Gail Schwartz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gail Schwartz
Gail Schwartz
Member of the Colorado State Senate
from the 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 10, 2007
Preceded by Lewis Entz
Political party Democratic
Spouse Alan

Gail Sheridan Schwartz[1] is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2006, Schwartz represents Senate District 5, which covers a large section of south-central Colorado, ranging from Aspen, and Delta, Colorado through the San Luis Valley to the New Mexico border.[2]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Born and raised in Chicago, Schwartz holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Colorado. Schwartz has worked as Director of Development, and later Acting Director for the Pitkin County Housing Authority. She has also worked as a real estate and marketing consultant and as an executive for Sno-Engineering, Inc.[1]

Schwartz was involved in education issues in the Aspen School District, including campaigning for a $4 million local bond election for technology in local schools. She received the Aspen School District's "Outstanding Service Award." She was appointed by Gov. Roy Romer to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as a representative of the Western Slope from 1995 to 1999.[1]

In 2000, Schwartz was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado from Colorado's 3rd Congressional district.[3] She faced Republican incumbent Hank Anton and campaigned on increasing accessibility to higher education, particularly for the largely rural and underserved Western Slope of Colorado.[4] She was elected with roughly 51 percent of the popular vote, becoming the third Democrat on the nine-member board.[5] After being elected, Schwartz supported adding sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy.[6] Schwartz also served as vice-chair of the Board of Regents.[7]

Schwartz is married; she and her husband, Alan, an attorney, have three daughters: Brendan Ash, Aime, and Rachel.[1] Her family currently resides in Snowmass Village, Colorado.[7]

[edit] Legislative career

Bills Introduced in 2007 by Sen. Schwartz
(for which Sen. Schwartz is the primary originating sponsor)
BILL TITLE OUTCOME
SB07-041    Concerning the creation of the "Public School Facilities Act" to address capital construciton in Colorado public schools [...] Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-054 Concerning removal of bonding limits on higher education research building revolving funds. Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-091 Concerning renewable resource generation development areas [...] and creating a task force [...] Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-152 Concerning volunteer services by dental professionals who hold a license in good standing from another state. Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-155 Concerning fees charged to a customer using an account from a foreign bank. Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-206 Concerning the biological pest control cash fund [...] Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-207 Concerning the "Colorado Feed Law." Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-208 Concerning the regulation of persons who treat the hearing impaired and [...] continuing the registration of audiologists and hearing aid providers. Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-209 Concerning creation of a council to facilitate collaboration in health careers education in southern Colorado and [...] creating the Southern Colorado Council for Excellence in Health Careers Education. Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-220 Concerning an increase in the powers of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and [...] specifying the establishment, operation, and financing procedures of subdistricts [...] Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-253 Concerning price insurance contracts to minimize anticipated fluctuations in the amount of revenue derived from oil and gas production. Signed by Gov. Ritter

[edit] 2006 election

In the 2006 Colorado legislative elections, Schwartz defeated incumbent Republican Lewis Entz with 51 percent of the popular vote. Schwartz was elected to represent Senate District 5, which includes Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral, Pitkin, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties.[2]

[edit] 2007 legislative session

In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Schwartz was vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, and sat on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee.[8]

Following the regular session, Schwartz chaired the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax and federal mineral lease revenues[9] and served on the Water Resources Review Committee.[10]

[edit] 2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Schwartz serves as vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, and sits on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee and the Legislative Audit Committee.[11]

During the 2008 session, Schwartz sponsored legislation to require Colorado's chief information officer to map broadband internet access in Colorado,[12] and legislation to require greater public disclosure about prospective mining activities.[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Home | Gail Schwartz
  2. ^ a b State Senate District 5 (html). COMaps. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
  3. ^ McAvoy, Tom. "Dennises selected delegates to the Republican Convention", Pueblo Chieftan, 3 June 2000. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
  4. ^ Nadzam, Bonnie. "Aspen resident stresses higher education while campaigning for CU seat", Steamboat Pilot & Today, 22 October 2000. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. es/
  5. ^ Poppen, Julie. "Democrat looks like winner in CU Regent race", Rocky Mountain News, 8 November 2000. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
  6. ^ Dodge, Jefferson. "Regent: Add sexual orientation to policy", Silver & Gold Record, 30 November 2000. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
  7. ^ a b Senator Schwartz (html). Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
  8. ^ Senate Committees of Reference. Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  9. ^ Allocation of Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Revenues. Colorado Legislative Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  10. ^ Water Resources Review Committee. Colorado Legislative Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  11. ^ Senate Committees of Reference. Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  12. ^ Weiser, Phil. "SPEAKOUT: Broadband for all", Rocky Mountain News, 11 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  13. ^ Staff Reports. "Schwartz/Curry push mining reform bill", Crested Butte News, 30 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-03. 

[edit] External links

Current members of the Colorado State Senate

1st: Greg Brophy (R)
2nd: Kenneth Kester (R)
3rd: Abel Tapia (D)
4th: Tom Wiens (R)
5th: Gail Schwartz (D)
6th: James Isgar (D)
7th: Josh Penry (R)
8th: Jack Taylor (R)
9th: David Schultheis (R)

10th: Bill Cadman (R)
11th: John Morse (D)
12th: Andy McElhany (R)
13th: Scott Renfroe (R)
14th: Bob Bacon (D)
15th: Steve Johnson (R)
16th: Dan Gibbs (D)
17th: Brandon Shaffer (D)
18th: Ron Tupa (D)

19th: Sue Windels (D)
20th: Maryanne Keller (D)
21st: Betty Boyd (D)
22nd: Mike Kopp (R)
23rd: Shawn Mitchell (R)
24th: Lois Tochtrop (D)
25th: Stephanie Takis (D)
26th: Steve Ward (R)
27th: Nancy Spence (R)

28th: Suzanne Williams (D)
29th: Bob Hagedorn (D)
30th: Ted Harvey (R)
31st: Jennifer Veiga (D)
32nd: Chris Romer (D)
33rd: Peter Groff (D)
34th: Paula Sandoval (D)
35th: Ken Gordon (D)
Democrat (20 seats) | Republican (15 seats)