Alex Valdez is a state legislator representing downtown and northwest Denver. He is an experienced executive, building a solar company during the economic crash in 2009. Living downtown, Alex sees the crisis that Denver is going through, and has a unique understanding and clear vision for how to build from the ground up and bring a successful economy back to our city.
Alex was born at 6th ave and I-225. He was raised in metro Denver at a time when one income was enough to afford a home and a good quality of life. Growing up, his home was broken into, and he lost friends to gun violence. Alex’s mom supported him, and instilled in him a personal constitution, that when you’re down and your back is against the wall, that is when your character shines through. Alex started volunteering at the age of 5 at the Cat Care Society. His spirit of service continued through high school when he started a rotary club focused on community service projects and support for local nonprofits. Alex was brought up to be kind to animals and treat our surroundings with respect. He developed an appreciation for the environment and always wanted to be a servant for the living world.
Alex put himself through college and moved to downtown for its affordability, something that is no longer a reality for most. His story took a turn in 2008 when the financial crisis hit, and he was laid off. The economy was losing 200,000 jobs a month. After going back and forth between getting a job and being laid off, he decided he was going to have to do his own thing to survive. He wanted to do something he believed in.
Alex combined his passion for community service with his love for the environment and built a community-based company focused on promoting renewable energy. With a team of 180 people, they were able to install over 4,000 solar systems and make a large contribution to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change in Denver. “We had a mission. We were out to change the world, and when we went to sleep at night, we knew we did.”
Like many, his small business took a huge hit during COVID. Faced with worker shortages, supply chain issues, and Denver’s anti-small business environment, his company couldn’t survive the downturn that we were experiencing. He knows countless other small businesses are experiencing the same, and are either struggling or have left the city. Alex walks down the streets of Denver every day and sees vacant spaces that used to be someone’s life and livelihood. He decided that something needed to be done to bring small businesses back to Denver and create an economy that works for the people.
Alex is just the kind of leader Denver needs. He is compassionate, creative and ready to lead on day one. His background and values have made him the person he is today. Our city is on the verge of something. This April, pick a mayor who will focus on Denver and our collective quality of life.
Alex Valdez represents Colorado’s House District 5, which encompasses the urban core of Denver. He was elected in 2018 to succeed former-House Speaker Crisanta Duran.
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Alex has been an environmentalist his entire life, channeling his passion for the environment into action in both his career and his work in the Colorado Legislature. Alex has seen firsthand that facilitating renewable energy development creates job opportunities and fights climate change. Alex knows that the environment is a bi-partisan issue, and through addressing climate change and building a new energy economy, Alex helps Colorado lead in driving real change for all Coloradans. Throughout his time in the State House, Alex has passed a multitude of environmental bills focused on reducing air pollution, creating an electric vehicle ready future, and facilitating clean energy adoption.
Representative Valdez serves on the LGBTQ caucus. As a proud member and leader in the LGBTQ community, Alex passed the HIV prep bill in 2020 and supported other critical pieces of legislation including banning conversion therapy for minors and allowing Colorado identification to reflect gender identity. Alex recently helped secure culturally competent healthcare for LGBTQ Coloradans. Alex firmly believes in protecting and advancing LGBTQ rights, and upholds that this work is extremely important in our changing social landscape.
When people are paid enough and paid fairly to afford their shelter, food and entertainment that’s when people feel fulfilled. Housing security and family stability rely on fair wages, and Alex believes that wages are a top priority. During the 2020 Legislative Session Alex passed Family Medical Leave, while also fighting to raise local minimum wage, advocating for PERA, and continuing to fight for unions and workers rights. As someone raised by a single mom, Alex knows just how hard parents work to ensure a good life for their children, which is why Alex prioritizes lowering the sky high costs of childcare for moms and dads throughout Colorado. Alex is particularly proud of dedicating $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding towards supporting and expanding childcare programs during the 2022 Legislative Session.
Alex has been an environmentalist his entire life, channeling his passion for the environment into action in both his career and his work in the Colorado Legislature. Alex has seen firsthand that facilitating renewable energy development creates job opportunities and fights climate change.
One of the greatest successes of the 2020 Legislative Session included the passage of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Prevention Medications bill and in 2021 the legislature advanced this work by passing the Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option. Representative Valdez believes that we simply need to do better with preventive healthcare, rather than solely relying on treating people who are sick. Preventive measures, such as providing healthier school lunches and increasing access to healthcare, helps create a more equitable, affordable healthcare system for all.
No one should ever have to worry about the financial impacts of getting sick. Healthcare should not be treated as a commodity and providing quality healthcare is one of the basic rights that our government should advance.
Alex has been an environmentalist his entire life, channeling his passion for the environment into action in both his career and his work in the Colorado Legislature. Alex has seen firsthand that facilitating renewable energy development creates job opportunities and fights climate change.
