Colorado Common Cause said Friday that Amanda Gonzalez will take over as the government-reform nonprofit’s executive director on Feb. 1. She replaces longtime executive director Elena Nunez, who is going to work for national Common Cause as director of state operations and ballot measure strategies.

Nunez said the state organization’s campaigns will be in good hands with Gonzalez at the helm.

“Amanda will continue Colorado Common Cause’s long track record of fighting for and enacting reforms that give a greater voice to the people of Colorado,” Nunez said in a statement.

“We are excited to welcome Amanda to the Common Cause family at a time of unprecedented challenges in Washington,” said Common Cause president Karen Hobert Flynn in a statement. “Local reform can be beacon of hope in our broken democracy, and Amanda brings an extensive background and a deep commitment to working for a democracy that truly reflects and represents all of us.”

Gonzalez said she was “beyond excited” to join Common Cause when civic engagement is on the rise in Colorado.

“Right now, we face great challenges to democracy as well as great opportunities for real change. I am ready to build upon past successes, broaden our coalition, and make sure that our government truly works for everyone in Colorado.”

Common Cause members spent the day at the state Capitol last Thursday getting what the group called a “crash course in citizen advocacy,” including an in-depth presentation from former state Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton.

While at the Capitol, they lobbied in favor of a bill to allow employees to take time to conduct election-related activities – including registering to vote or obtaining documents required to vote, in addition to casting a ballot – any day voter service centers are open, not just on Election Day. They also lobbied for a bill to put contribution limits in place for school board candidates, who can collect unlimited donations under current law.

Gonzalez teaches on Chicanos and the Law at Metropolitan State University of Denver and serves on the the board of directors of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and Focus Points Family Resource Center. A graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, Gonzalez got her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.