Kathleen Collins Becker is an American politician who served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 13th district from 2013 to 2021, as Majority Leader from 2017 to 2019, and as Speaker from 2019 to 2021, as a member of the Democratic Party.[1] Prior to her tenure in the state legislature, she served on the city council in Boulder, Colorado.
KC Becker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 60th Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
| In office January 4, 2019 – January 13, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Crisanta Duran |
| Succeeded by | Alec Garnett |
| Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
| In office January 11, 2017 – January 4, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Crisanta Duran |
| Succeeded by | Alec Garnett |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 13th district | |
| In office November 4, 2013 – January 13, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Claire Levy |
| Succeeded by | Judy Amabile |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Miles Kunkel |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | College of William & Mary (BA) Lewis & Clark College (JD) University of Denver (MS) |
| Signature |  |
On November 18, 2021, it was announced that President Joe Biden selected Becker to be the head of the EPA for the mountain and plains region.[2]
Early life and education
editKathleen Collins Becker graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in government in 1991, from Lewis & Clark College with a Juris Doctor in 1996, and from the Daniels College of Business at University of Denver with a Master of Science in 2005. She worked as an attorney for the United States Department of the Interior and later moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 2002. She is married to Miles Kunkel, with whom she had two children.[3][4]
Career
editBoulder city council
editBecker was elected to a four-year term in a seat on Boulder's city council in 2009.[3][5] During her tenure she served as the council's representative to the Denver Regional Council of Governments.[4]
Colorado House of Representatives
editElections
editBecker announced in 2013, that she would run for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 13th district which was held by retiring incumbent Representative Claire Levy.[3] Levy resigned to become the executive director of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy and Becker was appointed by a thirty-five-member vacancy committee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation. Becker won with seventeen votes in favor and twelve votes against her and four of the committee members were absent, one recused himself, and another abstained.[4][6] Becker won in the 2014 election against Republican nominee Michael James Ocevar.[7] She faced no opposition in the 2016 election.[8] She defeated Republican nominee Kevin Sipple in the 2018 election.[9]
Becker was unable to seek reelection in 2020 due to term limits. She endorsed Judy Amabile in the Democratic primary to succeed her and Amabile won in the primary and general election.[10][11] Garnett was selected to succeed Becker as Speaker without opposition.[12]
Tenure
editBacker served on the eleven-member board of directors of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority from 2019 to 2020.[13] After the 2020 presidential election she dismissed a request by Republicans to investigate Colorado's election software and voting machines stating that the Republicans were supporting "debunked conspiracy theories".[14]
She was selected to serve as Majority Leader in 2017. During her tenure as Majority Leader she oversaw the expulsion of Representative Steve Lebsock, the first representative expelled from the state house since 1915, due to sexual harassment allegations against Lebsock. The state house voted 52 to 9 in favor of expelling Lebsock, with Becker voting in favor despite initially opposing the expulsion.[4][15] In 2018, Becker was selected to replace Crisanta Duran, who was term-limited, as speaker of the House of Representatives for the 2019 legislative session and Alec Garnett replaced Becker as majority leader.[12]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | KC Becker (incumbent) | 5,022 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 5,022 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | KC Becker (incumbent) | 24,136 | 67.65% | ||
| Republican | Michael James Hocevar | 11,541 | 32.35% | ||
| Total votes | 35,677 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | KC Becker (incumbent) | 5,879 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 5,879 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | KC Becker (incumbent) | 34,114 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 34,114 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | KC Becker (incumbent) | 12,148 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 12,148 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | KC Becker (incumbent) | 32,499 | 73.15% | ||
| Republican | Kevin Sipple | 11,929 | 26.85% | ||
| Total votes | 44,428 | 100.00% | |||
References
edit- ^ "KC Becker sworn in to Colorado House". Sentinel Colorado. November 4, 2013. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Biden taps Boulder's KC Becker to head EPA's mountain, plains region". The Denver Post. November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c "KC Becker announces bid for House District 13". Sky-Hi News. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "MOVING ON: MADAM SPEAKER / KC Becker looks back on seven years in the House". Colorado Politics. January 3, 2021. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Boulder City Councilwoman KC Becker to run for state House District 13". Daily Camera. April 11, 2013. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ "New Democratic leaders emerge in Colorado House". The Denver Post. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c "2016 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c "2018 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2020.
- ^ "Speaker of the House KC Becker endorses candidate in contested primary for HD 13 seat". Colorado Politics. January 15, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Election Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "New Democratic leaders emerge in Colorado House". The Denver Post. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Colorado Speaker of the House KC Becker Appointed to CHFA's Board of Directors". National Council of State Housing Agencies. March 1, 2019. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Colorado House speaker nixes probe into voting system". Associated Press. December 8, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Colorado House expels Rep. Steve Lebsock, 52-9". Colorado Politics. March 2, 2018. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021.