Marsha Looper

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Marsha Looper
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 19th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2007[1]
Preceded by Richard Decker
Succeeded by Amy Stephens
Personal details
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Lynn
Residence Calhan, Colorado
Alma mater Mesa State College
Occupation Appraiser
Rancher
Realtor
Religion Roman Catholic[2]

Marsha Looper (born c. 1959[3]) was a Colorado legislator. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006, Looper represented House District 19, which encompasses eastern El Paso County, Colorado from 2006 to 2012.[4][5][6]

Early career

Born to a family of Eastern European descent,[7] Looper was raised on Colorado's Western Slope.[8] She graduated from Fruita Monument High School in Mesa County in western Colorado and took coursework at Mesa State College. A systems engineer,[2] Looper certified as an IBM Network Engineer and a Novell Systems Engineer,[9] and worked for ROLM, IBM and the Widefield School District[2] before starting a company of her own, Computing Solutions Group, in 1993.[9]

Looper entered the real estate business in 2004 and has earned Associate Broker and Registered Appraiser credentials.[9] Since 2004, she has been a partner in Big Sky Realty,[10] in addition to operating Phoenix & Associates, a home remodeling company.[9] She is now working at Keller Williams Partners with Ed Leyba .

Looper and her husband, Lynn,[8] have operated their family's ranch in near Calhan, Colorado for two decades, as well as Waterworks Sales, a water pipe distribution company. After Waterworks' was purchased by Hughes Supply, Inc., Looper remained with the company[9] as a branch manager.[10] She and Lynn have three children: Rachelle, Travis, and Justin.[8]

Within the community, Looper has been a member of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition,[2] the National Rifle Association,[8] the El Paso County Republican Women, the Falcon School District Accountability Committee,[2] the Pikes Peak Range Riders, and the El Paso County Soil and Water Conservation Society,[9] and volunteered with St. Michael's Church, the Special Olympics,[2] and local 4-H and YMCA clubs.[8]

Property-rights activism

Looper was a driving force behind opposition to a proposed toll road project along the Colorado Front Range — the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express, or "Super Slab" project — a 210-mile (340 km) highway and rail corridor stretching from Pueblo to Fort Collins. The project would have resulted in the condemnation or taking by eminent domain of privately held properties in seven Colorado counties; Looper's land fell within the corridor designated by the toll road's developers, and subsequently dropped in market value.[11][12]

As the founder, in 2004,[13] and chair of the Eastern Plains Citizens Coalition and executive director of Colorado Citizens for Property Rights, Looper led grassroots opposition to the toll road and supported several measures during the 2006 legislative session to tighten the rules regarding eminent domain under which toll roads could be constructed. Among the successful measures lobbied for by Looper and others were rules narrowing the proposed corridor for toll roads from twelve miles (19 km) to three miles (5 km),[14] and new reporting requirements that property owners be informed that their land lay within that corridor.[15][16]

Looper also led an effort to place a statewide referendum on the 2006 general election ballot[17] to prohibit governments from condemning private property for the purpose of economic development.[18] The citizen initiative gathered over 30,000 signatures, but fell more than 30,000 signatures short of the total required for placement on the statewide ballot.[19]

Legislative career

2006 election

In February 2006, upon the retirement of term-limited Rep. Richard Decker in House District 19, covering eastern El Paso County, Colorado, Looper announced her candidacy for the seat. After experience pushing for legislation Colorado General Assembly to restrict to use of eminent domain, she cited her frustration at the influence of lobbyists,[13] and Looper identified her top legislative concerns as property rights, transportation, and illegal immigration.[20] She also identified water issues and renewable energy as areas of interest.[21] Facing military veteran and school board member Jim Brewer,[22] Looper won the Republican primary with 62% of the vote.[23]

