Bernie Buescher
Bernie Buescher | |
|---|---|
| Colorado Secretary of State | |
| In office January 14, 2009 – January 14, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Coffman |
| Succeeded by | Scott Gessler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 11, 1949 Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Beth Buescher |
| Residence | Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Alma mater | University of Colorado |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Bernie Buescher is the former secretary of state of Colorado. A Democrat, he was appointed to the office in 2009 by Governor of Colorado Bill Ritter to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Republican Mike Coffman.
Bernie Buescher is a fourth generation Coloradoan who was born and raised in Grand Junction and has lived there most of his life. After the untimely death of his father, when Bernie was 15 years old, Bernie’s mother, Vickey Buescher, worked hard to put her three children through college and her example taught them that through hard work they could achieve their goals. Bernie attended college at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with an accounting degree which he used to help put himself through law school. While at Notre Dame, Bernie met his future wife, Mary Beth. They have been married for 37 years and they have four adult children, Michael, Elizabeth, Marcia, and Susan, and two grandchildren. Bernie and Mary Beth both received their law degrees from the University of Colorado in 1974.
After law school, Bernie and Mary Beth returned to Grand Junction where they raised their family. Bernie joined the firm of Williams, Turner and Holmes, and practiced corporate law until 1987; that year he became President and CEO of West Star Aviation. West Star was a struggling company with 27 employees when Bernie took over; when he resigned nine years later, the company had grown to 220 employees and was consistently profitable. During these years, Bernie and Mary Beth immersed themselves in issues facing their community; their work was recognized in 2004 when they were named “Citizens of the Year” by the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce.
In 1996, Governor Roy Romer asked Bernie to serve as Interim Manager for the Colorado State Fair; after the successful reorganization of the State Fair Romer appointed Bernie as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing in 1997. Bernie resigned in 1998 to run for Lt. Governor with Gail Schoettler as Governor. The race was unsuccessful and Bernie returned to Grand Junction, where he continued his volunteer activities.
In 2004 Bernie was elected to the Colorado General Assembly where he served two terms. At the Legislature, Bernie was appointed to the Joint Budget Committee by Speaker Andrew Romanoff; he served as chair of the Joint Budget Committee in 2006 and 2008, and also chaired the House Appropriations Committee in 2007 and 2008. Key legislative accomplishment include working on legislations to strengthen and preserve PERA; four separate bills promoting Colorado’s wineries; expansion of the use of renewable energy for Colorado and counseling for the young victims of child abuse. He also worked on significant legislation expanding the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and legislation regarding the allocation of Federal Mineral Lease Revenues with the intent of building a significant “rainy day fund” for the State of Colorado. For his efforts, Bernie was recognized as “Legislator of the Year” by numerous groups, including the Colorado Non Profit Association, The Colorado Economic Developers Council and the United Veterans Committee.
In 2009, Bernie was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter to serve as Colorado Secretary of State. During his two years in office, Bernie reduced expenses in the office by approximately 20%, streamlined business operations and developed an on-line voter registration system. Bernie also returned over $1.5MM of overpayments to customers; these overpayments had accumulated during the administration of three prior Secretaries of State.
Bernie was unsuccessful in his election bid in 2010, losing to Scott Gessler. Shortly after the election, Bernie was asked by John Suthers, the Republican Attorney General, to serve as Deputy Attorney General. Bernie served in this position until September 2014. In June of 2014, Bernie was awarded the Maurie Knaizer Distinguished Service Award, the Attorney General’s highest award. Shortly thereafter, Governor John Hickenlooper proclaimed August 27, 2014 “Bernie Buescher Day,” in honor of Bernie’s service to the State of Colorado.
In December 2015, Bernie joined the firm of Ireland Stapleton Pryor and Pascoe, PC as “Of Counsel.” His practice involves regulatory matters related to health care, energy and elections.
Bernie has served on numerous non-profit boards, including the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Bright by Three, St. Mary’s Hospital, The Colorado Health and Hospital Association and the Colorado Youth Conservation Corps.
References
- www.berniebuescher.com/about-bernie-buescher - word for word copy, copyright infringement?
