Rick Palacio
Encyclopedia
Rick Palacio is the current Chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party
. He was born in Pueblo, Colorado
and is a sixth-generation Coloradan. Rick attended Pueblo County High School
, and later Regis University
in Denver.
Before serving in his current role, Palacio worked in a variety of roles in Colorado and national politics. He was the Assistant to Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden from 2004 to 2006. He served as the Regional Director of Victory 2006, for the Colorado Democratic Party. In 2006 he sought the Democratic nomination for Clerk and Recorder in Pueblo, Colorado where he earned 49.9% of the Democratic vote - only two votes shy of becoming the party's nominee for the general election. Palacio then held multiple roles with U.S. Rep. John Salazar
of Colorado's third Congressional District, including Legislative Assistant and later Deputy Communications Director.
In 2008 he was hired as Deputy Director of Member Service in the office of the House Majority Leader, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, the second highest-ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Palacio was one of the primary Congressional staffers responsible for the repeal of Don't ask, don't tell
.
Palacio was elected Chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party on March 5, 2011. Palacio is the first Latino in Colorado's history to hold the office of chair of a major political party, and when elected was only the second in the nation. He is also openly gay.
Colorado Democratic Party
The Colorado Democratic Party is the state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Colorado. Its chair is Rick Palacio, and its executive director is Alec Garnett.The remaining officers are:...
. He was born in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
and is a sixth-generation Coloradan. Rick attended Pueblo County High School
Pueblo County High School
Pueblo County High School is a Pueblo County high school in the Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area.-External Links:...
, and later Regis University
Regis University
Regis University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic, Jesuit university in the United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1877, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in Denver.
Before serving in his current role, Palacio worked in a variety of roles in Colorado and national politics. He was the Assistant to Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden from 2004 to 2006. He served as the Regional Director of Victory 2006, for the Colorado Democratic Party. In 2006 he sought the Democratic nomination for Clerk and Recorder in Pueblo, Colorado where he earned 49.9% of the Democratic vote - only two votes shy of becoming the party's nominee for the general election. Palacio then held multiple roles with U.S. Rep. John Salazar
John Salazar
John Tony Salazar is the former Congressman for , serving from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Following his service in Congress, he was appointed as Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture in the Cabinet of Governor John Hickenlooper in 2011.-Early life,...
of Colorado's third Congressional District, including Legislative Assistant and later Deputy Communications Director.
In 2008 he was hired as Deputy Director of Member Service in the office of the House Majority Leader, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, the second highest-ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Palacio was one of the primary Congressional staffers responsible for the repeal of Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
.
Palacio was elected Chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party on March 5, 2011. Palacio is the first Latino in Colorado's history to hold the office of chair of a major political party, and when elected was only the second in the nation. He is also openly gay.
Awards and recognition
- 2008: 5280 Magazine's list of Colorado's Most Influential Latinos
- 2011: Advocate Magazine's List of 40 Under Forty
- 2011: Out Front Colorado's "Power" list of most Influential GLBT Coloradans
- 2011: Southern Colorado Equality Alliance "Pride of Pueblo" award