In the general election, Looper faced former Fountain, Colorado mayor and Democrat Ken Barela. Barela criticized Looper's emphasis on property rights, calling her a "one issue candidate;" in response, Looper characterized Barela as "too liberal" for the district. Although she was endorsed by Republican Rep. David Schultheis, she was not endorsed by Republican and outgoing Rep. Richard Decker, who criticized her for possible involvement in an independent publication promoting her campaign,[24] and for donating over $50,000 of personal money to her legislative race;[20] Looper outraised Barela by roughly 10 to 1,[24] and won the general election by a 2 to 1 margin.[25]

2007 legislative session

Bills Introduced in 2007 by Rep. Looper
(for which Rep. Looper is the primary originating sponsor)
BILL TITLE OUTCOME
HB07-1068    Concerning [...] requirements on private toll companies for the purpose of alleviating unintended consequences of those provisions that may affect real property. Passed House; Postponed indefinitely in Senate committee
HB07-1156 Concerning the disclosure of water sources in connection with the sale of residential real property. Signed by Gov. Ritter

In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Looper sat on the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee and the House Local Government Committee.[26]

Stemming from her work on toll road issues, including opposition to the "Super Slab" project as an activist, Looper sponsored legislation to impose new requirements, including planning in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Transportation, on new toll road development in Colorado.[27] Other opponents of the "Super Slab" project criticized the bill for removing requirements that property owners be informed of planned development; the requirements had resulted in a decrease in property values for many in the proposed project's corridor. Looper contended that the purpose of the bill was to reduce the potential property value impact of speculative toll road projects.[15][16] Although the bill passed the Colorado House of Representatives 61-3,[28] the bill was postponed indefinitely in a Senate committee.[29]

Looper also sponsored legislation to require disclosure of water sources for newly sold homes, a move designed to inform homeowners of possibly scarce groundwater resources. Unsuccessfully put forward in three previous years,[30] the bill pass unanimously through committee[31] and the full house[32] before being signed by Gov. Ritter.[33]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Looper sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee, and the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. [34]

In response to concerns about agricultural labor shortages and the difficulty of hiring legal foreign guest workers,[35] Looper and Democratic Sen. Abel Tapia drafted legislation to create a state office to assist with the logistics of clearing guest workers for jobs in Colorado;[36] under their proposal, the state of Colorado would seek a waiver from the federal government to process H-2A visas applications, including operating a guest-worker screening office in Mexico.[37][38][39] The bill, which also contained a provision requiring that guest workers have 20% of their wages withheld until they returned to their home countries, was criticized as a possible violation of federal law.[40] After 26 amendments, including removal of the wage withholding provision, the bill passed House committee with support from farming and ranching groups.[41]

Looper's guest-worker bill became the center of controversy and widespread attention in April, when Rep. Douglas Bruce made controversial comments concerning guest workers during House debate. Looper had previously received death threats for sponsoring the bill,[42] and received additional threats in the wake of the controversy.[43] The bill ultimately passed both houses of the leigislature,[44] and was signed into law by Gov. Ritter.[45]

Continuing her work on toll road legislation, Looper again sponsored a bill to alter the reporting and disclosure requirements surrounding planned toll roads, in an effort to reduce the property value impact on homeowners who live within a proposed toll road corridor.[46][47] The bill was met with opposition from some toll road opponents for being ineffective at halting toll road development,[48] and Looper herself postponed consideration of the bill in favor of a more expansive measured introduced by Rep. Debbie Stafford.[49] Stafford's bill, however, was killed in a House committee, and Looper's measure passed the state house.[50]

Looper has also introduced legislation to require property buyers to be informed of paperwork tracking residential well ownership,[51] and sponsored a bill to allow judges to include restorative justice as part of sentencing for juveniles.[52]

Following the legislative session, Looper was recognized by the Colorado Farm Bureau with their 2008 Pinnacle Award for legislative support of agriculture.[53] In December 2008, she was named Colorado Legislator of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, citing her guest worker legislation. [54]

