Cheri Jahn

Cheri Jahn is a former State Senator from Wheat Ridge, Colorado. She served in the legislature as a State Representative from 2001 to 2009 and in the State Senate from 2010 to 2019. During her 16 years of service in the legislature, Cheri became known as the “Bridge Builder,” working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle on issues ranging from business interests and judicial reform to behavioral health care, including substance use disorders.

Cheri raised three children as a single mother while running a small business and staying active in her community, working on issues that affected residents in Wheat Ridge. She was asked to run for the State House in 1999 and has often spoken about how much she valued connecting with citizens on issues important to them and their families. While serving as a State Representative, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies.

Cheri was appointed Speaker Pro Tempore by Speaker Andrew Romanoff in 2005 due to her ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across party lines on issues important to the entire state. She carried these bipartisan values throughout her term as a State Senator.

After leaving the Senate due to term limits in 2019, she founded Ascend Consulting & Government Affairs, LLC to continue her work in policy, strategy, and community building. She also continues to operate the small business she started in 1977 while raising her children as a single mother.

Cheri serves on several boards, including an appointment to the Jefferson County Board of Health in 2019 for a five-year term. As a board member, she contributes to strategic planning, board development, and fundraising efforts.