The evening on February 20th, I was unloading all four kids out of my car trying to avoid any last minute spills or clothing mishaps. Usually a nearly impossible task, but we were meeting my husband Michael for an important gathering in downtown Greeley, Colorado. Carefully avoiding the snow piles and puddles on the street, we all managed to get inside The Chophouse restaurant without major issue.
For months, Michael and I had been discussing what this year would look like given his term limits as a district attorney in Colorado. Here, our DAs are limited to three, four-year terms–the only state in the country to cap elected prosecutors’ tenure.
As friends, family, and community supporters gathered for Michael to announce his bid for re-election, I couldn’t help but reflect on his amazing career thus far. Even over the last four years he and his office have been through some groundbreaking cases that impacted the community (and even the world) in ways no one could have predicted.
So as I sat beaming with pride as my husband eloquently stated why he was seeking another term and thanking everyone for their continuous support, I thought about what a difficult job our prosecutors are tasked with when they take the oath to uphold the law and seek justice for our communities. I see my husband do this every single day without complaint, though I know his job is incredibly weighing at times.
- When he has to get up in the middle of the night to respond to a critical incident somewhere in our county—which is roughly the size of Rhode Island.
- When he has to look to his principles and current legislation to make important charging decisions.
- When he has to come home to tell his wife and children that we are all at risk in our own home simply because there are monsters among us who target the brave men and women who do their jobs enforcing the law.
Michael’s career has been filled with great triumphs when justice is served and great sorrows for the losses victims and their families experience. He may not wear these emotions on his sleeve, but he certainly carries them with him.
Of course, one of his cases may sound familiar to many of you. In 2006, Chief Deputy DA Michael Rourke teamed up with his partner Robb Miller (Now the Assistant District Attorney in Weld County) to prosecute an alleged rapist who broke in to a 20 year-old college co-ed’s apartment near the University of Northern Colorado.
That’s right—the first time I met my (now) husband was when he introduced himself as the one prosecuting my assailant.
Now, that may sound a bit weird at first Trust me, we’ve sure chuckled at some of the looks we’ve gotten. But long after the case concluded, we remained friends over the years. It wasn’t until 2016 that we finally started dating, and the rest is history.
So let me tell you as someone who has been on both sides of the justice system with Michael, that I can’t imagine a better suited person to seek justice on behalf of the people in this county. He’s an incredible father, a fierce advocate, and loving husband. A man who always does the right thing, even when it is not easy.
I choose him every single day, and I’m thrilled the citizens of Weld County will have the choice to choose him again this November.