2008 election

In the 2008 Congressional election, Looper supported Bentley Rayburn's challenge to incumbent Rep. Doug Lamborn in the Republican party primary for Colorado's 5th congressional district.[55] Looper also stood against some fellow Republicans by opposing Amendment 52, a ballot measure on the November ballot that would reallocate some severance tax revenue from water projects to transportation.[56]

Looper herself sought a second term in the legislature, facing Democrat Jimmy Phillips. Looper's re-election bid was endorsed by the Denver Post.[57] She won re-election with 67 percent of the popular vote.[58]

2009 legislative session

For the 2009 legislative session, Looper was named to seats on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Transportation and Energy Committee.[59] Looper sponsored bills to expand unemployment benefits for the spouses of Colorado military personnel killed in the line of duty,[60] to pilot test electronic online voting for military personnel,[61][62] and to extend the statute of limitations for vehicular homicides.[63] Looper was also the House sponsor of a proposal to create a Fountain Creek Watershed, Flood Control and Greenway District in Pueblo and El Paso counties,[64][65][66]

Looper's most prominent legislative work during 2009 session surrounded two proposals on rainwater harvesting, previously not allowed under Colorado's prior appropriation water rights law.[67][68] Looper was the Senate sponsor of a bill to allow residents on wells to collect rainwater, which was signed by Gov. Ritter, revising more than a century of Colorado water law.[69][70] Another proposal sponsored by Looper and enacted into law created a pilot program to study the effects of rainwater diversion for landscaping in mixed-use developments. [69][71][72][73]

2010 legislative session

During the 2010 legislative session, Looper sponsored a bill to allow the creation of veterans courts,[74][75] and sponsored legislation revise how Colorado's $1.50/tire recycling fee is spent, after proposals to use the funds for purposes other than tire disposal, and in response to the growth of tire dumps in her district.[76][77][78] With Democratic Rep. Joe Rice, Looper introduced legislation to require automobile manufacturers to, when opening a dealership in a market where they had previously closed one, offer right of first refusal the previous dealer.[79][80] After having passed the state house, a brief but intense lobbying campaign against the bill by Chrysler and General Motors resulted in some concessions to automobile makers before the bill moved forward in the Colorado Senate.[81][82][83] In February, Looper introduced a measure to block the transfer of prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to facilities in Colorado.[75][84]

In March 2010, Looper was one of four legislators named by Gov. Ritter to a 12-member Carbon Capture and Sequestration Task force, convened to consider "complex legal, regulatory and policy issues" surrounding the topic.[85][86]

