{{short description|American politician (born 1943)}} {{for-multi|the American baseball player|Dave Skaggs|the American historian|David Curtis Skaggs Jr.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = David Skaggs | image = David Skaggs.jpg | office = Board Chair of the Office of Congressional Ethics | term_start = 2019 | term_end = 2021 | predecessor = Judy Biggert (acting) | successor = Michael D. Barnes | term_start1 = 2008 | term_end1 = 2011 | predecessor1 = Position established | successor1 = Porter Goss | office2 = Board Co-Chair of the Office of Congressional Ethics | term_start2 = 2011 | term_end2 = 2019 | predecessor2 = Porter Goss | successor2 = Allison Hayward | office3 = Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education | governor3 = Bill Ritter | term_start3 = January 2007 | term_end3 = September 2009 | predecessor3 = Richard O'Donnell | successor3 = Rico Munn | state4 = Colorado | district4 = {{ushr|CO|2|2nd}} | term_start4 = January 3, 1987 | term_end4 = January 3, 1999 | predecessor4 = Tim Wirth | successor4 = Mark Udall | office5 = Member of the Colorado House of Representatives | term_start5 = January 7, 1981 | term_end5 = January 3, 1987 | predecessor5 = Lee Jones | successor5 = Dorothy Rupert | constituency6 = 47th district (1981–1983)<br>14th district (1983–1987) | birth_name = David Evans Skaggs | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|2|22}} | birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Laura Locher | children = 3 | education = Wesleyan University (BA)<br>Yale University (LLB) | branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}} | service_years = 1968–1971 (active)<br>1971–1979 (reserve) | rank = Major | unit = Marine Corps Judge Advocate Division }} '''David Evans Skaggs''' (born February 22, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician from Colorado. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://issueone.org/press/issue-one-thanks-former-oce-chairman-david-skaggs-for-his-years-of-leadership-as-a-vital-and-independent-voice-holding-members-of-congress-accountable/|title = Issue One thanks former OCE chairman David Skaggs for his years of leadership as a vital and independent voice holding members of Congress accountable|last = Combs|first = Cory|date = July 20, 2021|work = Issue One|accessdate = May 23, 2024}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Skaggs was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but grew up in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City.<ref name=wapostdb>{{cite web|title=The U.S. Congress Votes Database – David Skaggs|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/S000462|work=The Washington Post|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref> He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Wesleyan University in 1964 and a Bachelor of Laws from Yale University in 1967.<ref name=pidb>{{cite web|title=Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) Members|publisher=National Archives|url=https://www.archives.gov/pidb/members.html|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Early career === Skaggs spent three years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, including service in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division and assignments on Okinawa and at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC.<ref name="oce">{{cite web|title=David Skaggs, Co-Chairman |publisher=Office of Congressional Ethics |url=http://oce.house.gov/david-skaggs.html |access-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322144921/http://oce.house.gov/david-skaggs.html |archive-date=March 22, 2012 }}</ref> Upon discharge from active duty in 1971, he remained in the Marine Reserves until 1978, attaining the rank of Major.<ref name="wapostdb" /> Skaggs practiced law briefly in New York City and, after military service, in Boulder, Colorado.<ref name="pidb" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Skaggs, David E. Candidate Details|publisher=Our Campaigns|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=11471|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref>
Skaggs first became involved in politics as a Democratic Party volunteer and officer in 1971. In 1974, he was hired as an aide to United States Representative Tim Wirth of Colorado, a position he held until 1977.<ref name="opensecrets">{{cite web|title=Revolving Door: David E Skaggs Employment Summary|publisher=OpenSecrets|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=18955|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref>
=== U.S. House of Representatives === He ran successfully for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in 1980, and he served three terms—two as Minority Leader—before running for Congress.<ref name="pidb" /> Skaggs was a six-term member of the United States House of Representatives and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harden|first=Mark|title=Ex-congressman David Skaggs joins McKenna Long & Aldridge|newspaper=Denver Business Journal|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/01/18/daily21.html|date=January 19, 2010|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref>
