Bill Ritter
Template:Future election candidate
Bill Ritter | |
|---|---|
 Ritter at the 2006 CDC | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1958 Denver, Colorado |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jeannie Ritter |
| Children | August (20), Abe (18), Sam (15), and Tally (13) |
| Residence(s) | Denver, Colorado |
| Website | http://www.ritterforgovernor.com/ |
Bill Ritter (born August William Ritter Jr., 1958, Denver, Colorado) is an American politician from Colorado, the former District Attorney for Denver County, and is now the Democratic nominee for Governor of Colorado in 2006. If elected he will be Colorado's first native born governor in 31 years and the first elected in 58 years.
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). 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 just 14 years old, he went to work full time in the construction industry, even becoming a member of the local labor union. He continued to work in the construction field, which ended up financing his college education (along with student loans). He enrolled in Colorado State University and completed a bachelors degree, and then pursued a degree at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder. By 1981, he had earned a law degree and was hired as a Deputy District Attorney for the City and County of Denver.
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. In 1993, Ritter was appointed as Denver's District Attorney. As DA, he created one of the nation's very first drug courts, as well as taking on white collar crime in metropolitan Denver. He worked extensively on the prosecution of sexual and domestic violence abusers, as well as criminals offending senior citizens.
Ritter is also 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.
During his time as DA in Denver, he also earned a reputation for being a good public funds budget manager, prosecutor, and earned the seat of Vice President of the National Association of District Attorneys, Chairman of the American Prosecutors Research Institute, and sat on the board for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Ritter's well earned respect from peers would gain him a national reputation.
Charity and Humanitarian Work
Ritter has served as Chairman of the Board of Promoting Anti-Violence through Education (better known as project PAVE), the Denver Foundation's Human Services Committee, the Mile High United Way Board, and the Denver Public Schools' Commission on Secondary School Reform.
Missionary Work
In 1987, Bill was a fifth-year prosecutor working as an assistant district attorney in Denver. His career was on the rise, but he and Jeannie decided to make a major change. They closed up their house, and moved to the African nation of Zambia where they managed a food distribution and nutrition center.
As lay missionaries with the Catholic Church, they trucked 60 tons of food a month from the Zambian capital 400 miles to their depot in Mongu. They then distributed the food deep into the drought-stricken sub-Saharan bush. Bill and Jeannie also added poultry and fishery programs. They taught women the importance of good nutrition and food preparation for their families. And in a country ravaged by AIDS, malaria, leprosy and chronic malnourishment, Bill and Jeannie taught basic health care. Nearly 35 percent of children younger than 5 suffered from chronic malnourishment.
Bill and Jeannie’s young son, August, became fast friends with the local children. Their second son, Abe, was born in Africa. The Zambians referred to Bill as “Bo Ritta.” Bo means “Mr.,” and in Silozi, a form of Bantu, words don’t end in consonants so Ritter became “Ritta.”
“In Africa, I learned that leadership is about listening to people, understanding their struggles, and walking with them on the path to a better tomorrow. We were forever inspired by the hope and spirit of the people of Africa, even in the face of such poverty and despair.” The Ritters returned to Denver from Zambia in 1990. Three years later, then-Gov. Roy Romer appointed Ritter as Denver’s district attorney, citing Ritter’s service in Africa as an important part of the decision.
Ritter has recently unveiled a new page on his website showcasing his three-year tour in Africa [1].
Family
Bill and Jeannie Ritter married in 1984. They have four children, August (20), Abe (18), Sam (15), and Tally (13). Jeannie is a substitute teacher in the Denver Public Schools District, and the majority of Ritter's extended family lives in Colorado.
2006 gubernatorial campaign
- Main article: Colorado gubernatorial election, 2006
In the beginning of March 2006, the last Democratic opponent of Ritter, State Rep. Gary Lindstrom, dropped out of the race, leaving Ritter to unite the party if even by default. Party leaders held a rally in front of the State Capitol in support of Ritter, to show that any previous signs of division had been dissolved. Ritter selected child welfare advocate Barbara O'Brien as a running mate, shortly prior to the rally, in February 2006. Currently, according to recent polls, Ritter is the frontrunner of the two major party candidates. Ritter was overwhelmingly nominated at the 2006 Colorado Democratic Convention in Greeley in May. Following both of the major political conventions, Ritter's weaker Republican opponent, Marc Holtzman, dropped out of the election. Ritter is now left only to battle Beauprez in a highly critical election year for both parties nationally.
