Chris Romer

Born in Denver, the son of former Colorado governor Roy Romer,{{cite web|url=http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=66045 |title=Senator Chris Romer |access-date=2008-02-06 |work=Project Vote Smart }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Romer graduated from Graland Country Day School and Denver's East High School{{cite web |url=http://www.romerforsenate.com/?About_Chris |title=About Chris |access-date=2008-02-06 |work=Chris Romer - Colorado Senate District 32 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715201220/http://www.romerforsenate.com/?About_Chris |archive-date=2011-07-15 }} and then attended Stanford University, earning a bachelor's degree in economics.

Romer has helped to build several public-private mission-driven B-Corp companies, including Guild Education and Project Canary. Project Canary is a B-Corp with a mission to help the oil and gas industry reduce methane leaks and so limit its climate impact. Previously he worked as a financial consultant focusing on biomass energy plants and transit development projects such as Denver Union Station. Romer has worked as a public finance banker with JPMorgan Chase,{{cite web|url=http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=12635&qa=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070729091241/http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=12635&qa=1 |url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-07-29 |title=Chris Romer - Colorado - State House District 32 candidate |access-date=2008-02-06 |work=RockyMountainNews.com }} working on public projects including the Denver International Airport, Children's Hospital, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, National Jewish Medical and Research Center and FasTracks.

In late 2008, Romer left his position at JPMorgan Chase to work with the Knowledge is Power Program, a Denver network of charter schools.{{cite news |first=Barry |last=Masse |title=Adviser central to N.M. bond |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11402156 |work=Denver Post |date=8 January 2009 |access-date=2009-01-09 }} He was named the group's president in December 2008.{{cite news |first=Nancy |last=Mitchell |title=Charter schools network looks to grow with Romer at helm |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/30/charter-schools-network-looks-grow-romer-helm/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=30 December 2008 |access-date=2009-01-09 }}

At the age of 28, Romer founded the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation, a non-profit providing mentoring and scholarships to at-risk children; he has also served as its president. He has chaired the Colorado Children's Campaign and served on the boards of the Denver School of Science and Technology, the Metropolitan State College of Denver Foundation, and Open World Learning, as well as Denver's New America Schools, where he spent two years as a volunteer superintendent. He was also a founder and president of Great Education Colorado which advocates for improved funding of Colorado schools and promotes education reform; in 2006, the group proposed an increase in severance taxes provide funding for public schools, but the measure was never placed on the statewide ballot.{{cite news |first=Bianca |last=Prieto |title=Oil, gas tax aimed at fixing schools |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_4474890,00.html

|work=Rocky Mountain News |date=17 February 2006 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Romer was also a leader behind Colorado's Amendment 23, a ballot measure approved by voters in 2000 which guarantees state funding levels for Colorado public schools, and a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission. In 2019, Romer founded Project Canary a public benefit corporation working to change the course of climate change by cutting methane emissions and providing engineering-based certifications and high-fidelity continuous monitoring.

Romer faced two other candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for the state senate — community activist Jennifer Mello and Rep. Fran Coleman. Romer emphasized his financial and budgetary expertise in the contest,{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Frates |title=Vote 2006 |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_4113358

|work=Denver Post |date=30 July 2006 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} ultimately prevailing over both opponents in the historically Democratic district.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Couch |title=Romer wards off two-rival challenge |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_4154552

|work=Denver Post |date=9 August 2006 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} In the general election, Romer won election to represent the 32nd Senate District, defeating Republican Dave Lewis with 70 percent of the popular vote.

