born legislator state colorado iraq war veteran mayor colorado rice presently works member elected city council colorado post mayor platform developing resident friendly community denver rice elected later resigned post mayor called serve tours active duty iraq iraq served advisor baghdad city council iraqi security forces rice won election democrat represented house district encompassed bow colorado parts centennial aurora legislature rice focused heavily transportation issues key sponsor transportation funding bill increasing vehicle registration fees order address bridge transportation requirements key measures promoted included creation statewide cold case homicide unit reduction business personal property tax rice served year terms legislature narrowly lost election losing biography personal life born indiana rice earned associates degree bachelor degree history denver serving later earned degree denver rice earned masters strategic studies degree distance education program discharged active military duty fort rice settled colorado rice wife married children twins harrison alexandria born younger son born currently live colorado rice enjoys military career rice enlisted united_states_army age years enlisted service completing rice spent years active duty military service included duty staff officer operations project officer program provide medical care poor civilians presently colonel rice called serve tours duty iraq march senior military advisor october february advised coalition forces interactions iraqi civilians october january operations analyst evaluated iraqi military police forces october involved training iraqi security forces having experienced situation iraq multiple years rice described progress security government supported president barack_obama military plans iraq afghanistan rice called serve fifth tour duty iraq january august duties included helping implement forces iraq establishing partnership programs iraq united_states continue final withdrawal forces iraq december rice completed airborne ranger training awarded combat action badge expert badge building work baghdad rice helped coordinate baghdad denver region partnership sister cities international partnership brought including business leaders government officials scholars recent delegation composed iraqi teenagers lived colorado families rice appointed helped sponsor iraqi family relocation united_states private sector career rice manager halfway house legislative campaign rice criticized association founder found guilty sexually inmates incidents tried occurred rice left employment rice testified behalf prosecution trial rice worked private sector customer service supervisor trainer rice worked government relations time legislative campaign rice worked self employed management training consultant vice president consulting firm specializing engineering project management mayor rice elected colorado city council running platform shifting small denver business base away adult oriented businesses resident family community elected mayor term rice proposed new regulations erotic dancers garnering strong opposition local business owners formed elected members city council response new regulations running election rice faced opposition member promoted accusations rice racial african american mexican citizens rice criticized absent months term mayor attended election saw record campaign spending record turnout rice defeated elected second term mayor rice touted efforts lower city property taxes expand city parks open space open city pre school recreation center served executive committee vice chair received rice resigned post mayor year second term called active military duty iraq legislative career election republican term limited stand election rice republican sought election house seat race target colorado unsuccessfully tried seat republican hands year republicans lost ground nationally colorado campaign rice criticized attack ads support mayor use mexican issued cards legal forms identification use immigrants campaign rice outlined legislative priorities public safety economic security quality life rice regarded conservative liberal observers moderate democrat member rice endorsed union groups including local chapter teachers union branch business interests including state endorsed rice ultimately defeated earning percent vote sworn office january legislative session session rice vice chairman member legislative session rice sponsored pieces legislation including primary sponsor house_of_representatives prominent bills measure set cold case unit investigate colorado passage signed bill law rice pursued legislation cut taxes businesses raising personal property tax exemption having passed state house unanimously measure died senate committee rice worked fellow military officer state senator pieces legislation term legislature rice sponsored legislation allow military personnel serving overseas apply ballots ward senate sponsor following session rice ward called colorado state pension funds companies business iran rice key player house debate resolution critical ongoing war iraq supported amendments resolution remove specific criticism troop surge supported final compromise version called eventual withdrawal iraq passed party line vote rice house sponsor legislation introduced colorado state senate driving seat belt primary offense measure narrowly failed house despite rice objections heated debate defeating bill kill kids voting record legislative session rice earned rating conservative rating environmentally oriented ratings placed opposite end democratic caucus average republican ratings following regular session rice served legislature police officers interim legislative session start legislature year rice iraq tour duty absence acknowledged opening speeches seat decorated yellow children invited lead pledge allegiance day session time iraq rice met colorado governor congressman congressional candidate trips country met colorado state senator stationed iraq time rice returned legislature january received standing ovation morning roll session rice sits vice chairman session rice explored introducing legislation increase vehicle registration fees order boost transportation funding plans introducing legislation aggravated rape child capital crime eligible death penalty rice introduced legislation exempt school sales tax measure placed hold pending consideration broader measure rice ultimately combined efforts integrated bills law rice introduced bill passed house failed senate previous year raise business personal property tax exemption measure endorsed economic development platform legislation raised exemption ultimately passed legislature signed law rice hoped sponsor legislation supported raise vehicle registration fees order fund road bridge repairs failed find suitable bill late session rice signed house sponsor measure raise registration rental fees create trust funds transportation measure later dropped favor study committee legislative sessions march rice received work transportation issues election rice sought second term legislature statewide elections facing republican holding office seat voter registration numbers favoring republicans race expected strongly contested early october rice spent nearly election campaign second highest level spending candidates rice election bid endorsed ultimately won percent popular vote legislative session regular legislative session november rice named vice chair special legislative tasked developing recommendations colorado economy legislative session committee presented slate jobs related legislation start session measure sponsored rice offer tax credits companies create jobs urban areas jobs rural areas republican rice sponsored legislation allowing health insurance providers offer participation programs request rice sponsored legislation requiring drivers yield transit buses entering traffic end session rice prominently broke democrats oppose removal capital gains tax breaks oppose granting unemployment benefits locked workers rice sponsored legislation backed create hybrid public private health insurance system cover colorado residents plans hold proponents single health care system advanced competing proposal state legislature rice sponsor major transportation funding proposal backed democratic leaders including senate sponsor proposal labeled faster acronym yield million funding aimed primarily road bridge repair increasing range vehicle registration fees faster passed legislature support republicans objected level fee increases called resources fees support transportation additional complaints surfaced republican leaders public fee increases took effect following session rice named legislator year received chairs award outstanding efforts economic development legislative session legislative session rice sponsored legislation focused job creation public safety sponsored bill prevent arrested charged crime buying gun charges law originally signed law republican governor set july rice sponsored bill invasion privacy sexual committed previously convicted sexual offense victim minor rice brought bill response tom incident hotel rice partnered republican bill allow small group individual health care markets offer incentive programs exchange insurance rice sponsored bills related creative industry sector colorado economy bill dedicated state capital construction spending funding public art state capitol construction projects consolidated state agencies offices election rice district contained registered republicans democrats targeted colorado republicans hoping gains legislative elections rice narrowly lost election losing votes votes cast district republicans democrats points voter registration life public service politics following election rice called serve fifth tour duty iraq january august release active duty rice returned work private sector longer elected office remains active number community organizations civic groups
Joe Rice