| Jeanne Labuda | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 1st district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Fran Coleman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1947 (age 64–65) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Michael D. Taber[1] |
| Residence | Denver, Colorado |
| Alma mater | University of Colorado, Boulder Texas A&I University |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Methodist[1] |
Jeanne Labuda (born c. 1947[2]) is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2006, Labuda represents House District 1, which encompasses Sheridan, Colorado and southeastern Denver.[3]
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After earning a bachelor's degree from Texas A&I University in 1968,[1] Labuda worked for two and a half years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia. She then taught for several years — working both as a high school teacher of English and government[1] in South Texas[4] and as a teaching assistant at the University of Texas at Austin. She has also worked as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration.[1]
Labuda later earned a J.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1989 and served as a staff attorney for Liberty Mutual and TIG Insurance Company before becoming an assistant attorney general for the state of Colorado.[1]
A resident of southwest Denver for over two decades,[4] Labuda has served as a board member and chair of the Harvey Park Improvement Association. She was also appointed by Mayor Wellington Webb as neighborhood liaison for southwest Denver, to the Denver Planning Board by mayors Webb and Peña, and to the community advisory board for Father Ed Judy House by Denver City Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz. She has also been president of the Denver Chapter of the American Association of University Women and a member of the executive committee for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Sierra Club.[1]
A "life-long Democrat,"[4] Labuda was the Democratic party co-captain for House District 1, and ran unsuccessfully for the Denver City Council.[1] Labuda is married; she and her husband, Michael Taber, have two children: Danica and Emily,[1] who are both recent college graduates.[4]
In 2006, Labuda sought the Democratic nomination for the open seat vacated by Rep. Fran Coleman, who unsuccessfully ran for the Colorado Senate. In the party primary, Labuda emphasized her experience in contrast with younger Denver deputy district attorney Alfredo Hernandez,[5] who garnered endorsements from a number of sitting representatives. Labuda was able to spend more money in the primary, in part by loaning her campaign over $30,000,[6] and won the nomination with around 60% of the vote.[7]
In the general election, Labuda faced Republican paralegal Aimee Rathburn. In the only competitive Denver-area race, both candidates raised tens of thousands in the Democratic-leaning district.[8] Labuda was endorsed by the Denver Post,[9] but not the Rocky Mountain News.[10] In the end, Labuda prevailed with 55% of the vote.[3]
| Bills Introduced in 2007 by Rep. Labuda (for which Rep. Labuda is the primary originating sponsor) |
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|---|---|---|
| BILL | TITLE | OUTCOME |
| HB07-1042 | Concerning membership on specified boards that regulate mental health professions | Signed by Gov. Ritter |
| HB07-1161 | Concerning training for juvenile risk assessment. | Signed by Gov. Ritter |
| HB07-1192 | Concerning the regulation of alternative health care providers, and, in connection therewith, requiring licensing of naturopathic doctors and authorizing complementary and alternative health care practices. | Postponed indefinitely in House committee |
| HB07-1212 | Concerning the Colorado Health Facilities Authority. | Signed by Gov. Ritter |
In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Labuda served on the House Finance Committee, the House Health and Human Services Committee, and the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee.[11]
Labuda focused on health care in the bill she introduced during her first legislative session; her most contentious bill proposed to regulate naturopathic physicians[12] in response to several high-profile deaths associated with naturopathic practitioners with dubious credentials.[13][14] The bill was opposed by the Colorado Medical Society,[12] and supported by the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Physicians.[15] After extensive debate, Labuda, citing unresolved issues asked for its postponement.[16] and plans to re-introduce similar legislation in 2008.[17]
| Bills Introduced in 2008 by Rep. Labuda (for which Rep. Labuda is the primary originating sponsor) |
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|---|---|---|
| BILL | TITLE | OUTCOME |
| HB08-1064 | Concerning the regulation of naturopathic doctors. | Postponed indefinitely in House committee |
| HB08-1102 | Concerning an increase in the reserve requirement for the liquor enforcement division and state licensing authority cash fund. | Signed by Gov. Ritter |
| HB08-1176 | Concerning the modification of the allocation of parental responsibilities of certain deployed service members. | Signed by Gov. Ritter |
| HB08-1263 | Concerning modifications to victim notification requirements. | Signed by Gov. Ritter |
| HB08-1412 | Concerning the revision of statutes in the Colorado Revised Statutes [...] clarifying the language to reflect the legislative intent of the laws. | Signed by Gov. Ritter |
In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Labuda sits on the House Finance Committee and the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee, as well as the Joint Legal Services Committee.[18]
Labuda has sponsored legislation to protect the child custody rights of Colorado National Guard troops and military reservists who are deployed for active duty.[19] She has also re-introduced her bill to license naturopathic physicians; it was again opposed by the Colorado Medical Society.[20]
Labuda filed to run for a second term in the Colorado House of Representatives; she faced no challengers for the Democratic nomination, and faced Republican Tom Thomason in the November 2008 general election.[21]
Labuda's re-election bid was endorsed by the Denver Post;[22] she prevailed with 59 percent of the popular vote.[23]
For the 2009 legislative session, Labuda was named to seats on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Legislative Legal Services Committee, and was named vice-chair of the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.[24]
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