David Skaggs
Encyclopedia
David Evans Skaggs was a Democratic
Congressman
from the state of Colorado
from 1987 to 1999.
Skaggs was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
, but grew up in the New Jersey
suburbs of New York City
. He attended Wesleyan University
, and after earning his degree in Philosophy in 1964, went on to Yale University
, from which he received his Bachelor of Laws
. Following graduation, Skaggs spent three years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps
, including service in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division. Upon discharge from active duty in 1971, he remained in the Marine Reserves until 1978, attaining the rank of Major. Skaggs practiced law briefly in New York City and, after military service, in Boulder, CO. He now is affiliated with the Denver office of the law firm McKenna, Long & Aldridge
.
Skaggs first became involved in politics as a Democratic Party volunteer and officer in 1971-72. He was hired as administrative assistant to Tim Wirth
, a member of Congress from Colorado, in 1974. He ran successfully for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in 1980, and he served three terms—two as Minority Leader—before running for Congress. Skaggs was a six term member of the United States House of Representatives
. While in the House, he served initially on the Science, Space & Technology Committee and the Public Works & Transportation Committee, before winning a seat on the Appropriations Committee in 1991. He also served six years (1993–99) on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Skaggs and Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) were founding co-chairs of the House Bi-Partisan Retreat, first held in 1997 and designed to encourage civility and comity in the House; the retreats continued through 2003.
After retiring in 1999, Skaggs served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado and as executive director of the Center for Democracy & Citizenship at the Council for Excellence in Government
for several years before moving back to Colorado to serve as executive director of the state Department of Higher Education from 2007 until resigning in 2009. He was appointed the first chair of the board of the new Office of Congressional Ethics
(OCE) in 2008 and as of 2009 has served as Chair of the OCE. Skaggs has been a member of the U. S. Public Interest Declassification Board
since 2005.
Skaggs also served as co-chair of the Constitution Project
's bipartisan War Powers Committee.
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado
, for which he secured funding, is named in his honor.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from the state of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
from 1987 to 1999.
Skaggs was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, but grew up in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
suburbs of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He attended Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, and after earning his degree in Philosophy in 1964, went on to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, from which he received his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
. Following graduation, Skaggs spent three years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, including service in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division. Upon discharge from active duty in 1971, he remained in the Marine Reserves until 1978, attaining the rank of Major. Skaggs practiced law briefly in New York City and, after military service, in Boulder, CO. He now is affiliated with the Denver office of the law firm McKenna, Long & Aldridge
McKenna, Long & Aldridge
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP is a full-service, U.S. law firm. It has more than 475 lawyers and public policy advisors in nine locations in the U.S. and one in Europe...
.
Skaggs first became involved in politics as a Democratic Party volunteer and officer in 1971-72. He was hired as administrative assistant to Tim Wirth
Tim Wirth
Timothy Endicott Wirth is a former United States Senator from Colorado. Wirth, a Democrat, was a member of the House from 1975 to 1987 and was elected to the Senate in 1986, serving one term there before stepping down. He was Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs during the Clinton...
, a member of Congress from Colorado, in 1974. He ran successfully for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in 1980, and he served three terms—two as Minority Leader—before running for Congress. Skaggs was a six term member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. While in the House, he served initially on the Science, Space & Technology Committee and the Public Works & Transportation Committee, before winning a seat on the Appropriations Committee in 1991. He also served six years (1993–99) on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Skaggs and Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) were founding co-chairs of the House Bi-Partisan Retreat, first held in 1997 and designed to encourage civility and comity in the House; the retreats continued through 2003.
After retiring in 1999, Skaggs served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado and as executive director of the Center for Democracy & Citizenship at the Council for Excellence in Government
Council for Excellence in Government
The Council for Excellence in Government was a public/private partnership organization initiated in the 1980s designed to improve the effectiveness of federal, state, and local government in the United States. The organization ceased to operate in 2009 and the majority of its staff and programs...
for several years before moving back to Colorado to serve as executive director of the state Department of Higher Education from 2007 until resigning in 2009. He was appointed the first chair of the board of the new Office of Congressional Ethics
Office of Congressional Ethics
The Office of Congressional Ethics , established by the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2008, is an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against members of the House of Representatives and their staff and, when appropriate, referring matters to...
(OCE) in 2008 and as of 2009 has served as Chair of the OCE. Skaggs has been a member of the U. S. Public Interest Declassification Board
Public Interest Declassification Board
The Public Interest Declassification Board is an advisory committee established by the United States Congress with the official mandate of promoting the fullest possible public access to a thorough, accurate, and reliable documentary record of significant U.S. national security decisions and...
since 2005.
Skaggs also served as co-chair of the Constitution Project
Constitution Project
The Constitution Project is an non-profit think tank in the United States that builds bipartisan consensus on significant constitutional and legal questions. Founded and led by Virginia Sloan, the Constitution Project’s work is divided between two programs: the Rule of Law Program and the Criminal...
's bipartisan War Powers Committee.
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, for which he secured funding, is named in his honor.