August William "Bill" Ritter, Jr.
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter at an outdoor press conference in Boulder
41st Governor of Colorado
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 9, 2007
Lieutenant	Barbara O’Brien
Preceded by	Bill Owens
Born	September 6, 1956 (1956-09-06) (age 51) Denver, Colorado
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jeannie Ritter
Profession	Prosecutor / Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic

August William "Bill" Ritter, Jr. Boulder is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and most populous city of Boulder County, Colorado, in the United States The Governor of the State of Colorado is the chief executive of the U Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The lieutenant governor of Colorado is the second-highest-ranking member of the executive department of the Colorado state government below only the Governor of Colorado Barbara O'Brien (Born April 18, 1950 in Brawley California) is the Lt Bill Owens is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Jeannie Ritter (born 1958, Virginia) is the current First Lady of Colorado and the wife of Governor Bill Ritter. The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the Common law Adversarial system, or the civil law An attorney at law (or attorney-at-law) in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute (born September 6, 1956) is an American politician of the Democratic Party, and the current Governor of the state of Colorado. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Governors The region that would become Colorado was obtained in three parts by the United States first in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 then the Mexican Cession A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. Before his election in 2006, he served as the district attorney for Denver. The Colorado gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006 to determine the successor for incumbent Bill Owens, who was unable to run A district attorney (DA is in some US jurisdictions the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of alleged criminals The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States He is the first native-born governor of Colorado since 1975, as well as being the first to serve with a Democratic majority in the Colorado General Assembly in 50 years. The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.

Early life and childhood

Ritter was born in Denver and raised on a farm in far eastern Aurora among his 11 brothers and sisters (he was born sixth). The City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality that is the third most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 59th most populous city He went to Gateway High School while he lived in Aurora. Gateway High School may refer to Gateway High School (San Francisco California &mdash San Francisco California Gateway High School (Sonoma His father, Bill, was a heavy equipment operator in the construction industry. His mother, Ethel, was a homemaker until the family began to struggle economically and she found work as a bookkeeper when Ritter was a young teenager. At 14 years old, he went to work full time in the construction industry, and joined a local labor union. He continued to work in the construction field, which ended up financing his college education (along with student loans). Student loans are loans offered to students to assist in payment of the costs of professional Education. He enrolled in Colorado State University and completed a bachelors degree, and then pursued a degree at the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder. Colorado State University is a public institution of higher learning located in Fort Collins, Colorado in the United States. A bachelor's degree is usually an Undergraduate Academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three four or in some cases and The University of Colorado School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. Boulder is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and most populous city of Boulder County, Colorado, in the United States By 1981, he had earned a law degree and was hired as a Deputy District Attorney for the City and County of Denver. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 A Law degree is the degree conferred on someone who successfully completes studies in law A district attorney (DA is in some US jurisdictions the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of alleged criminals

Career in law and jurisprudence

In 1990, Ritter took on a position in the US Attorney's office, and returned to the Deputy DA's office two years later. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) United States Attorneys (also known as federal prosecutors) represent the United States federal government in United States district court and In 1993, Ritter was appointed as Denver's District Attorney. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) A district attorney (DA is in some US jurisdictions the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of alleged criminals As DA, he created one of the nation's first drug courts, as well as taking on white collar crime in metropolitan Denver. The term narcotic (ναρκωτικός is believed to have been coined by the Greek physician Galen to refer to agents that benumb or deaden causing loss The Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA in the State of Colorado He worked extensively on the prosecution of sexual abuse and domestic violence, as well as criminals offending senior citizens. Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or spousal abuse) occurs when a family member partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the Average life span of Human beings and thus the end of the human life cycle.

Ritter is responsible for creating the first Victims Services Network in the United States. He advised United States Attorney General John Ashcroft on affairs after September 11, 2001 and during his time as the Denver DA, he served as Vice President of the National District Attorneys Association, Chairman of the American Prosecutors Research Institute, and a board member for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement John David Ashcroft (born May 9 1942) is an American Politician who was the 79th United States Attorney General. __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States.

Charity work

Ritter served as Chairman of the Board of Project PAVE (Promoting Alternatives to Violence through Education), as well as on the Denver Foundation's Human Services Committee, the Mile High United Way Board, and the Denver Public Schools' Commission on Secondary School Reform. The Denver Foundation is a Community foundation located in Denver, Colorado. United Way of America, based in Alexandria Virginia, is a Non-profit organization that works with nearly 1300 local United Way offices throughout the country in The Denver County School District No 1, more commonly known as the Denver Public Schools, is the public school system in the City and County of Denver,

Missionary work

In 1987, Ritter and his wife Jeannie moved to Zambia as missionaries for the Catholic Church, where they would open a food distribution and education center. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. Upon their return to the Denver area in 1989, Governor Roy Romer appointed Ritter to the DA's office, citing his missionary work as an "important factor" in the decision. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Roy R Romer (born October 31, 1928 in Garden City Kansas, United States) was the 39th Governor of Colorado and served as the During the 2006 campaign, Ritter's work in Zambia was often emphasized by his campaign and the press. ^[1]

