Andrew Romanoff
Encyclopedia
Harlan Andrew Romanoff (born August 24, 1966) is an American
politician. A Democrat
, he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008, serving as Speaker
from 2005 to 2008. He was a candidate for the United States Senate
in the 2010 election, when he was defeated by incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet
in the party's primary.
and graduated from Columbus Academy
. He has a Democratic
mother and a Republican
father, a twin
sister, and a border collie
named Zorro
. Romanoff's full name is Harlan Andrew Romanoff but he prefers to be known by his middle name. His mother "Cap" (née Gayle) was a social worker and his father Marvin was a judge. Andrew’s grandparents worked for Project Hope
, bringing medical supplies and treatment to Africa and Latin America. Romanoff took an early interest in civil rights. As a student, he learned about the Southern Poverty Law Center’s efforts to combat Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups. The Center’s Klanwatch Project and a state civil rights agency became two of his first employers.
After earning a bachelor’s degree at Yale University
, Romanoff taught English in rural high schools in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. After coming home, he earned a Master's degree
in public policy from John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
, and a law degree at the University of Denver
Sturm College of Law
.
Romanoff worked in the private sector, as a senior associate at the Colorado consulting firm of Greenberg Baron Simon & Miller, before accepting a job with Gov. Roy Romer. He worked in the Office of Policy and Initiatives, analyzing state and national proposals for education reform.
Romanoff has taught at the University of Colorado, the Community College of Aurora, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and Red Rocks Community College. He has served on the boards of the Center for Women’s Employment and Education, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Colorado Common Cause, and the Colorado Health Foundation; headed two neighborhood groups; and mentored at-risk students through Denver Kids.
. He represented House District 6. He teaches at the Community College of Aurora
. Romanoff was considered by many to be a possible Democratic candidate for Governor of Colorado in 2006
, but announced in late 2005 that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Romanoff left the Colorado House after 2008 because of term limits.
He is widely credited as the author of Referendum C, a major fiscal initiative approved by Colorado voters in 2005.
. The Colorado Independent reported on August 29, 2009 that Romanoff will challenge Bennet in a 2010 Primary for the Senate seat.
Romanoff has made campaign finance and ethics a key issue of his campaign, declining to take Political Action Committee money.
A preference poll taken March 16 at precinct caucuses showed Romanoff with 51 percent support, Bennet with 42 percent, and the remaining uncommitted. Delegates at each stage of the Democratic caucus-assembly process aren’t pledged to a candidate but are selected based on candidate preference.
Romanoff won the Democratic State Assembly against Michael Bennet
, with 60.4% of the vote to Bennet's 39.6%. The State Assembly determines ballot placement for the August Primary. As Romanoff had a higher percentage of votes, his name will appear first on the Democratic ballot.
On September 16, 2009, Romanoff officially announced his campaign to challenge Bennet for the Democratic Senate nomination of 2010. He was endorsed by Bill Clinton
on June 29, 2010. President Barack Obama
endorsed Bennet shortly after Romanoff announced his candidacy to unseat Bennet.
On August 10, 2010, Romanoff was defeated by Bennet in the Colorado Democratic Primary.
have limited their contributions in various ways, the only other federal candidate of note to eschew all PAC contributions is President Barack Obama
which nearly bankrupted the state after an economic downturn.
. BEST was the largest investment in school construction in Colorado history, with an emphasis on rural school repair.
, deputy Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama
, made a phone call to Romanoff offering him various positions in the Obama Administration, which included a position at the USAID. Romanoff turned down the offer.
Romanoff issued a statement on June 2, 2010, in which he confirmed that he was contacted by Messina on September 11, 2009 and was told that President Obama was going to support Bennet in the Democratic Party primary. Romanoff told Messina that he would be running anyway and Romanoff states, as reported by the Washington Post that Messina "suggested three positions that might be available to me were I not pursuing the Senate race. He added that he could not guarantee my appointment to any of these positions." White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton told the Post that "Mr. Romanoff was recommended to the White House from Democrats in Colorado for a position in the administration. There were some initial conversations with him, but no job was ever offered." Messina sent Romanoff job descriptions for three positions: an administrator for the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau within USAID, the chief of the Office of Democracy and Governance within USAID, and the director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
After repeated questions, Michael Bennet admitted to interacting with the White House regarding offering Romanoff a job to get him out of the race.
