Dan Slater
Encyclopedia
Dan Slater was the first vice chair of the Colorado Democratic Party
. An attorney in Cañon City, Colorado
, Slater ran unsuccessfully for the Colorado State Senate in 2002 before joining the top leadership of the Colorado Democratic Party in 2003. A delegate to both the 2000 and 2004 Democratic National Conventions, Slater was a superdelegate
to the 2008 convention
, and publicly endorsed Barack Obama
.
and raised in Las Animas
, Slater attended the University of Oklahoma
, following high school in Mustang, Oklahoma
, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1994. He earned his law degree from Washington College of Law
at American University
. Slater married Brandy Johnson in November 2008, and has two children from a previous marriage, Madison and Ethan, and two children from his current marriage, Logan and Demitrius.
Slater resides in Cañon City, Colorado
, where he is an attorney in private practice, specializing in personal injury, estate planning, and real estate law. He was named "Young Lawyer of the Year" in 2004 by the Colorado Trial Lawyer's Association and has served on the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association and as the Chair of the Judicial Performance Commission for Colorado's 11th Judicial District.
Named a "Rising Star" by the Colorado Democratic Party in 2002, Slater was the chair of the Fremont County
Democratic Party before running unsuccessfully for the Colorado State Senate in 2002. He has also been a delegate to the 2000 and 2004 Democratic National Convention
s.
In 2003, Slater was elected Secretary of the Colorado Democratic Party. He was elected to the post of state party first vice-chair in 2005, a year that saw contentious battles for party leadership among Colorado Democrats, in what supporters of incumbent chair Chris Gates characterized as a battle between liberal and moderate wings of the state party. Under party rules, the first vice chair must be the opposite sex of the chair. Slater bid for and campaigned for the office of second vice chair. While the vote count for chair took hours, the remaining offices elections were held up. When Waak was announced the victor, Slater changed his bid from second vice chair to first vice chair. Slater was the only member of state party leadership who maintained a blog. Slater continues to blog at DemNotes.com.
As vice-chair, Slater successfully led efforts to move up Colorado's presidential caucus date to February 5, 2008, placing Colorado among other states holding contests on pivotal Super Tuesday
. He was also a central player in Colorado Democrats successful bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, and was vice-chairman of the Host Committee that presented the bid. Slater considered challenging Waak for the post of state party chair in 2007, but instead sought and gained unanimous re-election to the vice-chair post.
As vice-chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, he was a superdelegate
to the 2008 Democratic National Convention
. In 2007, he announced his intention to vote for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama
.
Colorado Democratic Party
The Colorado Democratic Party is the state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Colorado. Its chair is Rick Palacio, and its executive director is Alec Garnett.The remaining officers are:...
. An attorney in Cañon City, Colorado
Cañon City, Colorado
The City of Cañon City is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Fremont County, State of Colorado. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 16,000 in 2005. Cañon City is noted for being the location of nine state and four ...
, Slater ran unsuccessfully for the Colorado State Senate in 2002 before joining the top leadership of the Colorado Democratic Party in 2003. A delegate to both the 2000 and 2004 Democratic National Conventions, Slater was a superdelegate
Superdelegate
"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
to the 2008 convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
, and publicly endorsed 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...
.
Biography
Born in La Junta, ColoradoLa Junta, Colorado
The City of La Junta is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,568 at the U.S. Census 2000. La Junta is located on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado east of Pueblo.-History:During...
and raised in Las Animas
Las Animas, Colorado
200px|right|thumb|St. Mary's [[Catholic]] Church in Las AnimasThe city of Las Animas is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Bent County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,410 at the 2010 census. Las Animas, located in southeast...
, Slater attended the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, following high school in Mustang, Oklahoma
Mustang, Oklahoma
Mustang is a growing suburban city in Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,395 at the 2010 census....
, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1994. He earned his law degree from Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. Slater married Brandy Johnson in November 2008, and has two children from a previous marriage, Madison and Ethan, and two children from his current marriage, Logan and Demitrius.
Slater resides in Cañon City, Colorado
Cañon City, Colorado
The City of Cañon City is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Fremont County, State of Colorado. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 16,000 in 2005. Cañon City is noted for being the location of nine state and four ...
, where he is an attorney in private practice, specializing in personal injury, estate planning, and real estate law. He was named "Young Lawyer of the Year" in 2004 by the Colorado Trial Lawyer's Association and has served on the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association and as the Chair of the Judicial Performance Commission for Colorado's 11th Judicial District.
Named a "Rising Star" by the Colorado Democratic Party in 2002, Slater was the chair of the Fremont County
Fremont County, Colorado
Fremont County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county is named for explorer and presidential candidate John C. Frémont. The county population was 46,824 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Cañon City. The Cañon City...
Democratic Party before running unsuccessfully for the Colorado State Senate in 2002. He has also been a delegate to the 2000 and 2004 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s.
In 2003, Slater was elected Secretary of the Colorado Democratic Party. He was elected to the post of state party first vice-chair in 2005, a year that saw contentious battles for party leadership among Colorado Democrats, in what supporters of incumbent chair Chris Gates characterized as a battle between liberal and moderate wings of the state party. Under party rules, the first vice chair must be the opposite sex of the chair. Slater bid for and campaigned for the office of second vice chair. While the vote count for chair took hours, the remaining offices elections were held up. When Waak was announced the victor, Slater changed his bid from second vice chair to first vice chair. Slater was the only member of state party leadership who maintained a blog. Slater continues to blog at DemNotes.com.
As vice-chair, Slater successfully led efforts to move up Colorado's presidential caucus date to February 5, 2008, placing Colorado among other states holding contests on pivotal Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday
In the United States, Super Tuesday, in general, refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party's presidential candidates are officially nominated...
. He was also a central player in Colorado Democrats successful bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, and was vice-chairman of the Host Committee that presented the bid. Slater considered challenging Waak for the post of state party chair in 2007, but instead sought and gained unanimous re-election to the vice-chair post.
As vice-chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, he was a superdelegate
Superdelegate
"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
to the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
. In 2007, he announced his intention to vote for Illinois Sen. 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...
.