About Holly Williams

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#1 because of fiscal responsibility

The north side of El Paso County is the fastest growing area enjoying the most prosperous rise in our county. That’s not by accident.

That kind of growth demands experienced leadership to conserve fiscal resources and smart resource planning well into the future.

Under Holly’s leadership, El Paso County has enjoyed the lowest average tax cost per citizen of any county on the Front Range. (Douglas County’s $686 per citizen is nearly 2 ½ times more than El Paso’s $275.)

your El Paso County Commissioner for District 1

Serving El Paso County Citizens

Winning For You

Holly Williams was elected as your El Paso County Commissioner for District 1 in 2018 with 70.2% of the vote. During her first term as commissioner, she has proven to be a leader in our community, a servant for El Paso County citizens, an advocate for District 1 residents, and a supporter for our military service members. She continues her service as a volunteer and conservative leader in the Republican Party. Holly is pro-life, pro-family, supports our right to keep and bear arms, supports TABOR, and advocates for private property rights.

Throughout her term, Holly has been a champion for our community, your rights, and ensuring we have the beautiful El Paso County well into the future that our families have enjoyed in the past. She’s served on many boards and committees on the local, regional and national levels to promote and preserve our way of life. She is dedicated to serving you and will continue to do so in her next term.

Community Leader

As a leader in our community, Holly serves on the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Board of Directors (PPACG). She was elected by leaders from El Paso, Teller, and Park counties to serve as Secretary in 2019 and then by the same body to serve as the area’s voting representative on the State Transportation Advisory Committee in 2021. In these positions, she has secured funding for several regional projects including the Powers and Research Parkway interchange and access improvements for our military bases. Holly was also elected by regional leaders to serve as Vice-Chair of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.

As a leader at the state level, Holly was elected by county commissioners across the state to serve as the Chairman of the Colorado Counties’ Transportation and Telecommunications Committee and continues to fight for transportation funding for the Pikes Peak region
Holly's Promise to El Paso Citizens

Proven results

Under Holly’s leadership, El Paso County has enjoyed the lowest average tax cost per citizen of any county on the Front Range. (Douglas County’s $686 per citizen is nearly 2 ½ times more than El Paso’s $275.) Holly champions the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), which requires a vote of the citizens for any tax increase. Holly opposed the Democrats’ imposition of a gas fee without a vote of the people because it ignored both TABOR and the voter approved Proposition 117 that limits the creation of new fee-based enterprises. Holly also worked with Colorado Counties to change this bill to allow greater local control.

COVID-19 Response & Recovery

Holly and her commissioner colleagues and the Department of Health worked through a complex process to secure variances with the Governor during the COVID-19 lockdown

First, she fought to restore your constitutional right to religious freedom. She also fought for variances for high school graduations, for restaurants, for tourism (including the Great Wolf Lodge), and a multi-sector variance for many service industries. When El Paso County received President Trump’s federal CARES Act stimulus funding, Holly fought to distribute money to other municipalities (who did not receive a distribution) and for a regional economic business fund to assist small business owners.

  • fought to restore constitutional rights to religious and all expressive freedom
  • fought for variances for high school graduations, for restaurants, for tourism (including the Great Wolf Lodge) and a multi-sector variance for many service industries
  • fought for variances for high school graduations, for restaurants, for tourism (including the Great Wolf Lodge) and a multi-sector variance for many service industries
  • took positions on twenty-one bills during the 2021 State Legislative Session
  • opposed fourteen bills*

* fourteen bills including fighting an effort to remove Commissioners from county Boards of Health (successful), a school discipline bill which would have allowed students to commit crimes on school property without consequence (this bill was withdrawn) and fought Democrat efforts to prohibit our rights to own and carry concealed weapons. She also opposed the Front Range Passenger Rail District which may impose a one-cent sales tax on you to fund a rail system in the Denver/Boulder area.

an advocate for district 1 residents

Working hard
for our future

Holly has fought for transportation funding for District 1, working with the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments to secure funding for the Powers and Research interchange. Holly ensured El Paso County honored its commitment to the I-25 GAP project with little impact to the El Paso County budget. In her role as the Vice Chair of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, Holly advocated for an earlier start to two important regional projects — Highway 105 widening from I-25 to Lake Woodmoor Drive and the paving of Beacon Lite Road.

Holly loves our parks and helped both of her sons with their Eagle Scout projects in county parks. During her term, the Community Services Department designated Fox Run Park as a location for a northern nature center. Holly will encourage using existing funding as well as private donations for the nature center and to repair the gazebo in the park. She was honored to open the Pineries Open Space in eastern Black Forest and continues to enjoy the Black Forest Regional Park and the county’s trail system.

Holly is always accessible and enjoys communicating with you about your concerns, including repairs to roads, snow removal, securing a recorded document, obtaining a marriage license, and discussing the increase in home values on property assessment statements.

