Amara Hildebrand

Amara Hildebrand ran for election to the Jeffco Board of Education to represent District 4 in Colorado. She lost in the general election on November 7, 2023.

Hildebrand completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Amara Hildebrand was born in Columbus, Ohio. Hildebrand earned a high school diploma from Dublin High School and a bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1997. Her career experience includes working as a engineer and consultant. She owns a civil engineering and land surveying business with her husband.^[1]

As of 2023, Hildebrand was affiliated with the following organizations:^[2]

Women in Transportation Seminar
Society of Women Engineers
Central Colorado Professional Surveyors
Conference of Minority Transportation Officials
Hispanic Contractors of Colorado
American Council of Engineering Companies
Houses for Warriors

Elections

2023

General election

General election for Jeffco Board of Education District 4

Erin Kenworthy defeated Amara Hildebrand and Joel Newton in the general election for Jeffco Board of Education District 4 on November 7, 2023.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Erin Kenworthy (Nonpartisan)	42.2	74,958
	Amara Hildebrand (Nonpartisan)	33.8	60,088
	Joel Newton (Nonpartisan)	23.9	42,522

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 177,568
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Hildebrand received the following endorsements.

Jefferson County, Colo., Republican Party
Colorado Conservative Patriot Alliance
Smart Choice Colorado
Andy Peth - The Party of Choice Co-Fndr.
Darcy Schoening - Frmr. El Paso Cnty. Moms for Liberty Chair

2022

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Sheila Lieder defeated Dan Montoya and Brian Bakkum in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 28 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sheila Lieder (D)	51.6	22,064
		Dan Montoya (R)	46.3	19,821
	Submit photo	Brian Bakkum (L)	2.1	898

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,783
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Leanne Emm (D)
Amara Hildebrand (L)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Leanne Emm advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Leanne Emm	100.0	7,951

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,951
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Dan Montoya advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Montoya	100.0	8,740

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,740
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Incumbent Kerry Tipper defeated Pedro Roybal and Amara Hildebrand in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 28 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kerry Tipper (D)	57.6	26,592
	Submit photo	Pedro Roybal (R)	36.9	17,030
		Amara Hildebrand (L)	5.5	2,519

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 46,141
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Incumbent Kerry Tipper advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kerry Tipper	100.0	13,844

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,844
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Marijane Paulsen (Unofficially withdrew) advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Marijane Paulsen (Unofficially withdrew)	100.0	6,025

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,025
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Amara Hildebrand advanced from the Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 28 on April 13, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Amara Hildebrand (L)

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2023

Amara Hildebrand completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hildebrand's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a civil engineer, a mother of two and a business owner. I have lived in Colorado for 22 years, 11 of which have been in Jefferson County.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our achievement scores have been slipping for over a decade. We need to determine what barriers exist to excelling in literacy and mathematics and make changes to reverse this trend.
We have been outspending our budget for many years and with declining enrollment our tax base is shrinking. The district needs to act fiscal responsibility with accountability for funding. Expenditures should be dedicated to those that directly impact the achievement of students only.
Social media is degrading our society. Our children need to dedicate time to community service to build purpose and perspective.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about school choice, curriculum transparency and equality of opportunity.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to the leaders that insist on individual freedoms and preserving civil liberties. Kristi Noem is a good example of this as she did not mandate that her state lockdown during COVID. She went against the grain, which is very difficult when you are in the public eye. I also look up to my parents who have shown me to lead with honesty and integrity and to give back to my community.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

https://www.lp.org/issues/education/

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Operating with honesty, integrity, logic and transparency/

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a pragmatic problem solver, and I am motivated by increasing opportunities for success for all students. I am not motivated by political power.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Student achievement and fiscal responsibility.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave the world with hopeful solutions for achievement for all students. I would focus on reversing our downward academic achievement trend that has been occurring for over a decade. I would also insist on spending taxpayer money wisely so that we are not in a condition to be operating in a deficit any longer.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the Challenger explosion. I was 11 years old. Our teacher had wheeled in a television into our 5th grade class so that we could watch the take-off. It was devastating.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I ran food for a local restaurant. I did this for about a year.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Princess Bride - I enjoy the humor and adventure

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Superwoman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Wow - Beck

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Social anxiety

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

To ensure that the children attain academic achievement and ensure that the taxes are spent wisely.

Who are your constituents?

The people that live within Jefferson County District 4.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

By understanding that each articulation area has different needs and constraints so solutions to enhance achievement, access of opportunities and classroom success are not one size fits all.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I would be open to developing solutions with any of the organizations that are in place to foster learning within Jefferson County.

