Steve Ward (Colorado legislator)

Infobox State Senator
name=Steve Ward

---

height =150px
state_senate=Colorado
state=Colorado
district=26th
term_start=December 28, 2006
preceded=Jim Dyer
succeeded=Incumbent
office2 = Member of the Arapahoe County
Board of Commissioners
from the 1st district
term_start2 = January 14, 1997cite news |first=Angela |last=Cortez |title=County boards sworn in |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF881258B825DA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=Denver Post |date=15 January 1997 |accessdate=2008-05-01 ]
term_end2 = January 8, 2001cite news |first=Ginny |last=McKibben |title=Arapahoe County Bulletin |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF45A34E6EB1ED&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=Denver Post |date=2 January 2001 |accessdate=2008-05-01 ]
preceded2 = John Nicholl
succeeded2 = Susan Beckman
date of birth=
place of birth=
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Susan
profession=
religion=
party=Republican

Steven P. Wardcite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csljournals.nsf/(jouhse)/C74DAE3008365363872572580079AA44/$FILE/Jn10.pdf |title=House Journal - January 10, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-08 |format=pdf |work=Colorado General Assembly] (born c. 1960) is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Appointed to the Colorado State Senate as a Republican in 2006, Ward represents Senate District 26, which encompasses southern suburbs of Denver, Colorado, centered around Littleton.cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district26s.html |title=State Senate District 26 |accessdate=2008-04-06 |format=html |work=COMaps ]

Biography

Currently a resident of Littleton, Colorado, Ward has served as mayor of Glendale, Colorado and as a member of the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners.

A colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, Ward has served tours of active duty at Special Operations Command, in Afghanistan, at Northern Command, at the Pentagon, in Thailand assisting with recovery from the 2004 Asian tsunami and, in 2007, on an assignment in the western Pacific. In August 2007, Ward was called up to active duty in Iraq as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force,cite news |first=Mark P. |last=Couch |title=State senator Iraq-bound
url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6521443 |work=Denver Post |date=2 August 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-12 ] where he served as a military inspector general based at Camp Fallujah. He returned from his Iraq deployment in early February 2008,cite news |first=Bruce |last=Finley |title=Deployment widens senator's outlook on war issues
url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8153718 |work=Denver Post |date=3 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-12 ] several weeks into the 2008 legislative session; he was greeted with applause from fellow Senators during the morning roll call.cite news |author=Associated Press |title=Sen. Ward welcomed back from Iraq |url=http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_8166240 |work=Denver Post |date=4 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-27 ] In recogntion of Sen. Wards' deployment, Senators had continuously left a lamp on in the Senate chambers during his absence.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Curtain rises on 2008 legislature |url=http://www.denverpost.com/colorado-springs/ci_7926208 |work=Denver Post |date=10 January 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-27 ]

During his time in Iraq, Ward met with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Congressman Ed Perlmutter during their trips to the country,cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Ritter trip to Iraq a secret |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7704988
work=Denver Post |date=13 December 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] cite news |first=Anne C. |last=Mulkern |title=Perlmutter heading to Iraq |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7581932
work=Denver Post |date=28 November 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] and also met with U.S. Army officer and Colorado state representative Joe Rice, who was stationed in Iraq at the same time.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Littleton legislator heads to Iraq for 3rd tour of duty as Army officer |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7252953
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=31 October 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12]

Ward is married; he and his wife, Susan, have two children: Justin and Jessica.cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=69479 |title=Senator Steve Ward |accessdate=2008-04-06 |format=html |work=Project Vote Smart] While not serving on active military duty, Ward operates a real-estate business.cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Citizen Legislator, February 26 |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/25/citizen-legislator-february-26/?printer=1/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=25 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-25 ]

Legislative career

Infobox Colorado Legislation
Title=Sen.
Name=Ward
Year=2007
Bill Number 1=SB07-157
Bill Number 2=SB07-218
Bill Link 1=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/AA1079B2F07E802A8725726400711B2F?Open&file=157_enr.pdf
Bill Link 2=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/B36852AFB05246EE87257251007B330B?Open&file=218_enr.pdf
Bill Status 1=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 2=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Title 1=Concerning required notice of a study to make certain statutory determinations prior to the exercise of the power of eminent domain by urban renewal authorities.
Bill Title 2=Concerning continuation of the environmental management system permit program, and, in connection therewith, establishing tiers for participation in the program.

2006 appointment

In November 2006, Senator Jim Dyer was elected to a post on the Arapahoe County Commission and resigned from the state legislature. A Republican Party vacancy commission chose Ward over former Centennial councilwoman Betty Ann Habig for the post.cite news |first=Dan |last=Haley |title=New state senator: Steve Ward
url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/opinion/2006/12/19/new-state-senator-steve-ward/ |work=Denver Post |date=19 December 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-12 ] Ward was sworn in as a state senator on December 28, 2006.

