Debbie Benefield (HD 29)
State Representative Debbie Benefield (D-Jefferson)
Representative Debbie Benefield is the Colorado State Representative for House District 29. She is Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and is a member of the Education Committee. She was first elected to her post in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008.
Rep. Benefield has sponsored or co-sponsored numerous bills to benefit children, including House Bill 08-1224, which helps promote wellness in public schools by emphasizing healthy choices and lifestyles, physical education, nutrition, mental health counseling, healthy school environments, and involvement of families and communities.
Rep. Benefield has over 30 years of service to local, county and state Parent Teacher Associations (PTA), including serving as the Jefferson County PTA President and current service on the boards of both the Jefferson County PTA and the Colorado State PTA. She is also a member of the Read to Achieve Board. Rep. Benefield has served on a number of committees for Jefferson County schools, including the Legislative Forum and the Budget & Finance Committee. She is co-founder of the Y-Vote, a youth voting project, and serves as board member with many organizations helping youth become healthy, educated and active citizens.
Rep. Benefield’s other accomplishments include becoming a Flemming Fellow by completing the Center for Policy Alternatives’ Leadership Institute Program in 2007, and mastering the Council of State Governments Western Legislative Academy curriculum. She is currently Colorado State Director of the National Federation of Women Legislators.
Prior to being elected, Rep. Benefield worked as the financial officer for a large nonprofit foundation and as a small business owner. A longtime Arvada resident, Rep. Benefield has been married to her husband, Scott, since 1978. They have two sons.
