{{short description|American politician (born 1974)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Edward Casso | state_house = Colorado | district = 32nd | term_start = January 10, 2007<ref name="hj1">{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csljournals.nsf/(jouhse)/C74DAE3008365363872572580079AA44/$FILE/Jn10.pdf |title=House Journal - January 10, 2007 |accessdate=December 8, 2007 |work=Colorado General Assembly }}</ref> | term_end = January 2013 | preceded = Val Vigil | succeeded = Dominick Moreno | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1974}} | birth_place=Thornton, Colorado | death_date= | death_place= | spouse=Selena | party=Democratic |}}
'''Edward Casso''' (born 1974<ref name="dembio">{{cite web |url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/edward-casso-hd-32.html |title=Edward Casso (HD 32) |accessdate=April 23, 2008 |work=Colorado House Democrats |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013211218/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/edward-casso-hd-32.html |archivedate=October 13, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>) is a former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2006, Casso represented House District 32, which encompasses suburbs of Denver, Colorado in northwestern Adams County, from 2006 to 2012.<ref name="map">{{cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district32h.html |title=State House District 32 |accessdate=April 6, 2008 |work=COMaps |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304221257/http://www.comaps.org/district32h.html |archivedate=March 4, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
==Biography== Born in Thornton, Colorado, Casso earned a bachelor's degree in political philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1997.<ref name="votesmart"/> He was the first member of his family to attend college. While at CU, Casso was president of the CU College Democrats.<ref name="dembio"/> There, he was a precinct committeeperson for the Boulder County Democratic Party<ref name="votesmart"/> and a member of the vacancy committee that appointed Ron Tupa to the Colorado State Senate.<ref name="dembio"/>
After moving to Adams County, Casso served as a precinct committeeperson, co-captain of house district 32-D, and vice-chair and later chair of the Adams County Young Democrats.<ref name="dembio"/> He has also served as chair of the Colorado Democratic Party Outreach Commission, and worked as an intern for Congressman David Skaggs.<ref name="votesmart">{{cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=66685 |title=Representative Edward Casso |accessdate=April 6, 2008 |work=Project Vote Smart}}</ref>
Before being elected to the legislature, Casso worked as a teacher in an alternative high school during summers,<ref name="yourhub">{{cite news |first=Edward |last=Casso |title=Candidate profile: Edward Casso |url=http://denver.yourhub.com/CommerceCity/Stories/News/Government/Story~122382.aspx |work=YourHub.com |date=September 7, 2006 |accessdate=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929221827/http://denver.yourhub.com/CommerceCity/Stories/News/Government/Story~122382.aspx |archivedate=September 29, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and as a substitute teacher for Denver Public Schools.<ref name="citleg">{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Citizen Legislator, February 8 |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/07/citizen-legislator-february-8/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=February 7, 2008 |accessdate=April 23, 2008 }}</ref> Casso resides in Commerce City, Colorado;<ref name="dembio"/> he and his wife, Selena, have two children: Cecelia and Aristotle.<ref name="votesmart"/>
==Legislative career==
===2006 election===
In the 2006 Colorado legislative elections, Casso defeated Republican Tracey Snyder with 57 percent of the popular vote.<ref name="map"/> Casso was endorsed by the ''Denver Post'',<ref name="denpost">{{cite news|author=Editorial Board |title=State House races |url=http://www.denverpost.com/dempsey/ci_4448954 |work=Denver Post |date=October 7, 2006 |accessdate=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524061420/http://www.denverpost.com/dempsey/ci_4448954 |archivedate=May 24, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> but not the ''Rocky Mountain News''.<ref name="rockyend">{{cite news|author=Editorial Board |title=Our choices for the Colorado House |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/editorials/article/0,2777,DRMN_23964_5059375,00.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=October 12, 2006 |accessdate=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201094305/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/editorials/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23964_5059375%2C00.html |archivedate=December 1, 2006 }}</ref>
===2007 legislative session=== In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Casso sat on the House Education Committee and the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee. <ref name="cmtes">{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |accessdate=April 6, 2008 |work=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref>
During the 2007 session, Casso sponsored two bills to revise the ways in which schools' CSAP test scores were reported. One, which would have exempted scores from special education students,<ref name="messwith"/> was killed in a Senate committee;<ref name="underspec">{{cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Under the dome |url=http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_56464161 |work=Denver Post |date=April 12, 2007 |accessdate=April 23, 2008 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> the other, which would have exempted scores for students whose parents opt the students out of the test, was killed in a House committee at Casso's request because of concerns that it would jeopardize federal school funding.<ref name="messwith">{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Don't mess with CSAP, panel says |url=http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5389761 |work=Denver Post |date=March 9, 2007 |accessdate=April 23, 2008 }}</ref>
