born december legislator state colorado educator running legislature defeated republican incumbent win election democrat won election represents senate district legislature focused primarily health care poverty issues biography early life education career born greece earned bachelor degree joined serving agricultural extension worker el_salvador returning united_states earned master degree teaching secondary science taught worked employment counselor colorado health outreach worker public service worked public policy advocate community development coordinator departure amidst controversy public support wade abortion rights legislative campaign entering legislature directed served member won city fort collins human relations award portion federal income taxes charitable organizations protest united_states military actions central_america paid income taxes continued boycott federal telephone tax recently result filed wages paid taxes considers actions protest written experience war tax resistance newsletter legislative campaigns accused avoiding federal tax obligation republican opponent independent political committees outspoken opponent iraq war engaged non violent civil protest war married wife sons active duty soldier served iraq afghanistan coach ultimate team legislative career campaigns ran state legislature winning democratic_party primary seven votes process lasted weeks lost general election fewer votes incumbent republican race included candidate ran democratic nomination narrowly prevailed general election legislative session session sat legislature sponsored successful bills encourage state purchasing environmentally products allow require graduate student health insurance create licensing standards technicians proposed bill explore alternative voting systems defeated committee led creation member multi partisan task force study related issues proposed bills required regularly report tax individual income groups defeated committee year legislature founded common good caucus address poverty issues member legislative session session sat representative joined chief staff legal civil rights expert legislative session worked legislators particularly bills increase scrutiny proposed mining operations bill require quality restored following mining operations passed state legislature signed law measure created stronger public disclosure requirements mining operations killed committee later revived state senate house sponsor legislation designed reduce cost college textbooks requiring textbook publishers disclose costs offer textbooks additional materials sponsored legislation allow surgery centers establish peer review committees bills signed law support surgical centers awarded legislator year award later year sponsored bill authorize local pilot tests ranked choice voting methods sponsored bill establish withdrew bill proponents moved forward similar ballot initiative later expressed frustration plans ballot measure withdrawn building bill allow purchasing green products sponsored measure require colorado governments consider products expected life cost ownership making purchasing decisions signed law priorities restoring expanding colorado earned income tax credit met resistance legislative leaders budget constraints introduced bill session restore colorado percent federal credit bill defeated house committee election holding office closely contested district expected targeted colorado republicans election bid formally announced january taking office sought maintain dialogue constituents leading series monthly community conversations topics ranging health care mobile home parks named sustainable economic development priority office announced intention run february pitting time election cycles creating competitive race seen colorado swing districts campaign held fundraising advantage cash hand times mid september late october raised short fundraising total included donated campaign targeted direct mail advertisement blaming democratic state legislature high gasoline prices tactic dismissed negative campaigning condemned independent ads attacking legislative record having crossed line group spent support election including attacking legislative record expressed disapproval advertisements bid endorsed endorsed ultimately won second term percent popular vote democrat win election east district legislative session legislative session named seats named health care reform priority plans introducing legislation create single universal health care system colorado session bill introduced proposal create member commission recommendations implement single system reported favorably house committee vote short necessary pass legislation house april asked legislation killed sponsored legislation create tax credits angel investors companies increase support job training programs create begin planning statewide passenger rail service sponsored legislation create chaired following regular session committee objective develop plans reduce colorado poverty rate half years examining broad range issues economic development education transportation tax policy considered potential legislation topics ranging earned income tax credit rent control following legislation session male legislator honored election august announced intention seek term legislature november legislative elections reelected vote election representative announced seek election state senate seat vacated bid endorsed elected officials representative faced republican challenger open senate seat elected wide margin remainder vote going party candidates senator represents people state senate district
John Kefalas