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|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[1 June]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref><ref name="voice">{{cite news |first=Thomas |last=Munro |title=House candidates voice their views |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060711_3.htm
|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[1 June]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref><ref name="voice">{{cite news |first=Thomas |last=Munro |title=House candidates voice their views |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060711_3.htm
|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[11 July]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref><ref name="debate">{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Slothower |title=Candidates debate starts election season |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060921_5.htm
|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[11 July]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref><ref name="debate">{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Slothower |title=Candidates debate starts election season |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060921_5.htm
|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[21 September]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref> Roberts maintained a civil relationship with her main opponent, [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] Joe Colgan, signing a clean campaign pledge. The only major controversies of the campaign stemmed from advertisements run by outside sources. Roberts denounced as as "misleading" and "unacceptable" a television advertisement criticizing Colgan's record as mayor of Durango. The ad was run independently of Roberts' campaign by a political group associated with the Colorado Association of Home Builders;<ref name="renounce">
|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[21 September]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref> Roberts maintained a civil relationship with her main opponent, [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] Joe Colgan, signing a clean campaign pledge. The only major controversies of the campaign stemmed from advertisements run by the monied interests of a home builder's association whose support Ellen had secured when she switched to the Republican Party. When press accounts disparaged the home builder's attacks, Roberts then denounced these ads as "misleading" and "unacceptable." The ad was run independently of Roberts' campaign by a political group associated with the Colorado Association of Home Builders;<ref name="renounce">
{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Slothower |title=Roberts renounces Colgan ad |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news061006_1.htm
{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Slothower |title=Roberts renounces Colgan ad |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news061006_1.htm
|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[6 October]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref> the group later pulled the ads off the air.<ref name="pull">{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Slothower |title=Builders agree to pull anti-Colgan ads |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news061012_1.htm
|work=The Durango Herald |date=[[6 October]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-12-27 }}</ref> the group later pulled the ads off the air.<ref name="pull">{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Slothower |title=Builders agree to pull anti-Colgan ads |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news061012_1.htm

Revision as of 04:13, 31 January 2008

Ellen Roberts
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 59th district
Assumed office
January 10, 2007[1]
Preceded byMark Larson
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Height200
SpouseRick
Professionattorney

Ellen Stuart Roberts[3] (born 27 August 1959[2]) is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006, Robert represents House District 59, which encompasses a portion of southwestern Colorado including Archuleta County, La Plata County, San Juan County and parts of Montezuma County.[4]

Early career

Born in Hudson, New York,[2] Roberts was raised in Rhinebeck,[5] where she was elected class president in high school.[6] Roberts earned a self-designed undergraduate degree in environmental policy from Cornell University[5] in 1981.[2] During college, she spent a semester as an intern in Washington DC, working for her Congressional representative and for the Republican National Committee;[6] despite an early desire to enter politics professionally — she had once aspired to be Secretary of the Interior or runn the National Parks Service[5] — the experience caused her to become dissolutioned with politics.

She moved to Colorado upon graduation[5] and worked as a ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park until 1984.[2] She was also married in 1982; Roberts and her husband, Rick, have two children: Caitlin and Ben.[5]

After being hired by a law firm in Granby, Colorado[5], Roberts returned to school to earn a J.D. from the University of Colorado in 1986.[2] She worked as an attorney in private practice in Grandby and Hot Sulphur Springs,[6] specializing in estate, probate and business law.[7]

A resident of Durango, Colorado since 1989,[5] She joined the Southwest Colorado Bar Association in 1986[2] and served as its president,[3] and also as president of the Southwest Colorado Women's Bar Association.[8] As an attorney, Roberts advocated for increased legal services for immigrants and Spanish-speakers in southwestern Colorado[9] and was critical of U.S. immigration law.[10] She was also legal counsel for the Ute Mountain Indian Housing Authority and the Southern Ute Indian Housing Authority.[8]

Roberts began to re-enter politics after the death of her father in 1992, first focusing on hospice and health care issues.[6] As a member (since 1999[8]) and later chairman of the board of Mercy Regional Medical Center, Roberts pushed for the construction of a new hospital in Durango.[5] In 2001, Roberts was appointed to the Task Force to Evaluate Health Care Needs for Colorado, a task force formed by the legislature to study health-care needs in rural Colorado communities,[11] coordinating the task force's meeting in Durango.[12] She also chaired Healthy 58, a rural health care task force.[8]

Robert also sat on the Sixth Judicial District Nominating Commission.[13], and co-chaired the Durango Citizen's Steering Committee for a New Library, a successful effort to push for a new local public library that was eventually built on the site of Mercy Medical Center, the hospital Roberts had also worked to help replace.[5][14][15] She was also a member of the High Noon Rotary Club, the Citizens Health Advisory Council, and sat on the boards of First National Bank[2], and the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado.[16] In 2004, Roberts won the Durango Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award for professional women in business.[5] Roberts is married; she and her husband, Rick, have two children: Caitlin and Ben.[2]