Thank You

Support for the Military

Holly serves on the Military Affairs Council of the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation and has advocated keeping Space Command in our county. Holly helped secure a MAMSIP Grant (Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project) from the federal government improving access to Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base and improving I-25 near Fort Carson and Highway 94 to Schriever Air Force Base. At the Colorado State Legislature, Holly consistently supports Veterans’ preference in hiring legislation and expediting industry licensing for military spouses. This year, she supported a bill that would have allowed Gold Star families to be eligible for the homestead exemption.

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Conservative Republican Leadership

Teamwork wins!

Holly was the El Paso County Republican of the Year in 2006, graduated from the Leadership Program of the Rockies, and has served in various El Paso County Republican party leadership positions since 1992. She graduated from the Americans for Prosperity Grassroots Leadership Program. Currently, she serves at the grassroots level as a precinct leader and is active in the Sunrise Republican Women’s Club.

At the national level, Holly served as the Secretary for the National Conference of Republican County Officials. She also is a member of Community Leaders of America, a national forum of Republican Mayors, City Council Members, and County Commissioners.

Holly has called the Pikes Peak region home since 1992 where she and her husband Wayne raised their four children. She has a wonderful daughter-in-law and one precocious grandchild. In her spare time, Holly is an accomplished pianist and frequently accompanies large congregations and local choirs. She enjoys family visits, puzzling, and playing board games. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

County Commissioner Liaison Responsibilities

Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau Partnership Committee

Pikes Peak Library District Board

Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Military Affairs Council

Highway Advisory Commission

City/County Drainage Board

El Paso County Board of Adjustment

Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Advisory Committee

Experience that matters

Committee Service

Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) (Board of Directors, past Secretary, Legislative Committee)

Colorado Department of Transportation State Transportation Advisory Committee (PPACG Representative)

Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) (Vice Chairman)

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)(Chairman, 2020-present)

Colorado Counties Incorporated, Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Chairman (2020-present)

National Association of Counties (NACo), Transportation Steering Committee (member)

National Conference Republican County Officials (Republican caucus affiliated with NACo) (Secretary, 2019-2021)

Community Leaders of America, Forum for Community Leaders

Other

El Paso County Public Trustee (1999-2007, appointed position by Governor Bill Owens)

Masters, Public Administration, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (2007)

Bachelor of Arts in American Government, University of Virginia (1989)

Achievements

El Paso County Budget, maintained and improved service within TABOR limitations

MAMSIP Grant (Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project), a grant from the federal government improving access to Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base and improving I-25 near Fort Carson and Highway 94 to Shriever Air Force Base

Powers and Research Parkway, worked with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments to secure funding through the Colorado Department of Transportation for the construction of an overpass for Powers and Research Parkway

COVID-19 Response including guidance to the El Paso County Department of Public Health to seek several variances to Governor Polis’s emergency order shutting down businesses due to COVID, including a variance for High School graduation, for religious services, a restaurant variance, and a multi-sector variance which applied to many industries. El Paso County staff was able to smoothly transition to working from home (most employees) while still maintaining staff efficiency!

CARES Act Funding Administration (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act)

  • El Paso County received nearly $126 million due to its size and population
  • Allocated funding to county municipalities which did not receive funds, including $37.5 million to Colorado Springs and $550,000 to Monument
  • $14 million allocated to Economic and Workforce Development including grants to small businesses
  • $8.3 million to the Public Health Department to manage the emergency response
  • $14 million for upgrades to the El Paso County jail for the safety and well-being of both staff and prisoners
  • Monthly updates and transparency posted on the El Paso County website regarding the expenses related to the funding

Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, formed between El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs, January 2019

Conservative Republican Leader

For more than three decades, Holly has been committed to and has worked to implement the values of our Constitution and the Republican party. In 1998, Holly volunteered as the office manager for the El Paso County Republicans. With the help of many individuals, Republicans won every district election in El Paso County and provided the winning margin for the governor’s race in 1998. For more than twenty-five years, she has served as a precinct leader, volunteer, delegate to county and higher assemblies, and in many Republican leadership positions.

  • El Paso County Republicans Executive Committee Bonus Member, 2017-2019
  • Caucus and County Assembly Coordinator, El Paso County Republicans, 2013-2014
  • 4th Judicial District Central Committee officer, 2006 to 2019\
  • House District 14 Central Committee Secretary, 2012 to 2019
  • El Paso County Republican of the Year, 2006
  • Leadership Program of the Rockies, 2002
  • Office Manager, El Paso County Republican Party, 1997-1999
  • House District Chairman, El Paso County Republican Party, 1995
  • Volunteer Coordinator, Committee to Elect Duncan Bremer, 1994
  • Secretary, Davis County Utah Republican Party, 1991-1993