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

Dedication to helping every child learn and grow rather than limiting growth to those who are underperforming. Standardized testing and their ability to contribute to society.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

Career and technical schools such as Warren Tech are an important offering and may need to be expanded. Hands on STEM schools should also be a priority as teaching children to be problem solvers is the best way to prepare them for the future. With the expansion of artificial intelligence, we need to be mindful of preparing students for the jobs that will exist when they enter the workforce.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

I would review the budget allocations and ensure that we are funding the needs of the schools. This would not include extravagancies such as pools or other expenditures that should not be prioritized during a financial crisis.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Common sense

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

Through community engagement and public service.

Tell us your favorite joke.

What do you call a fish with no eyes? FSH

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

I do not know at this point, but my sense is that there could be some simplifications that could occur to operate more efficiently. Previous policies have allowed money to flow outside of the district which I would not support. Fiscal responsibility needs to be a priority and DEI policies and expenditures should be reduced.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Debbie Bandimere and Andy Peth

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

One that does not include electronic distractions.

How do you feel like your school district handled the coronavirus pandemic? What, if anything, would you do differently in the future?

Not well. Kids should not have had to gone online or mask up based on the data that was fairly quickly available regarding transmission and safety. We've experienced tragic learning losses that will take years if not decades to recover from. I would be very vocal about this if it were to occur again in the future.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

Be consistent, communicate and follow-through.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

I would like to see financial incentives for teachers tied to performance.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Hildebrand completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

2022

Amara Hildebrand did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Amara Hildebrand completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hildebrand's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Amara Hildebrand and I am a Professional Civil Engineer with a BS in Civil Engineering from Duke University. My husband and I are building a civil engineering and land surveying consulting business. I am also a proud mother of two school aged children. In my 27 years as a Libertarian I have never done much outreach beyond my small circle of friends and family. I am running for office because I believe that we can make a change. Partisan politics have become so divisive that they are a formidable threat to American Democracy.

I have been affiliated with the Libertarian Party since I was introduced to it as a teenager in the Short North in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Generally, I am fiscally right leaning and socially left leaning. I am for less government and more liberty. I believe in our right to bear arms. I believe in a woman's right to choose. I believe that decriminalizing drugs would save lives and capital. Our party is still relatively young (1972 inception), so I would invite you to check it out for yourself. You may be surprised to find that you are a Libertarian, too (https://lpcolorado.org/).

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

American History must be taught in schools comprehensively. As a country, we need to take pride in our citizenship and uphold our duties as citizens of a country built on freedom and acceptance. Anything short of this is treason and should not be tolerated.
Our natural resources are being spent at an alarming rate, causing irreprovable harm to our world. The principals of natural capitalism, if implemented, allow a balance in use of resources, environmental impact and financial gain.
For a variety of reasons, the number of people struggling with mental health issues has skyrocketed. We need to focus on this issue to get help to those in need, to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness and identify those prone to violence.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, Healthcare, Environment and Appropriations

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Condoleezza Rice, as she is an intelligent, accomplished, and constructive leader. She has had to make difficult decisions, which were always delivered with grace and confidence. As Secretary of State, her diplomacy work was innovative and inclusive. I admire her bravery and tenacity and I hope that I can emulate these qualities throughout my career. I also lookup to Jo Jorgensen who is running for President under the Libertarian ticket. She is so insightful and brave, and I am hopeful that her candidacy brings more clout to the Libertarian Party.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Colorado Libertarian positions can be found here: https://lpcolorado.org/. The CATO institute also has very compelling articles on the Libertarian school of thought (https://www.cato.org/). A few of the books that have shaped my philosophies are Natural Capitalism by Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins and most recently Dan Crenshaw's Fortitude. I cannot stand to see anything wasted and I feel that we have fallen down a rabbit hole of consumption and exploitation of other countries. This is described well by Annie Leonard in "The Story of Stuff", which is a bit outdated, but still a great tool for teaching children.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Transparency, honesty, innovation, and courage.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am diligent and budget minded. I finish what I start, and I stand up for what I believe in. I am honest and practical. I believe that simplicity is the key to increase everyone's quality of life. Finally, I believe that laughter brings people to common ground and humor can help diplomacy if we let it.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To objectively hear all positions on issues and to digest the facts intelligently and thoroughly. Decisions should be well informed and in the best interest of the constituents that the elected official represent rather than towing a party line. Time and money are precious, so I believe that officials have a duty to be open to compromise to make progress. Budget minded decisions are a must as our national debt cannot afford to continue to climb as it has. We need to leave the next generations with a world better than we entered and we need to work together to get that done.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my children to be proud of the mother and friend they have in me. I hope that our employees always feel appreciated and respected. I hope that they enjoy coming to work, but they always know that their family is the real boss. I want my family to know that despite all our faults that they are the most important part of my life and I feel so blessed to have them. Finally, I am new to the political realm but if I continue to seek office, I do hope that I am able to be an impactful and effective leader.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion in 1986. I was in 5th grade and my teacher(one of my favorites) had wheeled in a TV to the classroom for all of us to watch. When it exploded shortly after the launch, the sadness and disbelief in the room was palatable. I remember being confused about how this could have happened, while also gaining perspective on dedication and sacrifice.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a food runner at the Bogey Inn, which is a local restaurant in Dublin, Ohio. I was terrible - I would head into the kitchen and they would ask what I dropped this time. I don't recall that I had the job for long, and while I wasn't great at serving food, I did enjoy it. I think everyone should have to wait tables, as it builds good character.

