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Bill Ritter (politician)
Encyclopedia
August William "Bill" Ritter (born September 6, 1956) is an American
politician of the Democratic Party
, and was the 41st Governor
of the state
of Colorado
, from 2007 to 2011. Before his election in 2006
, he served as the district attorney
for Denver
. He is the first native-born governor of Colorado since 1975, as well as being the first Democratic governor to serve with a Democratic majority in the Colorado General Assembly
in 50 years. Ritter did not run for a second term as Governor in 2010.
among his 11 brothers and sisters (he was born sixth). He attended Gateway High School
while he lived in Aurora. He also attended St. Anthony Catholic High School
in San Antonio, Texas from 1970–1972. His father, Bill, was a heavy equipment operator in the construction industry. His mother, Ethel, was a homemaker until the family began to struggle economically and she found work as a bookkeeper when Ritter was a young teenager. At 14 years old, he went to work full time in the construction industry, and joined a local labor union. He continued to work in the construction field, which ended up financing his college education (along with student loans). He enrolled in Colorado State University
and completed a bachelors degree, and then pursued a degree at the University of Colorado School of Law
in Boulder
. By 1981, he had earned a Juris Doctor
(J.D.
) and was hired as a Deputy District Attorney
for the City and County of Denver.
. As DA, he created one of the nation's first drug courts, as well as taking on white collar crime in metropolitan Denver
. He worked extensively on the prosecution of sexual abuse and domestic violence
, as well as criminals offending senior citizens.
Ritter is responsible for creating the first Victims Services Network in the United States. He advised United States Attorney General
John Ashcroft
on affairs after September 11, 2001 and during his time as the Denver DA, he served as Vice President
of the National District Attorneys Association, Chairman of the American Prosecutors Research Institute, member for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
's Human Services Committee, the Mile High United Way Board, and the Denver Public Schools
' Commission on Secondary School Reform.
as missionaries for the Catholic Church, where they would open a food distribution and education center. Upon their return to the Denver area in 1989, Governor Roy Romer appointed Ritter to the DA's office, citing his missionary work as an "important factor" in the decision. During the 2006 campaign, Ritter's work in Zambia was often emphasized by his campaign and the press.
voters). This may have stemmed from Ritter's rural roots. His popularity also extended to the Democratic strongholds in Colorado: the continental divide
ski resorts such as Aspen
and Vail
, as well as the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area
. An August 2007 poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports showed Ritter's approval rating at 60%, while 36% were disapproving and 4% remained undecided.
By July 2008, however, Ritter's approvals had begun a sharp decline, with a Rasmussen poll showing his approvals at 45%. His numbers failed to improve -- an April 2009 poll by Public Policy Polling showed the governor's approvals had further slid to 41%, with 49% disapproving of his performance. Perhaps more significantly, the same poll also showed Ritter trailing his most likely 2010 opponent, former Rep. Scott McInnis, by 7 points. Though Ritter cited family reasons in his January 2010 announcement not to run for re-election, he was dogged by rumors that his poor polling numbers led Democratic power brokers to force him out of the race.
, Ritter supports a "semi-progressive
" agenda, emphasizing universal health care
, environmental protection, housing subsidy and welfare increases and other stances aligned with the left wing of the Democratic Party. However, during the first campaign, more liberal state Democrats encouraged other candidates, such as Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
, to pursue the office of Governor, due to concerns over Ritter's pro-life
stance. Others argued that Ritter would win more votes in the "purple state" of Colorado, as opposed to Republican
opponents. Hickenlooper did not pursue the office in 2006, and he eventually supported Ritter.
As Governor, Ritter has pledged that overturning abortion
laws would not be part of his agenda, and has stated that he would veto any bill prohibiting abortion that did not provide for an exception for rape, incest or fetal anomalies. Ritter has further stated that he would restore state funding to Planned Parenthood
for family planning and would reverse the veto of a bill that would have allowed pharmacist
s to dispense the emergency contraception
known as the morning-after pill. Ritter has also staked out moderate positions on business and labor issues, vetoing legislation in 2007 that would have made it easier for workers to form unions, and, mid-term, naming moderate Republican Don Marostica
his director of economic development.
In September 2010, Ritter was one of seven governors to receive a grade of F
in the Cato Institute
's fiscal-policy report card.
s while in office. As DA, Ritter plea bargained 97% of cases which were brought to his office (near the national average). However, controversy surfaced regarding plea bargains that prevented the deportation of both legal and illegal immigrants charged with drug, assault, and other crimes. Both illegal immigration and drug use were hot topics in the race for governor, raising further controversy. Ritter has defended the plea bargains, stating that "Our priority was to try the most serious cases."
married in 1983. They have four children: August, Abe, Sam, and Tally. Jeannie is a substitute teacher in the Denver Public Schools District. The majority of Ritter's extended family lives in Colorado. His mother Ethel (b. 1925) is a resident of Strasburg, Colorado
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and was the 41st Governor
Governor of Colorado
The Governor of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the...
of the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, from 2007 to 2011. Before his election in 2006
Colorado gubernatorial election, 2006
The Colorado gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006 to determine the successor for incumbent Bill Owens, who was unable to run due to term limits...
