Bob Gardner

For other people named Bob or Robert Gardner, see Robert Gardner.
Bob Gardner
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 21st district
In office
January 10, 2007 – January 9, 2013
Preceded by Keith King
Succeeded by Lois Landgraf
Personal details
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) LeAnn
Profession retired Air Force officer; attorney
Religion Southern Baptist[1]

Bob Gardner was a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. A United States Air Force veteran and attorney, Gardner was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006. From 2006 - 2012 he represented House District 21, which encompasses western El Paso County and northeastern Fremont County.[2]

Biography

Gardner graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976, and served as a missile launch officer in the Air Force.[1] While an Air Force officer, Gardner earned a J.D. from the University of Texas in 1981 with honors and a L.L.M. from the George Washington University School of Law in 1986, specializing in government procurement law.[3] After earning his law degree, Gardner served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.[1] He also taught procurement and business law as a member of the Air Force Academy law faculty.[3]

After leaving active duty in 1989 at the rank of lieutenant colonel,[1] Gardner became an attorney in private practice, specializing in government contract law,[4] representing public contractors and charter schools. He served on the board of Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy, which he helped found, from 1994 to 1997 and on the board of the Colorado League of Charter Schools Legal Advocacy Fund.[1] He continues to operate a private law practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado,[3] specializing in government affairs and contracts, business and commercial law, and campaign and election law.[5] The law firm website is www.rsglaw.net.

Gardner is divorced; he has two adult children: Bob Jr. and Laura.[4]

Political activism

From 1993 to 1997, Gardner served as chair of the El Paso County Republican Party[1] and was involved in numerous candidate and issue campaigns in the Colorado Springs area.

In 1999, Gardner was treasurer for the Colorado Springs Safety Association, a group opposing a ballot measure to grant police and fire personnel collective bargaining powers.[6] Gardner registered the political committee Citizens for Honest Government to oppose a slate of candidates during Colorado Springs' 2001 city council elections,[7] and distributed fliers critical of four candidates; he was threatened with arrest following a dispute with a deputy city clerk regarding distributing flyers near an early voting site at city hall.[8]

Gardner also helped coordinate campaigns for a slate of "reform" candidates for Colorado Springs School District 11 in 2003 who backed school vouchers.[9][10] Gardner also played a prominent role in the formation in 2004 of Citizens for Student Achievement and Progress, a local political committee formed to support "education reform candidates and issues" in El Paso County,[11] In 2005, Gardner was also a spokesperson for the Colorado branch of All Children Matter, a national political group supporting school choice.[12]

In 2004, Gardner worked on the campaign for a local ballot measure to increase taxes to support The Resource Exchange, a nonprofit serving people with developmental disabilities. During the campaign, he submitted, for anonymous publication in voter guides, statements opposing the tax increase that were described as "imflammatory," including: "The families of people with mental retardation, [should] not expect the government to help," and "By funding programs to care for these children, we are encouraging irresponsibility." Others working on the campaign justified the statements as a campaign tactic designed to stir support for the tax measure.[13][14]

Gardner was also a spokesman and campaign manager for Ed Jones's successful campaign for the Colorado State Senate in 2002,[15][16] and his unsuccessful reelection campaign against Democratic challenger John Morse in 2006.[7] During Jones' 2002 campaign, he called for an internal investigation of a police officer who told to news media that Jones had been seen at a bar where drugs were known to be sold.[17][18] Gardner was also co-manager of Sen. Ron May's re-election campaign in 2004.[19] and has served as attorney for local Republican candidates on multiple occasions.[12][20]

Gardner was also involved in the contested Republican primary for Colorado's 5th congressional district that year, supporting Jeff Crank over victor Doug Lamborn.[21] During the general election, Gardner filed a complaint against Lamborn, accusing his campaign of coordinating illegally with 527 organizations.[22] The complaint was referenced in attack ads by Lamborn's Democratic opponent,[23] and Gardner withdrew it shortly before the general election. Lamborn was cleared of wrongdoing by the Federal Election Commission.[24]

