Roy Romer
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| Roy R. Romer | |
 Roy Romer. |
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39th Governor of Colorado
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| In office January 1987 – January 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Douglas Lamm |
| Succeeded by | William F. Owens |
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| In office 2001 – 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Ramon Cortines |
| Succeeded by | David Brewer |
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| Born | October 31, 1928 Garden City, Kansas |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Beatrice Romer |
Roy R. Romer (born October 31, 1928 in Garden City, Kansas, United States) was the 39th Governor of Colorado and served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2001 to 2006.
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[edit] Family & Education
Romer grew up in the southeastern Colorado town of Holly. Romer received a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Colorado State University in 1950, where he served for one year as President of the Associated Students of Colorado State University. He later received a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1952. He also studied ethics at Yale University, and was a legal officer in the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife, Bea, have seven children and 18 grandchildren. His son Paul Romer is an economist, and his son Chris Romer, was elected to a Colorado State Senate seat from Denver in November 2006.
[edit] Early professional activities
In the 1950s and 1960s, Romer was an attorney in Denver. He was also active in the management of his family's agricultural operations throughout Colorado. Romer has continued and is also the owner, with one of his sons, of a chain of John Deere equipment stores in Colorado, Virginia and Florida. He helped develop Colorado's Centennial Airport, ran a flying school and owned and operated a ski area.
[edit] Political career
[edit] Colorado state government
Romer served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1958-1962 and in the Colorado Senate from 1962-1966. Romer was Colorado State Treasurer from 1977-1987, and a member of the governor's cabinet. Romer was first elected as governor in 1986, and re-elected in 1990 and 1994; he was the last Colorado governor to serve three terms[1].
[edit] National political positions
Romer chaired the Democratic Governors Association in 1991. In 1992, he was co-chairman of the Democratic National Platform Committee. Romer served as national vice chair of the Democratic Leadership Council, and was a national co-chairman of the Clinton-Gore '96 campaign. In January 1997, Romer was elected to serve as general chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
From 1992-1993, Romer served as chair of the National Governors Association. In 1994-1995 he chaired the Education Commission of the States, and in 1995, was part of a bipartisan effort by the nation's governors to reform Medicaid.
[edit] Romer v. Evans
In law, his name is associated with the anti-discrimination suit Romer v. Evans that was brought to the Supreme Court during his tenure as Governor of Colorado. Though he was opposed to the amendment to the Constitution of Colorado in question, he was forced to defend it in his position as Governor.
[edit] Recent professional activities
On July 1, 2001, he became Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, where he served for six years. On October 12, 2006, the Los Angeles Board of Education unanimously named David L. Brewer III as his successor.
A May 8, 2006 Los Angeles Times article suggested naming a school after Romer.[2] LAUSD announced that Roy Romer Middle School would open in 2008 in the eastern San Fernando Valley.[3]
On April 25, 2007, Roy Romer began his service as the chairman and lead spokesman for Strong American Schools, a nonprofit project responsible for running Ed in 08, an information and initiative campaign funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad foundation, aimed at encouraging 2008 presidential contenders to include education in their campaign policies.[4]
In March of 1998, Romer admitted to a longtime extramarital affair with Betty Jane Thornberry, once his confidential assistant at the DNC. For years Romer had denied the affair. [5]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ The Colorado constitution now limits governors to two consecutive terms and 8 years in office (http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/research/termlim.htm).
- ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-schoolme8may08,1,1744438.column?coll=la-news-learning
- ^ http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=55.98007
- ^ NYTimes: Billionaires Start $60 Million Schools Effort
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n7_v14/ai_20301290/pg_1
[edit] External links
- "Generally Speaking, It's Right to Honor Romer, Los Angeles Times
- Strong American Schools/ED in 08
- Roy Romer's Blog
| Preceded by Sam Brown |
State Treasurer of Colorado 1977–1987 |
Succeeded by Gail Schoettler |
| Preceded by Richard Douglas Lamm |
Governor of Colorado 1987–1999 |
Succeeded by William F. Owens |
| Preceded by John Ashcroft |
Chairman of the National Governors Association 1992–1993 |
Succeeded by Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. |
| Preceded by Christopher J. Dodd |
Democratic National Committee General Chairman 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by Edward G. Rendell |
| Preceded by Ramon Cortines |
Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District 2001–2006 |
Succeeded by David L. Brewer III |
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