(IDE). IDE is a Colorado-based non-profit organization that works in developing countries to create income opportunities and provide low cost water access for rural households.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008, serving as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
from 2005 to 2008. He was a candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in the 2010 election, when he was defeated by incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet
Michael Bennet
Michael Farrand Bennet is an American businessman, lawyer, and politician. He is currently the junior United States Senator from Colorado, and a member of the Democratic Party...
in the party's primary.
Early life, education and career
Romanoff was raised in Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
and graduated from Columbus Academy
Columbus Academy
Columbus Academy is a selective, independent college-preparatory school for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The private school is located on a large, secluded campus surrounded by wooded areas in Gahanna, Ohio in the United States, 8 miles from downtown Columbus. The Academy was...
. He has a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
mother and a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
father, a twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
sister, and a border collie
Border Collie
The Border Collie is a herding dog breed developed in the Anglo-Scottish border region for herding livestock, especially sheep. It is the most widespread of the collie breeds....
named Zorro
Zorro
Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media....
. Romanoff's full name is Harlan Andrew Romanoff but he prefers to be known by his middle name. His mother "Cap" (née Gayle) was a social worker and his father Marvin was a judge. Andrew’s grandparents worked for Project Hope
Project Hope
Project Hope is a Chinese public service project organized by the China Youth Development Foundation and the Communist Youth League Central Committee. Started on October 30, 1989, it aims to bring schools into poverty-stricken rural areas of China, to help children whose families are too poor...
, bringing medical supplies and treatment to Africa and Latin America. Romanoff took an early interest in civil rights. As a student, he learned about the Southern Poverty Law Center’s efforts to combat Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups. The Center’s Klanwatch Project and a state civil rights agency became two of his first employers.
After earning a bachelor’s degree at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Romanoff taught English in rural high schools in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. After coming home, he earned a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in public policy from John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and a law degree at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
Sturm College of Law
Sturm College of Law
The University of Denver Sturm College of Law is one of two law schools in the state of Colorado, and the only law school in the Denver metro area. Founded in 1892, the Sturm College of Law is one of the first in America's Mountain West...
.
Romanoff worked in the private sector, as a senior associate at the Colorado consulting firm of Greenberg Baron Simon & Miller, before accepting a job with Gov. Roy Romer. He worked in the Office of Policy and Initiatives, analyzing state and national proposals for education reform.
Romanoff has taught at the University of Colorado, the Community College of Aurora, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and Red Rocks Community College. He has served on the boards of the Center for Women’s Employment and Education, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Colorado Common Cause, and the Colorado Health Foundation; headed two neighborhood groups; and mentored at-risk students through Denver Kids.
Colorado House of Representatives
Romanoff was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008 and was re-elected three times. He was the first Democrat to hold the Speaker's post since 1975. He was the second youngest speaker of the House in Colorado history. Before becoming Speaker he was the House Minority LeaderMinority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
. He represented House District 6. He teaches at the Community College of Aurora
Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora is a community college located in Aurora, Colorado. It is part of the Colorado Community College System. CCA serves over 10,000 students annually at its CentreTech Campus in Aurora, Colorado, Lowry Campus at Lowry, Denver, and through online classes...
. Romanoff was considered by many to be a possible Democratic candidate for Governor of Colorado in 2006
Colorado gubernatorial election, 2006
The Colorado gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006 to determine the successor for incumbent Bill Owens, who was unable to run due to term limits...
, but announced in late 2005 that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Romanoff left the Colorado House after 2008 because of term limits.
He is widely credited as the author of Referendum C, a major fiscal initiative approved by Colorado voters in 2005.
2010 U.S. Senate election
In early 2009, Senator Ken Salazar was nominated and confirmed for U.S. Secretary of Interior. Andrew Romanoff was on a short list of possible candidates for appointment to Salazar's seat. To fill that seat, Governor Bill Ritter chose Denver schools' superintendent Michael BennetMichael Bennet
Michael Farrand Bennet is an American businessman, lawyer, and politician. He is currently the junior United States Senator from Colorado, and a member of the Democratic Party...
. The Colorado Independent reported on August 29, 2009 that Romanoff will challenge Bennet in a 2010 Primary for the Senate seat.
Romanoff has made campaign finance and ethics a key issue of his campaign, declining to take Political Action Committee money.
A preference poll taken March 16 at precinct caucuses showed Romanoff with 51 percent support, Bennet with 42 percent, and the remaining uncommitted. Delegates at each stage of the Democratic caucus-assembly process aren’t pledged to a candidate but are selected based on candidate preference.
Romanoff won the Democratic State Assembly against Michael Bennet
Michael Bennet
Michael Farrand Bennet is an American businessman, lawyer, and politician. He is currently the junior United States Senator from Colorado, and a member of the Democratic Party...
, with 60.4% of the vote to Bennet's 39.6%. The State Assembly determines ballot placement for the August Primary. As Romanoff had a higher percentage of votes, his name will appear first on the Democratic ballot.
On September 16, 2009, Romanoff officially announced his campaign to challenge Bennet for the Democratic Senate nomination of 2010. He was endorsed by Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on June 29, 2010. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
endorsed Bennet shortly after Romanoff announced his candidacy to unseat Bennet.
On August 10, 2010, Romanoff was defeated by Bennet in the Colorado Democratic Primary.
Government ethics and reform
Romanoff has made government ethics and reform a central part of his Senatorial campaign. Romanoff does not take Political Action Committee (PAC) money, instead relying on individual campaign contributions. Romanoff has said in numerous speeches that he believes there is an inherent conflict in elected officials taking contributions from industries they are supposed to regulate. Although several elected officials such as Russ FeingoldRuss Feingold
Russell Dana "Russ" Feingold is an American politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served as a Democratic party member of the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011. From 1983 to 1993, Feingold was a Wisconsin State Senator representing the 27th District.He is a recipient of the John F...
have limited their contributions in various ways, the only other federal candidate of note to eschew all PAC contributions is President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
Economy
Romanoff is credited as a main author and advocate for Referendum C, a major financial overhaul to the state of Colorado. It partially reversed the budget shortfalls caused by the Taxpayer Bill of RightsTaxpayer Bill of Rights
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights is a concept advocated by conservative and free market libertarian groups, primarily in the United States, as a way of limiting the growth of government...
which nearly bankrupted the state after an economic downturn.
Education
Romanoff sponsored the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Act, working in conjunction with State Treasurer Cary KennedyCary Kennedy
Cary Kennedy is an American politician from Colorado. She is a member of the Democratic Party, and former Colorado State Treasurer.-Biography:Kennedy holds a bachelor's degree from St...
. BEST was the largest investment in school construction in Colorado history, with an emphasis on rural school repair.
Energy and the environment
In 2004 Romanoff supported an initiative to have at least 10% of energy consumed in Colorado come from renewable sources. Romanoff supports the creation of more green collar jobs in an effort to stimulate job growth while reducing fossil fuel usage. Romanoff has also supported efforts for tax breaks for those who weatherize their homes or otherwise reduce their energy usage.Job offer from the Obama Administration
On September 27, 2009, Michael Riley of the Denver Post reported that Romanoff was offered a position in the Obama Administration in exchange for not running for U.S. Senate against Michael Bennet. According to Riley, Jim MessinaJim Messina (politician)
Jim Messina is campaign manager for President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign. He previously served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for President Obama from 2009 to 2011. Prior to taking up that post he was Director of Personnel for the transition team.-Career:Messina served as...
, deputy Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, made a phone call to Romanoff offering him various positions in the Obama Administration, which included a position at the USAID. Romanoff turned down the offer.
Romanoff issued a statement on June 2, 2010, in which he confirmed that he was contacted by Messina on September 11, 2009 and was told that President Obama was going to support Bennet in the Democratic Party primary. Romanoff told Messina that he would be running anyway and Romanoff states, as reported by the Washington Post that Messina "suggested three positions that might be available to me were I not pursuing the Senate race. He added that he could not guarantee my appointment to any of these positions." White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton told the Post that "Mr. Romanoff was recommended to the White House from Democrats in Colorado for a position in the administration. There were some initial conversations with him, but no job was ever offered." Messina sent Romanoff job descriptions for three positions: an administrator for the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau within USAID, the chief of the Office of Democracy and Governance within USAID, and the director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
After repeated questions, Michael Bennet admitted to interacting with the White House regarding offering Romanoff a job to get him out of the race.
International development work
After losing the 2010 Colorado Democratic Party primary election for a U.S. Senate Seat, Romanoff accepted a position in September, 2010 as a Senior Advisor with International Development EnterprisesInternational Development Enterprises
IDE - International Development Enterprises, founded in 1981 by Paul Polak, is an international not-for-profit corporation devoted to the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of affordable, scalable micro-irrigation and other low-cost water recovery systems throughout the developing world...
(IDE). IDE is a Colorado-based non-profit organization that works in developing countries to create income opportunities and provide low cost water access for rural households.
External links
- Andrew Romanoff for Congress official campaign website
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...