Legislative career

2006 election

In 2006, Gardner sought the house seat held by retiring Rep. Keith King; he faced no opposition for the Republican nomination.[25] Gardner won his seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 2006 general election, defeating Democrat Anna Lord with about 59% of the popular vote.[2]

2007 legislative session

During the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Gardner sat on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Local Government Committee.[26] The newly elected Rep. Bob Gardner joined Rep. Cory Gardner in the state house, leading to the need to distinguish them as "Gardner, B." and "Gardner, C." in house roll calls.[27] During his first session, Gardner was noted for his passionate speeches on the House floor.[28]

Gardner proposed legislation to increase driver's license fees by $1 to fund an audit of driver's license office performance. After the bill was defeated in committee, Gardner led a bipartisan effort to request the Legislative Audit Committee to investigate the matter.[29] Gardner also unsuccessfully proposed legislation to ease restrictions on petition circulators.[28]

Gardner introduced legislation — passed and signed into law — to provide a full-time judge for Fremont County[28] and to require that victims of crimes be informed of attempts by offenders to overturn convictions or halt sex offender registration.[30]

Following the legislative session, Gardner served on the legislature's interim committee on Long-Term Care Health Care Services and Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities.[31]

In November 2007, Gardner, along with Rep. Amy Stephens was named Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce legislator of the year.[32]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Gardner sat on the House Finance Committee, and the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. [33]

Gardner was among a number of self-described moderate Republicans who criticized Gov. Bill Ritter for signing an executive order allowing state employees collective bargaining rights.[34] In response, Gardner introduced a bill that would have prohibited all public employees in Colorado from striking;[35] his bill was voted down in committee, but a narrower measure prohibiting state employees from striking advanced.[36] Gardner unsuccessfully attempted to add some of his bill's stiffer penalties for striking into the competing measure,[37] which was signed into law by Gov. Ritter.[38]

Gardner also proposed a legislative package designed to assist Coloradoans with developmental disabilities. To address backlog in provision of state services, Gardner proposed an $8.6 million increase in funding to reduce the waiting list;[39] Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter similarly supported a $10.6 increase in funding.[40] Gardner's proposal, which would have directed 2 percent of annual budget increases to services for the developmentally disabled, won the endorsement of an interim legislative committee.[41] During the legislative session, the bill passed a House committee after being pared down to a $2 million increase for the following fiscal year.[42] Gardner also proposed giving state preference in contracts to companies that employ developmentally disabled individuals[43] and was the house sponsor of a Senate bill to create a state employment program for the developmentally disabled.[44] Following the legislative session, Gardner was named "Legislator of the Year" by Alliance, a group serving people with developmental disabilities.[45]

Gardner proposed legislation to create a college scholarship program for low-income students,[46] and a bill to guarantee tuition rates for four-year college students,[47] which died in a House committee.[48] A measure to grant immunity to parole board members acting in their official capacity was passed by the state house.[49] A bill to require certain sex offenders to wear GPS monitoring bracelets during parole passed a house committee unanimously,[50] but was passed over for funding in the state budget.[51]

Gardner also proposed a constitutional change that would deny bail to illegal immigrants arrested for some felonies and serious drunk driving offenses.[52] The measure was not passed by the legislature, but Gardner pledged during his re-election campaign to re-introduce it in the 2009 session.[53]

2008 election

During the contested 2008 Republican presidential primaries, Gardner supported former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.[54] Gardner himself sought a second term in the legislature, again facing Democrat Anna Lord.[55] Gardner's re-election bid was endorsed by the Denver Post,[56] while the Colorado Springs Independent endorsed his Democratic opponent.[57]

During the final weeks of the campaign, Lord accused Gardner of conflicts of interest because of his law firm's focus on lobbying, government contracts, and policy formation. In response, Gardner stated that Lord's accusations approached the legal threshold of slander.[58] Gardner ultimately won re-election, taking 58 percent of the popular vote.[59]

Following his re-election, Gardner was nominated for the post of House Minority Caucus Whip, but lost the caucus' vote for the post to Rep. Cory Gardner.[60] Gardner claimed that he had been recruited to run for the whip post by Rep. Cory Gardner, who had planned to run for assistant majority leader. After Cory Gardner chose not to seek the higher post, Bob Gardner claimed that some of his supporters had been threatened with primary challenges, a claim Cory Gardner and his supporters denied.[61][62][63][64]