Governorship

See also: Colorado gubernatorial election, 2006

Assassination Attempt

On July 16, 2007 an armed man was shot and killed outside Ritter's offices. The Colorado gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006 to determine the successor for incumbent Bill Owens, who was unable to run The man stormed the Capitol holding a gun and saying "I am the emperor and I'm here to take over state government. " He was shot and killed by a member of the governor's security detail. ^[2]

Popularity

Ritter visiting with members of the U. S. Armed Forces from Colorado in Iraq, December 2007

Ritter is popular with rural Coloradans, who in the past have tended to vote for Republican candidates (particularly Front Range voters). See also Geography of Colorado The Colorado Front Range is a colloquial geographic term for the most populous region of the State of Colorado in the United This may stem from Ritter's perceived rural roots. His popularity also extends to the Democratic strongholds in Colorado; the continental divide ski resorts such as Aspen and Vail, as well as the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area. A continental divide is a line of elevated Terrain which forms a border between two watersheds such that Water falling on one side of the line eventually A ski area is a developed recreational facility usually on a Mountain or large Hill, containing ski trails and vital supporting services The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United The Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA in the State of Colorado Ritter's chief rival for office, Bob Beauprez, shared a similar background, but may have suffered from the lack of a widely recognized in-state political history, having only chaired the state Republican Party, and having served most visibly in the U.S. Congress. Robert L "Bob" Beauprez (born September 22, 1948) is an American politician who was a Republican member of the United States The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Denver's bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention may also have played a role in the election. Schedule for the 2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic Party (United States presidential candidates 2008|Democratic Party (United States presidential primaries 2008The 2008 Democratic A poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports in August 2007 showed Ritter's approval rating at 60%, while 36% were disapproving and 4% remained undecided. ^[3]

Political positions

As a Democrat, Ritter supports a "semi-progressive" agenda, emphasizing universal health care, environmental protection, housing subsidy and welfare increases and other stances aligned with the left wing of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Progressivism is a term that refers to a broad school of international social and political philosophies. Universal health care is health care coverage which is extended to all eligible residents of a governmental region However, during the first campaign, more liberal state Democrats encouraged other candidates, such as Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, to pursue the office of Governor, due to concerns over Ritter's pro-life stance. John Wright Hickenlooper (born February 7, 1952) is the Mayor of the City and County of Denver, Colorado. Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-life individuals generally believe that human life should be valued either from conception or Implantation Others argued that Ritter would win more votes in the "purple state" of Colorado, as opposed to Republican opponents. Hickenlooper did not pursue the office in 2006, and he eventually supported Ritter.

As Governor, Ritter has pledged that overturning abortion laws would not be part of his agenda, and has stated that he would veto any bill prohibiting abortion that did not provide for an exception for rape, incest or fetal anomalies. An ^[4] Ritter has further stated that he would restore state funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning and would reverse the veto of a bill that would have allowed pharmacists to dispense the emergency contraception known as the morning-after pill. Planned Parenthood is the collective name of organizations worldwide who are members of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF Pharmacists are Health professionals who practice the art and science of Pharmacy. Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent

Plea bargains

Controversy arose during the campaign over Ritter's use of plea bargains while in office. A plea bargain (also plea agreement, plea deal or copping a plea) is an agreement in a Criminal case whereby the Prosecutor offers As DA, Ritter plea bargained 97% of cases which were brought to his office^[5] (near the national average). However, controversy surfaced regarding plea bargains that prevented the deportation of both legal and illegal immigrants charged with drug, assault, and other crimes. ^[6] Both illegal immigration and drug use were hot topics in the race for governor, raising further controversy. Ritter has defended the plea bargains, stating that "Our priority was to try the most serious cases. "^[7]

Family

Bill and Jeannie Ritter married in 1983. Jeannie Ritter (born 1958, Virginia) is the current First Lady of Colorado and the wife of Governor Bill Ritter. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) They have four children: August (21), Abe (18), Sam (16), Tally (14). Jeannie is a substitute teacher in the Denver Public Schools District. In Education, a teacher is one who helps Students or pupils often in a School, as well as in a Family, religious or The majority of Ritter's extended family lives in Colorado. His mother Ethel (b. 1925) is a resident of Strasburg, Colorado. Strasburg is a Census-designated place (CDP in Adams County and Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States.

Electoral history

See also

• Law and Government of Colorado
• List of Governors of Colorado
• State of Colorado
• Jeannie Ritter

References

External links

• Colorado Governor Bill Ritter official state site
• National Governors Association - Colorado Governor Bill Ritter biography
• The Governors of Colorado @ Colorado.gov
• Follow the Money - Bill Ritter Jr & Barbara O'Brien 2006 campaign contributions
• On the Issues - Bill Ritter issue positions and quotes
• Project Vote Smart - Governor August William 'Bill' Ritter Jr. (CO) profile
• Bill Ritter for Governor official campaign site
• Profile: Bill Ritter The Denver Post, July 31, 2005
• Bill Ritter Cherry Creek News ongoing collection of news stories
• County map of 2006 Gubernatorial Election Results
• Democratic Party of Colorado