Legislative career

2006 election

As representative Mark Larson neared the end of his term-limited tenure in the Colorado House of Representatives, Roberts began to work with him on learning the legislative process,[5] in preparation to seek elected office herself.[17] Roberts instigated a bill successfully introduced by Rep. Larson to require that remains be handled in accordance with the wishes of the deceased.[18] She also lobbied, unsuccessfully, for the creation of an interim committee to study palliative care.[19][20]

In December 2004, only a month after Rep. Larson was elected to his fourth and final term in the state house, Roberts filed for a 2006 candidacy to seek his seat.[17] After years as a Democrat, Ellen suddenly switched parties just months after George W. Bush first took office in 2001, and declared herself a Republican. She announced her campaign formally in January 2005.[7] Roberts was endorsed by the retiring Rep. Larson,[21] but initially faced a challenge for the Republican nomination from realtor Ron Tate,[22] who was viewed as further to the right of Roberts.[23] Tate later withdrew from the House primary to run for the Colorado State Senate,[24] and Roberts won the Republican nomination unopposed.[25] However, as a moderate Republican, Roberts clashed with more conservative party leaders — a county Republican chair claimed that Roberts showed "no interest in supporting traditional family values" and Roberts accused local conservative leaders of attempting to undermine her campaign.[26] Among other conventionally "liberal" positions, Roberts supports abortion rights, domestic partnerships for same-sex couples, and an increase in Colorado's minimum wage, and was endorsed by Colorado Conservation Voters.[27]

During the general election campaign, Roberts emphasized her work on health care issues and her experience in the legislature working with Rep. Larson.[28] She also criticized the passage of constitutional amendments creating conflicting obligations.[29][30][28] Roberts maintained a civil relationship with her main opponent, Democrat Joe Colgan, signing a clean campaign pledge. The only major controversies of the campaign stemmed from advertisements run by the monied interests of a home builder's association whose support Ellen had secured when she switched to the Republican Party. When press accounts disparaged the home builder's attacks, Roberts then denounced these ads as "misleading" and "unacceptable." The ad was run independently of Roberts' campaign by a political group associated with the Colorado Association of Home Builders;[31] the group later pulled the ads off the air.[32] Direct mail flyers sent by outside groups during the last weeks of the campaign also distorted the candidates' positions on immigration and abortion.[33]

In addition to her Democratic opponent, Robert also faced unaffiliated write-in candidate Christopher Navage. Navage withdrew from the race in October 2006 and endorsed Democrat Colgan.[34] Roberts significantly outraised her opponents, donating over $8,000 to her own campaign,[35][36][37] ultimately winning the November 2006 general election, defeating Democrat Joe Colgan with 52 percent of the vote.[4][38]

2007 legislative session

Template:Infobox Colorado Legislation

In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Roberts was a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee, the Joint Legal Services Committee,[39] and was the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.[40]

Although Roberts was a member of the minority party, she was one of the most successful Republican legislators at passing legislation,[41] and has been identified by media reports as a "standout" legislator.[42][43]

Her greatest victory was successfully sponsored legislation to require oil and gas companies to minimize the impacts of drilling, revising Colorado's surface rights laws.[44][45] The bill was weakened by lobbying from the Colorado Oil and Gas Association,[46] but represented a victory that had eluded prior legislatures.[41]

Roberts also sponsored bills to revise to process by which special health care districts are created,[47] to expand eligibility for Korean War special license plates, [48] and co-sponsored legislation to fund study of methane seep in southwestern Colorado.[49]

Her only unsuccessful bill was a measure to tighten the rules under which cigar bars could claim exemptions from Colorado's indoor smoking ban.[50] After being killed in committee, the measure was revived in the Colorado Senate by Democrats, but was unsuccessful a second time.[51][52]

Following the 2007 session, Roberts was named by House Republican leaders to the newly-formed Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission.[53] In November 2007, Roberts was named a Legislator of Merit by the Colorado Behavioral Health Council.[54] She also joined with other moderate Republicans to criticize Gov. Bill Ritter's executive order allowing collective bargaining with government employee unions.[55]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Roberts sits on the House Health and Human Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. [56]

For the 2008 session, Roberts plans on introducing a bill to create a legislative youth advisory council,[57][58] the legislation drafted and lobbied for by Colorado students.[59] Roberts has also introduced a bill which would grant qualified nurses power to sign off on additional medical forms, in response to shortages of doctors in rural portions of Colorado,[60] garnering support from both nurses and doctor's associations.[61]

Roberts has also expressed interest in sponsoring legislation to revise the process by which the Colorado Constitution is amended through ballot measures, by requiring supermajority popular votes in order to change the state constitution.[62] She has sought appointment to a six-member legislative panel tasked with developing recommendations for constitutional reform, and has proposed an enhanced public hearing process as a means of providing additional input on ballot measures.[63]

