Scott Renfroe

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Scott Renfroe
Scott Renfroe
Member of the Colorado State Senate
from the 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 10, 2007[1]
Preceded by Dave Owen
Born December 7, 1966 (1966-12-07) (age 41)
Greeley, Colorado
Political party Republican
Spouse Pamela
Profession contractor
Religion Evangelical Free

Scott Renfroe (born December 7, 1966[2]) is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Republican in 2006, Renfroe represents Senate District 13, which encompasses northern and eastern Weld County, including the city of Greeley.[3]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Born in Greeley, Colorado[2], Renfroe graduated from Eaton High School in 1985,[4] where played basketball and was quarterback of the high school football team. He started his college career on a baseball scholarship at Iowa State University,[5] but ended up attending four different colleges within a span of four years,[6] ultimately graduating from Colorado State University in 1989[4] with a degree in business administration.[5]

Renfroe is married; he and his wife, Pamela met in high school,[5] and have five children: Olivia, Sylvia, Vivian, and twin sons Derek, and Spencer. He was elected twice to the Eaton School District Board of Education, in 1997 and 2001.[4] While on the Board of Education, he worked to adopt an abstinence-only sex education curriculum.[7]

After college, Renfroe returned to Greeley, Colorado to work for his father's company, Foundation Builders, Inc.;[5] he eventually became vice president and part-owner of the Weld County concrete contractor. Renfroe has served as president of the Weld County Builders Association[4] and lent his experience to the Weld County Building Trades Advisory Board and the Greeley Building Inspection Advisory Board.[2] As a developer, Renfroe's company helped bring the first strip mall and commercial center to the small town of Eaton.[8][9]

He has sat on the Board of Deacons and Board of Trustees of Evangelical Free Church of Eaton,[4] and has gone on short-term missions trips to India[10] and Belize.[5]

[edit] Legislative career

[edit] 2006 election

Renfroe faced Rep. Dale Hall for the Republican nomination in the right-leaning district; both sought to replace retiring Sen. Dave Owen[11] Renfroe targeted Hall for, as a member of the legislature's Joint Budget Committee, being a vocal proponent of Colorado's Referendum C in 2005.[12] The measure allowed the state to retain additional tax revenue, and Renfroe criticized the measure as unnecessary government spending. [13] At the Republican party district assembly in April, Renfroe narrowly edged out Hall in delegate votes, earning the top spot on the primary ballot.[14]

In the Republican primary, Renfroe positioned himself as the more conservative candidate, benefiting from attacks by groups portraying Hall as "liberal" on gun control, immigration[15] and abortion. Hall rebutted a number of factual errors and distortions in the third-party attacks, and the Christian Coalition publicly apologized for errors in their mailing.[16] Renfroe also garnerned endorsements from former U.S. Senator William Armstrong, former Colorado Senate President John Andrews, and Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave; Hall was endorsed by four Weld County commissioners and Gov. Bill Owens.[12] Renfroe won the August primary election with 58 percent of the vote.[17][18]

In the general election, Renfroe faced Democrat Solomon Little Owl, director of Native American Student Services at the University of Northern Colorado.[19] In the predominantly Republican district, Renfroe also criticized Little Owl for his support of Referendum C and his activism against a local American Indian school mascot.[20] Renfroe ultimately won the contest with 60 percent of the general election vote.[21]

[edit] 2007 legislative session

Bills Introduced in 2007 by Sen. Renfroe
(for which Sen. Renfroe is the primary originating sponsor)
BILL TITLE OUTCOME
SB07-038    Concerning the suspension of payment of temporary disability benefits due to an employee's failure to attend a medical appointment. Postponed indefinitely in Senate committee
SB07-050 Concerning authorization of a school district employee to represent the school district in truancy proceedings. Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-069 Concerning a prohibition of a statewide concealed handgun permit database. Postponed indefinitely in Senate committee
SB07-143 Concerning a prohibition on abortion [...] Postponed indefinitely in Senate committee
SB07-201 Concerning the continuous appropriation of moneys in specified funds used to pay benefits under the "Workers' Compensation Act of Colorado." Signed by Gov. Ritter
SB07-213 Concerning the continuation of the licensing of addiction treatment programs by the Department of Human Services" [...] Signed by Gov. Ritter

In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Renfroe served on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Transportation Committee.[22]

During the 2007 legislative session, Renfroe fulfilled a campaign promise to sponsor legislation banning almost all abortions and redefining pregnancy in state law to begin at conception.[23][24] After intense lobbying by both pro-life and pro-choice groups,[25][26] the measure was defeated along party lines in the Senate Judiciary Committee.[27][28]

He also introduced legislation to reduce paperwork for small businesses,[29], to allow school districts to represent themselves at truancy hearings,[30][31] and to eliminate a state database of concealed weapons permit holders.[32]

Renfroe was among Republican legislators who opposed revising statewide sex education standards to include information about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases; he unsuccessfully attempted to amend the legislation to exempt school districts within Weld County.[33] Renfroe also opposed measures to allow members of homosexual couples to adopt each other's children,[34] and to name John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" one of Colorado's state songs.[35]

During the 2007 session, Renfroe, along with a dozen other Republican legislators, joined the State Legislators for Legal Immigration coalition, advocating for heightened border security and cutting government benefits to illegal aliens.[36]

Following the legislative session, Renfroe served on the legislature's interim committee on Long-Term Care Health Care Services and Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities,[37] the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Continuing Examination of the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness who are Involved in the Justice System.[38], and the Transportation Legislation Review Committee.[39]

