Martha McElveen Ezzard (born November 8, 1938) was a member of the Colorado General Assembly serving in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1979 to 1981 and the Colorado Senate from 1981 to 1987.[1] She was a Republican up until 1987, when she became a Democrat.[2]

Early life and career

Ezzard was born November 8, 1938, in Atlanta, Georgia.[1][3] She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a master's from the University of Missouri.[3] Prior to her time in the General Assembly, she worked as a press assistant for Governor John Arthur Love.[4]

Colorado General Assembly

In the 1978 election, incumbent Betty Ann Dittemore opted to run for Lieutenant Governor of Colorado rather than run for reelection to the House.[5] Ezzard was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1978 to succeed her in the 37th district.[6] Ezzard served a single term before being elected to the Colorado Senate in 1980.[1] In 1987, Ezzard switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.[7] After her party switch, she resigned from the Senate and was succeeded by her 1986 primary opponent Terry Considine.[8] While a member of the General Assembly, she earned her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law.[3]

Runs for higher office

In the 1986 election, Ezzard ran in the Republican primary for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Gary Hart. She and Terry Considine were defeated in the primary by Congressman Ken Kramer.[9][10] In 1988, Ezzard challenged Congressman Daniel Schaefer as a Democrat in Colorado's 6th congressional district. Schaefer defeated Ezzard by a two-to-one margin in the heavily Republican district.[11]

Post-political career

In 1989, Governor Roy Romer appointed Ezzard to the Small Business Council, a thirty-two member advisory council to the Governor and Office of Economic Development.[12] After her time in the legislature, she moved to Georgia and operated a winery.[6][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Colorado Legislators Past & Present: Martha McElveen Ezzard". Colorado General Assembly. April 23, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ http://www.strongsisters.org/women-who-served-in-the-colorado-senate/
  3. 1 2 3 Meadow, James B. (August 29, 1994). "Martha Ezzard: Georgia (and Colorado) on Her Mind". Rocky Mountain News – via NewsBank.
  4. 1 2 Saunders, Jessica (March 11, 2017). "Ex-Colorado lawmaker, husband put their Georgia winery on the market". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ Dittemore, Diane (May 11, 2019). "Mom's Best Advice". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Ezzard, Martha (September 13, 2018). "Martha Ezzard: Lawyer, journalist, Colorado elected official, and now wine grower in the land of sweet tea" (Interview). Interviewed by Jody Hope Strogoff. Colorado Politics. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  7. ↑ Cronin, Thomas F. (September 1, 1993). Colorado Politics & Government: Governing the Centennial State. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. p. 163. ISBN 9780803214514. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Colorado Legislators Past & Present: Terence M. "Terry" Considine". Colorado General Assembly. April 23, 2012. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ Schwartz, Maralee (June 6, 1986). "Candidate Perfect Until He Started Discussing Issues". The Washington Post.
  10. ↑ Diamantakiou, John (October 11, 1992). "Campaign Briefing" (PDF). Letter to Bob Dole. p. 5. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  11. ↑ Weber, Brian (November 10, 1988). "Ezzard says she won't run again". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). p. 2 – via Newsbank.
  12. ↑ "Briefing". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). November 8, 1989 – via Newsbank.
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