References

  1. ^ "House Journal - January 10, 2007" (pdf). Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Representative Roberts" (html). Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, Ellen (14 October 2001). "Testing our ideals". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b "State House District 19" (html). COMaps. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Peel, John (16 February 2004). "Forks in the road led Ellen Roberts to Athena Award". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Munro, Thomas (15 October 2006). "Roberts had early dreams for office". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b Rodebaugh, Dale (16 January 2005). "Roberts announces House bid". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d Editorial Board (17 October 2006). "Ellen Roberts: Choose proven ability for state representative". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Trujillo, Shirena (22 August 2001). "Immigration lawyers absent in Southwest Colorado". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Trujillo, Shirena (26 August 2001). "Mexican wits, U.S. technology meet in desert cat-mouse game". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Santon, June (25 July 2001). "State task force on health care to meet in Durango Sept. 5". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Mazur, Melanie Brubaker (6 September 2001). "Task force tackles rural health care". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Greenhill, Jim (24 May 2002). "Last-minute compromise a reprieve for Durango courts". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Staff Report (6 September 2002). "Toward a new library". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Butler, Ann (20 June 2007). "150 show for library groundbreaking". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Staff Report (7 October 2001). "Rural health care to be topic of two meetings in September". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b Rodebaugh, Dale (5 December 2004). "Local lawyer files for state candidacy". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Ashby, Charles (24 April 2003). "Owens signs final-wishes bill". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Butler, Ann (23 January 2002). "Politics and laughter join at Bighorn Center". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Larson, Mark (28 April 2002). "Resolution on palliative care was not approved this session". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Alderman, Jesse Harlan (19 August 2005). "Joe Colgan considering run for House". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Grazier, Steve (11 June 2005). "Tate enters race for 59th District". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Editorial Board (13 November 2005). "Isgar and Larson". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Ritzenberg, Alex (4 February 2006). "Tate switches to Senate race". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Slothower, Chuck (7 May 2006). "GOP pins hopes on Roberts, Tate". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Munro, Thomas (14 November 2006). "Roberts wants county GOP leader out". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Draper, Electa (17 October 2006). "District 59 foes agree on issues, differ on skills". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ a b Slothower, Chuck (21 September 2006). "Candidates debate starts election season". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ Munro, Thomas (1 June 2006). "Candidates begin quest for House seat". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Munro, Thomas (11 July 2006). "House candidates voice their views". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Slothower, Chuck (6 October 2006). "Roberts renounces Colgan ad". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Slothower, Chuck (12 October 2006). "Builders agree to pull anti-Colgan ads". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Munro, Thomas (31 October 2006). "Candidates' immigration views similar". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Staff Report (20 October 2006). "Navage withdraws from House race". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ Munro, Thomas (23 June 2006). "GOP House candidate leads money chase". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ Slothower, Chuck (5 October 2006). "State House candidate criticizes ad". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Munro, Thomas (26 October 2006). "Isgar and Roberts lead in cash dash". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Munro, Thomas (8 November 2006). "Roberts owns House". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "House Committees of Reference" (html). Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  40. ^ Hanel, Joe (1 December 2006). "Roberts, Isgar tapped for committees". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ a b Hanel, Joe (7 May 2007). "Victories plentiful for Isgar, Roberts". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Bartels, Lynn (14 May 2007). "Capitol newcomers showed no hesitation in getting in the game". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Ewegen, Bob (28 December 2007). "Republicans hitch their 2010 wagon to five rising stars". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ Hanel, Joe (30 May 2007). "Ritter signs oil and gas reform bills". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ Clausing, Jeri (1 March 2007). "Change in air for drillers". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Hanel, Joe (16 May 2007). "Oil, gas leader 'counts days' to job's end". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ Hanel, Joe (2 February 2007). "Measure would simplify elections for health district". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ Staff Report (10 April 2007). "Ritter approves Roberts' license bill". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ Hanel, Joe (4 May 2007). "Lawmakers OK health, methane-study bills". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Hanel, Joe (2 May 2007). "Lawmakers vote down cigar-bar bill". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ Hanel, Joe (28 April 2007). "Roberts' cigar-bar bill is still smokin'". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ Hanel, Joe (19 April 2007). "Senate panel tightens smoking ban". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ Staff Report (24 June 2007). "House leader names Roberts to commission". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ Butler, Ann (10 November 2007). "Remember those serving for Veterans Day". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ Hanel, Joe (8 November 2007). "Roberts criticizes Ritter's move to recognize unions". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ "House Committees of Reference" (html). Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  57. ^ Roberts, Ellen (7 October 2007). "Youths need voice at Legislature". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ Hanel, Joe (1 October 2007). "Roberts seeks voice for youth". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ Hanel, Joe (19 January 2008). "New bills in the Legislature". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  60. ^ Hanel, Joe (22 January 2008). "Bill expands nurses' duties". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  61. ^ http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080129_5.htm
  62. ^ Roberts, Ellen (4 November 2007). "S.W. Colorado students get a taste of legislation writing". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ Hanel, Joe (19 January 2008). "Roberts in middle of constitution talk". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ellen_Roberts&oldid=188081265"