President of the Institute

Michael is the President of the Advance Colorado Institute. Prior to that he served as the Executive Director of Colorado Rising Action and the State Director of Americans for Prosperity - Colorado. He brings years of nonprofit, educational, and legislative experience. He has served as a policy aide at the Colorado State House and also as a press aide for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. He taught both elementary and middle school at a charter school in Aurora – later serving as the governing board president of that school. He is a FOX31 Denver political analyst, as well as an adjunct professor of American Politics. Michael graduated from Valparaiso University and earned his J.D. from University of Colorado – Boulder. He and his wife, Mele, and their four children live in Parker.

Senior Policy Analyst

Kristi is the Senior Policy Advisor at the Advance Colorado Institute. She is the former Chairwoman of the Colorado Republican Party -- the first woman to be elected in 40 years and the youngest Chair in Colorado Republican history. Kristi is a constitutional attorney, focusing on First Amendment and Equal Protection issues and is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a former Associate Scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute and a current board member of the Boy Scouts' Greater Colorado Council and the Colorado Family Life Center. As the former managing editor of a news site, Kristi tutors 4th-6th graders in grammar and writing and is a guest host for the Dan Caplis Show on 630 KHOW. She lives with her family in Douglas County.

Sign up for our newsletter

Colorado is a special place with special people. For too long, leaders have stood by while liberal special interest groups and politicians have turned Colorado into a testing ground for some of the most liberal policies and plans in the nation.


Sign up for our newsletter

Thanks for signing up!


x

Legal

Learn More About Proposition HH

The Advance Colorado Team is committed to engaging in high-impact, public-interest litigation that has a direct and tangible impact on the people of Colorado. Our goal is to ensure that Colorado is a beacon of prosperity and opportunity for all Coloradans.

Issues

First Amendment

We are staunch defenders of the First Amendment and will challenge any government actions that restrict our God-given right to truthful and unrestricted speech.

Cases:

Advance Colorado v. Polis: Stop Government Compelled Speech

Taxpayer Rights

We stand firmly behind fundamental principles of free enterprise and challenge tax policies with potentially broad implications that could lead to negative, unintended consequences for taxpayers. The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) gives Coloradans a direct say in government finances that isn’t available to any other state’s citizens. Advance Colorado fights to stop money-hungry politicians’ attempts to get around TABOR.

Cases:

Ward v. Colorado: Prop HH Challenge

Government Accountability

Advance Colorado will engage in strategic litigation on other issues that support its core values of individual freedom and liberty, in cases that can move the law in a more common sense, liberty-oriented direction.

Cases:

Loper Enterprises v. Raimondo: Curb the Administrative State

Fornof v. McCluskie: End Secret Voting at the Capitol

Ward v. Colorado: Prop HH Challenge

Educational Opportunity

We believe strongly in the right to equal educational opportunity for every child in Colorado. Education is the underpinning of society. The professional success, societal integration, and personal achievement of all children, regardless of income, nationality, or language skills is extremely important. Further, parental choice is paramount to a student’s educational attainment. Whether the education is given through a public, private, charter, magnet, traditional, virtual or home school, parents know the best environment for their student’s success.

Let's keep this momentum going

We're grateful for your continued support and have big plans for 2023. Help spread the word and stay engaged as we work to return Colorado to the special place we know it to be and love.