What is your favorite book? Why?

There are a few: I read "Still Life with Woodpecker" by Tom Robbins in college. I love the book because it depicts a relationship with two seemingly dissonant people and presents interactions in a creative and humorous way. More than anything, it gives credence to existentialism and that we are in control of our own destiny. I generally love true stories and I read "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote in middle school. I was fascinated by the way Capote was able to capture and hold my attention throughout the book. It was one that I couldn't put down. I typed a book report on "In Cold Blood" on a typewriter, that is how old I am. Finally, 1984 by George Orwell was a favorite when I read it years ago and I may pick it up again to see how close we are to realizing the context.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wonder Woman, obviously. This likely doesn't need explanation, but just in case...she is strong, witty and confident. She wields a lasso of truth and has super healing powers. She has control over soldiers, but it the epitome of good. She understands all languages, possesses the power of telepathy, cares for all living beings and is invincible to fire. That sounds like exactly the person we need to right our world.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

John Fogerty's Centerfield

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Anxiety in all situations, but especially social, which led to Alcoholism. I have been proudly sober for about 18 months, which has helped to finally combat the anxiety in a healthy way.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I favor Colorado's Independent Commission process for redistricting. I believe that a politician or state legislature led committee for redistricting represents a conflict of interest.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

With the US House of Representatives being a lower house, they are closer to the constituents that they represent. I believe that it gives the opportunity to get a pulse on the community and truly effect change.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, actually the opposite. Politics has become quite polarized and we need leaders that are willing to have difficult conversations, but also willing to compromise so that we're effectively utilizing tax payer monies.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

I believe that the biggest challenge that we face is our divide. Please entertain some generalizations for a moment. Families that embrace conservative views teach their children how to shoot guns, how to work on equipment, how to fight for their country. Families that embrace liberal views ensure that their children get a good education, that they are accepting of all people and that they understand the impact that we have on our earth. We all need to open our minds to both schools of thought, as our country was founded upon all these ideals and we can only succeed if we manage to work with everyone to solve problems. None of these priorities are insignificant. Abraham Lincoln's words, "A house divided against itself cannot stand" resonate in our world right now. I believe that we need to get back to the basics and focus on the ideals that this country was founded upon. The media, particularly social media, is accelerating the process of our divided country. We are all being brainwashed in the process. I look forward to moving toward a society that can come together as a whole regardless of beliefs or political party affiliation and work toward positive and meaningful change. Our nation's viability depends upon it.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I am most interested in the Education, Energy and Environment and Transportation & Local Government Committees.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

Not applicable.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I like the shorter term for representatives. A shorter term would seem to motivate a representative to make progress and if affective the incumbent would be able to justify re-election.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe in term limits. The arguments for and against are both compelling, yet I think as a leader it would be much easier to become complacent without.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

No, I am a mother of school-aged children and a small business owner. I would prefer to focus locally on Colorado politics only.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Veteran and US Congressman Dan Crenshaw. He represents all of the qualities that I believe are important in a leader. He has demonstrated dedication, sacrifice, hard work and accountability, to name a few. He offers solutions without judgment or complaints and does so while maintaining a sense of humor. I believe he is an exemplary prototype for any leader.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have not done any campaigning, so I haven't spoken to any of the constituents of Colorado House District 28, but I do have one personal story to share. We have a friend who is a single mother and a first responder. When the COVID crisis hit the US in March, she was forced to look for help with her son. We opened our home to him for 10 weeks so that she could continue her education and keep her new job as an RN at a local hospital. Having two 8 year old boys in our house to homeschool was not easy, but the memories we made will last a lifetime. Most importantly, we were able to help a great mom with the help she needed to get through. I have no doubt that there are stories like this across our community. Sometimes a crisis brings us all closer together.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 30, 2020
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2023

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 30, 2020

[bio2-2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2023

[1]

[2]

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Amara Hildebrand

Biography

Elections

2023

General election

General election for Jeffco Board of Education District 4

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

2020

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 28

Campaign themes

2023

Other survey responses

2022

2020

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2024 Elections

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