2011 legislative session

2012 legislative session

References

  1. ↑ "House Journal - January 10, 2007" (pdf). Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Marsha Looper - Colorado - State House District 19 candidate". RockyMountainNews.com. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  3. ↑ DeGette, Cara (6 December 2006). "Know Your Legislator: Marsha Looper". Colorado Confidential. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  4. ↑ "State House District 19". COMaps. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  5. ↑ "CO - Election Results - Colorado Secretary of State". 
  6. ↑ "State House 2012 Election Results - Denver Post". 
  7. ↑ Staff Report (13 April 2007). "On the side: Spotlight on Calhan". Denver Post. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "Rep. Marsha Looper, HD-19". Colorado House Republican Caucus. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 "Meet Marsha Looper". Marsha Looper, Representative, House Distrcit 19. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Representative Looper". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  11. ↑ Nelson, Christiana (3 March 2005). "Toll road idea meets firm foes". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  12. ↑ Leib, Jeffrey (29 August 2006). "Toll road is ramping up". Denver Post. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Whitcombe, Erica (February 2006). "Looper to run for state seat". The New Falcon Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  14. ↑ Slevin, Coleen (16 February 2007). "Toll road promoter threatens lawsuit". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Flynn, Kevin (21 February 2007). "Slab foes want change in law". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Flynn, Kevin (24 January 2007). "Slab opponents disappointed". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  17. ↑ Washington, April M.; Kevin Flynn (28 January 2006). "'Super Slab' hits a roadblock". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  18. ↑ Henley, Kyle (19 February 2006). "Threat of initiative powerful force". The Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  19. ↑ Associated Press (17 June 2006). "Eminent domain ballot push fails". The Summit Daily News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Correll, Deedee (18 October 2006). "'Too liberal' vs. '1-issue candidate'". The Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  21. ↑ Editorial Board (3 August 2006). "Primary recommendations". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  22. ↑ Staff Reports (23 July 2006). "Voters Guide". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  23. ↑ "Election Summary Report - 2006 Colorado Primary Election". El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Zeveloff, Naomi (19 October 2006). "Common nonsense". The Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  25. ↑ "Election Summary Report - 2006 Colorado General Election". El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  26. ↑ "House Committees of Reference". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
  27. ↑ Bunch, Joey (15 February 2007). "Toll-road law hurting land value, citizens say". Denver Post. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  28. ↑ Sealover, Ed (9 March 2007). "Under the Dome". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  29. ↑ News Briefs (7 April 2007). "HB 1068 postponed "indefinitely"". The New Falcon Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  30. ↑ Hartman, Todd (19 January 2007). "New bills, January 19". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  31. ↑ Sealover, Ed (8 February 2007). "Water bill advances". The Colorado Springs Gazettte. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  32. ↑ Staff Report (15 February 2007). "Under the Dome". The Colorado Springs Gazettte. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  33. ↑ Sealover, Ed (15 May 2007). "Gay couples OK'd to adopt; abstinence-only sex ed cut". The Colorado Springs Gazettte. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  34. ↑ "House Committees of Reference". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-01-19. 
  35. ↑ Brown, Jennifer (5 September 2007). "Farms short of help at harvest". Denver Post. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  36. ↑ Ashby, Charles (3 February 2008). "Senators to unveil farmworker bill". Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-04. 
  37. ↑ Hanel, Joe (5 February 2008). "Lawmakers want state to manage farm visa". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-02-08. 
  38. ↑ Brown, Jennifer (23 August 2007). "Legislators consider farm-labor solution". Denver Post. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  39. ↑ Washington, April M. (22 August 2007). "Help wanted in Colorado — from Mexico". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  40. ↑ Hoover, Tim (14 March 2008). "Farmworker plan violates law, panel told". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-03-17. 
  41. ↑ Ashby, Charles (19 March 2008). "House panel approves farmworker bill". Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved 2008-03-22. 
  42. ↑ Davidson, Michael (24 April 2008). "Legislative glance: Wednesday in Review". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-25. 
  43. ↑ Brennan, Charlie (23 April 2008). "Threats in Wake of Bruce Controversy". MyFoxColorado. Retrieved 2008-04-25. 
  44. ↑ Hoover, Tim (6 May 2007). "Bill to help farms get Mexican help sent to governor". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 
  45. ↑ Kelley, Joanne (6 June 2008). "New law to speed visas for farm workers". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-06-14. 
  46. ↑ unbossed.com » Colorado legislature introduces two new toll road bills
  47. ↑ We The People
