Susan Lontine
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Susan Lontine
| image = Susan Lontine.JPG
| state_house = Colorado
| district = 1st
| term_start = January 7, 2015
| term_end = January 9, 2023
| predecessor = Jeanne Labuda
| successor = Javier Mabrey
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Chuck Lontine
| children =
| education = University of Central Florida (BA)
| signature =
}}
Susan Lontine is an American politician who served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 1st district as a member of the Democratic Party.
Lontine was born in Lakeland, Florida, and educated at the University of Central Florida. She served as a precinct captain for four years, worked in Representative Jeanne Labuda's office, and as the chief of staff for Senator Irene Aguilar. She was elected to the state house in the 2014 election. During her tenure in the state house she served as the chair of the Health and Insurance Committee and accused Senator Larry Crowder of sexual harassment.
Early life and education
Lontine was born in Lakeland, Florida, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism at the University of Central Florida. She moved to Pennsylvania and married Chuck Lontine, with whom she had two children, and later moved to Denver in 1996. She was a precinct captain in the 1st district of the Colorado House of Representatives for four years, worked in Representative Jeanne Labuda's office, and as the chief of staff for Senator Irene Aguilar.{{Cite news |title=Susan Lontine |work=Denver Democrats |url=https://www.denverdemocrats.org/state/representative/hd1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116102701/https://www.denverdemocrats.org/state/representative/hd1 |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}{{Cite news |date=October 8, 2020 |title=Colorado State House District 1 candidate Q&A |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/10/08/colorado-state-house-district-1-candidate-questionnaire-2020/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116032116/https://www.denverpost.com/2020/10/08/colorado-state-house-district-1-candidate-questionnaire-2020/ |archive-date=January 16, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=January 15, 2015 |title=Susan Lontine New |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/susan-lontine-new/article_130a48b4-9333-5433-9807-44857cf49e2b.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116111926/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/susan-lontine-new/article_130a48b4-9333-5433-9807-44857cf49e2b.html|archive-date=January 16, 2022}}
Colorado House of Representatives
File:Susan Lontine campaign logo.svg
Lontine ran for the Democratic nomination for a seat in the state house from the 1st district and won in the 2014 election against Republican nominee Raymond Garcia, Libertarian nominee David Hein, and independent candidate Jon Biggerstaff.{{Cite news |title=2014 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/democratic/stateReps.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116112128/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/democratic/stateReps.html |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}{{Cite news |title=2014 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/representatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206123003/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/representatives.html |archive-date=December 6, 2021}} She defeated Garcia in the 2016 election.{{Cite news |title=2016 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116194713/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}{{Cite news |title=2016 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/general/stateRepresentatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116194724/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/general/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=January 16, 2022}} She defeated Republican nominee Alysia Padilla and Libertarian nominee Darrell Dinges in the 2018 election.{{Cite news |title=2018 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206132045/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=December 6, 2021}}{{Cite news |title=2018 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateRepresentatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116194931/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=January 16, 2022}} She won reelection in the 2020 election against Republican nominee Samantha Koch.{{Cite news |title=2020 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116195230/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}{{Cite news |title=2020 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/general/stateRepresentatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116195232/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/general/stateRepresentatives.html |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}
During her tenure in the state house she served on the Veterans and Military Affairs committee and as chair of the Health and Insurance Committee. She accused Senator Larry Crowder of sexual harassment and filed a formal complaint against him in November 2017, stating that he had pinched her butt in 2015, and made an inappropriate sexual comment.{{Cite news |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Colorado Rep. Susan Lontine accuses Sen. Larry Crowder of sexual harassment |work=KMGH-TV |url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/colorado-rep-susan-lontine-accuses-sen-larry-crowder-of-sexual-harassment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116102929/https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/colorado-rep-susan-lontine-accuses-sen-larry-crowder-of-sexual-harassment |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2018 |title=Lawmaker accuses senator of harassment |page=A5 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92706220/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116104429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92706220/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=January 16, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} She supported Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries and Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 primaries.{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2016 |title=Rep. Salazar endorses Sanders: 'Of course Bernie can be elected' |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/rep-salazar-endorses-sanders-of-course-bernie-can-be-elected/article_ab9bba2e-9e1e-552a-ba56-55f5e032a160.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116111549/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/rep-salazar-endorses-sanders-of-course-bernie-can-be-elected/article_ab9bba2e-9e1e-552a-ba56-55f5e032a160.html |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2020 |title=Elizabeth Warren picks up slew of endorsements from current, former Colorado officials |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/elizabeth-warren-picks-up-slew-of-endorsements-from-current-former-colorado-officials/article_285b05a2-55d4-11ea-9934-e3fc00ff3fe7.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015225435/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/elizabeth-warren-picks-up-slew-of-endorsements-from-current-former-colorado-officials/article_285b05a2-55d4-11ea-9934-e3fc00ff3fe7.html |archive-date=October 15, 2021}}
Political positions
Lontine voted against anti-BDS legislation stating that it was a violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.{{Cite news |date=May 21, 2021 |title=Colorado lawmakers stand by 2016 law declaring support for Israel, express sympathy for Palestinians |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2021/05/21/israel-palestine-colorado-legislature-support/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116110127/https://www.denverpost.com/2021/05/21/israel-palestine-colorado-legislature-support/ |archive-date=January 16, 2022}} She supported removing the phrase "illegal aliens" from existing laws.{{Cite news |date=February 13, 2020 |title=This Lawmaker Wants to Remove the Words 'Illegal Alien' From the Law |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/us/politics/colorado-illegal-immigrants.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202074303/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/us/politics/colorado-illegal-immigrants.html |archive-date=December 2, 2021}} She received an A rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.{{Cite news |title=Susan Lontine |work=NARAL Pro-Choice America |url=https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/susan-lontine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507001511/https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/susan-lontine/ |archive-date=May 7, 2021}} Lontine 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}}
Electoral history
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2014 Colorado House of Representatives 1st district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine
|votes = 3,002
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 3,002
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine
|votes = 11,854
|percentage = 55.07%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Raymond Garcia
|votes = 8,109
|percentage = 37.67%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = David Hein
|votes = 887
|percentage = 4.12%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Jon Biggerstaff
|votes = 675
|percentage = 3.14%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 21,525
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2016 Colorado House of Representatives 1st district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine (incumbent)
|votes = 3,651
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 3,651
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine (incumbent)
|votes = 17,474
|percentage = 61.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Raymond Garcia
|votes = 11,154
|percentage = 38.96%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 28,628
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2018 Colorado House of Representatives 1st district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine (incumbent)
|votes = 7,395
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 7,395
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine (incumbent)
|votes = 17,400
|percentage = 64.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Alysia Padilla
|votes = 8,687
|percentage = 31.95%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Darrell Dinges
|votes = 1,099
|percentage = 4.04%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 27,186
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2020 Colorado House of Representatives 1st district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine (incumbent)
|votes = 11,644
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 11,644
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Susan Lontine (incumbent)
|votes = 22,584
|percentage = 66.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Samantha Koch
|votes = 11,448
|percentage = 33.64%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 34,032
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lontine, Susan}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Category:University of Central Florida alumni
Category:Politicians from Denver
Category:Women state legislators in Colorado
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly