Keith King
Encyclopedia
Keith King is the state Senator from Colorado
's Senate District 12. He is a Republican
.
From 1999 to 2006, King represented House District 21 in the Colorado House of Representatives. On November 7, 2002, the Republican Caucus of the House chose King to serve as their Majority Leader
, a post he held for the entirety of the 2003-2004 legislative session. King was term-limited at the end of 2006. King spent the first half of 2007 preparing to open Colorado Springs Early Colleges, one of the charter schools he has founded. Since classes started in August 2007, he has served as the school's administrator. King has replaced the Republican State Senator and Minority Leader
Andy McElhany, who was term-limited at the end of the 2007-2008 session. King currently serves as the Senator for Senate District 12.
Although he had turned from teaching to business, King continued his work in the field of education, sitting on the board of Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 from 1991 to 1995. The same year he relinquished his seat on the district board, he helped found Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy
, and served as its president from 1995 to 1998. He also helped found James Irwin Charter High School. In 1999, King took his passion for improving education to the Capitol in Denver.
Today King has helped to found a unique new high school in Colorado Springs called Colorado Springs Early Colleges (http://www.csec914.org) that gives students an opportunity to earn an Associate's Degree and a high school diploma.
King began his first term in the Colorado Senate in the 2009 session. He currently sits on the Judiciary, Appropriations, and Education committees and is the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.
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...
's Senate District 12. He is a 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...
.
From 1999 to 2006, King represented House District 21 in the Colorado House of Representatives. On November 7, 2002, the Republican Caucus of the House chose King to serve as their Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
, a post he held for the entirety of the 2003-2004 legislative session. King was term-limited at the end of 2006. King spent the first half of 2007 preparing to open Colorado Springs Early Colleges, one of the charter schools he has founded. Since classes started in August 2007, he has served as the school's administrator. King has replaced the Republican State Senator and Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
Andy McElhany, who was term-limited at the end of the 2007-2008 session. King currently serves as the Senator for Senate District 12.
Family life
Keith and Sandi King have been married for years. They have two sons. Jeremy graduated from medical school and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical School in Omaha, Nebraska. In July, 2005 Jeremy married Shiree Howell. They have one daughter, Senator King's first grandchild, Makenzie Noelle. Brandon completed his Masters Degree at UCCS and is an electrical engineer at RT Logic! in Colorado Springs. Brandon married Sara Gerdes in August, 2008.Life in education and business
After graduating from Colorado State University-Pueblo in 1970, King spent seven years teaching high school and coaching basketball in California and Oregon, making time to earn a master's from Oregon State University in 1976. The following year, King moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he started "Waterbed Palace." This retail business quickly became a major success, and King eventually set up shop in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia, opening 18 stores in all. People were "sleeping like kings" all over the country, and Keith had proven himself as a small businessman. In 1991, he was named "Retailer of the Year."Although he had turned from teaching to business, King continued his work in the field of education, sitting on the board of Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 from 1991 to 1995. The same year he relinquished his seat on the district board, he helped found Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy
Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy
Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy is a public charter school serving elementary, middle school, and high school students in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The K-12 school has some of the highest Colorado Student Assessment Program test scores in the state....
, and served as its president from 1995 to 1998. He also helped found James Irwin Charter High School. In 1999, King took his passion for improving education to the Capitol in Denver.
Today King has helped to found a unique new high school in Colorado Springs called Colorado Springs Early Colleges (http://www.csec914.org) that gives students an opportunity to earn an Associate's Degree and a high school diploma.
Life in the legislature
King served four terms as the State Representative from House District 21. Best known for his "charter-school and education legislation," King made contributions in many other areas as well, leading one commentator to see "his fingerprints...all over the map." King was named "Legislator of the Year" in 2002 by the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and in 2003 by the Economic Development Council of Colorado. He served as Assistant Majority Leader from 2001 to 2002, Majority Leader from 2003 to 2004, and, but for the fact that the Democrats took control of the Legislature, would have become Speaker of the House in 2005. In 2004, King received a prestigious presidential appointment to the National Assessment Governing Board, an organization that monitors standardized testing nationwide. He was America's only Republican state legislator chosen for the board. He was term limited from the board in November 2008.King began his first term in the Colorado Senate in the 2009 session. He currently sits on the Judiciary, Appropriations, and Education committees and is the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.
2009 Session Bills Sponsored by King
- SB09-045, Higher Education Guaranteed Credit Transfer
- SB09-064, Local Plumbing and Electrical Inspections
- SB09-089, State Charter School Institute
- SB09-155, Funding for Educational Facilities
- SB09-163, Education Accountability System
- HB09-1113, Limit Damages if no Insurance
- HB09-1242, Tax Credit Donations to Research Institute
- HB09-1265, Tax Abatement Interests to Nonprofits
- HB09-1285, Government Data Sharing
Legislative awards
- 1999, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs – Alumni Legislative Award
- 1999, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry Friend of Business Award
- 2000, National Federation of Independent Business – Guardian of Small Business
- 2000, Colorado Lawyers Committee – Community Contribution Award
- 2001, Mountain States Council, Legislator Recognition Award, Legislator of the Year
- 2001, Colorado Public Affairs Council – Star Award
- 2001, Colorado League of Charter Schools – Charter Friend Award
- 2002, Colorado Student Association – Student Voice Award
- 2002, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce – Legislator of the Year Award
- 2003, Economic Development Council of Colorado, Legislator of the Year
- 2004, Colorado Dental Association, Colorado Distinguished Leadership Award
- 2005, Children’s Ark, Friends of the ARK award