Angie Paccione Elected to Colorado House of Representatives, 2002
Representing House District 53, Representative Paccione was able to pass legislation in a Republican controlled General Assembly as she reached across the political divide to get the job done for the residents of her district and the state. Signature legislation makes college more affordable and slows the "brain drain" to keep Colorado's best and brightest high school students in Colorado for college. In addition, Paccione creates increased opportunities for youth to engage in meaningful participation in community leadership.
Paccione re-elected to serve the citizens of House District 53, 2004
Angie Paccione was re-elected to House District 53 by the largest margin of victory by a Democrat in a contested seat in the history of Larimer County! With overwhelming support from her constituents, Angie sailed to victory. She was then elected by her Democratic colleagues to lead the new Majority as the Caucus Chairwoman. Paccione continued to press for solutions to the health care crisis, reforms in public education, and expanded opportunities to jumpstart the economy. During the special session called by Gov. Owens, Paccione sought sensible solutions to the issue of illegal immigration.
Congressional Candidate 2006 In 2006
Angie ran a spirited campaign for US Congress. She generated tremendous
enthusiasm throughout the district, raised more than double what any
Democrat had ever before, and out-performed the two-term incumbent by
historic margins in Larimer County and Longmont. Still, on election day
Angie came up short by 2.5% - the slimmest margin in 34 years!
Angie faces the media with her nephews at her side
Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Diana DeGette, and Diane Watson support Angie at a rally in Fort Collins
Candidates Bill Ritter (Governor) and Angie Paccione (Congress) in a sea of supporters in Greeley on the Sunday before the election
Congressional Candidate 2008
Angie entered the
2008 Congressional race in late May, 2007 and picked up right where she
left off. The momentum of the campaign led Angie to record fundraising
totals in just a few weeks of the quarter. Angie annouced her campaign
had over $100,000 cash-on-hand during her first few weeks in the race.
The
momentum continued to build as Angie assembled a high powered campaign
team to finish the work begun by the 2006 team. On every measure of
campaign success, Angie was on track for a victory in 2008. However,
she made a personal decision to exit from the 2008 campaign to pursue a
remarkable opportunity in the private sector. Here is her press
release/statement made September 26, 2007 at 11:00 am.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Angie Paccione Announces She is No Longer a Candidate for Congress
New Leadership Post Leads to International Opportunity
Statement by Angie Paccione - September 26, 2007 11:00 AM MDT
Good Morning.
There
are no words adequate enough to describe the privilege I’ve had
representing the people of Fort Collins as their State Representative
and as the Democratic candidate for the people of the 4th Congressional
District. In 2000, when there was no democratic candidate on the ballot
for the 4th CD, I was motivated to enter politics to fill the void in
leadership. At that time I offered my service as the voice of the
people in representative government. I am forever changed, forever
grateful, and forever indebted to the people for the opportunity they
gave me to serve them.
I have a passion to serve people by doing
whatever I can to unleash their greatness. This is what has always
compelled me. I used my skills as an athlete to serve our country in
international competition, I used my academic talent to serve our youth
as an educator, and I used my political position to serve the people I
represented by giving them hope, making the system work for them, and
empowering them to participate in politics as well.
Since
September of 2005 I have been on a mission to win the 4th Congressional
district because I believe and many others do as well, that I would be
a better, more effective representative for the people of this
district. As an elected official I have always focused on what’s right,
not on who’s right. That has allowed me to reach across political
divides and partisan politics to get things done for the people of our
great state. I am proud of the work I was able to do…as a lead sponsor
of legislation and as a co-sponsor. I have always been accessible to my
constituents, I have always been responsive to their concerns, and I
have always worked with members of both political parties.
Last
night I had the privilege of speaking to hundreds of high school
students and their parents. I told them what I have been telling young
people for nearly three decades… to have the courage to say “yes” to
opportunity. Today I am here to do the very thing I encourage others to
do…to say yes to an amazing opportunity that has presented itself to
me. Since January, I have been working with Pathways to Leadership
Inc., a company that gives businesses a competitive advantage over
others by helping them unleash the greatness in their employees, teams,
and organization. This is a company that changes the results people and
organizations deliver - because it changes the lives of the people in
the organization.
I thought that I might be able to work with
Pathways to Leadership and campaign for Congress at the same time.
However, the opportunities with Pathways have grown and I must say
“yes” to those opportunities. In addition to locations in the US, my
work with Pathways will be taking me to Australia, Switzerland, Mexico,
and Italy in the very near future. In those travels, I will be working
with businessmen and women who are motivated to improve their
leadership skills and the wellness culture in their workplace.
This
is a tremendous opportunity for me and I have wrestled with my decision
for a number of weeks now. The campaign is very strong, the support is
broad-based, and I still believe I am the best candidate to win the
seat. However, I am motivated by a passion to serve and my opportunity
with Pathways gives me the ability to serve immediately. I could spend
the next 14 months campaigning for the opportunity to make a difference
or I could spend the next 14 months actually making a difference in the
lives of others.
So, today I am announcing that I am ending my campaign for congress in the 4th district.
From
the bottom of my heart, I want to thank my staff, my volunteers, and
all those who invested time, energy, and hope in our campaign. I am
thrilled that I have been a vehicle for their involvement in the
political process. Those that have been empowered by my campaign will
continue to use their voice to impact the politics of their
communities… I am certain of it. And although I won’t be their
candidate I will continue to be their friend and will fight side by
side with them to change our country and the world.
