Colorado senator apologizes for behavior at Northglenn meeting, steps down from committee
DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Sen. Faith Winter announced Thursday she will step down from her role as a committee chair and seek substance abuse treatment after apologizing for her behavior at a town hall meeting Wednesday night.
The state Senate’s assistant majority leader was a panel member at a packed Northglenn town hall meeting to discuss a mental health transitional living facility, where sex offenders could be living close to an elementary school.
Winter arrived late for the meeting and stumbled in her speech at points. Winter told The Colorado Sun she is seeking alcoholism treatment.
“I deeply regret my behavior last night,” Winter said in a statement on Thursday. “I made a mistake and I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am committed to making things right.”
Northglenn packs town hall, concerned over transitional living facility
Winter, a Democrat, represents District 25. That includes Northglenn and Broomfield, along with parts of Adams and Weld counties.
“I especially apologize to the City of Northglenn and the citizens that came out – I deeply care about your thoughts and community. I am now under the care of medical professionals and receiving treatment for my substance abuse disorder,” she said.
The senator added that she will be stepping down as chair of the Transportation and Energy committee to “focus on my health.”
“I apologize to anyone who was affected by my actions and I appreciate your understanding. Thank you for respecting me and my family’s privacy at this time.”
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Winter was a bill sponsor of a measure in the 2022 legislature to increase the number of residential behavioral health beds in the state, which was of discussion as it supported the establishment of the facility in Northglenn.
Winter arrived 10 minutes after the livestream for the meeting started and seemed unaware that she was a member of the panel. At one point, an audience member asked her why she was scrolling her phone.
“I’m looking up some statistics,” she said with a slight verbal stumble.
Winter said toward the end of the meeting that the bill was intended to increase the state’s capacity for mental health beds. She said that she would fill a late bill request on the matter.
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