BIOGRAPHY
 Growing
up in Colorado Springs from the age of two, I attended District 11 schools
and graduated from Billy Mitchell high school. I received my undergraduate
degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University and earned
my law degree from Creighton University.
I began my career in the DA’s office
in 1982 as an entry-level prosecutor. In 1983 I was assigned to Judge
Toth’s courtroom where I met my future wife, Leslie, who was working as the
judge’s court reporter. We married in 1986 and have two terrific sons,
Matt and Alex. Both attended District 20 schools K-12 and are
graduates of Air Academy High School.
After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis and working in
different parts of the country, Matt is presently living and working in
Denver and is Vice President of Burwell Industries. Alex is a freshman at
the University of Kansas. Go Jayhawks!
During my 26 years as a
prosecutor, I moved up the ranks and had experience in virtually every
department within the District Attorney's office. I have served under four
District Attorneys in the 4th Judicial District and have been promoted by
all four. At various times in my career with the 4th Judicial District I
have been head of Homicide, Vehicular Homicide, Narcotics, Chief Trial
Attorney, and Assistant District Attorney (the highest non-elected position
in the office). After leaving the 4th Judicial District in 2004, I served
four years as the head of all County Courts for Arapahoe and Douglas
Counties in the 18th Judicial District . During that time, I also
spent four months in Hugo, Colorado successfully trying a death penalty
case. I am finding that many of my experiences in the 18th Judicial
District can be carried over to our office, and we are already benefitting
from these exceptional experiences.
LIFE-LONG REPUBLICAN:
I went to my first Colorado state convention back in
the mid-1970’s as a young campaign worker for a gubernatorial candidate.
Since then, I have worked on many campaigns ranging from Presidential,
Gubernatorial, Senate, House, County Commissioner, District Attorney,
Attorney General, and City Council. I’ve been to County, State, District
Attorney, House District and Congressional conventions in various roles
including delegate, campaign worker, chair of some portion of the
convention, and Republican Party worker.
I was first elected as a Precinct Committee Person in
1982 and continue in that role today. This position helps organize the
party at the neighborhood level. I have been elected as a Vice Chairman or
Chairman of a House District since 1992. I served as Vice Chair of D-20
from 1992-94 and Chairman from 1995-2002. I also served as Vice Chair from
2002-04. As House Chair and Vice Chair I helped organize and oversee for
the party several dozen precincts. At assemblies I helped organize my
district’s voting. I’ve served on the El Paso County Executive Committee
and have helped at party fund raisers and events for many years.
I am a Republican because I believe
we are the party of values and principles, and I expect our party
leaders and elected officials to live up to those ideals and lead by
example.
FISCAL CONSERVATIVE:
I believe
in fiscal responsibility in government. We live in a fiscally conservative
community that puts a strong emphasis on public safety. I have a proven
record as a fiscal conservative in the District Attorney’s office and
continue to work to keep our budget lean in this tough economy.
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