.gif)
Ron May (Colorado legislator)
Encyclopedia
Ronny J. "Ron" May is a former Colorado
legislator. An Air Force
veteran, May was elected to the Colorado Springs, Colorado
city council, then to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 1992. Serving eight years in the state house, May was then elected to the Colorado Senate in 2000 and again in 2004. After serving for over two decades in elected office, May, noted for his work on technology issues, retired from government in 2007 to become a fellow with the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology magazine.
, May attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University
, where he played college baseball
, and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska. After joining the United States Air Force
in 1954, May was a pilot and navigator, logging over 3,800 hours of flying time, before being sent to receive training as a programmer analyst
on early computer technology in the 1960s, beginning a lifelong interest in information technology
, which has included service on Colorado's Information Management Commission, the Multi-Use Network, and as a charter member of the United States Internet Council.
May retired from the Air Force in 1974 and settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he served on the Colorado Springs city council from 1981 to 1985, then in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1993 to 2000.
In the legislature, May also established a reputation as a quiet but consistent social and fiscal conservative who focused on transportation and technology issues. Having worked on the expansion of Powers Boulevard in eastern Colorado Springs in the 1980s, May sponsored legislation that created the first ongoing budgetary set-aside for roadway funding in Colorado. After federal speed limits were revoked in 1995, May sponsored the Colorado legislation to raise speed limits on rural Interstate highways to 75 miles per hour. May was also noted for his opposition to labor unions, and repeatedly introduced legislation to strengthen Colorado's right-to-work legislation
.
Most noted for his legislative work in the area of technology, May chaired the legislature's Joint Computer Management Committee and was a member of the Colorado legislature during the installation of Internet service in the Colorado State Capitol
in the 1990s. He is credited setting up the buildings' first wireless internet network, eliminating the need to remove interior marble facades in order to install new wiring. As a member of the state's Information Management Commission, May also helped established the Colorado General Assembly
's online legislative information system, and has called this his "biggest contribution" in technology issues. In 2006, May sponsored legislation which created the state position of chief information security officer and provided state funding to the Colorado cyber-security office. Outside the legislature, May also operated a firm specializing in computer consulting for small businesses.
In 2000, May ran for the Colorado State Senate, facing activist Douglas Bruce
in the Republican primary; in the solidly Republican district, winning the primary virtually assured a general election victory. In an unusual move, the local Chamber of Commerce
and state party leaders, including Governor Bill Owens, endorsed May in the party primary contest, which May won by only 112 votes.
May was elected to the Colorado State Senate in the 2000 general election — defeating Democrat Dan Tafoya and Libertarian Patricia Glidewell — and was unchallenged for re-election in 2004,
representing Senate District 10, which includes eastern Colorado Springs, Colorado
and rural El Paso County, Colorado
. During Republican control of the legislature, he rose to become chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. After Democrats obtained control of the legislature, May became Minority Caucus Chair. During the 2007-2008 legislature session, May served on the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee.
Nearing the end of his second term, barred by term limits from running again, May announced his resignation from the legislature, effective October 31, 2007, to become a senior fellow at Government Technology Magazine
and the Center for Digital Government; in 2005, the magazine had named him one of their top 25 "Doers, Dreamers and Drivers." State Representative Bill Cadman
was appointed by a vacancy committee to fill May's seat.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
legislator. An Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
veteran, May was elected to the Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
city council, then to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 1992. Serving eight years in the state house, May was then elected to the Colorado Senate in 2000 and again in 2004. After serving for over two decades in elected office, May, noted for his work on technology issues, retired from government in 2007 to become a fellow with the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology magazine.
Biography
Born in Sherman, TexasSherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, May attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, often referred to as Southeastern and abbreviated as SE, or SOSU, is a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,229 as of 2009.-History:...
