Gail S Schwartz
5th Senate District, Democrat
County, counties: Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Saguache
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Personal e-mail: gail@gailschwartz2006.com
Guide To Colorado Legislators | All members by name 2007 | All members by district 2007 | All members by party 2007
Bio
Official Bio
Gail Schwartz, a leading education proponent and rural economic development advocate, currently serving on the CU Board of Regents for the 3rd Congressional District, filed today with the Secretary of State to become the Democratic candidate for State Senate from District Five. Her district extends over 11 counties from the Elk Mountain Range to the upper Arkansas River Valley to the San Luis Valley. In announcing her candidacy, and her decision not to seek re-election to the CU Board of Regents, Schwartz, 56, a Pitkin County Democrat said, "I've decided to run for State Senate in order to better serve my constituents and champion the causes most important to rural Colorado, including K-20 education. Because of its extraordinary diversity, the Fifth District needs a senator with unusual energy and wide-ranging experience at the State Capitol. If elected, I can help solve the challenges facing the citizens of our district and our State."
"Rural Colorado has unique needs. I will fight to protect the environment we have been so blessed with. I will fight to keep our water on the land and in our streams. I will work to ensure that neither our crops nor our communities whither on the vine by vigorously opposing water speculation and further diversions to the front range urban areas. I would never support putting a water grab like Referendum A on the ballot."
"I will help bring innovative techniques and solutions to strengthen and expand healthcare, education and economic opportunities throughout the district. It is critical to our future economic viability that more of our high school graduates are able to attend college. I have the experience, energy and vision to represent the citizens of the Fifth District. I look forward to meeting the people of each community in the district and hearing directly about the issues that concern them most. Working together, I am confident we can achieve great things."
Gail Schwartz has gained statewide recognition as an education leader and is presently serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents, where she has worked collaboratively to reform the University's athletic program and administrative oversight. Those efforts culminated in the University gaining a new president, chancellor, athletic director and football coach.
"Despite the challenges it has recently endured, CU remains one of the leading institutions of higher learning in this country, if not the world, and I am extremely proud to be associated with it. The success of Referendum C and the inspirational leadership provided by President Hank Brown have set the University on a positive course for the future with an environment of transparency and accountability which will serve our state well," she said.
"I believe I can make a difference for the people of the Fifth District ? eleven of the state's most diverse and naturally beautiful counties. I can relate to the aspirations and concerns of the people in the district. I struggled for a time as a working, single Mom. I have known tragedy, having lost two children ? and I have known the triumphs of accomplishment. I survived a serious accident. Doctors said I might never walk again, and yet I've twice pedaled my way through the Fifth District with 'Ride the Rockies.' Well, I'm not only walking ? but, as you can see by my announcement today ? I'm running. I'm running to be of service and to be an instrument of change to help improve the quality of life of the citizens of my district."
Gail's educational activism began in the Roaring Fork Valley where she helped improve education in local schools and spearheaded a $4 million bond election which introduced technology in the public schools. Her work was recognized when she received the community foundation's "Local Hero" award and the Aspen School District's "Outstanding Service Award". Governor Roy Romer recognized Schwartz's education expertise by appointing her to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as the Western Slope representative, in which capacity she served from 1995 to 1998.
Education has not been Gail Schwartz's only interest. She has been equally committed to organizations preserving Colorado's environment, protecting the state's water, natural resources and agricultural lands. As Director of Development, and later Acting Director of the Pitkin County Housing Authority, Gail planned and built hundreds of units of affordable housing for her community's senior citizens and working families.
Gail Schwartz is practical, diligent and forthright. In addition to her professional and volunteer efforts on behalf of socially beneficial causes, Schwartz has significant experience in the business world. She acted as a real estate and marketing consultant with banking institutions and developers for seven years as an executive with Sno-Engineering, Inc., a nationally recognized planning firm specializing in ski industry and resort/community development work. In this career she directed economic and financial feasibility studies concerning the impacts of growth on communities presented by new and/or expanding resort developments. She coordinated closely with governmental agencies at every level and qualified as an expert witness before various commissions.
Born and raised in Chicago, Gail Sheridan Schwartz has lived in Colorado since 1967. She resides in Snowmass Village with her husband of 23 years, Alan E. Schwartz, a partner with the law firm of Hogan & Hartson. They have three daughters, Brendan Ash, Aime and Rachel. She holds a B.S. Business Degree in Marketing from the University of Colorado.