Cary Kennedy

Cary Kennedy (born 1968 in Colorado) is an experienced American political leader, public servant, and author—best known for drafting Colorado Amendment 23, which requires annual increases in public school funding, and establishing the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program during her tenure as State Treasurer (2007–2011) +15+15The Colorado Sun+15. She later served as Denver’s Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Mayor (2011–2016), where she played a key role in major civic projects supporting long-term community infrastructure +4+4publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu+4.

As an author advocating for fiscal responsibility and education equity, Kennedy has written widely in opinion forums such as The Colorado Sun, sharing her insights on issues like budget transparency, taxpayer value, and renewable energy policy BrainyQuote+2The Colorado Sun+2BrainyQuote+2. Her work reflects a philosophy that blends pragmatic problem-solving with a commitment to public service and long-term investment in infrastructure and education—as embodied in BEST and Amendment 23 Denverite+2+2publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu+2.

Among Cary Kennedy’s most quoted lines are:

“I am proud of my record as Colorado’s State Treasurer. I have protected the taxpayer’s money and grown the value of the state’s investments in a very challenging economy.” +15BrainyQuote+15+15
“As candidates and elected officials, we have an obligation to be honest.” BrainyQuote+1BrainyQuote+1
“My goal as governor is for Colorado to have the cleanest air and the cleanest water in the country, and to be a model for the nation in using clean, renewable sources of energy.” BrainyQuote+2BrainyQuote+2BrainyQuote+2

These reflections capture Kennedy’s dedication to transparency, sustainable development, and ethical leadership, underscoring why she remains a respected voice in Colorado politics and public policy.