While in the House, he served initially on the Science, Space & Technology Committee and the Public Works & Transportation Committee, before winning a seat on the Appropriations Committee in 1991. He also served six years (1993–99) on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.<ref name=opensecrets /> During his tenure in office, Skaggs became a voice for civility in politics.<ref name=zaret>{{cite news|last=Zaret|first=Elliott|title=Skaggs leaves a legacy of civility|newspaper=Denver Post|date=November 30, 1998}}</ref> He and Representative Ray LaHood were founding co-chairs of the House Bi-Partisan Retreat, first held in 1997 and designed to encourage civility and comity in the House; the retreats continued through 2003. He was also co-founder of the Constitutional Forum (with Representative Jim Leach), a series of seminars with distinguished guest lecturers who led member discussions of constitutional issues. During the 104th Congress, Skaggs was Chairman of the Democratic Study Group, the principal policy and reform organization of House Democrats.<ref name=oce />
Notwithstanding his efforts to uphold civility and restore bipartisan comity to the House, Skaggs was often criticized for being partisan and voting along party lines.<ref name=zaret /> Though he was well known for his liberal voting record, he was a strong opponent both of the presidential line-item veto, once suing to block it, and President Clinton's use of military force without congressional approval.<ref name=romano>{{cite news|last=Romano|first=Michael|title=David Skaggs Congressman's Reputation Rests on Crusade for Civility|newspaper=Rocky Mountain News|date=December 28, 1998}}</ref> In 1992, Skaggs came under fire for his overdrafts from the so-called House bank.<ref name=romano />
=== After Congress === After retiring in 1999, Skaggs served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado and as executive director of the Center for Democracy & Citizenship at the Council for Excellence in Government for several years before moving back to Colorado to serve as executive director of the state Department of Higher Education from 2007 until resigning in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=David E. Skaggs |publisher=Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership |url=http://www.stennis.gov/news/congressional-bios/122-david-e-skaggs |access-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015033529/http://stennis.gov/news/congressional-bios/122-david-e-skaggs |archive-date=October 15, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=deYoanna|first=Michael|title=Questions Linger Over David Skaggs' Resignation|newspaper=5280: The Denver Magazine|url=http://www.5280.com/blogs/2009/08/31/questions-linger-over-david-skaggs-resignation|date=August 31, 2009|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref> His resignation raised eyebrows at the time, as no specific resignation reason was given; Skaggs merely cited a dispute with Gov. Bill Ritter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sherry|first=Allison|title=Colorado higher-ed director Skaggs resigns|newspaper=Denver Post|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13227044|date=August 29, 2009|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref> Skaggs was appointed the first chair of the board of the new Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) in 2008. After control of the House changed to the Republicans in 2010, former Florida Representative and CIA Director Porter Goss became OCE board chair, with Skaggs as co-chair.<ref name=oce /><ref>{{cite news|last=Nixon|first=Ron|title=G.O.P. Grants Reprieve to House Ethics Office|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/us/politics/22ethics.html|date=January 21, 2011|access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref>
Additionally, Skaggs was a member of the U. S. Public Interest Declassification Board from 2005 to 2016.<ref name=oce /> Skaggs also served as co-chair of the Constitution Project's bipartisan War Powers Committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=War Powers Committee Members |publisher=The Constitution Project |url=http://www.constitutionproject.org/committees/warpowersmembers.php |access-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426035250/http://www.constitutionproject.org/committees/warpowersmembers.php |archive-date=April 26, 2012 }}</ref> He serves on the boards of trustees of the National Endowment for Democracy and the American University of Iraq. He received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's David E. Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado, for which he secured funding, is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Skaggs Research Center|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce Boulder Labs|url=http://www.boulder.doc.gov/noaa/dsrc.html|access-date=December 7, 2011|archive-date=November 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111003316/http://www.boulder.doc.gov/noaa/dsrc.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He now is affiliated with the Denver office of Dentons, where he works as a senior strategic advisor and independent consultant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Congressman David Skaggs joins Denver law firm|newspaper=The Colorado Statesman|url=http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991740-former-congressman-david-skaggs-joins-denver-law-firm/|date=April 9, 2010|access-date=December 7, 2011|archive-date=April 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421181109/http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991740-former-congressman-david-skaggs-joins-denver-law-firm/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He leads the legal team in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Colorado's so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights ("TABOR").