In December 2006, outgoing Rep. Dan Grossman resigned from the legislature slightly before the end of his term because of newly enacted ethics laws. Instead of appointing Romer to the remainder of Grossman's term, Gov. Bill Owens appointed Donna R. Johnson, Grossman's long-time legislative aide, to the remaining month of the Senate term. Romer supported her brief appointment as a state senator and was sworn in himself on January 10, 2007.{{cite news |first=April M. |last=Washington |title=Aide replacing senator |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5243388,00.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=29 December 2006 |access-date=2008-04-06 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102065447/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23906_5243388%2C00.html |archive-date=January 2, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2007A/csljournals.nsf/(jousen)/82C03A6FC7759519872572600002E865/$FILE/jour_001.pdf |title=Senate Journal - January 10, 2007 |access-date=2008-04-07 |work=Colorado General Assembly }}

One of Romer's daughters is Rachel Romer Carlson, the founder and CEO of Guild Education.{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Allen |title=20 Things You Didn't Know About Rachel Carlson |url=https://moneyinc.com/rachel-carlson/#:~:text=Rachel%20was%20born%20into%20a,a%20Dream%20Foundation%20in%20Colorado. |website=moneyinc.com |date=26 December 2019 |publisher=Money Inc. |access-date=4 April 2021}}

In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Romer served on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and was vice-chairman of the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |access-date=2008-02-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly}} During the session, Romer was also named the chair of a select Senate committee on renewable energy.{{cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Under the dome, 1/9 |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5042453

|work=Denver Post |date=18 January 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }}

During the 2007 legislative session, Romer introduced a proposal to sell operations of the Colorado Lottery to a private firm in order to raise funds for public schools.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Couch |title=Lotto holds schools' ticket? |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5690070

|work=Denver Post |date=18 April 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }}

The proposal would have been referred to Colorado voters in a statewide ballot measure, and would have used the proceeds from the sale to endow a trust fund to support college scholarships, public schools, state parks, and veteran's services.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Couch |title='Lump sum' from privatized lottery eyed |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5687600

|work=Denver Post |date=17 April 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} After facing criticism on legal grounds, and from Governor Bill Ritter, who had offered a competing proposal for school funding, Romer pulled the measure from consideration.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Couch |title=Legal opinion sinks sale of state lottery |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5708744

|work=Denver Post |date=20 April 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }}{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Couch |title=Accusations over lottery plan |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5714724

|work=Denver Post |date=20 April 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }}

Romer also introduced a measure to require that Colorado high school students demonstrate English competency as a requirement for graduation. Garnering support largely from Republicans, the measure passed the state senate,{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Senate: Grads need English |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5479966

|work=Denver Post |date=20 March 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} but was voted down in a house committee due to concern over mandating requirements upon local school districts.{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=English effort is written off |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5655617

|work=Denver Post |date=13 April 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} Romer also joined Republicans in supporting a measure to enact statewide science and math standards,{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |author2=Karen Rouse |title=More math, science up schools' $$$ |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5370883

|work=Denver Post |date=7 March 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} and introduced a measure that created a pilot dual enrollment program for Colorado students.{{cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Under the dome, 3/15 |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5438600

|work=Denver Post |date=15 March 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }}

Although Romer made a number of proposals to amend the state budget, only one — a requirement that private prison operators provide information on cost breakdowns — was adopted.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Couch |title=State workers, prisons come out ahead in budget |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5689928

|work=Denver Post |date=18 April 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }}

Following the regular session, Romer served on the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax and federal mineral lease revenues.{{cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07AllocSeverTax.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071226001608/http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07AllocSeverTax.htm |url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-26 |title=Allocation of Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Revenues |access-date=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council }}

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Romer served on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and was vice-chair of both the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |access-date=2008-02-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly}}

During the 2008 session, Romer floated a proposal to charge a toll Interstate 70 users traveling to mountain ski resorts during weekend rush hours as a way of reducing congestion; the proposal garnered a strong negative reaction and competing suggestions from members of the public. In response to the feedback, Romer proposed a mechanism for citizen participation in a collaborative online bill-drafting process, declaring "I want to have the first Wikipedia bill, where the citizens write the bill."{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Barge |title=I-70 fee idea angers skiers |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/29/skiers-might-get-become-citizen-lawmakers/