Pre-election polling
| Source | Date | Ritter (D) | Beauprez (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zogby/WSJ | August 28, 2006 | 46.0% | 38.7% |
| Survey USA | August 17, 2006 | 50% | 40% |
| Rasmussen | August 11, 2006* | 48% | 39% |
| Zogby/WSJ | July 24, 2006 | 42.8% | 40.9% |
| Mason Dixon | July 17, 2006 | 42% | 35% |
| Rasmussen | July 10, 2006** | 42% | 37% |
| Zogby/WSJ | June 21, 2006 | 44.2% | 36.1% |
| Rasmussen | June 8, 2006 | 43% | 38% |
| Rasmussen | May 5, 2006 | 37% | 39% |
| Rasmussen | April 5, 2006*** | 41% | 40% |
| Rasmussen | February 25, 2006**** | 40% | 33% |
| Rasmussen | January 26, 2006 | 38% | 39% |
Notes
- * First poll post-head to head debate between Ritter and Beauprez, post-primary election
- ** First poll post-Holtzman dropout
- *** First poll post-Lindstrom dropout
- ****First poll post-Hickenlooper elimination
Political stances
Ritter is a member of the Democratic Party, and supports a somewhat progressive agenda. While Ritter is pro-life, he has no intention to change the current law of Colorado, which legalized abortion before the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. However, some Democrats were slow to support Ritter in the early campaign for this reason. In an interview with a Colorado political blog, Ritter said that if Roe is overturned, he would sign a law banning most abortions.[2] More liberal state Democrats encouraged other "more liberal" candidates to pursue the office of Governor (Most famously Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper). But some have argued that Ritter would win more votes in the "purple state" of Colorado, as opposed to Republican opponents. Hickenlooper would never pursue the office in 2006, and proved to be a good proponent of Ritter later in the elections.
Grand Juction debate
In the first debate of the gubernatorial election, Ritter, Beauprez and Holtzman met at a public "town hall" style forum in the Western Slope city of Grand Junction. In the debate, largely a political "fire-fight" between GOP rivals Beauprez and Holtzman, Ritter made firm stances on the controversial Referendum C&D of 2005 (which both rivals consistantly opposed), abortion, and the environment in regards to the economy and business. On the issue of Illegal immigration, Ritter and Beauprez stayed back as Holtzman attacked the City of Denver, Beauprez and the Democratic Party. On the matter, Ritter evoked a plea for compassion while noting the seriousness of the issue.
In the aftermath of the first debate, which was both pre-primary and non-inclusive to third party candidates, political scientists found only one consistent result: the demise of later dropout Mark Holtzman. In the polls that followed, a small gap (which would slowly increase) of Ritter's lead was consistent through the summer months.
Denver debates
August 11
In the first post-primary debate, as well as the first to include third party candidates Dawn Winkler (Libertarian), Clyde Harkins (Constitution), and Paul Fiorino (Independent) (excluded was GOP write-in Chuck Sylvester), Ritter and Beauprez faced of in Denver.
The debate was conducted by CBS-affiliate KCNC-TV and televised live. The critical talking points of the debate were that of abortion (Beauprez's opposition, Ritter's support), the economy (Ritter's C&D backing, Beauprez's desire for repeal) and illegal immigration. Heated exchanges between Ritter and Beauprez reached a climax in their debate of Colorado's legalization of abortion, as well as the fate of Colorado's economy. In the aftermath of the first Denver debate, Ritter's polls shot up by more than seven points.
Popularity
Ritter is very popular with rural Coloradans, who in the past have voted more towards Republican candidates (particularly Front Range voters). 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 (including Denver suburbs). Many cite that Ritter's "Country roots" and nativity to Colorado, having grown up on a Colorado farm, have given him much more appeal to voters than transplant Coloradan Marc Holtzman, particularly. Chief rival Bob Beauprez shares similar qualities and history, but lacks a notable in-state political history, having only chaired the state GOP, and serving more notably in the U.S. Congress, according to many election-watchers. Denver's bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, which many cite Denver the frontrunner, has played a minor part in the campaign, and may prove to aid in Ritter's effort.
External links
- Official campaign site
- The Denver Post: Profile: Bill Ritter
- Democratic Party of Colorado
- The Democratic National Committee
- The State of Colorado
