- David Skaggs
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David Skaggs Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 2nd districtIn office
January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1999Preceded by Tim Wirth Succeeded by Mark Udall Personal details Born February 22, 1943
Cincinnati, OhioPolitical party Democratic Spouse(s) former Laura Locher Children Matthew, Clare and Will David Evans Skaggs (born February 22, 1943) was a Democratic Congressman from the state of Colorado from 1987 to 1999.
Skaggs was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but grew up in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City. He attended Wesleyan University, and after earning his degree in Philosophy in 1964, went on to Yale University, from which he received his Bachelor of Laws. Following graduation, Skaggs spent three years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, including service in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division. Upon discharge from active duty in 1971, he remained in the Marine Reserves until 1978, attaining the rank of Major.[1] Skaggs practiced law briefly in New York City and, after military service, in Boulder, CO. He now is affiliated with the Denver office of the law firm McKenna, Long & Aldridge.[2]
Skaggs first became involved in politics as a Democratic Party volunteer and officer in 1971-72. He was hired as administrative assistant to Tim Wirth, a member of Congress from Colorado, in 1974. He ran successfully for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in 1980, and he served three terms—two as Minority Leader—before running for Congress. Skaggs was a six term member of the United States House of Representatives. While in the House, he served initially on the Science, Space & Technology Committee and the Public Works & Transportation Committee, before winning a seat on the Appropriations Committee in 1991. He also served six years (1993–99) on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Skaggs and Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) were founding co-chairs of the House Bi-Partisan Retreat, first held in 1997 and designed to encourage civility and comity in the House; the retreats continued through 2003.
After retiring in 1999, Skaggs served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado and as executive director of the Center for Democracy & Citizenship at the Council for Excellence in Government for several years before moving back to Colorado to serve as executive director of the state Department of Higher Education from 2007 until resigning in 2009. He was appointed the first chair of the board of the new Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) in 2008 and as of 2009 has served as Chair of the OCE. Skaggs has been a member of the U. S. Public Interest Declassification Board since 2005.
Skaggs also served as co-chair of the Constitution Project's bipartisan War Powers Committee.
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado, for which he secured funding, is named in his honor.[3]
See also
References
External links
- David Skaggs at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2009-02-11
United States House of Representatives Preceded by
Tim WirthMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 2nd congressional district
1987-1999Succeeded by
Mark UdallCategories:- 1943 births
- Living people
- American lawyers
- United States Marines
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado
- Members of the Colorado House of Representatives
- State cabinet secretaries of Colorado
- Wesleyan University alumni
- Yale University alumni
- Colorado Democrats
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