Randy Fischer

Infobox State Representative
name=Randy Fischer


state_house=Colorado
state=Colorado
district=53rd
term_start=January 10, 2007
preceded=Angie Paccione
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=
place of birth=Fort Collins, Colorado
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Kathy
profession=Engineer
religion=
party=Democratic|

Randy Fischer (born c. 1951) is a Colorado legislator. First elected as a Democrat in 2006 to the Colorado House of Representatives, Fischer represents House District 53, which encompasses the western half of Fort Collins, Colorado.cite web |url=http://www.comaps.org/cohouse.html |title=State House Map |accessdate=2007-03-14 |format=html |work=COMaps ]

Biography

A third-generation Coloradan born and raised in Fort Collins, Fischer attended Colorado State University, earning a bachelor's degree in natural resource management in 1976. Upon graduation, he was named Outstanding Graduating Senior for the College of Natural Resources;cite news |first=James |last=Baetke |title=Democrat aims to sting District 53 |url=http://media.www.collegian.com/media/storage/paper864/news/2006/01/26/NewsregionalAndState/Democrat.Aims.To.Sting.District.53-1709088.shtml |work=Rocky Mountain Collegian |date=26 January 2006 |accessdate=2007-12-12 ] he later served on the CSU College of Natural Resources Alumni Board. He went on to earn a master's degree in civil engineering from Colorado State in 1989.cite web |url=http://www.myspace.com/randyfischer |title=www.myspace.com/randyfischer |accessdate=2007-03-16 |format=html |work=MySpace ]

During his time at CSU, he worked for the Poudre School District's Outdoor Education Program, and has since worked in the fields of construction, and agriculture, including a stint as a professional beekeeper. He currently runs an engineering consulting firm, specializing in abandoned mine cleanup and acid mine drainage.

Fischer served on a number of local boards and commissions, primarily dealing with natural resources and land use issues, including the Larimer County Rural Land Use Advisory Board, the City of Fort Collins' Water Board, Storm Drainage Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board, and City Plan Update Committee, and on the board of the Legacy Land Trust. His wife, Kathy, is a former high school teacher; they have lived in Fort Collins for over 30 years.cite web |url=http://www.randyfischer.org/about.htm |title=About Randy Fischer |accessdate=2007-03-14 |format=html |work=RandyFischer.org ]

Legislative career

2006 election

After having worked on campaigns for Fort Collins city council and the Larimer County Board of Commissioners, Fischer first ran for public office in 2006, seeking the legislative seat being vacated by Congressional candidate Agnie Paccione. He took 59 percent of the vote in a four-way race against Republican Anne Yeldell, Libertarian Mark Brophy, and Constitution Party candidate Darren Morrison.cite web |url=http://www.co.larimer.co.us/elections/elections_tab.htm |title=Election Information |accessdate=2007-03-14 |author=Larimer County, Colorado |format=html |work=Larimer County Virtual Courhouse]

2007 legislative session

In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Fischer sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Education Committee. cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |accessdate=2007-12-11 |format=html |work=Colorado General Assembly] .

Shortly after his election, Fischer identified "education, health care and renewable energy" as his top legislative priorities.cite news |first=Erin |last=Rosa |title=Know Your Legislator: Randy Fischer |url=http://www.coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1121 |work=Colorado Confidental |date=6 December 2006 |accessdate=2007-03-14 ] During the 2007 session, Fischer sponsored legislation which would allow counties to enforce stormwater regulations.cite news |first=Jason |last=Kosena |title=Water pollution bill passes Colorado Senate |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070312/UPDATES01/70312010 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=12 March 2007 |accessdate=2007-03-14 ]

