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Colorado: Australia

June 1, 2009 - 01:32 pm
NEWS FEED: Denver Post

2 new Colorado state senators take oath of office

Denver Democrats Michael Johnston and Pat Steadman were sworn in Friday.

Johnston of Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in Thornton replaces former Senate President Peter Groff, who took an education post in Obama's administration.

Steadman helped lead a lawsuit challenging Amendment 2, which banned laws protecting gay people from discrimination. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the law as unconstitutional in 1996. Steadman replaces Jennifer Veiga, who moved to Australia.

Johnston and Steadman were selected by vacancy committees this month.

Read More at Denver Post >
There have been 304 comments posted in response to this story.

May 21, 2009 - 10:21 am
NEWS FEED: Denver Post

Senate seat goes to lobbyist

A Denver lobbyist who has championed civil rights beat nine other Democratic contenders to become Colorado's newest state senator.

Pat Steadman won a vacancy committee election Wednesday night to replace Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, who resigned to move to Australia.

Veiga had endorsed Steadman, who lobbies at the state Capitol. He has said he plans to resign from his firm.

The election caused angst on two fronts:

Adams County Democrats wanted someone from their county to win the election; Senate District 31 comprises central Denver and portions of Adams County.

Others pushed for a minority to win.

"We need some color down at the statehouse," said Julia Hicks of Westminster, who is black.

Read More at Denver Post >
There have been 25 comments posted in response to this story.

May 21, 2009 - 10:21 am
NEWS FEED: Denver Post

9 seek open seat in state Senate

Nine Democrats are vying to be appointed to the state Senate seat vacated by Denver attorney Jennifer Veiga, who resigned to move to Australia.

Her successor will be chosen tonight by the Senate District 31 vacancy committee. The district includes central Denver and portions of Adams County.

The candidates are:

Patrick Byrne

Age: 28

Occupation: Fiscal policy analyst at the Colorado Department of Transportation

Time in district: Two years

Why you? I am ideally suited to do this because of my budget experience in municipal, county and state government in Colorado.

Jill Conrad

Age: 40

Occupation: Ph.D. student in educational policy, education consultant, at-large member of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education

Time in district: Six years

Why you? I want to create new opportunities for everyone in the community to become engaged and empowered in our government, our schools, our communities and our state.

Read More at Denver Post >
There have been 29 comments posted in response to this story.

January 29, 2009 - 06:17 pm
NEWS FEED: Colorado Independent

Ritter misses mark on resorts’ foreign worker shortage

By David O. Williams

Gov. Bill Ritter’s comment Thursday that Colorado’s ski and hospitality industries are being hurt by tougher state immigration laws adopted in 2006 is only partly true.

Speaking before a University of Denver panel studying the impacts of immigration, Ritter said the 2006 laws adopted during a special legislative session –- setting stricter standards to receive state benefits –- have made it more difficult for tourism-based industries to find workers.

This ski season, in the wake of the overall economic meltdown and rising unemployment nationally, ski areas have actually been turning foreign workers away. But in the past the industry was heavily reliant on H2-B visas for workers from Europe, South America and Australia who operate chairlifts, staff restaurants and hotels, teach skiing and drive buses.

Read More at Colorado Independent >
There have been 20 comments posted in response to this story.