Bonham For County Commissioner

What a treat to see my good friend Rebecca Busic for Montezuma County Commissioner tonight! She is such an incredible leader and will do great things for Montezuma County!

Today is Global Day of Parents! A reminder that strong communities start with strong families.

Parents and guardians do some of the most important work there is: raising the next generation, often while balancing work, school schedules, childcare, housing costs, and the everyday pressures of making ends meet.

In Douglas County, supporting families means more than words. It means expanding access to affordable childcare and preschool, keeping housing within reach for working families, investing in safe schools and youth mental health, and making sure local government is focused on the real challenges people face every day.

When families thrive, communities thrive.

To all the parents, grandparents, caregivers, and guardians helping raise the next generation: thank you. Your work matters, and our policies should reflect that.

Started my morning at Happy Crew Coffee House and I just want to give them some love.

This isn’t just a coffee shop. It’s a community space built around supporting young people and addressing youth mental health and su***de prevention right here in Douglas County. Every cup of coffee helps support the work of The Happy Crew, whose mission is to make sure every teen knows they matter and belong.

Did you know that Colorado ranks 41st in the US for youth mental health treatment access with 26% of teens reporting persistent hopelessness? Su***de is a leading cause of death among adolescents ages 15-19 in the US.

As a mom, an advocate for youth mental health, and someone who believes deeply in building a community where families and young people can thrive, I’m incredibly grateful for organizations like Happy Crew for doing the hard work of connection, compassion, and prevention.

If you’re looking for a great local coffee spot with an even greater mission, check them out.

Douglas County has grown a lot, but our system of representation hasn’t kept pace.

Right now, around 400,000 residents are represented by just three county commissioners making decisions on growth, transportation, housing, water, and public safety. That’s a lot of responsibility concentrated in very few hands for a county this large.

I support expanding the Board of Commissioners from 3 to 5 and just published a new blog explaining why this move is a practical, nonpartisan step toward better representation and stronger accountability for our communities.

➡️ Read it here: https://www.irenebonham.com/blog/douglas-county-has-outgrown-a-3-member-commission

If you care about making sure local government is more accessible, more responsive, and more reflective of the people it serves, I hope you’ll take a look and consider signing the petition.

Learn more about the initiative and where to sign the petition: https://www.3to5dougco.com/

Douglas County Commissioners: Why the Board Should Expand from 3 to 5 Members — Bonham for County Commissioner Douglas County has outgrown its current governing structure. Learn why expanding the Board of County Commissioners from 3 to 5 members would improve local representation, increase accountability, and better reflect the needs of a fast-growing Colorado county.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a mom right now, especially here in Colorado, where families are balancing rising costs, housing pressures, childcare challenges, mental health concerns, and the constant juggle of work, school, and simply trying to hold it all together.

As a single mom raising two daughters, I know firsthand that parenting often means carrying a hundred invisible responsibilities at once. It means advocating for your kids, worrying about their future, showing up even when you’re exhausted, and finding ways to keep moving forward no matter what life throws at you.

And the truth is: moms across Douglas County are doing hard things every single day. Whether they’re managing careers and caregiving, raising children with additional needs, supporting aging parents, volunteering in schools, running households, or simply trying to make ends meet in an increasingly expensive world. They are resilient, resourceful, and incredibly strong.

That’s one reason this campaign matters so much to me. Local government decisions affect families in real and immediate ways — from public safety and mental health resources to parks, transportation, housing, schools, and the overall sense of belonging we create in our communities.

So this Mother’s Day, I just want to say this to all the moms out there:
From one tough mother to another — thank you. And Happy Mother’s Day.