Following the regular session, Fischer served on the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax and federal mineral lease revenues.cite web |url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/randy-fischer-hd-53.html |title=Randy Fischer (HD 53) |accessdate=2008-04-23 |work=Colorado House Democrats ] cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07AllocSeverTax.htm |title=Allocation of Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Revenues |accessdate=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council ]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Fischer sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Education Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-01-19 |format=html |work=Colorado General Assembly] In the 2008 legislative session, Fischer plans to sponsor legislation to direct severance tax revenue to the Colorado departments of Wildlife and Parks and Recreation.cite news |first=Andra |last=Coberly |title=Fixing a “Nightmare” |url=http://www.fortcollinsnow.com/article/20080105/NEWS/934675253 |work=Fort Collins Now |date=5 January 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-28 ] Fischer has also sponsored a bill to expand funding for the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and to create a statewide collaboratory for water-related research.cite news |first=Jason |last=Kosena |title=Funding changes for water research winds through state legislature |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080124/CSUZONE01/801240377/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=24 January 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-28 ] He has also introduced legislation designed to protect instream water rights for users who choose to let water flow downstream rather than be diverted,cite news |first=Colleen |last=Slevin |title=Colorado looks at water leases, donations to increase river flows |url=http://ctunewsblog.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/colorado-looks-at-water-leases-donations-to-increase-river-flows/ |work=CTU Newsblog |date=30 January 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-28 ] which was passed and signed into law by Gov. Ritter.cite news |first=Jason |last=Kosena |title=New state law rewards water right holders who conserve |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS01/805050326/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=5 May 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-06 ]

Another bill, requiring vehicle registration and emissions testing for mobile diesel equipment, including farm and construction vehicles,cite news |first=Carol |last=Barrett |title=Bill could cause ‘vicious’ fines |url=http://www.journal-advocate.com/articles/2008/03/05/news/local_news/local2.txt
work=Sterling Journal-Advocate |date=5 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] was opposed by farmers, contractors, and local governments, and was stripped of penalties for noncompliance in committee. In response, Fischer proposed a revised version of the legislation which would use registration fees to create a fund for replacement of polluting vehicles with cleaner vehicles.cite news |first=R. Scott |last=Rappold |title=Construction debate in the air |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/air_34019___article.html/construction_debate.html
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=9 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-14 ]

Together with Rep. John Kefalas and other northern Colorado legislators, Fischer has sponsored two bills to regulate uranium mining, in response to proposed mining activity in northern Colorado;cite news |first=John |last=Kefalas |coauthors=Randy Fischer |title=Legislators acting on residents' concerns |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/OPINION04/709180307/1014/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=18 September 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-21 ] cite news |first=Kevin |last=Duggan |title=Uranium mine faces mounting pressure |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710170330
work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=17 October 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-21 ] the legislation has been opposed by mining companies.cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Mining officials meet with local reps |url=http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=91368 |work=Northern Colorado Business Report |date=5 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-28 ] After some amendment, one of these bills, strengthening water quality requirements, passed the state legislaturecite news |first=Pamela |last=Dickman |title=Mine water bill moves ahead |url=http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=15149
work=Loveland Reporter-Herald |date=23 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-01 ] cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Boyle |title=Uranium Bill Moves Forward Despite Heated Debate |url=http://www.fortcollinsnow.com/article/20080401/NEWS/227235752 |work=Fort Collins Now |date=1 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-03 ] cite news |first=Pamela |last=Dickman |title=Uranium mining bill goes to governor |url=http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=16604 |work=Loveland Reporter-Herald |date=6 May 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-06 ] and was signed into law;cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Gov. Bill Ritter signs uranium bill |url=http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080520/NEWS/875626312 |work=Greeley Tribune |date=20 May 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-13 ] another measure, which would have created stronger public disclosure requirements for mining operations, was killed in committee,cite news |first=Andrew |last=Villegas |title=House Ag committee says no to second uranium bill |url=http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080403/NEWS/985078923 |work=Greeley Tribune |date=3 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-03 ] but later revived in the state senate.cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Boyle |title=Inside Politics: Time is Running Out for State Lawmakers |url=http://www.fortcollinsnow.com/article/20080502/POLITICS03/248506458 |work=Fort Collins Now |date=2 May 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-02 ]

2008 election

Fischer announced his bid for re-election to the state legislature in January 2008.cite news |first=Jason |last=Kosena |title=Can Republicans beat Fischer in HD 53? |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080223/NEWS01/802230355/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=29 January 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] He faces a challenge from Republican Donna Gallup in the November 2008 general election.cite news |first=Jason |last=Kosena |title=Candidate ready for challenge |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080223/NEWS01/802230355/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=23 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] Gallup notably criticized Fischer's support of restrictions on uranium mining, accusing him of having "played on constituents’ fears."cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Sale |title=House District 53 candidates differ on uranium mining, other issues |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/NEWS01/80719018/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=20 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/house/members/hou53.htm Colorado General Assembly profile]
* [http://www.randyfischer.org/ Campaign website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/randyfischer MySpace page]