born august attorney republican legislator state colorado roberts served house district elected senate district current senator district encompasses san_juan counties elected serve president pro biography born hudson new_york roberts raised elected class president high school earned self designed undergraduate degree environmental policy college spent semester intern working congressional representative moved colorado graduation worked ranger rocky mountain national park roberts married husband children ben attended colorado hired law firm colorado roberts returned school earn worked attorney private practice hot springs specializing estate business law resident colorado joined served president president attorney roberts advocated increased legal services immigrants spanish speakers southwestern colorado roberts focused health care constitutional reform judicial financial issues state legislature despite minority party seen legislation sponsored signed law carried legislation strengthen private property rights surrounding oil gas drilling create legislative youth advisory council early career roberts began enter politics death father focusing health care issues member later chairman board pushed construction new hospital chaired rural health care task force appointed colorado commission formed legislature study health care needs rural colorado communities roberts sat sixth chaired new library successful effort push new local public library eventually built site hospital roberts worked help replace member sat boards won award professional women business election december month elected fourth final term state house roberts filed candidacy seek seat announced campaign formally january endorsed won republican nomination unopposed representative neared end term limited tenure roberts began work learning legislative process preparation seeking elected office instigated bill introduced eventually signed law require remains handled accordance wishes deceased lobbied legislature unsuccessfully creation interim committee study care general election campaign roberts emphasized work health care issues experience working legislature criticized passage constitutional amendments creating conflicting fiscal obligations roberts main opponent democrat signed clean campaign pledge controversy arose advertisements run outside sources particular roberts denounced misleading unacceptable television advertisement criticizing record mayor run political group associated later pulled air direct mail sent right leaning outside groups weeks campaign candidates immigration contrast positions addition democratic opponent roberts faced write candidate withdrew race october endorsed roberts significantly opponents campaign ultimately winning november general election percent vote legislative session session roberts member roberts successful republican legislators passing legislation democrat controlled legislature identified media reports commentators standout legislator potential candidate higher office organized bowling legislators year legislature roberts carried legislation revised colorado surface rights laws requiring oil gas companies minimize impacts drilling bill weakened lobbying represented breadth reform failed pass previous legislative sessions legislative session roberts sponsored bills revise process special health care districts created expand eligibility korean war special license plates legislation fund study southwestern colorado unsuccessful bill measure rules cigar bars claim colorado indoor smoking ban killed committee measure revived democrats unsuccessful following session roberts named house republican leadership newly formed november named legislator merit joined republicans criticize executive order issued governor allowing collective government employee unions betrayal promise cooperation major issues legislative session session roberts sat introduced bills session passed legislature legislative session roberts introduced bill drafted lobbied colorado students create legislative youth advisory council bill stalled legislature minimal cost approved cleared house senate governor signed law later appointed minority leader mike legislative members council roberts introduced bill grant advanced practice nurses power sign additional medical forms response shortages doctors portions rural colorado measure garnered support nurses doctors associations march backed proposal require insurance companies offer low cost health care benefit packages public private plan achieving universal coverage roberts sponsor legislative resolution urging support including southwestern colorado including portions district denver media market resolution introduced session began roberts expressed interest legislation revise process amended ballot measures proposing popular votes required enact amendments proposed extending public hearing process means providing additional input ballot measures february appointed member legislative panel tasked developing recommendations constitutional reform ultimately panel proposal create petition process constitutional statutory amendments proposal referred legislature voters appeared november colorado ballot campaigned support referendum fall campaign roberts republicans measure reform spending requirements colorado state constitution proposal diverted excess revenues education regarded sweeping revision competing constitutional passed general_assembly advanced citizens initiative election roberts nominated republican_party second term state house faced republican primary general election roberts stood fellow republicans opposing amendment ballot measure november ballot tax revenue water projects transportation backed republican presidential candidate john_mccain spoke october rally colorado following election roberts nominated post lost caucus vote post losing vote roberts publicly lamented lack rural representation legislative leadership alleged republican threatened voted leadership bid legislative session legislative session roberts appointed ranking republican member roberts named republican task force charged making recommendations resolving state projected budget roberts sat criminal juvenile justice chaired session roberts sponsored bills relating juvenile criminal offenders including legislation allow juveniles criminal records allow young adults serve sentences instead facilities roberts sponsored legislation minor adjustment statutes concerning legislation create regional self insurance plan legislation statutes surrounding end life care legislative session following legislative session roberts sat interim committee dealing care issues carried legislation originating committee session including bills clarified policies surrounding end life care advance legislation roberts carried included bill allow voluntary income tax contributions support services fought cuts native american tuition program roberts members vote support colorado budget successfully amendment removed restrictions ability set state tuition rates roberts planned introduce legislation place year new colorado health insurance independent proposal overhaul states insurance mandate commission announced start session proposal include immediate insurance legislation killed hearing house committee roberts withdrew proposals continue pilot program training certified nursing assistants account cost roberts sponsored contentious piece legislation general election opponent negotiated governor office require utilities convert range coal fired power plants natural gas election june roberts announced intention seek colorado state senate seat held term limited democratic legislative elections senate district resigned legislature july head office colorado democrats appointed civil engineer seat declared intention run term setting race colorado republicans viewed best opportunities pick seat democrat controlled legislature roberts campaign senate seat faced challenge republican primary colorado town marshal campaigns self described true conservative received percent delegate votes republican district assembly roberts earning spot august primary ballot roberts won primary race vote went win general election vote legislative session state senator roberts served committees including judiciary acted ranking republican served interim committees end legislative session addition responsibilities colorado legislature roberts appointed federal deficit reduction task force august elected colorado legislator serve committees legislative session senator roberts proposed legislation start session bond required carriers rural areas lowered bond local entities bill assigned postponed indefinitely introduced bill killed public caused roberts introduce new bill time house resolved issue passed second time vote senator roberts appointed addition elected senator roberts awarded legislator year award legislative session legislative session roberts award handful awards champion conservation award pinnacle award common sense courtroom award green colorado legislator year award honored win legislator year award wild fires state colorado senator roberts elected convened interim proposed pieces legislation address threat risk damage colorado legislative session roberts appointed serve legislative session state senator senator roberts serves committees serves vice chair agriculture natural resources energy committee senator roberts serves legislative initiatives senator roberts sponsored bill sought create state legislative youth advisory council colorado prior legislative session senator roberts met group high school students order gauge scope soon legislation group form legislation passed bill passed creating known legislative session roberts brought forth legislation stemmed youth council initiative resolution recognized struggle colorado faces surrounding teen joint resolution sought identify teen focus suicide prevention particularly initiatives
Ellen Roberts