2007 legislative session

In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Ward served on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Local Government Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-04-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly]

During the session, Ward introduced, with Democratic Rep. Rosemary Marshall, a measure to clarify uncertainties surrounding a gift ban in Amendment 41, an ethics reform ballot measure enacted by Colorado voters in 2006.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Amend. 41 generates dueling proposals |url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5212564 |work=Denver Post |date=12 February 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-23 ] cite news |first=Karen E. |last=Crummy |title=Amend. 41 a partisan gift |url=http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5180254 |work=Denver Post |date=7 February 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-23 ] After several months of legislative negotiations, the measure was killed in favor of a compromise implementing the ethics law as approved by voters;cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Amend. 41 endgame may be in sight |url=http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_5714924 |work=Denver Post |date=20 April 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-23 ] the ethics commission and gift ban later faced a string of legal challenges.cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Judge lifts lobbyist gift ban |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/jun/01/judge-lifts-lobbyist-gift-ban/?printer=1/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=1 June 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-23 ]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Ward serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-04-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly] He sponsored legislation, modeled on Louisiana law, to allow the death penalty as a punishment for rape of children.cite news |first=James |last=Oliphant |title=Is death fitting for rape of child?
url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-death-row-rapeapr14,0,3908106.story |work=Chicago Tribune |date=13 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-15 ] The bill died in a Senate committee only a few months before the Louisiana statute was ruled unconstitutional in "Kennedy v. Louisiana".cite news |first=Lisa |last=Ryckman |title=Colorado lawmakers rejected death for child rape |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/colorado-lawmakers-rejected-death-child-rape/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=25 June 2008 |accessdate=2008-07-08 ] Ward was also a prime sponsor of a bill passed into law to restrict picketing in residential areas.cite news |first=John |last=Rebchook |title=Company to protesters: 'We build buildings' |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/27/company-to-protesters-we-build-buildings/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=27 June 2008 |accessdate=2008-07-20 ]

During the legislative session, Ward denounced as the "nanny state bill of the year" a measure which would require single-family homes to install carbon monoxide detectors.cite news |first=Associated Press |title=Highlights from the Legislature on Friday
url=http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080418/NEWS/844097842 |work=Summit Daily News |date=18 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-20 ]

2008 Congressional campaign

Ward entered the race to succeed retiring Rep. Tom Tancredo in Colorado's 6th Congressional district in November 2007; he made the decision to enter the race while on duty in Iraq, citing a need for more Iraq War veterans in Congress.cite news |first=Chris |last=Barge |title=Iraq war colonel eyes Tancredo seate |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/10/iraq-war-colonel-eyes-tancredo-seat/ |work=Rocky Mountain news |date=10 November 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-27 ] Ward was one of four contenders for the Republican nomination in the conservative district, including Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman.cite news |first=John |last=Ingold |title=Coffman handily defeats GOP trio for nomination |url=http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_10181377 |work=CBS4Denver.com |date=13 August 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-13 ] The contest saw few policy differences between Ward and his Republican opponents, with the exception of Ward's push for a "Manhattan Project"-type effort to develop alternatives to fossil fuels,cite news |first=John C. |last=Ensslin |title=GOP congressional candidates mostly agree |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/21/gop-congressional-candidates-mostly-agree/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=21 May 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-10 ] including flex fuel standards for automobiles.cite news |first=Carrie |last=Porter |title=GOP hopefuls stress need for alternatives to oil |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/23/gop-hopefuls-stress-need-for-alternatives-to-oil/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=23 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ]

Although Ward trailed his opponents in fundraising,cite news |first=Naomi |last=Zeveloff |title=Coffman takes the lead in second quarter fundraising |url=http://www.coloradoindependent.com/view/coffman-takes-the |work=Colorado Indepdenent |date=20 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ] his campaign emphasized his web presence and his detailed policy proposals.cite news |first=Berny |last=Morson |title=In 6th District, GOP hopefuls still run to the right |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/10/in-6th-district-gop-hopefuls-still-run-to-the/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=10 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] As an Iraq veteran, particular attention was paid to Ward's position on the U.S. presence in Iraq. Although Ward opposed a timetable for withdrawal of troops, he was critical of mistakes made early in the conflict, called for the increased involvement of non-military U.S. agencies and the establishment of "benchmarks" leading towards eventual troop withdrawal.{cite news |first=Berny |last=Morson |title=4 GOP candidates differ on Iraq |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/17/marines-seeking-6th-cd-have-tough-view-iraq/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=18 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ] Ward was critical of Republican leadership for straying from traditional conservative principles of limited governmentcite news |first=Berny |last=Morson |title=GOP candidates turn on their own party |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/30/gop-candidates-turn-on-their-own-party/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=30 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ] and for failures on energy and economic policy, going to so far as to eschew endorsements from prominent Republicans.cite news |first=J.C. |last=O'Connell |title=Ward forgoes GOP nods to chart his own path |url=http://www.coloradoindependent.com/view/ward-forgoes-gop |work=Colorado Indepenent |date=11 August 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] He pledged to work towards a balanced budget and stated that he would place high priority in Congress on delivering transportation funding for Colorado.cite news |first=John |last=Ingold |title=Debaters play nice as contest heats up |urlhttp://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9965735 |work=Denver Post |date=23 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ]

Ultimately, Ward placed fourth among the contenders for the Republican nominationcite news |first=Robyn |last=Lydick |title=Mike Coffman takes primary |url=http://www.littleton-independent.com/site/tab7.cfm?newsid=20015248&BRD=2713&PAG=461&dept_id=559192&rfi=6 |work=Littleton Independent |date=13 August 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-13 ] with roughly 12 percent of the vote;cite news |first=Steven K. |last=Paulson |title=Republicans seek nomination to succeed Tancredo |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvonEK0aSFP9aZpT3p6uUTlUQ_GwD92H5FGG0 |work=Associated Press |date=12 August 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-13 ] he conceded the race to Coffman early on the night of the primary and expressed support for the fellow Iraq veteran.cite news |first=Berny |last=Morson |title=Coffman wins 'a positive campaign' |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/13/coffman-wins-a-positive-campaign/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=13 August 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-13 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/house/members/sen26.htm Colorado General Assembly profile]