2009 legislative session

For the 2009 legislative session, Gardner was named to seats on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.[65] During the 2009 session, Gardner introduced legislation to allow all Colorado counties to levy sales tax, a power previously only held by home rule counties.[66] The bill was weakened from its original form to mandate new reporting by the Department of Revenue, taking a step towards its original purpose.[67]

Gardner also led Republican opposition to legislation to create designated beneficiary agreements, calling them "de facto civil unions,"[68][69] and to legislation strengthening regulations on oil and gas drilling,[70][71][72] and to Colorado joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.[73][74]

In May 2009, Gardner was the commencement speaker at Florence High School's graduation.[75]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bob Gardner - Colorado - State House District 21 candidate". RockyMountainNews.com. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  2. 1 2 "State House District 21". COMaps. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rep. Bob Gardner, HD-21". Colorado House Republican Caucus. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  4. 1 2 Bartels, Lynn (28 February 2007). "Citizen Legislator, February 28". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  5. ↑ "Biography". The Law Office of Robert S. Gardner. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  6. ↑ Howard, Malcolm (28 October 1999). "Crying Fire". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  7. 1 2 De Yoanna, Michael (28 September 2006). "Lord takes on a kingmaker". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  8. ↑ DeGette, Cara (5 April 2001). "Activists Booted from City Hall". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  9. ↑ Vogrin, Bill (22 September 2006). "Challenger faces an uphill fight". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  10. ↑ DeGette, Cara (20 October 2005). "The 2003 election dream machine". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  11. ↑ Langeland, Terje (20 May 2004). "News Briefs". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  12. 1 2 De Yoanna, Michael (5 October 2006). "Not above board". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  13. ↑ DeGette, Cara (23 October 2003). "Eating their own". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  14. ↑ DeGette, Cara (12 January 2006). "Off to the races". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  15. ↑ DeGette, Cara; Terje Langeland (8 August 2002). "Watch Your Step". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  16. ↑ DeGette, Cara; Terje Langeland (26 September 2002). "Wagging the Dog". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  17. ↑ Langeland, Terje (10 October 2002). "Keeping Up with Ed Jones". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  18. ↑ Dicker, John (14 November 2002). "Internal Affair". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  19. ↑ Young, Wayne (5 August 2004). "Make my D.A.". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  20. ↑ DeGette, Cara (23 September 2004). "Politicos fingered in lawsuit". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  21. ↑ Associated Press (17 October 2006). "Complaint filed in 5th District GOP primary". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  22. ↑ Sealover, Ed (23 July 2006). "Lamborn accused of illegal activities with PACs". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  23. ↑ Emery, Erin (2 November 2006). "Words spur pointing of 5th District fingers". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  24. ↑ Sealover, Ed (6 January 2007). "No Armed Services vote for Lamborn". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  25. ↑ Rappold, R. Scott (16 April 2006). "GOP delegates pick candidates". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  26. ↑ "House Committees of Reference". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  27. ↑ Staff Reports (7 March 2007). "On the side". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  28. 1 2 3 Staff Reports (6 May 2007). "Area lawmakers win and lose". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  29. ↑ Sealover, Ed (25 February 2007). "Even lawmakers sick of long DMV lines". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  30. ↑ Sealover, Ed (15 May 2007). "Gay couples OK'd to adopt; abstinence-only sex ed cut". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  31. ↑ "Long-Term Care Health Care Services and Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities Committee". Colorado Legislative Council. Archived from the original on 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  32. ↑ Staff Reports (10 November 2007). "Stephens will lead House Republicans". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  33. ↑ "House Committees of Reference". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  34. ↑ Staff Reports (8 November 2007). "Briefs: GOP lawmakers say Ritter "badly betrayed" them". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  35. ↑ Sealover, Ed (30 November 2007). "Holes found in Ritter's strike ban". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  36. ↑ Brown, Jennifer (24 January 2008). "1 no-strike bill out at the Capitol". