Dickey Lee Hullinghorst

Dickey Lee Hullinghorst (born July 27, 1943 She was elected as a Democrat in 2008. Hullinghorst represented House District 10, which encompasses central eastern Boulder and northeastern Boulder County, Colorado. She is only the second woman in state history to hold that position. It was the first time since 1880 that a lawmaker from Boulder County was the Speaker of the House.

Biography

Born Dickey Lee Shepard (named after her father, Richard), in Maywood, Nebraska, Hullinghorst earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Wyoming in 1965 and has completed graduate work in public policy at the University of Colorado, Denver. She has worked as a computer programmer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.,

Starting in 1985, Hullinghorst worked as Intergovernmental Relations Director for Boulder County, Colorado. She spearheaded the 2003 creation of the "Boulder County Countywide Coordinated Comprehensive Development Plan Intergovernmental Agreement," or "Super IGA," governing Boulder County development and land-preservation policies over a two-decade timeframe.

She has served on a number of local boards and commissions, including Boulder County's Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee, Healthy Communities Steering Committee, Resource Conservation Advisory Board, and Mental Health Center Board, as well as the city of Boulder's Blue Ribbon Commission on Revenue Stability. During the early 1980s,

A veteran of Democratic Party politics, Hullinghorst was a delegate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention and has served in a number of roles with the Boulder County Democratic Party, as a precinct committeeperson, member of the central and executive committees, finance chair, GOTV co-chair, county vice-chair, Her husband, Bob Hullinghorst, was Boulder County Treasurer. They have one daughter, Lara.

Legislative career

2008 campaign In October 2007, Hullinghorst announced her candidacy for the state house seat in District 10 being vacated by term-limited Rep. Alice Madden. She had no opposition in the Democratic primary and, in the general election, faced Republican Dorothy Marshall, a Boulder health insurance agent whose bid was endorsed by the Denver Post. Hullinghorst's campaign, however, was endorsed by the Boulder Daily Camera and the Boulder Weekly. Hullinghorst touted her government experience, and emphasized tax reform and the state budget in her legislative campaign. She ultimately won the general election with 75 percent of the popular vote.

2009 legislative session

For the 2009 legislative session, Hullinghorst was named to seats on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.

2010 legislative session

For the 2010 legislative session, Hullinghorst was named to the House Appropriations Committee, filling a seat previously held by Representative Kathleen Curry.

2010 election

2011 legislative session

2012 legislative session

2012 election In the 2012 General Election, Representative Hullinghorst faced Republican challenger William H. Eckert. Hullinghorst was reelected by a wide margin of 80% to 20%.