Dennis Apuan
Encyclopedia
Dennis Apuan is a state legislator in the U.S. state
of Colorado
. A Filipino-American activist, non-profit leader, and community organizer, Apuan narrowly won election to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2008. Apuan represents House District 17, which encompasses portions of southwestern Colorado Springs, Colorado
and the Fort Carson military base.
, in Manila
, Apuan emigrated to the United States at the age of 20. Moving to Colorado Springs from Los Angeles in 1997, Apuan took a job at Broadmoor Community Church, where he began as a janitor but later became the church's business administrator.
He has worked as a community organizer for Colorado Unity and as a regional director for the Colorado Progressive Coalition. Apuan also served as vice-chairman of the El Paso County Democratic Party for four years.
He has been a member of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Diversity Strategic Planning Team, a program director and chairman of the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, and of First Congregational Church in Colorado Springs. In 2003, Apuan was among four peace activists arrested for trespassing and sentenced to perform community service for protesting nuclear weapons at Peterson Air Force Base
. Apuan also participated in non-violent protests against the Iraq War at the 2004 Republican National Convention
in New York City and in 2007 in Colorado Springs.
. Apuan had no opposition in the Democratic primary in August, and faced Republican Kit Roupe in the November 2008 general election. While his opponent's candidacy was endorsed by the Denver Post, Apuan was endorsed by the Colorado Springs Independent
.
During the final weeks of the campaign, Apuan was characterized by Roupe in a mass mail advertisement as a "violent, anti-war, anti-military protester," in reference to his anti-war protest activities, charges Apuan described as "totally false."
House District 17, covering an area southwestern Colorado Springs with a large transient population, including the Fort Carson military base, was seen as a swing district by political observers, and Apuan benefited from Democratic coattails and increased voter turnout to win the seat narrowly, raising more than $40,000 in his campaign. Apuan prevailed by a narrow margin of less than 600 votes, winning just over 51 percent of ballots cast in the race. The victory was the only Republican-held House seat won by Democrats in 2008. Apuan himself had difficulty casting a ballot in his own race; after first not receiving a mail-in ballot, Apuan was given an incorrect ballot at a polling place on election day. He ultimately was able to cast a provisional ballot in the correct district.
During his campaign and after his election, Apuan expressed priorities of small businesses tax cuts, fostering jobs in clean energy, and reducing health-care costs. He plans on sponsoring legislation to protect those on military deployments from home foreclosure.
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...
. A Filipino-American activist, non-profit leader, and community organizer, Apuan narrowly won election to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2008. Apuan represents House District 17, which encompasses portions of southwestern Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
and the Fort Carson military base.
Biography
Born in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Apuan emigrated to the United States at the age of 20. Moving to Colorado Springs from Los Angeles in 1997, Apuan took a job at Broadmoor Community Church, where he began as a janitor but later became the church's business administrator.
He has worked as a community organizer for Colorado Unity and as a regional director for the Colorado Progressive Coalition. Apuan also served as vice-chairman of the El Paso County Democratic Party for four years.
He has been a member of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a campus of the University of Colorado system, the state university system of Colorado....
Diversity Strategic Planning Team, a program director and chairman of the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, and of First Congregational Church in Colorado Springs. In 2003, Apuan was among four peace activists arrested for trespassing and sentenced to perform community service for protesting nuclear weapons at Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
. Apuan also participated in non-violent protests against the Iraq War at the 2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York...
in New York City and in 2007 in Colorado Springs.
2008 election
Choosing to run for the state house shortly before the Democratic district assemblies in February, Apuan took a leave of absence from his position with the Colorado Progressive Coalition to seek the state house seat being vacated by retiring Republican Representative Stella Garza-HicksStella Garza-Hicks
Stella Garza-Hicks is a former Republican legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado.A former cosmetologist and salesperson, Garza-Hicks became active in Republican Party activism in Colorado Springs, Colorado and rose to become a district chairperson and campaign manager for local candidates. A...
. Apuan had no opposition in the Democratic primary in August, and faced Republican Kit Roupe in the November 2008 general election. While his opponent's candidacy was endorsed by the Denver Post, Apuan was endorsed by the Colorado Springs Independent
Colorado Springs Independent
The Colorado Springs Independent is a newsweekly that serves the Pikes Peak region of Southern Colorado It is Colorado Springs' largest locally owned media company...
.
During the final weeks of the campaign, Apuan was characterized by Roupe in a mass mail advertisement as a "violent, anti-war, anti-military protester," in reference to his anti-war protest activities, charges Apuan described as "totally false."
House District 17, covering an area southwestern Colorado Springs with a large transient population, including the Fort Carson military base, was seen as a swing district by political observers, and Apuan benefited from Democratic coattails and increased voter turnout to win the seat narrowly, raising more than $40,000 in his campaign. Apuan prevailed by a narrow margin of less than 600 votes, winning just over 51 percent of ballots cast in the race. The victory was the only Republican-held House seat won by Democrats in 2008. Apuan himself had difficulty casting a ballot in his own race; after first not receiving a mail-in ballot, Apuan was given an incorrect ballot at a polling place on election day. He ultimately was able to cast a provisional ballot in the correct district.
During his campaign and after his election, Apuan expressed priorities of small businesses tax cuts, fostering jobs in clean energy, and reducing health-care costs. He plans on sponsoring legislation to protect those on military deployments from home foreclosure.