  48. ↑ Sealover, Ed (9 April 2008). "Super Slab foes unload on bill meant to help them". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-11. 
  49. ↑ Sealover, Ed (24 February 2008). "Toll road bills debated this week". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-01. 
  50. ↑ Sealover, Ed (7 April 2008). "This week in the Legislature". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-10. 
  51. ↑ Sealover, Ed; Michael Davidson (17 January 2008). "Assembly Glance". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-01-20. 
  52. ↑ Davidson, Michael (16 March 2008). "Lawmakers trying another tactic on juvenile crime". Colorado Spring Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-17. 
  53. ↑ Staff Reports (15 August 2008). "Colorado Farm Bureau honors state legislators". Northern Colorado Business Report. Retrieved 2008-09-05. 
  54. ↑ Staff Reports (2 December 2008). "Calhan lawmaker wins annual award". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-12-12. 
  55. ↑ "Endorsements". Bentley Rayburn for Congress. Retrieved 2008-03-28. 
  56. ↑ Hartman, Todd (23 October 2008). "GOP heavyweights come out against Amendment 52". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
  57. ↑ Editorial Board (17 October 2008). "Post's picks in Colorado's House of Representatives". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
  58. ↑ "Colorado Statewide Cumulative Report - 2008 General Election". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved 2008-12-04. 
  59. ↑ "House Republican Committee Assignments Announced" (Press release). Colorado House Democrats. 18 November 2008. 
  60. ↑ Sealover, Ed (15 January 2009). "Jobless center drowning in sea of benefit claims". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2009-02-08. 
  61. ↑ Jorgensen, Leslie (20 February 2009). "Bill aims to re-enfranchise military". Colorado Statesman. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  62. ↑ Jorgenson, Leslie (6 November 2009). "Colorado ranks high in its effort to count military ballots". Colorado Statesman. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  63. ↑ Leigh, Danielle (15 May 2009). "Bill extends limit on solving vehicular homicides". Colorado Connection. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  64. ↑ Woodka, Chris (6 December 2008). "Counties to vote on Fountain Creek IGA". Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 
  65. ↑ Woodka, Chris (15 December 2008). "El Paso County OKs Fountain IGA on 3-2 vote". Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
  66. ↑ Schroyer, John (22 March 2009). "Fountain Creek watershed authority district looks likely". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  67. ↑ Riccardi, Nicholas (18 March 2009). "Who owns Colorado's rainwater?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  68. ↑ Simon, Stephanie (25 March 2009). "Out West, Catching Raindrops Can Make You an Outlaw". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 Rappold, R. Scott (2 June 2009). "New laws open the way for rain barrels, for some". Colorado Springs gazette. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  70. ↑ Johnson, Kirk (28 June 2009). "It’s Now Legal to Catch a Raindrop in Colorado". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  71. ↑ Schroyer, John (3 February 2009). "Bill would test use of state's rainwater". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  72. ↑ Bina, Tonya (10 May 2009). "From the rooftops: New law legalizes rain catchment". Sky-Hi Daily News. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  73. ↑ Sealover, Ed (2 June 2009). "Ritter signs more Colorado business bills". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-18. 
  74. ↑ Lanen, Anthony (24 November 2009). "Fight risk: Officials struggle to ID crimes too violent for vets courts". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 Roeder, Tom (8 February 2010). "POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Looper argues for vets court, floats Gitmo bill". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  76. ↑ Lane, Anthhony (4 February 2010). "A tiring business: Colorado lawmakers look at a bill to shake up the recycling world, with 30 million tires stored nearby". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  77. ↑ Booth, Michael (27 October 2009). "Loss of state funding threatens Colorado tire cleanup". Denver Post. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  78. ↑ Welsome, Eileen (6 March 2010). "Related story: Tire-recycling fee diverted to balance state budget". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  79. ↑ Sealover, Ed (26 January 2010). "Bill would put ex-GM, Chrysler dealers 1st in line for new franchises". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  80. ↑ Staff Report (19 January 2010). "POSSIBLE FELONY MENACING AT DISPENSARY". Denver Daily News. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
  81. ↑ Sealover, Ed (19 February 2010). "Car-Dealer Bill Revs Up Anger". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  82. ↑ Sealover, Ed (1 March 2010). "Bill to help dropped GM, Chrysler dealers advances". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  83. ↑ Sealover, Ed (8 March 2010). "After Winning Concessions, Automakers Won’t Lobby Against Colorado Pro-Dealer Bill". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  84. ↑ Wolf, Jeffrey (25 February 2010). "Lawmakers want to keep GITMO detainees out of Colorado". 9News.com. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  85. ↑ Webb, Dennis (10 March 2010). "Panel will study carbon-emission storage". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  86. ↑ Williams, David O. (11 March 2010). "Levy, Schwartz, White, Looper to serve on Ritter’s carbon capture task force". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 

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