Total money raised: $47,817

Total expenditures: $11,567

Friend has spent less than Kaaoush, with most of her spending going toward advertising.

Career: Friend worked for more than a decade as an attorney, including for nonprofits, the state of Indiana and in pro bono immigration law. She served on Boulder City Council from 2019 to 2023, then worked as director of development for Community Cycles before starting her consulting business last year, according to LinkedIn.

Endorsements: State Sens. Judy Amabile and Karen McCormick, , former state Sen. Steve Fenberg, District Attorney Michael Dougherty, Former Regional NAACP President Portia Prescott, Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett, County Commissioner Claire Levy, CU Regents Elliot Hood, Ilana Dubin Spiegel and Callie Rennison, CU Regent candidates Murray Smith and former state rep. Edie Hooton and several Boulder city councilmembers. Read the full list.

Questionnaire

1. Why do you want to serve as Boulder County treasurer? 

Having immersed in county efforts as a Boulder City Councilmember, as a resident in both central and now rural Boulder County, through nonprofit advocacy work that intersects with Boulder County systems, and from efforts to improve safety nets throughout Boulder County — I am passionate about Boulder County offering outstanding service, transparency and efficiency to community members. I also think it’s crucial that this office operates with a heart-centered approach that is truly open and inclusive. All people coming into (including working in) this office — of all political stripes and backgrounds — need to be warmly welcomed and respected. I have long been a cross-aisle bridge builder, and respectful of all people. The current Treasurer’s Office is functioning well, but as a systems analyst and data-driven attorney, I am excited by the possibilities for improving the quality and efficiency of services for Boulder County residents. 

2. What past professional, financial or management experience has prepared you for this role? 

I bring a combination of office management, legal, financial and public service experience to this role. As a former Boulder City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem, I managed budgets exceeding $500 million and developed deep fluency in local government finance, compliance and accountability. As a former chief operating officer in charge of operations and HR for a staff of 400, I also bring deep management experience, and the ability to foster collegial and effective workspaces. The key requirements of this position are honesty, attention to detail and the ability to work as part of a team. All of my professional roles have required this trifecta — and especially as an officer of the court and former administrative law judge and federal clerk — my commitment to honesty and detail has been vetted and held to the highest standards. 

3. How would you describe your leadership and management style? 

I am collaborative, compassionate and seek to foster work environments that are collegial and mission-focused. My background in management goes back to the mid-2000s, where I worked for a nonprofit that provided services to individuals with profound disabilities. The work required constant focus on inclusivity and supporting team members and individuals we served on some of their hardest days. In every organization, staff are the heartbeat that makes all the good work possible. I have a direct and open communications style, and understand that our best ideas for improvements come from the people doing the work and utilizing the services –  not the people with big titles. As a city councilmember, I was the sole councilor who had onsite, open office hours before COVID, and the only virtual office hours after COVID hit. The culture of listening and collaborating always starts with community. 

4. Current Treasurer Paul Weissmann has said that one of the most important parts of the job is keeping staff happy. What managerial experience do you have, and how have you fostered positive and productive workplace cultures in the past? 

Healthy offices center inclusivity and the common mission. While the treasurer’s role is primarily about accurately and safely billing, collecting and investing county funds, that requires people working in the treasurer’s office who like their job and want to provide outstanding work product and customer service for the community. Happy offices aren’t an accident, and it will be a top priority to continue fostering what is now a happy office environment. My managerial background includes supervision roles of one to over 400 employees. I foster positive and productive workplaces by first and foremost being part of the team. I strive to know how to do every job to the extent possible — so I can do it in a pinch, and so that I know how to support people daily. Given that the new treasurer is coming externally into the office, it’s also imperative to watch and learn and not come in thinking I know more than those who’ve been in the office for years. Trust needs to be built and earned, and that will start from listening, working hard as part of the team, and learning. 

5. Some aspects of the treasurer’s role are unique to the office and difficult to learn before taking office. How would you approach getting up to speed in your first year of the job? 

I have had meetings with the current and previous treasurer, as well as checking in with the most recent Boulder County Trustee. While I’ve already spent some time observing Treasurer Weissmann, I will be spending full work weeks shadowing in the office prior to assuming office, will attend state-offered training sessions for current and new treasurers, and will join state and national treasurers associations to keep up with industry best practices to ensure I am prepared to hit the ground running.

Three well-qualified and diverse community member experts have agreed to serve as an investment advisory panel, and we will meet prior to January 1 to review current investments and ensure continuity and a strong strategic plan in place. I will spend many months observing and listening to the experts in the office doing the work now, and learning what they think we can realistically do to improve services for our community and quality of life for team members. And finally, I will continue to meet with anyone and everyone in the community who has feedback, concerns, and suggestions for how the treasurer’s office can best serve our community. 

6. What sets you apart as a candidate, and why will this make you a better treasurer?

I am a geek — I thrive on reading voraciously and triple-checking my work. My undergraduate and graduate degrees were arduous, nose-in-book endeavors, and my work life as an attorney, in my nonprofit roles, and as a public servant, have been equally attentive to detail. Poring over briefs and packets and financials has been my life’s work. As an elected official, I eschewed ribbon cuttings and speech-giving, in favor of office hours and listening and coalition-building. In addition to being bookish — I also love bringing people together — my nickname among my college friends is “The Glue” because of my propensity for helping to make connections.

Connecting people and places is something I strive for naturally. Our world is painfully divided on virtually every level in this modern era; but my goal is to lessen divisions and help forge new connections wherever we can. This job is “geek” meets “glue,” it’s dotting i’s and crossing t’s and creating cohesiveness both with the team and with the community we serve. This is a head-down, heart-centered job that I’d love the opportunity to do so.