Douglas Farquhar, J.D.
Democrat for State House District 3
1566 South Sherman
Denver, CO  80210
720/840-3252
dfarquha@du.edu

March 22, 2009

Members of House District 3
Denver, CO

RE: Colorado House District 3 Vacancy

Upon hearing the unexpected resignation of Representative Anne McGihon, District 3 will need someone able to immediately step in and be able to represent the community in the legislature.  I want to express my interest in serving as Representative in House District 3.

I am a 20 year veteran working with state legislatures, beginning as a committee clerk in Texas State House until recently with the National Conference of State Legislatures.  I have testified or spoken before legislatures 47 times in 30 states, including Colorado, and have an extensive list of speaking engagements, speaking to interested groups on state legislatures and the legislative process.  I have also provided assistance in working with state legislatures to state agencies, including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the U.S. EPA, the CDC, and USDA.

Since 1996 I have taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver University College in their Environmental Policy and Management graduate program, and will begin as an adjunct with the Sturm College of Law at DU this fall.  At the DU EPM program I taught Environmental Public Policy, Global Policy and Trade, and Dispute Resolution and Mediation.  (I am a Registered Practioner with US Institute for Environmental Dispute Resolution.)

As a graduate of the DU Law School, I decided to remain in Denver and settled in Platt Park and House District 3 in 1990.  For the past 18 years I have made Platt Park my home, marrying my wife and beginning a family, renovating homes for rental property, watching my kids enjoy Decker Library and attend Denver Public Schools.  My son is currently a freshman at South High School, and my daughter attends Good Shepherd.  My wife works at Denver Water.

My involvement with my community led to my election to the Platt Park People’s Association, first as a board member and for the last four years as the vice-President.  I recently left that post after completing my second and final term.  As vice-President I gained an understanding of issue facing the community, about pressures of community activism and negotiating interests of the various community members.  I also was the liaison with the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation, gaining an understanding of the issues, needs and concerns of other registered neighborhood associations, especially the immediate neighborhoods

But more than my volunteer work in my neighborhood has been my work with legislatures.  I have drafted legislation designed to meet federal mandates.  I have reviewed legislation to comment on its ability to meet federal mandates.  I have written policy statements and presented policies to members.  I have spoken with members on the reasons behind their decisions to introduce legislation, support legislation, or defeat a bill.  I have studied budgets, reviewed taxes and fee policies, and discussed approaches to fund state programs.

In Colorado, I have discussed the limitations of TABOR with members from both parties, and learned approaches to addressing its limitations.  Working within Federal mandates, I have strategized ways to leverage Federal funds for states, to maximize that potential.

And because I have to find support to fund my position and program at NCSL, I have gained a network of funding resources nationwide.  Although I cannot take lobbying funds, I have worked with the several interests seeking to work with state legislatures.

I am a lawyer, and still perform pro bono work.  I received the 100 hours of service award from the Denver Bar Association.  The pro bono work allows me to present cases before judges, draft motions and maintain my skills as a lawyer.  I have recently changed my status, however, to inactive.

I remained committed to south Denver and my community, and would be eager and honored to serve as the Representative from House District 3.

Professional

• Resident of House District 3 since 1991
• Vice-President, Platt Park Peoples’ Association
• Liaison, Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation, Denver, CO.
• Adjunct Professor, University of Denver, Graduate Program in Environmental Policy and Management and Sturm College of Law
• Licensed Attorney, State of Colorado
• NCSL Representative at the Commission on Environmental Cooperation Ministers’ Meeting; Pittsburgh, PA and Mexico City, DF
• NCSL Delegate at the World Trade Organization's 3rd Ministerial Conference in Seattle, Washington
• Appointed Member, American Public Health Association’s Forum on Trade and Health
• Steering Committee, WKKF National Rural Assembly
• Writer – Healthy Community Design: Bringing Healthy Foods and Physical Activities to Communities; Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: A Survey of State Policies; Healthy Environment, Healthy Kids: A Guide to Children's Environmental Health

Personal  

• Program Director at the National Conference of State Legislatures
• Two children; Andrew attends South High School and Emily is at Good Shepherd Catholic School
• Wife, Melissa works at Denver Water

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Doug Farquhar
1566 South Sherman
Denver, CO  80210
720/840-3252
dfarquha@du.edu

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