Susan Lontine Explained

Susan Lontine
State House:Colorado
District:1st
Term Start:January 7, 2015
Term End:January 9, 2023
Predecessor:Jeanne Labuda
Successor:Javier Mabrey
Birth Place:Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Chuck Lontine
Education:University of Central Florida (BA)

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.[1] [2] [3]

Colorado House of Representatives

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.[4] [5] She defeated Garcia in the 2016 election.[6] [7] She defeated Republican nominee Alysia Padilla and Libertarian nominee Darrell Dinges in the 2018 election.[8] [9] She won reelection in the 2020 election against Republican nominee Samantha Koch.[10] [11]

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.[12] [13] She supported Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries and Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 primaries.[14] [15]

Political positions

Lontine voted against anti-BDS legislation stating that it was a violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.[16] She supported removing the phrase "illegal aliens" from existing laws.[17] She received an A rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[18] Lontine was among thirty-seven legislators who endorsed a letter in 2018, calling for Planned Parenthood to allow for their workers to form an union.[19]

Notes and References

  1. News: Susan Lontine . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116102701/https://www.denverdemocrats.org/state/representative/hd1 . January 16, 2022.
  2. News: October 8, 2020 . Colorado State House District 1 candidate Q&A . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210116032116/https://www.denverpost.com/2020/10/08/colorado-state-house-district-1-candidate-questionnaire-2020/ . January 16, 2021.
  3. News: January 15, 2015 . Susan Lontine New . Colorado Politics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116111926/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/susan-lontine-new/article_130a48b4-9333-5433-9807-44857cf49e2b.html. January 16, 2022.
  4. News: 2014 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116112128/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/democratic/stateReps.html . January 16, 2022.
  5. News: 2014 General Election Results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206123003/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/representatives.html . December 6, 2021.
  6. News: 2016 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116194713/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html . January 16, 2022.
  7. News: 2016 General Election Results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116194724/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/general/stateRepresentatives.html . January 16, 2022.
  8. News: 2018 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206132045/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html . December 6, 2021.
  9. News: 2018 General Election Results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116194931/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateRepresentatives.html . January 16, 2022.
  10. News: 2020 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116195230/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/primary/democratic/stateRepresentatives.html . January 16, 2022.
  11. News: 2020 General Election Results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116195232/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/general/stateRepresentatives.html . January 16, 2022.
  12. News: February 9, 2018 . Colorado Rep. Susan Lontine accuses Sen. Larry Crowder of sexual harassment . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116102929/https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/colorado-rep-susan-lontine-accuses-sen-larry-crowder-of-sexual-harassment . January 16, 2022.
  13. News: February 10, 2018 . Lawmaker accuses senator of harassment . A5 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116104429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92706220/fort-collins-coloradoan/ . January 16, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: February 22, 2016 . Rep. Salazar endorses Sanders: 'Of course Bernie can be elected' . Colorado Politics . live . 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 . January 16, 2022.
  15. News: February 22, 2020 . Elizabeth Warren picks up slew of endorsements from current, former Colorado officials . Colorado Politics . live . 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 . October 15, 2021.
  16. News: May 21, 2021 . Colorado lawmakers stand by 2016 law declaring support for Israel, express sympathy for Palestinians . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116110127/https://www.denverpost.com/2021/05/21/israel-palestine-colorado-legislature-support/ . January 16, 2022.
  17. News: February 13, 2020 . This Lawmaker Wants to Remove the Words 'Illegal Alien' From the Law . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211202074303/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/us/politics/colorado-illegal-immigrants.html . December 2, 2021.
  18. News: Susan Lontine . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507001511/https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/susan-lontine/ . May 7, 2021.
  19. News: June 13, 2018 . Lawmakers back Denver Planned Parenthood workers' union cause . Colorado Politics . live . 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 . January 15, 2022.