Meredith A. Ryan
Other | Colorado
Candidate Profile
Liberal (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Meredith A. Ryan
Party
Other
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 26
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Westchester Business Institute (now The College of Westchester), White Plains, NY, Associates, 1978
Concordia College, Bronxville, NY, BA, 2006
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, M.Div., 2010
Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX, Graduate Certif (15 cr), 2016
WORK & MILITARY
Lackenbach, Lilling & Siegel, then Lilling & Greenspan, legal assistant/secretary, (1981-1986)
Rogers & Wells (merged with Clifford Chance), legal assistant/secretary, 1986-1991
Baer Marks & Upham, legal assistant/secretary, (1998-2001)
AFFILIATIONS
First Presbyterian Church (Mount Vernon, NY), Elder, Deacon, Community Service Associates (Mount Vernon)
volunteer coordinator for FPC above; Board Member (previous), Women's Homelessness Initiative, volunteer coordinator at Mountain View United Church (Aurora)
Capitol Hill United Ministries ("CHUM") Denver, volunteer coordinator/deliverer/lunches and other goods for unhoused folks, Mountain View United Church (Aurora, CO)
Council member (not actively), general all-around assistant, Denver Urban Gardens, Mountain View International Garden co-garden leader and gardener
Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver, "Dream Team" member at Mountain View United Church working with Habitat to develop lot there for duplexes; volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
Cori Bush (2024)
Dylan Wegela (2024)
Jamaal Bowman (2024)
Rashida Tlaib (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
This needs to most critically take into account the health and well-being of the mother in consultation with their physician. It is a woman's decision. It is not the business of government.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Neutral
Safety standards (showing documented outcomes, not anecdotally alone but statistically) are important to me. However, I feel such a decision here breaches into the purely political realm if it does not take into account understandings through an ongoing relationship with one's physician and/or psychiatrist etc. Nor does a straight out "agree" take into account previous discussions with one's medical providers and known special risks inherent to pregnancy of particular patients.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
I believe it is the right of a mentally-competent individual to choose this outcome. I appreciate that it is difficult for some people to bridge "suicide" language due to religious and spiritual proscriptions, so they need not utilize these laws. However, I think 'aid in dying' laws are critically necessary now that there are myriad instances of medical prolonging of life beyond what the subject ever would ever envision, a life of no awareness, control, responsibility, or accountability.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
I believe economies are strongest highlighting these elements. I also believe that a productive economic system is enhanced by, and should be responsive to human rights needs of all citizens under laws, rules, and regulations (health, education, housing).
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I think a minimum wage is necessary and that, if entirely left to employers, we would not be able to support ourselves. I also believe that it has been way too long that the federal minimum wage has been adjusted.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
Yes
Citizens feel very strongly one way or the other on these ESG issues. I believe there must be a mechanism for individuals to be heard AND to decide for themselves in good conscience how their own money will be invested.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Mainline churches and US government and state governments generally have a long history co-existing together which provides rich precedent. Preferably church administration can adjudicate their troubles within their system. I respect a separation of church and state. People inside of churches and outside should have protections against fraud and other crimes. It would be preferable for a church to simply implode through its own serious malfeasance than by government intervention.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
No one could be compelled to perform such a service judicially, but individuals and businesses that discriminate by civil definition should be willing to forgo government business loans and the like in order to preserve the integrity they believe they are upholding. Governments must uphold their own ethical/civil standards.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
B
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
If it is determined by well-established science that vaccinations will slow the spread of pandemic bacterial or viral organisms, organizations should be allowed to require vaccinations or mandate remote presence where possible.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Neutral
USA must take into account CP capabilities and use diplomacy and good policy to not unnecessarily provoke confrontation or vengeance. (Fascism is not my policy.) All of the listed spheres are covered by international law and regulations.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
It is important that the United States be accountable to US citizens for actions taken by Israel in the MidEast (Asian) area. No American can deny our military aid to Israel. Also, we must acknowledge the sovereignty as well as the civil and human rights of other nations and peoples in the region. Enforce the "Leahy Law." Living together in peace is possible there. International law must be upheld.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Neutral
It will be most important to work diplomatically with nations on the other side of that border (not inciting coups). Their judicial, economic, and social circumstances can help us together to eliminate the felt need of migration in a way worthy of the US people. This could also improve our understanding of the benefits immiigration could bring to society and economy. I don't want more walls or policies with violent approaches or separating children from families.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Disagree
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Choose not to answer
Conflation of ideologies with rights here.
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Neutral
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Neutral
Not decided on this. Should birth certificates (or do they now) say "gender," not "sex" of the child? Gender studies are a worthy pursuit for good reason. This is similar to a parent deciding faith direction at infant baptism and then the child agreeing at their confirmation -- or not. I see gender transition as a health service that assists in keeping body, mind, and soul healthily together.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Disagree
Marriage in the eyes of civil authorities and religious authorities need not be the same in every way.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
As (first) a Presbyterian, I believe in being "reformed and always reforming" not just as a church member but organically within myself. Spiritual fellowship and social and civic connections together forge healthy interrelationship within the whole of creation.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Choose not to answer
Worthy of discussion, as well as is some form of more proportional representation and/or ranked-choice voting.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
In some circumstances it is. If people of any color cannot be safe in a venue regardless of race and/or because of their race, it is a threat to domestic security of all.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
Not fundamentally in the sense of incorrigibly, but yes, in terms of present historical circumstances. I also don't think right now that this can be drawn so broadly as to think --all institutions--. (I know the statement does not say it but may imply it.)
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Neutral
Too much unstated, so intent of this question not clear. Too broad. Unclear agenda detected.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
D
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Hopefully the choice of such a question does not lead to too much restriction/exclusion. Why would one be most reliable in all circumstances? I would like to see more hydrogen technology and geothermal development.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in general and leading to equitable opportunities with just outcomes for all.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Liberal
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Agree
I am sure many mental health related incidents as well as misunderstood and underserved community issues could be alleviated by development of community programs with police utilizing community-review boards. Some programs are working. I am not saying to redirect the majority of funds. There is currently too much militarization, exceptionalism, and opaqueness in police administration.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Domestic violence convicted individuals and all people should pass a background check and current status check.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No