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  37. ↑ Sealover, Ed (30 January 2008). "Strike ban bill advances". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  38. ↑ Sealover, Ed; Michael Davidson (3 April 2008). "Legislature: Thursday in review". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  39. ↑ Sealover, Ed (3 December 2007). "GOP lawmakers unveil health care goals". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  40. ↑ Sealover, Ed (1 November 2007). "Gov. Ritter proposes $18B budget". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  41. ↑ Sealover, Ed (24 October 2007). "Tax-increase plan to aid developmentally disabled dropped". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  42. ↑ Sealover, Ed (8 February 2008). "Bills would aid the disabled". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  43. ↑ Sealover, Ed (15 October 2007). "Lawmakers work to help disabled in state get jobs". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  44. ↑ Sealover, Ed; Michael Davidson (9 January 2008). "First bills of session". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  45. ↑ Zubeck, Pam (20 August 2008). "POLITIGAB: Vet in Bidlack's corner". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  46. ↑ Sealover, Ed; Michael Davidson (4 February 2008). "This week in the legislature". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  47. ↑ Sealover, Ed (24 October 2007). "State GOP announces higher-ed proposals". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  48. ↑ Sealover, Ed (11 February 2007). "The week in the legislature". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  49. ↑ Sealover, Ed; Michael Davidson (25 January 2007). "Assembly glance: Friday in review". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  50. ↑ Sealover, Ed (20 February 2008). "Bill to monitor sex offenders gets boost". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  51. ↑ Sealover, Ed (3 April 2008). "Budget bubbles burst". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  52. ↑ Brown, Jennifer (31 October 2007). "GOP returns to illegal immigrants". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  53. ↑ Hubbard, Burt (10 September 2008). "Tragedy may spur legislation". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  54. ↑ Staff Reports (7 February 2008). "On the stump - February 7, 2008". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  55. ↑ Zeveloff, Naomi (11 July 2007). "Democrat Anna Lord says it will take Republican support to represent Colorado Springs". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  56. ↑ Editorial Board (17 October 2008). "Post's picks in Colorado's House of Representatives". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  57. ↑ Norris, Wendy; Bob Spencer (3 November 2008). "State candidate endorsement watch". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  58. ↑ Swanson, Perry (20 October 2008). "Accusations fly in House race". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  59. ↑ "Colorado Statewide Cumulative Report - 2008 General Election". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  60. ↑ Pelzer, Jeremy (6 November 2008). "Full list of 2009 Statehouse leadership positions". PolitickerCO.com. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  61. ↑ Ashby, Charles (7 November 2008). "State lawmakers name House, Senate leaders". Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  62. ↑ Bartels, Lynn; Ed Sealover (7 November 2008). "Votes didn't go as some had hoped". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  63. ↑ Luning, Ernest; Ed Sealover (7 November 2008). "Gardner vs. Gardner: Lawmaker whips up ire over state GOP caucus vote". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  64. ↑ Jorgensen, Leslie (14 November 2008). "Rumors fly in House leadership vote". Colorado Statesman. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  65. ↑ "House Republican Committee Assignments Announced" (Press release). Colorado House Democrats. 18 November 2008.
  66. ↑ Mook, Bob (15 January 2009). "Bill would allow counties to collect sales tax". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  67. ↑ Corbell, Beverly (5 February 2009). "Montrose County Clloser to Collecting Its Own Sales Tax". Telluride Watch. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  68. ↑ Fender, Jessica (17 February 2009). "Benefits for unwed partners advance". Denver Post. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  69. ↑ Staff Report (23 February 2009). "Partner bill passes Colorado house". 365Gay.com. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  70. ↑ Toda, Dean (6 March 2009). "Dispute over drilling rules remains hot". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  71. ↑ Ingold, John (7 March 2009). "Oil and gas rules barrel into fight". Denver Post. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  72. ↑ Mason, K.C. (9 March 2009). "Legal services committee sends HB 1292 to House". Craig Daily Press. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  73. ↑ Ingold, John (17 March 2009). "Bill seeks electoral switch". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  74. ↑ Bell, Debbie (24 March 2009). "Worth the Wait". Canon City Daily Record. Retrieved 2009-12-22.

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