, he served as the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. He is the first native-born governor of Colorado since 1975, as well as being the first Democratic governor to serve with a Democratic majority in the Colorado General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly
The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.-Constitutional definition:The Colorado Constitution establishes a system of government based on the separation of powers doctrine with power divided among three "departments": executive, legislative and judicial...
in 50 years. Ritter did not run for a second term as Governor in 2010.
Early life and childhood
Ritter was born in Denver and raised on a farm in far eastern AuroraAurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
among his 11 brothers and sisters (he was born sixth). He attended Gateway High School
Gateway High School (Aurora, Colorado)
Gateway High School is a public high school in Aurora, Colorado. It is one of four high schools in Aurora Public Schools.Gateway's student newspaper is and the Year book is The Olympiad.-Performing Arts:Vocal:*2004 State Champions...
while he lived in Aurora. He also attended St. Anthony Catholic High School
St. Anthony Catholic High School
St. Anthony Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school located in the Monte Vista Historic District, San Antonio, Texas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.-Background:...
in San Antonio, Texas from 1970–1972. His father, Bill, was a heavy equipment operator in the construction industry. His mother, Ethel, was a homemaker until the family began to struggle economically and she found work as a bookkeeper when Ritter was a young teenager. At 14 years old, he went to work full time in the construction industry, and joined a local labor union. He continued to work in the construction field, which ended up financing his college education (along with student loans). He enrolled in Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
and completed a bachelors degree, and then pursued a degree at the University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
in Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
. By 1981, he had earned a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
) and was hired as a Deputy District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for the City and County of Denver.
Career in law and jurisprudence
In 1990, Ritter took on a position in the US Attorney's office, and returned to the Deputy DA's office two years later. In 1993, Ritter was appointed as Denver's District AttorneyDistrict attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
. As DA, he created one of the nation's first drug courts, as well as taking on white collar crime in metropolitan Denver
Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...
. He worked extensively on the prosecution of sexual abuse and domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, as well as criminals offending senior citizens.
Ritter is responsible for creating the first Victims Services Network in the United States. He advised United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
on affairs after September 11, 2001 and during his time as the Denver DA, he served as Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the National District Attorneys Association, Chairman of the American Prosecutors Research Institute, member for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Charity work
Ritter served as Chairman of the Board of Project PAVE (Promoting Alternatives to Violence through Education), as well as on the Denver FoundationDenver Foundation
The Denver Foundation is a community foundation located in Denver, Colorado. They have served the Denver Metropolitan Area since 1925, through many different actions....
's Human Services Committee, the Mile High United Way Board, and the Denver Public Schools
Denver Public Schools
The Denver County School District No. 1, more commonly known as the Denver Public Schools , is the public school system in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States.-History:...
' Commission on Secondary School Reform.
Missionary work
In 1987, Ritter and his wife Jeannie moved to ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
as missionaries for the Catholic Church, where they would open a food distribution and education center. Upon their return to the Denver area in 1989, Governor Roy Romer appointed Ritter to the DA's office, citing his missionary work as an "important factor" in the decision. During the 2006 campaign, Ritter's work in Zambia was often emphasized by his campaign and the press.
Governorship
Violent incident
On July 16, 2007 a man was shot and killed outside Ritter's offices. The man stormed the Capitol holding a pistol and threatening to kill Governor Ritter. He was shot and killed by a member of the governor's security detail.Popularity
At the start of his term, Ritter was relatively popular with rural Coloradans, who in the past have tended to vote for Republican candidates (particularly Front RangeColorado Front Range
The Colorado Front Range is a colloquial geographic term for the most populous region of the state of Colorado in the United States. The area is located just east of the foothills of the Front Range, aligned in a north-south configuration on the western edge of the Great Plains, where they meet the...
voters). This may have stemmed from Ritter's rural roots. His popularity also extended to the Democratic strongholds in Colorado: the continental divide
Continental divide
A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea...
ski resorts such as Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
and Vail
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
, as well as the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area
Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...
. An August 2007 poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports showed Ritter's approval rating at 60%, while 36% were disapproving and 4% remained undecided.
