Sam Cassidy
43rd Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governors: Jane E Norton | Joe Rogers | Gail Schoettler | Sam Cassidy | Mike Callihan | Nancy E Dick | George L Brown | Ted Strickland | John D Vanderhoof | Mark Anthony Hogan | Robert Lee Knous | Frank L Hays | Stephen LR McNichols | Gordon Llewellyn Allott | Charles Murphy | Walter Walford Johnson | Homer L Pearson | William Eugene Higby | John C Vivian | Frank J Hayes | Raymond Herbert Talbot | Edwin C Johnson | George Milton Corlett | Sterling Byrd Lacy | Robert Fay Rockwell | Earl Cooley | George Stephan | James A Pulliam | Moses E Lewis | Stephen R Fitzgarrald | Erastus R Harper | Fred W Parks | Arthur Cornforth | Jesse F McDonald | Warren Armstrong Haggott | David Courtney Coates | Francis Patrick Carney | Jared L Brush | David Hopkinson Nichols | William Story | William Grover Smith | Norman H Meldrum | Peter W Breene | William H Meyer | Horace Austin Warner Tabor | Lafayette Head |
Biography
Pagosa Springs 1994 - 1995 Democrat
Born: Shreveport, LA (January 16, 1950) Children: Rachel, Sarah and Samuel
Businessman, attorney and photographer. Graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Oklahoma and from the University of Tulsa with his Juris Doctorate. Elected to the Colorado State Senate in 1990, representing District 6, comprised of nine counties in southwestern Colorado. Served on 12 separate committees and was lauded for legislative excellence by organizations including the Colorado Banker's Association, Colorado Counties and the American Civil Liberties Union. Recipient of the Gates Foundation Fellowship to Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Senate Minority leader 1993-1994. Appointed in 1994 by Governor Romer to replace Lieutenant Governor Mike Callihan. As a senator he sponsored legislation to strengthen the civil rights of Native Americans, support welfare services for at risk youth, reform and reduce the capital gains tax and provide for background checks as gun ownership is transferred. As Lieutenant Governor, he led efforts with Governor Romer to upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure in Colorado. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Cassidy served as the President and CEO of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, where he formed new partnerships with local chambers of commerce and developed legislative measures that positively affect Colorado business. Mr. Cassidy is currently a clinical professor at the Daniels College of Business within the Department of Legal Studies.
Former Colorado Lieutenant Governor (1994-1995) and State Senator (1991-1994), Sam Cassidy served as Minority Leader of the Senate during 1993 and 1994, but it is Sam’s diverse business experience which molds his character. He is an attorney; he has owned a title insurance company and developed both residential and commercial property for his own account; he currently owns and operates an oil and gas exploration/production company which he started twenty years ago. Sam’s business acumen, political experience, and articulate call for reasonable action, all make him a compelling public speaker (and writer) throughout the State on a rich variety of topics connected to Colorado economics, growth, and post-boom lethargy. As lieutenant governor, Mr. Cassidy conducted an in-depth investigation into the sufficiency of Colorado’s telecommunication infrastructure, and advocated comprehensive policy changes and private initiative to prepare Colorado for electronic commerce. While in the Colorado State Senate, he was known as a person who “could walk the aisle” and get difficult legislation passed, willing to carry complex and controversial bills which required preparation, negotiation, and coalition building. Sam also served on important legislative committees including the Executive Committee, Legislative Council, Judiciary Committee, and the Education Committee. He was active in the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Western Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. While serving as Lieutenant Governor he served on the Board of the Aerospace States Association and as Chair of the Colorado Council on Indian Affairs.
- From 1998 until 2000 he served as President and CEO of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, Colorado’s state chamber of commerce, focusing on organizing and motivating the business community and local chambers to effectively advocate a competitive business environment for Colorado. He served as the President of the Economic Developers Council of Colorado, and is a leader and spokesperson for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Executives. Mr. Cassidy’s many honors and awards include: Outstanding Legislator Award (1991--Colorado Bankers Association), Outstanding Legislative Efforts Award from Colorado Counties (1992, 1993), Guardian of Small Business Award from N.F.I.B. (in the 1991-92 session, and the 1993-94 session, the 1999 Rural Trailblazer of the Year from the Colorado Rural Development Council and ACLU’s Legislator of the Year award.
- Mr. Cassidy was a Harvard University Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government in 1991. His law degree is from the University of Tulsa, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma.
- In his spare time Sam enjoys fly fishing, wilderness photography, and riding his Harley. (his golf game stinks)
Since 2000, Sam has been full time as a Clinical Professor at the University of Denver where he teaches classes in law and ethics in the Daniel’s College of Business. He also does consulting with various business interests.