In January 2023, Skaggs was one of several applicants to fill the Colorado House District 12 seat vacated by the resignation of Rep. Tracey Bernett.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodland |first=Marianne |date=January 17, 2023 |title=House District 12 vacancy draws unusual candidate in former U.S. Rep. David Skaggs |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/house-district-12-vacancy-draws-unusual-candidate-in-former-u-s-rep-david-skaggs/article_7799e8c6-9083-11ed-b27b-875e56cf7fa3.html |access-date=January 22, 2023 |website=Colorado Politics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Candidates emerge for House District 12 seat vacated by former Rep. Tracey Bernett |url=https://www.timescall.com/2023/01/11/candidates-emerge-for-house-district-12-seat-vacated-by-former-rep-tracey-bernett |access-date=January 22, 2023 |website=Longmont Times-Call |language=en-US}}</ref> The committee elected Louisville councilman Kyle Brown for the seat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodland |first=Marianne |date=January 28, 2023 |title=Democrats in Louisville-based House District 12 choose Kyle Brown to replace Tracey Bernett |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/democrats-in-louisville-based-house-district-12-choose-kyle-brown-to-replace-tracey-bernett/article_08cea394-9f3f-11ed-862f-c3b5a8fda528.html |access-date=January 31, 2023 |website=Colorado Politics |language=en}}</ref>
Skaggs endorsed an uncommitted vote in the 2024 Colorado Democratic presidential primary. In a column for ''The Denver Post'', he praised Joe Biden's presidency but expressed doubt over his odds at re-election, and wrote that "he should step aside, as Lyndon Johnson did in March 1968 [...] preserve the splendid legacy he has earned, and avoid the embarrassment he doesn't deserve".<ref name = Feb24>{{cite news|url = https://www.denverpost.com/2024/02/21/skaggs-im-voting-uncommitted-on-super-tuesday-because-democrats-deserve-a-choice/|title = Skaggs: I'm voting "uncommitted" on Super Tuesday because Democrats deserve a choice|last = Skaggs|first = David|newspaper = The Denver Post|date = February 21, 2024|accessdate = May 23, 2024}}</ref>
In July 2024, after Joe Biden's poorly received performance in the first presidential debate on June 27, and subsequent calls for him to suspend his campaign, Skaggs organized 24 former members of Congress to sign a letter asking Biden to drop out of the race.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ferris |first=Sarah |date=July 12, 2024 |title=24 former Dem lawmakers to Biden: Allow an open convention |url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/07/12/congress/former-lawmakers-write-to-biden-open-convention-dem-00167896 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=Politico}}</ref>
== Personal life == {{As of|2024}}, Skaggs lives in Longmont, Colorado.<ref name = Feb24/>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
== External links == {{CongBio|S000462}} Retrieved on 2009-02-11 *[https://oce.house.gov/about/board-and-staff/david-skaggs-chairman OCE bio] *{{C-SPAN|6805}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Skaggs, David}} Category:1943 births Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:20th-century members of the Colorado General Assembly Category:20th-century United States representatives Category:Colorado lawyers Category:Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Colorado Category:Living people Category:People from Longmont, Colorado Category:State cabinet secretaries of Colorado Category:United States Marines Category:Wesleyan University alumni Category:Yale University alumni