Don Marostica

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Don Marostica
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 51nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 10, 2007
Preceded by	Jim Welker
Born	March 7, 1948 (1948-03-07) (age 60) Sterling, Colorado
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Carol

Don Marostica (born 7 March 1948^[1]) is a Colorado legislator. An Army veteran, former high school teacher, real estate developer, and member of the Loveland, Colorado city council, Marostica was elected the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006. He represents House District 51, which encompasses the city of Loveland.^[2]

Contents 1 Early career 2 Legislative career 2.1 2007 legislative session 2.2 2008 legislative session 2.3 2008 election 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Early career

Marostica was born in Sterling, Colorado and attended Colorado State University on football and wrestling scholarships, graduating in 1970^[3] with a degree in physical science and geology.^[4] In 1975, he later earned a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado^[3] in secondary school administration.^[4]

Marostica served in the United States Army and the Colorado Army National Guard, leaving the service at the rank of captain in 1979. After leaving the Army, Marostica taught and coached wrestling at Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins. Marostica currently resides in Loveland, Colorado with his wife, Carol.^[3]

Marostica entered the real estate industry in 1977 and is currently a partner in Loveland Commercial, LLC.^[3] In 1982, during a downturn in the real estate market, Marostica declared bankruptcy and had judgements from creditors filed against him. He also had tax leins filed against him both in the early 1980s and in the mid-1990s, and has since paid all back taxes.^[5] Marostica became financially successful in real estate,^[6] and, together with other partners in Loveland Commercial, has donated extensively to local causes, including endowing a chair in the business department of Colorado State University.^[7] As a developer, Marostica specialized in commercial real estate, spearheading five Planned Unit Developments in Loveland and Milliken, Colorado.^[8]

Marostica was elected to the Loveland City Council in 2001, serving for three years, including a span as mayor pro tem,^[8] before resigning in 2004 because of professional conflicts of interest.^[9] During his 2006 legislative campaign, he was criticized for, as a city council member, voting to award city money to his company for a development contract;^[10][11] the city council had to authorize a special exception to its conflict of interest rules to approve the contract.^[12]

Marostica has served on numerous city commissions in Loveland, with an emphasis on transportation-related issues (Loveland Transportation Finance Committee, Loveland East-West Mobility Study Committee, Loveland Eisenhower Boulevard Alignment Analysis Committee, Fort Collins-Loveland Airport Master Plan Update Committee). He has also served as the chair of the Board of Directors of the Poudre Valley Health System Foundation and the Medical Center of the Rockies Foundation.^[13][8] He is also an avid motorcyclist and regularly participates in the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Ride to the Wall, a cross-county ride ending at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.^[1]

[edit] Legislative career

Considered by observers on both the left and the right to be a moderate Republican,^[14][15] having supported Colorado's 2005 Referendum C.^[16], Marostica faced a challenge from Kevan McNaught in the 2006 Republican primary for the 51st House district. McNaught was endorsed by the Colorado Club for Growth, who criticized Marostica for his support of higher taxes and use of eminent domain while a member the Loveland city council.^[17] Marostica edged out McNaught in the Republican primary by about 250 votes, or 5% of voters.^[18]

In the general election, Marostica defeated Democrat Jodi Radke in the general election with 56% of the vote.^[2] Marostica contributed over $180,000 of his own money — at least two-thirds of the money his campaign spent — to win the contested primary and general elections.^[6][19]

[edit] 2007 legislative session

Bills Introduced in 2007 by Rep. Marostica (for which Rep. Marostica is the primary originating sponsor)
BILL	OUTCOME
HB07-1010	Concerning the use of electronic transfers in the warrant process.	Signed by Gov. Ritter
HB07-1081	Concerning the sale of powersports vehicles, and [...] requiring powersports vehicles to be sold only by persons licensed by the motor vehicle dealer board [...]	Signed by Gov. Ritter
HB07-1164	Concerning the disclosure of information related to the expenditure of state moneys on a searchable website, and [...] enacting the "Taxpayer Transparency Act".	Postponed indefinitely in House committee
HB07-1173	Concerning reserve peace officer status.	Signed by Gov. Ritter
HB07-1185	Concerning financial institution accounts established on behalf of an entity.	Signed by Gov. Ritter

In the 2007-2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Marostica sits on the House Finance Committee and the House Transportation and Energy Committee,^[20] and has expressed an interest in serving on the powerful Joint Budget Committee in future sessions.^[21]

Although a Republican serving in a legislature controlled by Democrats, Marostica has been relatively successful at passing legislation.^[22] In the 2007 session, Marostica sponsored legislation that streamlines the process of approving search warrants electronically. ^[23] Marostica also sponsored a measure that gave reserve peace officers the same status as regular peace officers, allowing them to serve alongside and wear the same uniform as regular officers.^[24] Other successful bills sponsored by Marostica included a legislation requiring that powersports vehicles (off-highway vehicles, motorized bicycles, personal watercrafts, or snowmobiles) be sold only by licensed motor vehicle dealers,^[25] and a bill allowed individuals to administer bank accounts on behalf of businesses, governments, or not-for-profits with proper documentation.^[26]

Marostica was unsuccessful at passing what he described as his "most important" proposal — the "Taxpayer Transparency Act," which would have required that government expenditures larger than $300 be reported on a searchable government website.^[27] Although supported by Republican House leadership, the bill died in committee.^[28]

Marostica, an avid motorcyclist, was among the prominent opponents of a bill that would have required minors to wear motorcycle helmets while riding,^[29] even wearing his own motorcycle helmet to a committee hearing at which the bill was debated.^[30]

Following the legislative session, Levy sat on the interim Transportation Legislation Review Committee.^[31]

[edit] 2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Marostica sits on the House Health and Human Services Committee, the House Transportation and Energy Committee, and the Joint Capital Development Committee. ^[32] Marostica sponsored legislation signed into law to allow statutory counties, cities, and towns to spend money on marketing in addition to advertising;^[33] the bill, proposed in response to a lawsuit challenging the town of Estes Park's ability to engage in marketing, was signed into law in February.^[34] Marostica sponsored another bill, enacted into law, to allow county clerks to verify voter signatures using digital records.^[35] He also sponsored a successful bill to exempt owners from property tax on buildings leased to public universities,^[36][37] a measure he called his "favorite bill" of the session, attributing the idea for the bill to a local developer.^[38]

[edit] 2008 election

Marostica supported former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in the contested 2008 Republican presidential primaries, and helped organize a November 2007 fundraiser for Giuliani's campaign that was reported to net over $60,000.^[39][40]

Marostica announced his bid for re-election to the legislature in January 2008.^[41] He is expected to face Democrat Kenneth Bennett.^[42]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Colorado General Assembly profile
• Campaign website