Pete Lee
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Pete Lee
|image = Pete Lee.JPG
|state_senate = Colorado
|state = Colorado
|district = 11th
|term_start = January 4, 2019
|term_end = January 9, 2023
|predecessor = Michael Merrifield
|successor = Tony Exum
|state1 = Colorado
|office1 = Member of the Colorado House of Representatives District 18
|term_start1 = January 11, 2011
|term_end1 = January 4, 2019
|predecessor1 = Michael Merrifield
|successor1 = Marc Snyder
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|10|11}}
|birth_name = Sanford Edmund Lee
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Lynn
|children = 3
|education = University of Akron School of Law
Ohio Wesleyan University
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20220206145356/https://www.peteleecolorado.com/ peteleecolorado.com]
}}
Sanford Edmund Lee (born October 11, 1947) is an American politician. He served in the Colorado Senate from the 11th district as a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his tenure in the state senate he served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 18th district.
Early life
Sanford Edmund Lee{{Cite news |date=August 11, 2022 |title=State senator indicted for voting information |page=3 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115009727/the-daily-sentinel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222150813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115009727/the-daily-sentinel/ |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a bachelor of Arts degree in 1970, attended Wharton School of Finance from 1970 to 1971, and graduated from the University of Akron School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1975. He married Lynn, with whom he had three children.{{Cite news |title=About Pete |work=Pete Lee |url=http://peteleecolorado.com/about-pete/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312200147/http://peteleecolorado.com/about-pete/ |archive-date=March 12, 2015}}{{Cite news |date=October 10, 2018 |title=Colorado Senate District 11 candidate Q&A |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/10/colorado-senate-district-11-candidate-questionnaire/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220185838/https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/10/colorado-senate-district-11-candidate-questionnaire/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022}}
State legislature
=Elections=
Lee ran for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 18th district and defeated Republican nominee Karen Cullen in the 2010 election.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf |title=Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2010 Primary 2010 General |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223180324/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf |archive-date=December 23, 2022}} He defeated Republican nominee Jennifer George, Libertarian nominee Robert Melamede, and Constitution nominee Amy Fedde in the 2012 election.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/primary/democratic/stateReps.html |title=2012 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223180618/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/primary/democratic/stateReps.html |archive-date=December 23, 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/general/representatives.html |title=2012 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223180709/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/general/representatives.html |archive-date=December 23, 2022}} He defeated Republican nominee Michael Schlierf in the 2014 election.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/democratic/stateReps.html |title=2014 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223180907/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/democratic/stateReps.html |archive-date=December 23, 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/representatives.html |title=2014 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223180955/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/representatives.html |archive-date=December 23, 2022}} He defeated Republican nominee Cameron Forth and Libertarian nominee Norman Dawson in the 2016 election.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |title=2016 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223181103/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=December 23, 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/general/stateRepresentatives.html |title=2016 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223181225/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/general/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=December 23, 2022}}
Michael Merrifield, a member of the Colorado Senate from the 11th district, did not seek reelection in the 2018 election.{{Cite news |date=September 5, 2017 |title=Colorado Springs' Sen. Mike Merrifield said it's time to retire, maybe |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/colorado-springs-sen-mike-merrifield-said-it-s-time-to-retire-maybe/article_18b91df3-e623-5dc4-9965-ce6ab4152f5a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221175606/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/colorado-springs-sen-mike-merrifield-said-it-s-time-to-retire-maybe/article_18b91df3-e623-5dc4-9965-ce6ab4152f5a.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022}} Lee announced his campaign on September 2, 2017, and defeated Republican nominee Pat McIntire.{{Cite news |date=September 3, 2017 |title=State Rep. Pete Lee reveals bid for Mike Merrifield's Senate seat at Democratic forum in Colorado Springs |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/state-rep-pete-lee-reveals-bid-for-mike-merrifields-senate-seat-at-democratic-forum-in/article_abb5be8e-1492-5a46-9cd3-ddcd64e68d04.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221175802/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/state-rep-pete-lee-reveals-bid-for-mike-merrifields-senate-seat-at-democratic-forum-in/article_abb5be8e-1492-5a46-9cd3-ddcd64e68d04.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/primary/democratic/stateSenate.html |title=2018 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221180705/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/primary/democratic/stateSenate.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=February 4, 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateSenate.html |title=2018 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221180823/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateSenate.