Tracy Kraft-Tharp, District 1

Term: 2021 - 2025
Email Commissioner Tracy Kraft-Tharp

About

Tracy Kraft-Tharp is a resident of Arvada and former state legislator. She was elected to her first four-year term in November of 2020.  

Board Participation

Statewide & Regional

• Community, Economic & Workforce Development
• Denver Regional Council of Governments Board
  • Finance and Budget Committee
• First Judicial District Court Services Advisory Board (Gilpin and Jefferson Counties)
• Government Affairs and Workforce Committees, Arvada Chamber of Commerce
• Government Affairs Committee, Westminster Chamber of Commerce 
• Juvenile Justice Prevention Services
• Mile High Flood District
• Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Advisory Roundtable
• Sales & Use Tax Simplification
  • Executive Council, Department of Revenue
  • Interim Committee

Jefferson County

• Jefferson Center for Mental Health Board
  • Customer Service Committee
• Jefferson County Emergency Communications Authority Board
• Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation
  • Board of Directors
  • Board of Governors
  • Administrative Committee
• Jeffco Economic Recovery Task Force
• Jeffco Integrated Food Task Force

Work Experience

She began her career as a middle school teacher, but soon moved on to become a youth counselor in a juvenile detention center and later as a social worker, working with at-risk children and their families. She worked as a social worker at the Tennyson Center for Children with at-risk children and families in need; served as Director of Adolescent Services, Gemini House; and, Director of Battered Women Services, Women in Crisis with Family Tree.

For 15 years, she had her own small business working with small businesses and nonprofits. She helped build capacity through mentoring executive directors, developing policy and boards. Additionally, she served as a project manager for several innovative federally funded projects and has worked as a lobbyist at the state capitol representing two mental health organizations. 

She has taught at Metro State and Regis University and has volunteered on multiple board of directors for local and national nonprofit organizations, volunteered with organizations such as Energy Outreach Colorado, and served as an active member of the Colorado Business and Professional Women and the League of Women Voters. 

She was appointed to serve on the Jefferson County School District Strategic Planning and Advisory Council, the City of Arvada Citizen’s Capital Improvement Committee, and the City of Arvada Human Resources Council.  She has also served on the Jefferson County PTA, the Arvada Chamber Government Affairs committee, the Westminster Chamber Government Affairs committee, and the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Council.

Mostly recently, she served four terms (2013-2020) representing the citizens of House District 29 (Arvada and Westminster), in the Colorado House of Representatives.  Her legislative priorities included economic and workforce development and to increase access to mental health services.  While serving in the legislator, she served on multiple committees:

• Business Affairs and Labor Committee, Chair
• Appropriations Committee
• Transportation and Energy Committee
• Juvenile Prevention Council
• Legislative Audit Committee, Past Chair
• Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force
• Governor Hickenlooper’s’ Blockchain Council
• Governor Polis’ Behavioral Healthcare Task Force
• NCSL Sales Tax Legislative Task Force

Personal Life

Commissioner Kraft-Tharp graduated from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota with a degree in Psychology, Sociology and Education. She graduated from University of Denver with a master’s in social work and Juris Doctorate (JD).   She has been married to her husband, Vern Tharp, for 27 years.  They enjoy travel, golfing, pickle ball and more golfing.

Learn more about Commissioner Kraft-Tharp, her priorities and goals as she serves the citizens of Jefferson County via the video below.