Gail Schwartz

Infobox State Senator
name=Gail Schwartz


state_senate=Colorado
state=Colorado
district=5th
term_start=January 10, 2007
preceded=Lewis Entz
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=
place of birth=
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Alan
profession=
religion=
party=Democratic|

Gail Sheridan Schwartz is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2006, Schwartz represents Senate District 5, which covers a large section of south-central Colorado, ranging from Aspen, and Delta, Colorado through the San Luis Valley to the New Mexico border.cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district05s.html |title=State Senate District 5 |accessdate=2008-04-04 |format=html |work=COMaps ]

Biography

Born and raised in Chicago, Schwartz holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from the dn|University of Colorado. Schwartz has worked as Director of Development, and later Acting Director for the Pitkin County Housing Authority. She has also worked as a real estate and marketing consultant and as an executive for Sno-Engineering, Inc. [http://www.gailschwartz.org/page_2 Home | Gail Schwartz ] ]

Schwartz was involved in education issues in the Aspen School District, including campaigning for a $4 million local bond election for technology in local schools. She received the Aspen School District's "Outstanding Service Award." She was appointed by Gov. Roy Romer to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as a representative of the Western Slope from 1995 to 1999.

In 2000, Schwartz was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado from Colorado's 3rd Congressional district.cite news |first=Tom |last=McAvoy |title=Dennises selected delegates to the Republican Convention |url=http://www.chieftain.com/print.php?article=/metro/960012000/8/sea |work=Pueblo Chieftan |date=3 June 2000 |accessdate=2008-04-26 ] She faced Republican incumbent Hank Anton and campaigned on increasing accessibility to higher education, particularly for the largely rural and underserved Western Slope of Colorado.cite news |first=Bonnie |last=Nadzam |title=Aspen resident stresses higher education while campaigning for CU seat |url=http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/2000/oct/22/aspen_resident_stresses/ |work=Steamboat Pilot & Today |date=22 October 2000 |accessdate=2008-04-26 es/] She was elected with roughly 51 percent of the popular vote, becoming the third Democrat on the nine-member board.cite news |first=Julie |last=Poppen |title=Democrat looks like winner in CU Regent race |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-36361358.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=8 November 2000 |accessdate=2008-04-26 ] After being elected, Schwartz supported adding sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy.cite news |first=Jefferson |last=Dodge |title=Regent: Add sexual orientation to policy |url=https://www.cu.edu/sg/messages/1333.html |work=Silver & Gold Record |date=30 November 2000 |accessdate=2008-04-26 ] Schwartz also served as vice-chair of the Board of Regents.

Schwartz is married; she and her husband, Alan, an attorney, have three daughters: Brendan Ash, Aime, and Rachel. Her family currently resides in Snowmass Village, Colorado.cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=MCO12494 |title=Senator Schwartz |accessdate=2008-04-04 |format=html |work=Project Vote Smart]

