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Kenneth Summers (Colorado)
Kenneth Summers is a former Republican member of the Colorado House of Representatives, representing District 22 from 2007 to 2013.
Biography
Summers' professional experience includes working as executive director of Teen Challenge of the Rocky Mountains and senior pastor of the Dakota Ridge Assembly and High Plains Christian Center.
He is a member of the governor's Interagency Council for Homelessness.[1]
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Summers served on these committees:
- Education Committee, Colorado House of Representatives
- Health and Environment Committee, Colorado House of Representatives, Chair
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Summers served on these committees:
Issues
Summers provided answers to the Colorado State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected. When asked his legislative priorities he replied:
"Base level funding for higher education.
Budget reform that addresses current conflicts and restraints of constitutional provisions, including making transportation a higher priority within the state budget structure.
Balanced energy policy that promotes responsible energy development in the state without creating onerous regulations and additional taxation at the same time."[2]
Colorado Senate Bill 57
As a member of the Colorado House Education Committee, Summers voted in support of Colorado Senate Bill 57, also known as the Public School Financial Transparency Act, a bill to create transparency in state education expenditures.
Sponsored legislation
Summers' sponsored legislation includes:
- HB 09-1214 - School District Reporting Requirements
- HB 09-1285 - Government Data Sharing
- HB 09-1288 - Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act
- SB 10-191 - Quality Instruction Through Educator Effectiveness [3]
For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
Elections
2012
Redistricting has drawn Summers into the same senate and house legislative district as two other incumbents of the statehouse, Max Tyler and Andrew Kerr. As a result, both Summers and Kerr chose to run in the 2012 election for Colorado State Senate District 22. Summers faced no primary challenge and was defeated by Kerr in the general election.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Andy Kerr |
52.6% | 38,845 | |
| Republican | Ken Summers | 47.4% | 35,008 | |
| Total Votes | 73,853 | |||
2010
Summers ran for re-election to the 22nd District seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the August 10 primary. Summers defeated Chris Radeff (D) in the November 2 general election.
| Colorado House of Representatives, District 22 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kenneth Summers (R)
|
16,702 | |||
| Chris Radeff (D) | 11,086 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Summers won re-election to the 22nd District seat in the Colorado House of Representatives, defeating opponent Camille Ryckman (D).[5]
Summers raised $45,948 for his campaign, while Ryckman raised $41,078.[6]
| Colorado State House, District 22 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kenneth Summers (R)
|
19,107 | |||
| Camille Ryckman (D) | 15,922 | |||
Campaign themes
2014
Summers' website highlighted the following campaign themes:[7]
Limited government
- Excerpt: "Ken believes Governmental policies should support promote business and economic development. Personal and business freedoms should be protected from undue governmental regulations."
Keeping taxes low
- Excerpt: "Keeping more money in taxpayers' pockets provides greater control over their financial well being."
Valuing life and constitutional freedoms
- Excerpt: "It is important to value life from the womb to the grave. Our constitutional freedoms must be protected through adhering to the original intent of our foundational document."
Promoting Free Enterprise
- Excerpt: "Personal initiative and the drive for success and innovation is promoted through the free enterprise system."
Quality Education
- Excerpt: "Graduation rates must be improved through defined standards, accountability and equipping students for success in the workforce and higher education."
Campaign donors
2010
In 2010, Summers raised $37,997 in contributions.[8]
His three largest contributors were:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Copic Insurance Small Donor Committee | $2,000 |
| Jefferson County Republican: | $1,305 |
| Colorado Association Of Realtors Small Donor Committee | $1,000 |
2008
Below are Summers' top five campaign contributors in the 2008 election:[9]
| Contributor | 2008 total |
|---|---|
| CO Assoc of Realtors | $1,500 |
| Farmers Insurance Group | $400 |
| CO Assoc of Commerce & Industry | $400 |
| Don Summers | $400 |
| CO Medical Society | $400 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Kenneth + Summers + Colorado + Legislature
Noteworthy events
Summers announced that he entered self-quarantine after he, fellow Fort Collins City Council member Emily Gorgol, Mayor Wade Troxell, Mayor pro-tem Kristin Stephens, and City Manager Darin Atteberry were exposed to coronavirus at a conference in Washington D.C., where two attendees tested positive.
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See also
- Colorado State Legislature
- Colorado House of Representatives
- Colorado House Committees
- Colorado state legislative districts
External links
- Official campaign website
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2008
- Kenneth Summers on Facebook
- Kenneth Summers on Twitter
- Kenneth Summers on LinkedIn
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed December 11, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Issue positions," accessed December 11, 2014
- ↑ Colorado News Agency, "Teacher's Union Shaken, Allies Divided by Passage of Tenure Reform," May 12, 2010
- ↑ "Redrawn Colorado House District 23 throws together trio of legislators," denverpost.com, December 8, 2011
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2008 General election results," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Funds raised by 2008 House candidates," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ kensummers.org, "Official Campaign Website," accessed December 11, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2010 contributions," accessed December 23, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed November 20, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Colorado House District 22 2007–2013 |
Succeeded by Justin Everett (R) |