|work=Rocky Mountain News |date=29 January 2008 |access-date=2008-02-08 }} Romer proceeded to create a website using Google Groups[https://groups.google.com/group/fixI70now Fix I-70 Now | Google Groups] to solicit public comment and proposals; he later introduced a bill based in part of suggestions received online. The proposal would charge tolls to low-occupancy vehicles during peak hours, and create reversible HOV lanes.{{cite news |first=John |last=Ingold |title=Draft bill on I-70 toll broadsided |url=http://www.denverpost.com/snowsports/ci_8552361 |work=Denver Post |date=13 March 2008 |access-date=2008-03-28 }} The bill was denounced by legislators representing the I-70 mountain corridor, and was defeated in a house committee.{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Barge |title=Romer's I-70 toll bill shot down, alternative passes; take our poll |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/27/romers-i-70-toll-bill-shot-down-alternative-passes/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=27 March 2008 |access-date=2008-03-28 }} Romer then offered his support to a competing proposal to charge $5 tolls along I-70,{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Barge |title=Romer's I-70 toll bill shot down, alternative passes; take our poll |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/27/feds-wont-block-i70-toll/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=28 March 2008 |access-date=2008-03-28 }} which ultimately died for lack of support.{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Gathright |title=Sponsor kills own plan for highway toll |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/24/sponsor-kills-own-plan-for-highway-toll/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=24 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-25 }}

Romer also planned on sponsoring legislation to educate consumers on scams,{{cite news |first=David |last=Migoya |title=Agency seeks funds to keep consumers aware |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7704508

|work=Denver Post |date=13 December 2007 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} to create statewide high school graduation standards,{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |author2=John Ingold |title=Ritter: Shift students' course |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7939048

|work=Denver Post |date=17 January 2008 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} to allow homeowners to collect rainwater for irrigation,{{cite news |first=Colleen |last=Slevin |title=Senators want to let residents collect rainwater |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_8198130

|work=Denver Post |date=7 February 2008 |access-date=2008-02-09 }} and to eliminate CSAP testing for high school students.{{cite news

|first=Michael

|last=Davidson

|title=Bill may end CSAP in high schools

|url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/education_35405___article.html/students_act.html

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124013130/http://www.gazette.com/articles/education_35405___article.html/students_act.html

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=24 January 2013

|work=Colorado Springs Gazette

|date=18 April 2008

|access-date=2008-04-20

}}{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Hanel |title=Bill dumps CSAPs

|url=http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080418_2.htm |work=Durango Herald |date=18 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-20 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Romer was also the senate sponsor of a proposal to increase severance taxes to provide additional funding for higher education,{{cite news |first=Gargi |last=Chakrabarty |author2=Todd Hartman |title=Proposal aims to raise taxes on oil, gas industry |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/21/proposal-aims-to-raise-taxes-on-oil-gas-industry/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=21 March 2008 |access-date=2008-03-28 }} and sponsored a successful bill creating the Colorado Clean Energy Finance Program to provide below-market rate loans to homeowners for energy efficiency projects.{{cite news |first=Paula |last=Moore |title=Governor signs business bills |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/05/26/daily24.html |work=Denver Business Journal |date=28 May 2008 |access-date=2008-06-13 }}{{cite news|first=John |last=Fryar |title=Bill boosts home energy projects |url=http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=8999 |work=Longmont Times-Call |date=28 May 2008 |access-date=2008-06-13 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In the contested 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, Romer supported Barack Obama.{{cite news |first=Burt |last=Hubbard |title=State's top Dems split in allegiance |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/12/states-top-dems-split-in-allegiance/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=12 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-12 }}

For the 2009 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Romer was named to seats on the Senate Transportation Committee and the Senate Education Committee, where he served as vice-chair.{{cite news|first=Erika |last=Jensen |title=Senate Democrats Announce Committee Assignments |url=http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3530/2/ |work=The Cherry Creek News |date=13 November 2008 |access-date=2008-11-24 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109013850/http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3530/2/ |archive-date=January 9, 2009 }}

After several deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in his district, Romer pressed for quick consideration of a bill to require carbon monoxide detectors in new homes at the start of the 2009 session;{{cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Romer seeks quick action on carbon monoxide detectors |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/08/romer-seeks-quick-action-on-carbon-monoxide/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=8 January 2009 |access-date=2009-01-10 }} Romer was the bill's Senate co-sponsor.{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Hoover |title=Push for detectors skips hotels |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11439097 |work=Denver Post |date=13 January 2009 |access-date=2009-02-04 }} Romer also floated a proposal to alter the inflation formula used to allocate money to education under Colorado's Amendment 23, in order to increase the legislature's flexibility in allocating funds.{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Senator offers plan to free $100 million for schools |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/27/senator-offers-plan-to-free-100-million-for/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=27 January 2009 |access-date=2009-03-12 }}