[edit] 2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Renfroe serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee.[40]

For the 2008 Colorado General Assembly, Renfroe announced plans to sponsor legislation to prioritize funding to assist those with developmental disabilities,[41] to require the Colorado Historical Society to use more energy efficient materials,[42] and to establish uniform rules for drivers cited for DUI,[43] equalizing sentencing rules for those given a summons and those arrested for drunk driving.[44] Renfroe also sponsored a bill that was killed in committee that would have allowed citizens to sue the government over violations of the right to free exercise of religion.[45]

In April, Renfroe was one of only two senators to vote against the nomination of Celeste C de Baca to the state parole board, citing concerns about her conduct as a judge.[46] Renfroe is also exploring legislation regarding water rights along the South Platte River.[47]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Local legislators take first steps in new session", Greeley Tribune, 11 January 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  2. ^ a b c Senator Renfroe (html). Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  3. ^ State Senate District 13 (html). COMaps. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  4. ^ a b c d e Biography. Scott Renfroe for Senate District 13. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e Boyle, Rebecca. "A Closer Look At Scott Renfroe", Greeley Tribune, 30 July 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  6. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Sex education bill moves forward in Legislature", Greeley Tribune, 5 April 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  7. ^ Dunn, Sharon. "Growth spurt hits Eaton", Greeley Tribune, 5 December 2004. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  8. ^ Dunn, Sharon. "Stores start to fill Eaton strip mall", Greeley Tribune, 7 October 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  9. ^ Scott in India. Scott Renfroe for Senate District 13. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
  10. ^ Frates, Chris. "Vote 2006", Denver Post, 30 July 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  11. ^ a b Boyle, Rebecca. "GOP state Senate race turns nasty", Greeley Tribune, 23 July 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  12. ^ Frates, Chris. "Harvey gets Douglas County nod", Denver Post, 9 August 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  13. ^ Murphy, Doyle. "Conservative Renfroe earns top spot in GOP battle for state senate", Greeley Tribune, 11 April 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  14. ^ Haley, Dan. "Facing fire for acting Republican?", Denver Post, 31 July 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  15. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Christian Coalition apologizes to Hall", Greeley Tribune, 5 August 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  16. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Renfroe wins GOP primary", Greeley Tribune, 8 August 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  17. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Primary shows a division: Renfroe win signals conservative clout in Weld County GOP", Greeley Tribune, 10 August 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  18. ^ Editorial Board. "Weighing Colorado legislative candidates", Denver Post, 8 October 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  19. ^ Murphy, Doyle. "Candidates square off in first Senate District 13 debate", Greeley Tribune, 17 October 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  20. ^ Delgado, Vanessa. "Republican newcomer Renfroe wins Senate District 13", Greeley Tribune, 8 November 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  21. ^ Senate Committees of Reference. Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  22. ^ Slevin, Colleen. "Lawmakers consider near-ban on abortions", Denver Post, 12 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  23. ^ Slevin, Colleen. "Senator urges ban on most abortions, citing civil rights", Rocky Mountain News, 13 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  24. ^ Staff Reports. "Sunday meeting opposing abortion ban", Greeley Tribune, 9 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  25. ^ Murphy, Doyle. "Opponents of abortion ban stage rally in Greeley", Greeley Tribune, 12 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  26. ^ Clausing, Jeri. "Senate panel rejects ban on abortions", Denver Post, 13 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  27. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Committee nixes Greeley lawmaker's bill to ban abortion", Greeley Tribune, 13 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  28. ^ McElhany, Andy. "Full text of Senate minority leader's speech", Denver Post, 10 January 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  29. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Reflect on legislature's efforts", Greeley Tribune, 13 May 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  30. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Truancy bill could help small school districts", Greeley Tribune, 22 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  31. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Concealed weapons bills continue through legislature; Renfroe's bill killed", Greeley Tribune, 8 February 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  32. ^ Brown, Jennifer. "GOP feels snub on sex ed", Denver Post, 4 April 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  33. ^ Brown, Jennifer. "State GOP warns of "homosexual agenda"", Denver Post, 11 April 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  34. ^ Brown, Jennifer. ""Rocky Mountain High" now 2nd state song", Denver Post, 13 March 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  35. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Three northern Colorado lawmakers join coalition to seal borders", Greeley Tribune, 22 May 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  36. ^ Long-Term Care Health Care Services and Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities Committee. Colorado Legislative Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  37. ^ Legislative Oversight Committee for the Continuing Examination of the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness who are Involved in the Justice System. Colorado Legislative Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  38. ^ [hhttp://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07TLRCSched.htm Transportation Legislation Review Committee 2007]. Colorado Legislative Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  39. ^ Senate Committees of Reference. Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  40. ^ Barge, Chris. "Republican legislators offer their own health insurance proposals", Rocky Mountain News, 4 December 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  41. ^ Young, David. "Colorado Senate elects first black president", Greeley Tribune, 10 January 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  42. ^ Staff Report. "Correction for Jan. 12", Greeley Tribune, 12 January 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  43. ^ Young, David. "New bill could change DUI summons", Greeley Tribune, 11 February 2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-14. 
  44. ^ Villegas, Andrew. "Lawmakers tout 2008 legislation, look forward to transportation, other funding questions next year", Greeley Tribune, 12 May 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-12. 
  45. ^ Saccone, Mike. "Senator questions nominee's judgment", Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, 30 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-01. 
  46. ^ Boyle, Rebecca. "Lawmakers still plan on working after session wraps up", Greeley Tribune, 13 May 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 

[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)