Kevin Grantham

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Kevin Grantham
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 12, 2011[1]
Preceded by Ken Kester
Personal details
Born 29 June
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Caroline
Profession Certified General Appraiser

Kevin Grantham is a state legislator for Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Republican in 2010, Grantham represents Senate District 2, which encompasses: Clear Creek, El Paso, Fremont, Park, and Teller countries.[2] He currently serves as the Senate Minority Whip for the Colorado Senate.

Biography

The youngest of five children, Grantham grew up in a rural southeastern Colorado farming community. He is a 1992 graduate of Liberty University (B.A.) in Lynchburg, Virginia and a 2009 graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies. Over the course of his life he has been a hog farmer, sports reporter, onion processing plant employee, highway construction crew worker, restaurant employee and manager, real estate broker and appraiser among other things.

Grantham lives with his wife and two children in Cañon City.[3]

In 1996, Grantham and his family returned to Ordway, Colorado where he began working in real estate sales and appraising. He moved to Cañon City in 1998 and continues his work in appraisals with his brother Gary at Grantham Appraisal Service. Since then, he has become increasingly active in the community, including volunteering at a local shelter and serving in such organizations as the Lions Club International and Gideons International, and held a state office with the Gideons from 2007-2009.

During his time in Colorado, Grantham has served on many local boards and held several positions. From 2005-2006 he served on the Cañon City Board of Adjustments, before being elected as Board Chair in 2007. Grantham was also elected to the City Council, and served a term there from 2007-2010. It was also during these three years that he served as the Chairman of the Fremont County Republican Central Committee, before running for the Colorado State Senate in 2010.

Legislative career

2010 Election

Grantham faced Crowley County Commissioner Matt Heimerich in the primary elections, both of whom sought to replace Senator Ken Kester who was term-limited. During the primary elections, Grantham beat out Heimerich for the Republican nomination, before facing Gloria Stultz, a Democrat from Cañon City, on the ballot.[4] Grantham defeated the former President of the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce, Gloria Stultz, in the November 2nd election with 58% of the vote.[5]

2011 Legislative Session

One of Senator Grantham’s major bills this session was SB11-077, a measure regarding the use of deadly force against a person who makes an illegal entry into a place of business. This legislation, dubbed “Make My Day” in the media, has been a popular bill in recent years. The measure was introduced into the Senate at the beginning of session before being introduced into the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, also known as the Kill Committee. The legislation was postponed indefinitely after reaching a party-line vote of 3-2.

Senator Grantham was named the 2011 Taxpayer Guardian for the Senate during his first year in the legislature, scoring a tie with Senator Bill Cadman. This award is assigned to Colorado Legislators by the Colorado Union of Taxpayers for those who consistently vote down tax increases.

2012 Legislative Session

Senator Kevin Grantham was elected Minority Whip. He currently serves on the Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Energy Committee; the Appropriations Committee; the Legislative Council; and the State, Veteran, & Military Affairs Committee.

During the 2012 legislative session, Senator Grantham sponsored HB12-1068, and SJR12-025 and SJR12-044.[6] House Bill 1068 requires that all nonprofit cemeteries must appoint to their board as Director someone who owns a plot or space within that cemetery. Senate Joint Resolution 025 is a measure that supports the Amtrak Southwest Chief and encourages the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to continue its continuing operation. Senate Joint Resolution 044 recognizes the service of certain individuals whom have devoted time and effort towards the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility, which celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2012.

Another major initiative Senator Grantham took on during this legislative session was HB12-1333, legislation that would have given teachers the option to withdraw membership from labor unions. Grantham’s House sponsor, Rep. Jon Becker, successfully finagled the bill through the House Education Committee before it was pushed on to the Senate. However, once the bill reached the Senate, it was assigned to the “kill committee,” State, Veterans and Military Affairs, where the measure died on a 3-2 party-line vote.[7]

Senator Grantham was also recently honored as a “Friend of the Farm Bureau” by the Colorado Farm Bureau for his work regarding Colorado Agriculture during the 2012 legislative session.[8]

2013 Legislative Session

In 2013, Grantham was appointed to serve on the Senate Finance Committee, as well as the Legislative Council.

References

  1. ↑ "Senate Journal - January 12, 2011" (pdf). Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2012-09-19. 
  2. ↑ "State Senate District 4". COMaps. Retrieved 2012-09-19. 
  3. ↑ "Kevin's Background". Senator Kevin Grantham. Retrieved 2012-09-19. 
  4. ↑ "Grantham wins Republican nomination". Pueblo Chieftain. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2012-09-21. 
  5. ↑ "District 2 Election Results". Denver Post. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2012-09-21. 
  6. ↑ "Senate adopts two Grantham measures". Pueblo Chieftain. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-20. 
  7. ↑ Pueblo Chieftain http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/senate-panel-kills-teachers-labor-bill/article_a71b73fc-95a9-11e1-b7bd-001a4bcf887a.html |url= missing title (help). Retrieved 2012-09-26. 
  8. ↑ "Local Business Briefs". Pueblo Chieftain. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-20. 

External links

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