, where he played college baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska. After joining the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in 1954, May was a pilot and navigator, logging over 3,800 hours of flying time, before being sent to receive training as a programmer analyst
Computer analyst
Computer analyst may refer to:* Programmer* Programmer analyst* Business analyst* Systems analyst...
on early computer technology in the 1960s, beginning a lifelong interest in information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, which has included service on Colorado's Information Management Commission, the Multi-Use Network, and as a charter member of the United States Internet Council.
May retired from the Air Force in 1974 and settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he served on the Colorado Springs city council from 1981 to 1985, then in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1993 to 2000.
In the legislature, May also established a reputation as a quiet but consistent social and fiscal conservative who focused on transportation and technology issues. Having worked on the expansion of Powers Boulevard in eastern Colorado Springs in the 1980s, May sponsored legislation that created the first ongoing budgetary set-aside for roadway funding in Colorado. After federal speed limits were revoked in 1995, May sponsored the Colorado legislation to raise speed limits on rural Interstate highways to 75 miles per hour. May was also noted for his opposition to labor unions, and repeatedly introduced legislation to strengthen Colorado's right-to-work legislation
Right-to-work law
Right-to-work laws are statutes enforced in twenty-two U.S. states, mostly in the southern or western U.S., allowed under provisions of the federal Taft–Hartley Act, which prohibit agreements between labor unions and employers that make membership, payment of union dues, or fees a condition of...
.
Most noted for his legislative work in the area of technology, May chaired the legislature's Joint Computer Management Committee and was a member of the Colorado legislature during the installation of Internet service in the Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. The building is intentionally reminiscent of the United States Capitol. Designed...
in the 1990s. He is credited setting up the buildings' first wireless internet network, eliminating the need to remove interior marble facades in order to install new wiring. As a member of the state's Information Management Commission, May also helped established the Colorado General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly
The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.-Constitutional definition:The Colorado Constitution establishes a system of government based on the separation of powers doctrine with power divided among three "departments": executive, legislative and judicial...
's online legislative information system, and has called this his "biggest contribution" in technology issues. In 2006, May sponsored legislation which created the state position of chief information security officer and provided state funding to the Colorado cyber-security office. Outside the legislature, May also operated a firm specializing in computer consulting for small businesses.
In 2000, May ran for the Colorado State Senate, facing activist Douglas Bruce
Douglas Bruce
Douglas Edward Bruce is a conservative activist and former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado, best known as the author of Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights ....
in the Republican primary; in the solidly Republican district, winning the primary virtually assured a general election victory. In an unusual move, the local Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and state party leaders, including Governor Bill Owens, endorsed May in the party primary contest, which May won by only 112 votes.
May was elected to the Colorado State Senate in the 2000 general election — defeating Democrat Dan Tafoya and Libertarian Patricia Glidewell — and was unchallenged for re-election in 2004,
representing Senate District 10, which includes eastern Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
and rural El Paso County, Colorado
El Paso County, Colorado
El Paso County is the most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States, now more populous than Denver County. The United States Census Bureau concluded that the county population was 622,371 in 2010. In recent years, the population had come closer to that of Denver...
. During Republican control of the legislature, he rose to become chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. After Democrats obtained control of the legislature, May became Minority Caucus Chair. During the 2007-2008 legislature session, May served on the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee.
Nearing the end of his second term, barred by term limits from running again, May announced his resignation from the legislature, effective October 31, 2007, to become a senior fellow at Government Technology Magazine
Government Technology Magazine
Government Technology magazine is the flagship periodical of Folsom, California-based publishing company e.Republic Incorporated. The magazine aims to deliver editorial content to information technology professionals working in the public-sector, primarily in state and local government.Established...
and the Center for Digital Government; in 2005, the magazine had named him one of their top 25 "Doers, Dreamers and Drivers." State Representative Bill Cadman
Bill Cadman
Bill Lee Cadman is a Colorado legislator. First elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2000, Cadman was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Colorado State Senate in 2007...
was appointed by a vacancy committee to fill May's seat.