Ron Tupa
Encyclopedia
Ron Tupa is a staff member of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), a political action committee whose stated purpose is to support Democratic Party policies to reform American public education. His title is Director of State Legislatures. He is a former Democratic
Colorado state legislator, where he served a total of 14 years in the CO General Assembly from 1994 to 2008 before leaving office in 2009 due to term limits. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1995 through 2000 and a member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 18th District from 2001 to 2008.
smen (brother, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, great uncles) and his father’s service gave him the opportunity to live in many different states, including Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi and military bases in New York and Texas.
Opting not to enlist in the Coast Guard, Ron was instead the first of the Tupas to go on to college. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin
in 1989, he moved to Colorado in 1990. He worked full time for a year to establish state residency then went back to school to receive a teaching certificate from the University of Colorado at Boulder
in 1994.
loading freight onto trucks. His years as a union member instilled in him an understanding of the value of collective bargaining for ensuring a middle-class standard of living. Through the years he has been a member of 3 different unions, including his current membership in AFSCME local 821.
Sen. Tupa has taught high school social studies as a teacher or substitute teacher for the last 11 years, starting in 1995. In that time he has taught at Evergreen High School
in Jefferson County, Boulder High School
, and in Louisville at Monarch High School. He has also taught at many middle schools and other high schools throughout Boulder Valley School District
as a substitute teacher.
In 1994, Ron was President of the Colorado Young Democrats when he was appointed to fill a vacancy for state representative in Boulder’s House District 14. He was reelected in 1996 and again in 1998. In 2000, he was elected to the state senate and reelected in 2004 with over 70% of the vote. He was term-limited in 2008 after 14 years in public office.
. Former NFL punter, Tom Tupa
, is his first cousin.
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...
Colorado state legislator, where he served a total of 14 years in the CO General Assembly from 1994 to 2008 before leaving office in 2009 due to term limits. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1995 through 2000 and a member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 18th District from 2001 to 2008.
Early life and education
Tupa was born in Harbor Beach, Michigan in 1966. He comes from a long line of United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
smen (brother, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, great uncles) and his father’s service gave him the opportunity to live in many different states, including Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi and military bases in New York and Texas.
Opting not to enlist in the Coast Guard, Ron was instead the first of the Tupas to go on to college. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1989, he moved to Colorado in 1990. He worked full time for a year to establish state residency then went back to school to receive a teaching certificate from the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
in 1994.
Career
While attending the University of Colorado, Ron spent the next 3 years working nights and weekends as a TeamsterTeamster
A teamster, in modern American English, is a truck driver. The trade union named after them is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , one of the largest unions in the United States....
loading freight onto trucks. His years as a union member instilled in him an understanding of the value of collective bargaining for ensuring a middle-class standard of living. Through the years he has been a member of 3 different unions, including his current membership in AFSCME local 821.
Sen. Tupa has taught high school social studies as a teacher or substitute teacher for the last 11 years, starting in 1995. In that time he has taught at Evergreen High School
Evergreen High School (Evergreen, Colorado)
Evergreen High School is a public secondary institution in the JEFFCO Public Schools district in Evergreen, Colorado, U.S. Until Conifer High School opened in 1996, it served students in both Evergreen and Conifer...
in Jefferson County, Boulder High School
Boulder High School
Boulder High School is a high school in Boulder, Colorado. It is a part of the Boulder Valley School District.-History:Boulder High School was founded in 1875 as part of the University of Colorado at Boulder as a preparatory school for the University...
, and in Louisville at Monarch High School. He has also taught at many middle schools and other high schools throughout Boulder Valley School District
Boulder Valley School District
The Boulder Valley RE 2 School District is a school district in Colorado, headquartered in the BVSD Education Center in unincorporated Boulder County, near Boulder. The district serves Boulder, Gold Hill, Jamestown, Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland, Superior, and Ward...
as a substitute teacher.
In 1994, Ron was President of the Colorado Young Democrats when he was appointed to fill a vacancy for state representative in Boulder’s House District 14. He was reelected in 1996 and again in 1998. In 2000, he was elected to the state senate and reelected in 2004 with over 70% of the vote. He was term-limited in 2008 after 14 years in public office.
Personal
Although a Democrat, Tupa married Republican Kara Miller in the summer of 2001. They now have a son, Miller, born in the fall of 2005, and a daughter, Austin, born December 2006. They live in GunbarrelGunbarrel, Colorado
Gunbarrel is a census-designated place in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The population was 9,263 at the 2010 census. Gunbarrel is a developed area of Boulder County, but it is not an incorporated town or village...
. Former NFL punter, Tom Tupa
Tom Tupa
Thomas Joseph Tupa, Jr. is a former American football punter and quarterback in the National Football League.-Personal life and high school career:...
, is his first cousin.
External links
- Colorado General Assembly - Ron Tupa official government website
- Ron Tupa official campaign website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Ron D. Tupa (CO) profile
- Follow the Money - Ron D Tupa