05/21/2007
Gay Entrepreneur Jared Polis Launches U.S. House Bid
Jared Polis, a web entrepreneur and philanthropist from Boulder, Colorado, today launched a bid for the U.S. House that would make him the first openly gay representative from Colorado if elected.
Polis, a Democrat, has built what the Boulder Daily Camera calls "extravagant wealth" by building and selling internet companies Bluemountainarts.com and Proflowers.com, and spent six years serving on the Colorado Board of Education. His work in education goes beyond that, however:
"Besides serving on the state board of education, Polis founded New America School, a system of public charter high schools that teach English to recent immigrants. He currently serves as the school's superintendent. He also started the Polis Foundation in 2000 to support teachers and students through mentoring, tutoring and technology. And he successfully led the effort in November to raise nearly $300 million in a Boulder Valley School District bond issue for school repairs and renovations."
The paper notes that Polis was recently criticized for backing "an ethics-in-government amendment...that limits the value of gifts Colorado elected officials, public employees and their immediate family members can accept."
Neither Polis, nor the paper, feel that his sexuality will be a major factor in "liberal-leaning" Boulder. Said Polis, who has been with his partner Marlon Reis for almost four years: "To have dealt with the closet and coming out in one's life is a character-builder."
Polis is vying with Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and environmentalist Will Shafroth, both Democrats, for the seat.
Boulder entrepreneur Polis makes U.S. House bid official [daily camera]
Jared Polis [official site]
Posted 6:11 PM EST by Andy in Colorado, Democratic Party, Jared Polis, News | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Jared Polis might be gay but he's done NOTHING for the gay community. As the chair of the state board of education he did little to effectuate positive change for gays and lesbians in Colorado. He could have pushed for anti-bullying measures, nondiscrimination policies, or to be an openly gay member of the board. Polis hops in and out of the closet as it suits his political aspirations.
Joan Fitz-Gerald has been a champion for the gay community even when she represents a rural mountain district. She brokered hate crimes legislation and convinced the former republican governor to sign it. She put Referendum I on last year's ballot which would have established domestic partnerships in the first heartland state. Just this year she pushed second parent adoption and anti-workplace discrimination through the legislature and it was signed by the governor.
To me it's a no brainer. Joan is far more "gay" than Jared ever could hope to be. She's also a lot more fun to go drinking with.
Posted by: Ladd | May 21, 2007 6:56:19 PM
He's OUT and running now thanks to Andy!
Posted by: Russ | May 21, 2007 8:27:26 PM
It'd be nice to see a gay Rep replace Udall in my home-state, but he has a lot of work to do on his image after the Amendment 41 DISASTER he propogated upon Colorado in the last election.
Posted by: Aaron | May 21, 2007 11:51:04 PM