By July 2008, however, Ritter's approvals had begun a sharp decline, with a Rasmussen poll showing his approvals at 45%. His numbers failed to improve -- an April 2009 poll by Public Policy Polling showed the governor's approvals had further slid to 41%, with 49% disapproving of his performance. Perhaps more significantly, the same poll also showed Ritter trailing his most likely 2010 opponent, former Rep. Scott McInnis, by 7 points. Though Ritter cited family reasons in his January 2010 announcement not to run for re-election, he was dogged by rumors that his poor polling numbers led Democratic power brokers to force him out of the race.
Political positions
As a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Ritter supports a "semi-progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
" agenda, emphasizing universal health care
Universal health care
Universal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
, environmental protection, housing subsidy and welfare increases and other stances aligned with the left wing of the Democratic Party. However, during the first campaign, more liberal state Democrats encouraged other candidates, such as Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
John Wright Hickenlooper is an American politician and current Governor of Colorado. A Democrat, he was previously the Mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2011.-Early life, education and career:...
, to pursue the office of Governor, due to concerns over Ritter's pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
stance. Others argued that Ritter would win more votes in the "purple state" of Colorado, as opposed to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opponents. Hickenlooper did not pursue the office in 2006, and he eventually supported Ritter.
As Governor, Ritter has pledged that overturning abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
laws would not be part of his agenda, and has stated that he would veto any bill prohibiting abortion that did not provide for an exception for rape, incest or fetal anomalies. Ritter has further stated that he would restore state funding to Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
for family planning and would reverse the veto of a bill that would have allowed pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
s to dispense the emergency contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
known as the morning-after pill. Ritter has also staked out moderate positions on business and labor issues, vetoing legislation in 2007 that would have made it easier for workers to form unions, and, mid-term, naming moderate Republican Don Marostica
Don Marostica
Don Marostica is a real estate developer and former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado, currently serving as director of the state's Office of Economic Development and International Trade....
his director of economic development.
In September 2010, Ritter was one of seven governors to receive a grade of F
Academic grading in the United States
Academic grading in the United States most commonly takes on the form of five letter grades. Historically, the grades were A, B, C, D, and F—A being the highest and F, denoting failure, the lowest. In the mid-twentieth century, many American educational institutions—especially in the Midwest —began...
in the Cato Institute
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
's fiscal-policy report card.
Plea bargains
Controversy arose during the campaign over Ritter's use of plea bargainPlea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
s while in office. As DA, Ritter plea bargained 97% of cases which were brought to his office (near the national average). However, controversy surfaced regarding plea bargains that prevented the deportation of both legal and illegal immigrants charged with drug, assault, and other crimes. Both illegal immigration and drug use were hot topics in the race for governor, raising further controversy. Ritter has defended the plea bargains, stating that "Our priority was to try the most serious cases."
Post-gubernatorial career
Ritter currently works as the director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University.Family
Bill and Jeannie RitterJeannie Ritter
Jeannie Ritter was the First Lady of Colorado and the wife of Governor Bill Ritter.Jeannie Ritter's focus as First Lady of Colorado was creating mental health awareness and increasing access to mental health services for all Colorodans who need it.Bill and Jeannie Ritter married in 1984. They have...
married in 1983. They have four children: August, Abe, Sam, and Tally. Jeannie is a substitute teacher in the Denver Public Schools District. The majority of Ritter's extended family lives in Colorado. His mother Ethel (b. 1925) is a resident of Strasburg, Colorado
Strasburg, Colorado
Strasburg is a census-designated place in Adams and Arapahoe counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 1,402 at the 2000 census. The Strasburg Post Office has the ZIP Code 80136....
.
Electoral history
See also
- Law and Government of ColoradoLaw and Government of ColoradoThe Constitution of the State of Colorado provides for three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches.-Sovereignty of the people:...
- List of Governors of Colorado
- State of Colorado
- Western Governors UniversityWestern Governors UniversityWestern Governors University is a private, nonprofit, American online university with nearly 30,000 students across the United States and in military bases overseas, as of December 2011. It is a competency-based university...
External links
- Bill Ritter for Governor official campaign site
- Democratic Party of Colorado
- Profile: Bill Ritter The Denver PostThe Denver Post-Ownership:The Post is the flagship newspaper of MediaNews Group Inc., founded in 1983 by William Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder. MediaNews is today one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, publisher of 61 daily newspapers and more than 120 non-daily publications in 13 states. MediaNews...
, July 30, 2006 - Gov. Ritter on Colorado's IT consolidation Government Technology MagazineGovernment Technology MagazineGovernment Technology magazine is the flagship periodical of Folsom, California-based publishing company e.Republic Incorporated. The magazine aims to deliver editorial content to information technology professionals working in the public-sector, primarily in state and local government.Established...
, April, 2008 - Video of Bill Ritter's Focus the Nation address at the University of Colorado, May 2008