Pat Steadman

Pat Steadman
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 31st district
Assumed office
May 29, 2009[1][2]
Preceded by Jennifer Veiga
Personal details
Born (1964-03-31) March 31, 1964
Political party Democratic
Domestic partner Dave Misner (2000-2012, his death.)[3][4]
Residence Denver, Colorado
Profession Attorney; lobbyist
Website patsteadman.com

Patrick "Pat" Steadman (born March 31, 1964) is a legislator, attorney and former lobbyist from the U.S. state of Colorado. Steadman, a Democrat, was appointed to the Colorado Senate in May 2009 following the resignation of Jennifer Veiga. He represents the 31st senate district, which covers downtown and north-central Denver and portions of Adams County.[5]

Biography

A resident of Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood, Steadman grew up in Westminster, Colorado, graduating from Westminster High School, Regis College and the University of Colorado School of Law. He became an attorney and prominent lobbyist at the Capitol, best known for his advocacy on gay rights issues.[6] Steadman met David Misner in 2000 and they were together until Misner's death of pancreatic cancer in 2012.[4]

Legislative career

2009 appointment

When Sen. Jennifer Veiga announced her resignation from the legislature in 2009, Steadman was one of ten candidates in the race to succeed her. A vacancy committee, composed of Democratic Party precinct officers and local elected officials, was convened to choose a replacement on May 20, 2009; Veiga endorsed Steadman for the vacancy appointment.[7] Although Steadman placed second to former state representative Ann Ragsdale on the first round of balloting, he received the most votes in the second round and, in the third and final round, he won majority support, defeating Ragsdale by 93 votes to 63.[8] Steadman, who was sworn into office on May 29, 2009,[2] ran for and won the election for the final two years of Veiga's four-year term in the November 2010 legislative elections.[9]

Like Veiga, Steadman is openly gay.[10] He is one of eight openly LGBT members of the Colorado General Assembly, along with senators Lucía Guzmán (D–Denver) and Jessie Ulibarri (D–Commerce City), as well as representatives Mark Ferrandino (D–Denver), Paul Rosenthal (D–Denver), Dominick Moreno (D–Commerce City), Joann Ginal (D–Fort Collins) and Sue Schafer (D–Wheat Ridge).

The Colorado Civil Unions Act

In 2011, Steadman introduced the Colorado Civil Unions Act, an act to create legal recognition for same-sex and heterosexual couples more similar to marriage than allowed in existing law in Colorado. The act passed the Democratic-controlled state Senate but was blocked in a Republican-controlled House committee on March 31, 2011, before it could reach a full House vote.

See: Recognition of Same-Sex Unions in Colorado: The Colorado Civil Unions Act of 2011

In the 2012 state elections, Steadman was challenged by Republican candidate Michael Carr, in what is believed to be the first state legislative race in United States history in which both major party candidates were openly gay.[11] Steadman defeated his opponent, and was rumored as a possible candidate for President of the State Senate due to the Democratic majority retained in the chamber.[12][13]

In 2013, Steadman was honored at the White House with the Harvey Milk Champion of Change Award.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Senate Journal - January 13, 2010" (PDF). Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  2. 1 2 "2 new Colorado state senators take oath of office". Denver Post.
  3. ↑ "Denver Democratic Party: Pat Steadman, Candidate for State Senator, HD31". Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  4. 1 2 "Colorado's state senators partner dies of pancreatic cancer". Denver Post. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  5. ↑ "COMaps: State Senate District 31". Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  6. ↑ "Pat Steadman for SD31: About Pat". Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  7. ↑ "Steadman wins appointment to SD 31". The Colorado Independent. 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  8. ↑ Bartels, Lynn (2009-05-21). "Senate seat goes to lobbyist: Pat Steadman will fill the vacancy created by Jennifer Veiga's exit". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  9. ↑ "SD31 Vacancy Committee Casts First Round of Ballots: Ragsdale Leads". The Colorado Independent. 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  10. ↑ "Lobbyist Steadman prevails in election to succeed Veiga". State Bill Colorado. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  11. ↑ "Election Results: LGBT Races to Watch". The Advocate, November 6, 2012.
  12. ↑ Will C. Holden (November 7, 2012). "Colorado House, Senate likely to see first openly gay leaders". KDVR-TV.
  13. ↑ Web Staff (November 6, 2012). "Democrats re-take Colorado statehouse". KWGN-TV.
  14. ↑ "Champions of Change: Harvey Milk Champions Of Change". 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
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