Former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has congratulated Liberian-native Naquetta Ricks for a second round victory over her Republican rival, Le Sellers, sealing a second two-year term in the Colorado State House.
In 2020, Ricks entered the race for Representative, thereby becoming the first Liberian woman to ever hold an elected position in the United States as she left Liberia in 1980 after the coup d’état.
She moved to Colorado with her mother and sister to begin a new life where she saw the need to have her voice in the United States political system and ran unsuccessfully for the board of regents.
According to Ricks; that did not deter her, but made her even more determined to push her political career.
In her official tweet, Sirleaf said: “Congratulations to Liberian-born Naquetta Ricks (@NaquettaR), who was re-elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as she is a shining example of what Liberian women can achieve on the world stage.”
She, as an advocate for women, believes that the future of development rests on the opportunities that can be offered to women to fully participate in decisions that can shape their lives, communities, countries, and the world at-large as it was demonstrated in the first term of Ricks where she passed 19 bills, such as the Immigration Defense Fund, Home-Owners’ Association Transparency and Accountability, Diverse K-12 Workforce Report, Towing Customer Bill of Rights and Mental Health Gap Funds.
“I am looking forward to working on critical issues facing Colorado, such as public safety, affordable housing, mental health and climate change,” Richs intimated.
In addition to her position as the Representative for House District 40, Ricks is also the President and Founder of the African Chamber of Commerce for Colorado.
She is committed to supporting Liberia in its growth and development as part of the Year of the Diaspora team and a part of the planning committee on the Diaspora Engagement Summit held in May of this year.
As can be recalled, Ricks also jointly led efforts in bringing over US$1 million worth of medical equipment and supplies to Liberia earlier this year, in support of the war against COVID-19,.
Upon her victory, Ricks wrote on her Facebook page, “Congratulations Democrats! Go Team Blue!!! Praise be to God! Thank you HD 40 for re-electing me! I am grateful for your support and confidence. We have a lot of work to do together for Colorado and I am fired up and ready to go back to the Capitol! #Blue Tsunami”.