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022}} A petition was issued in 2019 to recall Lee, but it was unsuccessful.{{Cite news |date=July 12, 2019 |title=Two Democratic State Senators Latest Targets Of Recall Effort |work=Colorado Public Radio |url=https://www.cpr.org/2019/07/12/two-democratic-state-senators-latest-targets-of-new-recall-effort/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220184519/https://www.cpr.org/2019/07/12/two-democratic-state-senators-latest-targets-of-new-recall-effort/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022}}{{Cite news |date=September 10, 2019 |title=Two More Elected Dems Can Breathe Easy As The Summer Of The Recall Has Turned Into The Fall Of Disappointment For Some On The Right |work=Colorado Public Radio |url=https://www.cpr.org/2019/09/10/two-more-elected-dems-can-breathe-easy-as-the-summer-of-the-recall-has-turned-into-the-fall-of-disappointment-for-some-on-the-right/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220184416/https://www.cpr.org/2019/09/10/two-more-elected-dems-can-breathe-easy-as-the-summer-of-the-recall-has-turned-into-the-fall-of-disappointment-for-some-on-the-right/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022}} He did not run for reelection in 2022.{{Cite news |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Judge dismisses the case alleging Colorado state Sen. Pete Lee voted outside the district he lives in and represented |work=Colorado Public Radio |url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/10/21/judge-dismisses-the-case-alleging-colorado-state-sen-pete-lee-voted-outside-the-district-he-lives-in-and-represented/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220183621/https://www.cpr.org/2022/10/21/judge-dismisses-the-case-alleging-colorado-state-sen-pete-lee-voted-outside-the-district-he-lives-in-and-represented/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022}}
=Tenure=
During Lee's tenure in the state house he served on the Education committee and chaired Judiciary committee.{{Cite news |date=March 25, 2011 |title=Democratic sponsors fear for fate of Colorado civil-unions bill |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2011/03/25/democratic-sponsors-fear-for-fate-of-colorado-civil-unions-bill/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220191538/https://www.denverpost.com/2011/03/25/democratic-sponsors-fear-for-fate-of-colorado-civil-unions-bill/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022}}{{Cite news |date=December 5, 2016 |title=House committees complete, ready for business |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/house-committees-complete-ready-for-business/article_478902eb-3aa3-54b4-b293-d1d97d45e1d1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221181632/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/house-committees-complete-ready-for-business/article_478902eb-3aa3-54b4-b293-d1d97d45e1d1.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022}} During his tenure in the state senate he chaired the Judiciary committee and served as vice-chair of the Finance committee.{{Cite news |date=December 3, 2018 |title=Senate Democrats announce committee assignments |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/senate-democrats-announce-committee-assignments/article_3d1e785a-f74a-11e8-abfd-4b3496ce3186.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221181224/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/senate-democrats-announce-committee-assignments/article_3d1e785a-f74a-11e8-abfd-4b3496ce3186.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022}} Lee supported Amy Klobuchar during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.{{Cite news |date=February 25, 2020 |title=Colorado primary notebook: Klobuchar buys TV ads, Bernie backs DIA union workers |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/02/25/colorado-primary-amy-klobuchar-bernie-sanders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220185508/https://www.denverpost.com/2020/02/25/colorado-primary-amy-klobuchar-bernie-sanders/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022}}
In 2022, Lee was indicted by a grand jury for registering to vote at an address where he did not live, but Judge Eric Bentley dismissed the case due to incorrect residency information being provided to the prosecution.{{Cite news |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Colorado state Sen. Pete Lee indicted for registering to vote under a false address |work=Colorado Public Radio |url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/08/09/colorado-state-senator-indicted/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220183720/https://www.cpr.org/2022/08/09/colorado-state-senator-indicted/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022}}
Political positions
Lee voted against legislation that required Colorado's public employee pension fund to oppose Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.{{Cite news |date=March 8, 2016 |title=Hickenlooper pledges support to anti-BDS bill as Senate gives initial nod |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/hickenlooper-pledges-support-to-anti-bds-bill-as-senate-gives-initial-nod/article_fe1ed820-de34-5853-b89b-84298e3eeb31.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221180425/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/hickenlooper-pledges-support-to-anti-bds-bill-as-senate-gives-initial-nod/article_fe1ed820-de34-5853-b89b-84298e3eeb31.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022}} Lee was among thirty-seven legislators who endorsed a letter in 2018, calling for Planned Parenthood to allow for their workers to form a union.{{Cite news |date=June 13, 2018 |title=Lawmakers back Denver Planned Parenthood workers' union cause |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/lawmakers-back-denver-planned-parenthood-workers-union-cause/article_5f4df23c-d39a-5e9c-a840-615bfc46a422.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115055418/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/lawmakers-back-denver-planned-parenthood-workers-union-cause/article_5f4df23c-d39a-5e9c-a840-615bfc46a422.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}} He supported legislation to prohibit the death penalty.{{Cite news |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Colorado Senate passes death penalty repeal to the House |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/colorado-senate-passes-death-penalty-repeal-to-the-house/article_63690d6a-4445-11ea-aaa8-8f7adac29801.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222145026/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/colorado-senate-passes-death-penalty-repeal-to-the-house/article_63690d6a-4445-11ea-aaa8-8f7adac29801.html |archive-date=December 22, 2022}}
