Mary Young, a school psychologist and wife of Colorado Treasurer Dave Young, was appointed Sunday to fill the House District 50 seat vacated by former Rep. Rochelle Galindo, who resigned.

A vacancy committee selected Mary Young among six candidates to fill the position after two hours of questioning at the Lincoln Park Library, 1012 11th St., in Greeley. Dozens of spectators filled the room to watch the process.

As a school psychologist, Young focused on mental health and school safety. She said her first agenda item will be to reach out to Rep. Dafna Michaelson-Jenet, D-Commerce City, the chairwoman of the Interim School Safety Committee, to ensure legislation will come out of the committee to benefit not only those in House District 50, but across the state.

Young also pledged to be a persistent legislator and campaigner. By the next legislative session in January, she said she’ll knock on 3,000 doors.

Reaching out to Cary Kennedy, a senior fiscal policy advisor in Gov. Jared Polis’ administration, and the Bell Policy Center, Young said she’ll pursue deconstructing TABOR and the Gallagher Amendment.

Young said she believes the oil and gas industry will continue to be viable in the area, adding she didn’t see in Senate Bill 181 any restrictions that were going to have a negative impact on the industry. As an example of the industry’s health, she pointed to the bidding war between Chevron and Occidental for Anadarko. Kerr McGee, a subsidiary of Anadarko, is the biggest oil and gas producer in Weld County.

Young earned her doctorate in school psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, her master’s degree in teaching from Duke University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Mary’s of Notre Dame.

Young clinched the seat after receiving six votes from the committee. Rhonda Solis, a school board member for Greeley-Evans School District 6, received three votes. Dave Young, who was a member of the vacancy committee, recused himself from Sunday’s vote.

“We offer our warmest congratulations to Mary Young for being chosen by her community to represent them in the Colorado General Assembly,” a statement from the Colorado Democratic Party reads. “Her background as a school psychologist and an educator will serve as a great asset to her as she represents the people of House District 50 at the State Capitol.”