Legislative career

Infobox Colorado Legislation
Title=Sen.
Name=Schwartz
Year=2007
Bill Number 1=SB07-041
Bill Number 2=SB07-054
Bill Number 3=SB07-091
Bill Number 4=SB07-152
Bill Number 5=SB07-155
Bill Number 6=SB07-206
Bill Number 7=SB07-207
Bill Number 8=SB07-208
Bill Number 9=SB07-209
Bill Number 10=SB07-220
Bill Number 11=SB07-253
Bill Link 1=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/E99D43C3D65B051787257251007C6120?Open&file=041_enr.pdf
Bill Link 2=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/352E8B850D2BF405872572580054180E?Open&file=054_enr.pdf
Bill Link 3=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/A141F7732EBD922387257251007D470B?Open&file=091_enr.pdf
Bill Link 4=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/F10FC06B7B8C3D30872572610069923F?Open&file=152_enr.pdf
Bill Link 5=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/5F4CF59C5168361D87257266007E2534?Open&file=155_enr.pdf
Bill Link 6=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/D112110C3A7BCFA08725728200819155?Open&file=206_enr.pdf
Bill Link 7=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/12201DBC153B9E2C8725727C0001A139?Open&file=207_enr.pdf
Bill Link 8=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/A1BF514097AEF1A587257251007B3453?Open&file=208_enr.pdf
Bill Link 9=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/197E055DBC3BD87B87257282007BE423?Open&file=209_enr.pdf
Bill Link 10=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/7DBFFBC7F2F0C2B68725728000788EBB?Open&file=220_enr.pdf
Bill Link 11=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/0A5D143B919DDF7B8725729D007A29E4?Open&file=253_enr.pdf
Bill Status 1=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 2=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 3=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 4=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 5=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 6=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 7=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 8=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 9=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 10=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 11=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Title 1=Concerning the creation of the "Public School Facilities Act" to address capital construciton in Colorado public schools [...]
Bill Title 2=Concerning removal of bonding limits on higher education research building revolving funds.
Bill Title 3=Concerning renewable resource generation development areas [...] and creating a task force [...]
Bill Title 4=Concerning volunteer services by dental professionals who hold a license in good standing from another state.
Bill Title 5=Concerning fees charged to a customer using an account from a foreign bank.
Bill Title 6=Concerning the biological pest control cash fund [...]
Bill Title 7=Concerning the "Colorado Feed Law."
Bill Title 8=Concerning the regulation of persons who treat the hearing impaired and [...] continuing the registration of audiologists and hearing aid providers.
Bill Title 9=Concerning creation of a council to facilitate collaboration in health careers education in southern Colorado and [...] creating the Southern Colorado Council for Excellence in Health Careers Education.
Bill Title 10=Concerning an increase in the powers of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and [...] specifying the establishment, operation, and financing procedures of subdistricts [...]
Bill Title 11=Concerning price insurance contracts to minimize anticipated fluctuations in the amount of revenue derived from oil and gas production.

2006 election

In the 2006 Colorado legislative elections, Schwartz defeated incumbent Republican Lewis Entz with 51 percent of the popular vote. Schwartz was elected to represent Senate District 5, which includes Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral, Pitkin, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties.cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district05s.html |title=State Senate District 5 |accessdate=2008-04-04 |format=html |work=COMaps ]

2007 legislative session

In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Schwartz was vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, and sat on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-02-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly]

Following the regular session, Schwartz chaired the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax and federal mineral lease revenuescite 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 ] and served on the Water Resources Review Committee.cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07WaterResourcesSched.htm |title=Water Resources Review Committee |accessdate=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council ]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Schwartz serves as vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, and sits on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee and the Legislative Audit Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-02-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly]

During the 2008 session, Schwartz sponsored legislation to require Colorado's chief information officer to map broadband internet access in Colorado,cite news |first=Phil |last=Weiser |title=SPEAKOUT: Broadband for all |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/11/speakout-broadband-for-all/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=11 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-13 ] and legislation to require greater public disclosure about prospective mining activities.cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Schwartz/Curry push mining reform bill |url=http://www.crestedbuttenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=506&Itemid=40 |work=Crested Butte News |date=30 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-03 ] In total, Schwartz sponsored 16 House and Senate bills, 14 of which were passed into law.cite news |first=Mike |last=Saccone |title=Lawmakers largely successful with bills |url=http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/06/14/061508_8b_Bill_report.html |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |date=14 June 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-19 ]

Following the legislative session, Schwartz was appointed to a seat on the legislature's Capital Development Committee, replacing term-limited Sen. Sue Windels.cite news |first=Charles |last=Ashby |title=Area adds muscle on state construction committee |url=http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/06/14/news/local/doc48538a4952ebd737627270.txt |work=Pueblo Chieftan |date=14 June 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-14 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/house/members/sen05.htm Gail Schwartz profile, Colorado General Assembly]
* [http://www.gailschwartz.org/page_1 Gail Schwartz for Colorado Senate District 5] - campaign site