Rep. Spence served her constituents in Colorado House District 39 in Arapahoe County for three terms. She was elected by 70% of the electors from the district in November, 1998; was elected again in the 2000 and 2002 elections and was a state representative until January of 2005. At that time, she was elected by the voters to represent them as the state senator representing District 27.

As a state representative she was a member of the following committees: House Education, Judiciary, Appropriations, and Transportation and Energy. In 2000, after her first term in the house, she was appointed by the Speaker of the House to chair the House Education Committee.

Although Rep. Spence was recognized as an “education” specialist, she sponsored and co-sponsored legislation on a wide variety of other issues – from healthcare to local government.

Sen. Spence works closely with her constituents when they are frustrated about how to access government services and she frequently meets at the capitol with groups of school kids, business groups and seniors.