David Skaggs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Evans Skaggs (born February 22, 1943) was a Democratic Congressman from the state of Colorado from 1987 to 1999.
Skaggs was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but grew up in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City. He attended Wesleyan University, and after earning his degree in Philosophy, went on to Yale University, from which he received his Bachelor of Laws. Following graduation, Skaggs spent three years in the United States Marine Corps. Upon discharge from active duty in 1971, he practiced law in Boulder, CO.
Skaggs first became involved in politics as a Democratic Party volunteer and officer in 1971-72. He was hired as administrative assistant to Tim Wirth, a congressman from Colorado, in 1974. He ran successfully for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in 1980, and he served three terms -- two as Minority Leader -- before running for Congress. Skaggs was a six term member of the United States House of Representatives. He retired in 1999 and served as executive director of the Center for Democracy & Citizenship at the Council for Excellence in Government for several years before moving back to Colorado to serve as executive director of the state Department of Higher Education. Skaggs also served as co-chairman of the Constitution Project's bipartisan War Powers Committee.
The David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado, which he secured funding for, is named in his honor.[1]
