Joan Fitz-Gerald
Encyclopedia
Joan Fitz-Gerald was a Democratic
member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 16th District since 2001. She served as President of the Senate
, the first woman to hold that office.
Fitz-Gerald is a former chair of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) with state-house Democrats picking up seats across the nation under her chairmanship.
Born in New York City, New York, Joan graduated from Marymount Manhattan College
with a B.A. in History and later attended Fordham Law School where she met her husband. The Fitz-Geralds moved to Colorado in 1977.
Until November 2007, Fitz-Gerald represented the 16th Legislative District in the Colorado State Senate. She represented 7 counties in the Legislature: Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson and Summit. She was the chair of, and served on, the Executive Committee of Legislative Council, Legislative Council, and Senate Services. She also served on the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
Before serving in the State Senate, Fitz-Gerald was a county clerk. She was the first woman ever elected as Jefferson County
clerk and recorder, where she pioneered the use of mail ballots.
She is married to John Fitz-Gerald. The couple has two adult sons.
Fitz-Gerald was considered to be one of several possible Democratic candidates for Governor of Colorado in 2006
, but chose not to run. On April 18, 2007 she announced that she would run for U.S. Congress, representing the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Mark Udall
, who ran for, and eventually was elected to, the U.S. Senate. On August 2, 2007 Emily's List
endorsed her.
In November 2007, Fitz-Gerald announced her retirement from the Colorado Senate to campaign full-time for the U.S. House. Sen. Peter Groff
was elected to succeed her as Senate President, and Rep. Dan Gibbs
was appointed to fill the senate vacancy left by her resignation.
In August 2008, Fitz-Gerald lost to Democrat Jared Polis in one of the most watched races in the U.S. Polis - 42%, Fitz-Gerald 38% - Shafroth 20%,
In November 2008, Fitz-Gerald was mentioned as a possible successor to Mike Coffman in the Colorado Secretary of State's office.
In December 2008, Fitz-Gerald was mentioned as a possible successor to Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate after Salazar was chosen by President-Elect Barack Obama for Secretary of the Interior. After Salazar's confirmation, Michael Bennet was ultimately selected as the replacement for his Senate seat by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter.
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...
member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 16th District since 2001. She served as President of the Senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
, the first woman to hold that office.
Fitz-Gerald is a former chair of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) with state-house Democrats picking up seats across the nation under her chairmanship.
Born in New York City, New York, Joan graduated from Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College is an urban, coeducational, independent, private, liberal arts college located in Manhattan, New York City, New York with a focus in performing arts. The mission of the College is to educate a socially and economically diverse student body by fostering intellectual...
with a B.A. in History and later attended Fordham Law School where she met her husband. The Fitz-Geralds moved to Colorado in 1977.
Until November 2007, Fitz-Gerald represented the 16th Legislative District in the Colorado State Senate. She represented 7 counties in the Legislature: Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson and Summit. She was the chair of, and served on, the Executive Committee of Legislative Council, Legislative Council, and Senate Services. She also served on the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
Before serving in the State Senate, Fitz-Gerald was a county clerk. She was the first woman ever elected as Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
clerk and recorder, where she pioneered the use of mail ballots.
She is married to John Fitz-Gerald. The couple has two adult sons.
Fitz-Gerald was considered to be one of several possible Democratic candidates 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 chose not to run. On April 18, 2007 she announced that she would run for U.S. Congress, representing the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Mark Udall
Mark Udall
Mark Emery Udall is the senior United States Senator from Colorado and a member of the Democratic Party. From 1999 to 2009, Udall served in the United States House of Representatives, representing . He also served a term in the Colorado House of Representatives.Born in Tucson, Arizona, he is the...
, who ran for, and eventually was elected to, the U.S. Senate. On August 2, 2007 Emily's List
EMILY's List
EMILY's List is a political action committee in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1984....
endorsed her.
In November 2007, Fitz-Gerald announced her retirement from the Colorado Senate to campaign full-time for the U.S. House. Sen. Peter Groff
Peter Groff
Peter C. Groff is a member of the Obama administration and a former Colorado legislator and President of the Colorado Senate. An attorney, public servant, and political veteran, Groff was elected as a Democrat to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2000, then re-elected in 2002...
was elected to succeed her as Senate President, and Rep. Dan Gibbs
Dan Gibbs
In his first year in the legislature — the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly — Gibbs sat on the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee and was Vice-Chair of the House Transportation and Energy Committee...
was appointed to fill the senate vacancy left by her resignation.
In August 2008, Fitz-Gerald lost to Democrat Jared Polis in one of the most watched races in the U.S. Polis - 42%, Fitz-Gerald 38% - Shafroth 20%,
In November 2008, Fitz-Gerald was mentioned as a possible successor to Mike Coffman in the Colorado Secretary of State's office.
In December 2008, Fitz-Gerald was mentioned as a possible successor to Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate after Salazar was chosen by President-Elect Barack Obama for Secretary of the Interior. After Salazar's confirmation, Michael Bennet was ultimately selected as the replacement for his Senate seat by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter.
External links
- Joan Fitz-Gerald official campaign website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Joan Fitz-Gerald (CO) profile
- Follow the Money - Joan Fitz-Gerald
- SourceWatch Congresspedia - Joan Fitz-Gerald profile