Lee received an A rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.{{Cite news |title=Peter Lee |work=NARAL Pro-Choice America |url=https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/peter-lee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222144237/https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/peter-lee/ |archive-date=December 22, 2022}} His scores from the American Civil Liberties Union ranged from 88% in 2013, 100% in 2014, 40% in 2015, 100% in 2016, 100% in 2017, 100% in 2018, and 80% in 2019.{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2013 |title=2013 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2014-legislative-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117012054/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2014-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 17, 2022}};
{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2014 |title=2014 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2015-legislative-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117052600/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2015-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 17, 2022}};
{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2015 |title=2015 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2016-legislative-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117052817/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2016-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 17, 2022}};
{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2016 |title=2016 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2017-legislative-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117053004/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2017-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 17, 2022}};
{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2017 |title=2017 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2018-legislative-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129213412/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2018-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 29, 2022}};
{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2018 |title=2018 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/2018-legislative-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129213612/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/2018-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 29, 2022}};
{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2019 |title=2019 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/2019-legislative-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129213755/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/2019-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 29, 2022}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin|title = 2010 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee
|votes = 2,860
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 2,860
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2010 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee
|votes = 10,808
|percentage = 54.68%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Karen Cullen
|votes = 8,959
|percentage = 45.32%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 19,767
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2012 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee (incumbent)
|votes = 2,929
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 2,929
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2012 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee (incumbent)
|votes = 19,588
|percentage = 53.07%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jennifer George
|votes = 15,021
|percentage = 40.70%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert Melamede
|votes = 1,465
|percentage = 3.97%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = Amy Fedde
|votes = 836
|percentage = 2.26%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 36,910
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2014 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee (incumbent)
|votes = 3,141
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 3,141
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2014 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee (incumbent)
|votes = 15,998
|percentage = 55.54%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Michael Schlierf
|votes = 12,807
|percentage = 44.46%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 28,805
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2016 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee (incumbent)
|votes = 3,940
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 3,940
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2016 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee (incumbent)
|votes = 21,145
|percentage = 53.30%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jennifer George
|votes = 15,556
|percentage = 39.21%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Norman Dawson
|votes = 2,972
|percentage = 7.49%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 39,673
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2016 Colorado Senate 11th district Democratic primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee
|votes = 10,499
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 10,499
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 2018 Colorado Senate 11th district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Lee
|votes = 28,015
|percentage = 61.96%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Pat McIntire
|votes = 17,200
|percentage = 38.04%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 45,215
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Pete}}
Category:Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Category:Ohio Wesleyan University alumni
Category:Politicians from Colorado Springs, Colorado
Category:University of Akron alumni
Category:Wharton School alumni
Category:Democratic Party Colorado state senators
Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly