Michael Merrifield
Michael Merrifield is a former Democratic member of the Colorado State Senate, representing District 11 from 2015 to 2019. Merrifield did not file to run for re-election in 2018.
Merrifield previously served in the Colorado House of Representatives, representing District 18 from 2003 to 2011.
Biography
Merrifield's professional experience includes working as a teacher and director of choirs at Coronado High School. He served on the Manitou Springs City Council from 1996 to 2000.[1]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Colorado committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Merrifield served on the following committees:
| Colorado committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Judiciary |
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Merrifield served on the following committees:
| Colorado committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Transportation & Energy |
Issues
Colorado Senate Bill 57
As a member of the Colorado House Education Committee, Merrifield voted against Colorado Senate Bill 57, also known as the Public School Financial Transparency Act, a bill to create transparency in state education expenditures.
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2018
- See also: Colorado State Senate elections, 2018
Michael Merrifield did not file to run for re-election.
2014
- See also: Colorado State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Colorado State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 31, 2014. Michael Merrifield was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Bernie Herpin was unopposed in the Republican primary. Merrifield defeated Herpin and Norman Dawson (L) in the general election.[2][3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Michael Merrifield |
52.2% | 18,815 | |
| Republican | Bernie Herpin Incumbent | 41.5% | 14,978 | |
| Libertarian | Norman Dawson | 6.3% | 2,282 | |
| Total Votes | 36,075 | |||
2010
Merrifield was ineligible to run for re-election to the 18th District seat due to the term limits of the Colorado House of Representatives.
2008
On November 4, 2008, Merrifield won re-election to the 18th District seat in the Colorado House of Representatives, defeating opponent Katherine Szot (R).[5]
Merrifield raised $50,948 for his campaign, while Szot raised $429.[6]
| Colorado State House, District 18 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Michael Merrifield (D)
|
17,231 | |||
| Katherine Szot (R) | 9,980 | |||
Campaign themes
2014
Merrifield's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[7]
Elections Reform Bill
- Excerpt: "There is a difference between having the 'right' to vote and the 'ability' to vote. Many who have the right to vote find casting a ballot needlessly impeded. A law that allows voters to vote at any one of a number of vote centers will increase voter participation, a net good. Moreover, many folks are by necessity living transient lives. Regardless of the economic demands on them, they should still be able to vote. Opponents of open elections are, in fact, interfering with the rights of the individual."
Defending Public Education
- Excerpt: "I will oppose any increase in high stakes testing. As a teacher, I believe in assessment of our students, but the reliance on standardized test scores and data as the sole measure of performance has gone much too far. I will also promote the mission of the newly formed State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education to help districts devise plans to help parents become their child’s first and best teacher. I will sponsor legislation to require play time and structured recess breaks, and I will support fully funded, public pre-school and full-day kindergarten. Finally, I will vigorously, passionately fight the corporate, for-profit agenda that perverts the diverse goals of public education."
Creating Jobs and Growing the Economy
- Excerpt: "As Senator, I intend to remain focused on creating opportunities for job growth and strengthening our local and state economy. I will push for tax and incentive programs to nurture and cultivate new small businesses and support existing small businesses. I will provide strong legislative support for the concept of Economic Gardening that has been brought forward by Rep. Pete Lee."
Oil and Gas Regulation
- Excerpt: "Right now, regulations from the Oil and Gas Commission are poorly enforced and do not protect our communities. The industry has grown so rapidly that no one has been able to keep up with the issues and there just are not enough inspectors. The industry must be forced to be open and honest with the public about what chemicals they are using in the fracking and oil extraction process, about how much water is consumed and about how many workers are actually benefitting from employment in the industry, and how much the Oil and Gas businesses should pay in taxes."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Colorado scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the 72nd Colorado State Legislature was in session from January 10 through May 9.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills the ACLU of Colorado "felt were the best representations of the civil liberties issues facing Colorado today."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that are supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes related to senior issues.
- Legislation is scored on its "reduction of taxes, regulation, and spending accountability."
- Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental conservation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes related to mental health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on LGBT issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to "core principles of liberty," which the organization defines as "Free People," "Free Markets," and "Good Government."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 71st Colorado State Legislature was in session from January 11 through May 10. There was also a special session from October 2-3.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the second session of the 70th Colorado General Assembly was in session from January 13 through May 11.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the first session of the 70th Colorado General Assembly was in session from January 7 through May 6.
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Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Michael + Merrifield + Colorado + Legislature
See also
- Colorado General Assembly
- Colorado State Senate
- Colorado Senate Committees
- Colorado state legislative districts
External links
- Official campaign website
- Michael Merrifield on Facebook
- Mike Merrifield on LinkedIn
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions via Follow the Money
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed April 29, 2014
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed May 1, 2014
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 25, 2014
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2008 General election results," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Funds raised by 2008 House candidates," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ michaelmerrifield.org, "Issues," accessed September 29, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bernie Herpin (R) |
Colorado State Senate - District 11 2015–2019 |
Succeeded by Pete Lee (D) |
| Preceded by ' |
Colorado House District 18 2003–2011 |
Succeeded by Pete Lee |
