Marta Loachamin
Age: 46
Family: Proud single mother of two sons
Professional history: B.A. ethnic studies, master’s secondary education; banking, mortgage, real estate, educator, community engagement consultant
Political history: My work has been about creating policies that include all voices. I was a student activist demanding an Ethnic Studies Department be built at CU Boulder in 1994. When I worked in banking I pushed for policies to require bilingual staff that was unheard of at that time in the company ... During my time in mortgage I advocated for commonsense underwriting to accept alternative credit histories to support cash … and non-traditional credit users. In real estate I have been working as an advocate for homeownership for Spanish speaking families — documented/undocumented/
DACAmented/ITIN and others who need access to equity and capital. As a community volunteer I have lobbied at my city council, Denver Capitol and in D.C. for racial equity, climate action, against border wall funding and for working families and employees rights. In classrooms I created professional development for staff, administration and teachers to learn how to engage … Spanish-speaking families and built curriculum for Spanish-speaking students to … prepare for a career path.
Campaign website: MARTA2020.org
Email: [email protected]
Issue questions:
As the state and country continue emerging from COVID-19 restrictions, what is Boulder County's role in helping residents and businesses whose livelihoods and financial well-being has been impacted by the pandemic?
As I have been talking with families, voters, residents over the last couple of months it has become apparent that there are stark disparities amongst who has been hit hardest by COVID-19 and others not directly impacted. We had students who never connected online when classes went virtual. In Longmont I was asked to share information about a pop up food bank. More than 200 bags of food were given away in less than an hour and a half and people were calling me asking for help. In mid April I hosted a Housing Resources Town Hall to highlight resources, information, legal information for folks to know the processes and who Family Resources can serve. The job of county commissioner is highly administrative. It requires support of the 2,000+ county employees which is important as serving our 330,000 residents requires employees to be aware and enthusiastic about the resources, programs and options for residents. I see that as a huge opportunity — from a board perspective in other community work I do — to include employees in the responses of long term plans to address all affected financially by the pandemic. I will lead to ensure more community members know how to access the resources the county provides.
As demonstrations continue across the country, state and county, what steps do you believe commissioners need to take to ensure racial equity in Boulder County?
Commissioners need to reflect the community they serve — that may be political party or sector of community or demographics of the community in which we serve. There is no substitute or way to speak for someone else and so it is impossible for a group of white commissioners to ensure racial equity in Boulder County. We have never lived in an equitable world or an equitable county. Our ZIP codes in this county affect our outcomes — I have seen it as a teacher working in different buildings throughout our district, as a student at CU, as a self-employed housing advocate. This is our time to lead with innovation, with dynamic change and embrace this opportunity to center Black and brown voices including our indigenous community. At a county level a racial equity and inclusion department needs to be created. I worked with the community for years fighting to accomplish similar infrastructural change in our school district. It took years and it was accomplished. Racial equity must be at the top tiers of leadership. It can no longer be a subcommittee or an activity or annual training. After working in and out of the county for 28 years with a focus on addressing barriers and gaps in access in climate, justice, housing, financial literacy, educational outcomes and small business I am confident I can guide our local government with an intertwined lived experience to work with racial equity leadership.
Boulder County's moratorium on oil and gas development set to expire on July 31, what is your position on the industry and its place in Boulder County in the future?
I have attended and testified at the last two moratorium hearings and was clear that I supported the moratoriums and have been concerned that work initially slated to finish during this summer would be delayed due to the COVID-19 closure of work for a time. I have participated in a variety of environmental group meetings/forums/panelist events about the issue of oil and gas development in Boulder County. I do not believe that new oil and gas has a place in Boulder County in our future. I believe our current commissioners have led excellent work to protect our resources and use SB-181 to do the same and they have also built an extensive work plan and programs to address climate action, environmental sustainability and resiliency. As a commissioner I will fight to protect our land, natural habitats, natural resources and community from harm and also bring in local leaders to support eco justice work at a countywide level to ensure that racial equity is part of the same work. We need to implement Just Transition and begin the planning ahead of the curve to make sure workers are taken care of and can be part of the solution as we move towards renewable energy — together.
What other issues do you believe are most pressing for the county?
I have been hearing from voters all around the county and there are issues that are facing us all — climate action, housing shortage, transportation, air/land/water quality, defunding our police and many others. I will continue to share with voters that my style of leading — from an instructor, parent, advisor and advocate role is to be transparent, clear and create opportunities to hear all sides of concerns. It is imperative to me that more of our 330,000 residents in the county are included, involved and informed in the county decisions as the Board of Commissioners allocates funding connected to the concerns folks are asking about. And I am continually analyzing and asking about the people who aren’t asking questions or in the room when these discussions are happening. During this campaign a Spanish-speaking resident reached out to get advice on a housing issue in an affordable housing project that friends of hers live in. The residents were too afraid to call and get information for fear of retribution. She said she knew I wasn’t elected yet but that “we don’t have anyone to go to for help who understands us.” This is larger than a language access issue at a county level. It is about building trust for members of our county in every pocket — east to west and city to mountain. I commit to listen, to share in conversation and work with the residents of Boulder County to address all the issues we face.