Romer introduced legislation changing taxi cab regulations, attempting to increase competition by shifting burden of proof onto parties opposing new cabs.{{cite web |title=Taxi cab regulations |url= http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2009A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/CF9F43FDB3BB4C7787257598007F0C0C?Open&file=294_enr.pdf |work=Colorado State Legislature |access-date=2010-11-14 }} The bill had bi-partisan support.

As part of a comprehensive education package, Romer sponsored Senate Bill 256 which overhauls the state’s education system by rewarding student and teacher performance.{{cite web |title=Senate Bill 256 |url= http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2009A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/2CA14DF10ECAFA7A8725757000648862?Open&file=256_enr.pdf |work=Colorado State Legislature |access-date=2010-11-14 }} Romer remarked, “I think you will hear about this around the country. This is a good move for Colorado and is a big, big deal”.{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Kosena |title=Panel OK's School Finance Act |url=http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/99921-panel-oks-school-finance-act |work=Colorado State Legislature |access-date=2010-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121165237/http://coloradostatesman.com/content/99921-panel-oks-school-finance-act |archive-date=2010-11-21 |url-status=dead }}

A bill introduced by Romer to allow in-state tuition to immigrant children, after being amended to become effective upon passage of the federal DREAM Act, failed in the Senate.{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Hoover |title='Tuition equity' bill fails in Senate |url= http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_12084135 |work=Denver Post |date=2009-04-06}}

In the 2010 session of the General Assembly, Romer served on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology committee, the Senate Health and Human Services committee, and the Senate Local Government & Energy committee.

During the 2010 session, Romer introduced legislation that would provide tax credits to businesses who re-hire laid-off workers.{{cite web |title=SB133 |url= http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2010a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/97C4A0096048A409872576AC006B10BC?open&file=133_ren.pdf |work=Colorado State Legislature |access-date=2010-11-14 }} According to the bill’s note, 7,300 workers would be rehired sooner because of the incentives provided.{{cite news |first=Marianne |last=Goodland |title=Bill would allow tax credits for rehiring laid-off workers |url=http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991613-bill-would-allow-tax-credits-rehiring-laid-workers |access-date=2010-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215075505/http://coloradostatesman.com/content/991613-bill-would-allow-tax-credits-rehiring-laid-workers |archive-date=2010-12-15 |url-status=dead }}

Romer introduced Senate Bill 109, the first regulatory medical marijuana bill in the country, stating “I think this is the beginning of the end of the Wild West”.{{cite news |first=Ernest |last=Luning |title=Medical marijuana bill passes first hurdle |url=http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991571-medical-marijuana-bill-passes-first-hurdle |access-date=2010-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215080013/http://coloradostatesman.com/content/991571-medical-marijuana-bill-passes-first-hurdle |archive-date=2010-12-15 |url-status=dead }} After some heated controversy, Romer helped negotiate a compromise in the legislature,{{cite news |first=Ernest |last=Luning |title=Romer med marijuana bill up in smoke |url=http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991530-romer-med-marijuana-bill-smoke |access-date=2010-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215080336/http://coloradostatesman.com/content/991530-romer-med-marijuana-bill-smoke |archive-date=2010-12-15 |url-status=dead }} and the Bill was signed into law on June 7, 2010.{{cite web |title=SB133 |url= http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2010a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/AA035E5DDDFB3136872576A8002B8BBD?Open&file=109_enr.pdf |work=Colorado State Legislature |access-date=2010-11-14 }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Romer, Chris}}

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party Colorado state senators

Category:Politicians from Denver

Category:Stanford University alumni

Category:1959 births

Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly

Category:Candidates in the 2011 United States elections

Category:East High School (Denver, Colorado) alumni

Category:JPMorgan Chase people