in the state legislature, we have yet to elect a woman as governor or U.S. senator. Furthermore, out of the 48 past lieutenant governors in Colorado history, only four have been women — and that’s unacceptable.

Gov. Hickenlooper, your position carries with it the responsibility to be a pioneer and to make sure that all voices are represented in your administration. Later this week, Emerge Colorado will be sending you a list of qualified women from across the state who would make a strong, able lieutenant governor of Colorado. As you move through your selection process, I urge you to remember that the nation is watching, women are watching, and we are counting on you.

Jenny WillfordExecutive directorEmerge Colorado