Rep. Green To Resign

Another legislator has announced her decision to leave the General Assembly in mid-term.

Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Golden, said this morning on the floor that she would leave the House of Representatives to spend more time with her family.

"It is time to leave you and let someone who has the health and the stamina to fill this seat, such an important seat for my district," Green told her colleagues this morning. "There are so many good leaders in my district who could bring so much to this body. It is time to have them called forth."

Green was first elected to the House in 2006. She has been an advocate for public education and renewable energy use.

During her comments this morning she paid tribute to colleagues from both parties.

"Among this gathering of public servants, I have come to know great people, people like our former Speaker Andrew Romanoff and former Majority Leader Alice Madden, people like former Senate President Joan Fitzgerald, people like our present Speaker Terrance Carroll, who rose up from neighborhoods of poverty to his present position, and like our Majority Leader Paul Weissmann, a man of deep dedication and resolve, who stands firm for his beliefs," Green said. "Nor can I forget the Minority Leader, Mike May. Representative May, your loyalty and dedication to your party has won you my admiration and respect."

A Democratic Party District 23 vacancy committee will appoint Green's replacement, to serve through the end of her current term, after her resignation takes effect June 1.

Green is the fourth Democratic legislator to resign this year and she will be the third member of the House to leave since January.

Her decision follows resignations by Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, and Peter Groff, D-Denver, and Rep. Anne McGihon, D-Denver, and the elevation to the Senate of former Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud.

Romanoff Announces New Committee Assignments

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver) announced new assignments to committees Sunday, including giving a convert from the GOP an important vice-chair slot.

Rep. Debbie Stafford (D-Aurora), who switched parties after last year's session, will be the new vice-chair of the Judiciary committee. She replaces Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora), who is replacing former Rep. Mike Cerbo as chair of the House majority caucus.

Rep. Stafford will also continue to sit on the Health and Human Services committee.

Romanoff also gave committee assignments to the chamber's two Democratic newcomers, Christine Scanlan and Mark Ferrandino.

Ferrandino, who replaced Cerbo, will sit on the Business Affairs and Labor committee and the State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee.

Scanlan, who replaced Sen. Dan Gibbs when he took the seat formerly occupied by Joan Fitz-Gerald, will sit on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources committee and the Transportation and Energy committee.

Romanoff also announced that Rep. Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge) will replace Cerbo on the Judiciary committee and that Rep. Gwyn Green (D-Golden) will replace Gibbs as vice-chair of the Transportation and Energy committee.