Following the legislative session, Casso was present at the Colorado State Capitol during an incident in which state troopers shot and killed a mentally ill individual gunman targeting Gov. Bill Ritter. Casso observed the dead body and afterwards supported increased security, including metal detectors, for the state capitol building.<ref name="gunman">{{cite news |first=Mark P. |last=Couch |author2=Jennifer Brown |title=Gunman: "You're gonna pay" |url=http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_6391301 |work=Denver Post |date=July 17, 2007 |accessdate=April 27, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="troopers">{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Frosch |title=Troopers Kill Gunman Near Office of Colorado's Governor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/us/17colorado.html?pagewanted=all |work=New York Times |date=July 17, 2007 |accessdate=April 27, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="yearold">{{cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=32-Year-Old Thornton Man Shot, Killed Inside State Capitol |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13691120/detail.html |work=TheDenverChannel.com |date=July 17, 2007 |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010064537/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13691120/detail.html |archivedate=October 10, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He also served on the interim legislative Health Care Task Force<ref name="hcare">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07HealthCareTFSched.htm |title=Health Care Task Force |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |work=Colorado Legislative Council }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission between legislative sessions.<ref name="pofp">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07FPPAsched.htm |title=Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |work=Colorado Legislative Council }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
In October 2007, Casso was honored by LARASA, the Latin American Research And Service Agency with the Lena L. Archuleta Education Service Award, for his work in the legislature, including a vote in committee that benefitted LARASA Learning Centers.<ref name="larasa">{{cite press release |title=LARASA Honors Two House Democrats Today |publisher=Colorado House Democrats |date=October 5, 2007 |url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/larasa-honors-t.html |accessdate=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511034845/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/larasa-honors-t.html |archivedate=May 11, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="larasa2">{{cite web|url=http://www.larasa.org/events/bva.htm |title=Bernie Valdez Awards Luncheon |accessdate=April 23, 2008 |work=Latin American Research And Service Agency |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822051909/http://www.larasa.org/events/bva.htm |archivedate=August 22, 2007 }}</ref>
After the legislative session, Casso was elected deputy whip for the House Democratic Caucus.<ref name="depwhip">{{cite press release |title=House Democrats Elect Andy Kerr to Majority Whip "The next generation of Democratic leadership" |publisher=Colorado House Democrats |date=November 9, 2007 |url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/house-democrats.html |accessdate=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511025201/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/house-democrats.html |archivedate=May 11, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
===2008 legislative session===
In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Casso sits on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee and the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee. <ref name="cmte2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |accessdate=April 6, 2008 |work=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref>
After killing a bill he sponsored to extend a combined high school-community college program to school districts on the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Indian Reservation, at the request of tribal leaders,<ref name="tribes">{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Hanel |title=Tribes ask Capitol to drop ed bill |url=http://www.cortezjournal.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080412_2.htm |work=Cortez Journal |date=April 12, 2007 |accessdate=May 10, 2008 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Casso is expected to travel to the reservations to discuss the program following the legislative session.<ref name="halt">{{cite news|first=Carol |last=Berry |title=Fast College Fast Jobs program comes to a halt |url=http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417214 |work=Indian Country Today |date=April 12, 2007 |accessdate=May 10, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516094642/http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417214 |archivedate=May 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
===2008 election=== Casso sought a second term in the legislature in 2008 and faced no opposition in either the August Democratic primary<ref name="prim08">{{cite web|url=http://rs.ezvotetally.com/Reserved.ReportViewerWebControl.axd?ReportSession=syj1hm55hso5ty55pcuhyprg&ControlID=a61fb386-685c-4a0c-a691-71334ad539d8&Culture=1033&UICulture=1033&ReportStack=1&OpType=ReportArea&Controller=ClientControllerdnn_ctr370_ViewRS2005_ReportViewer1&PageNumber=1&ZoomMode=Percent&ZoomPct=100&ReloadDocMap=true&EnableFindNext=False&LinkTarget=_top |title=Colorado Statewide Cumulative Report - 2008 Primary Election |accessdate=November 8, 2008 |work=Colorado Secretary of State }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> or the November general election.<ref name="dphouse">{{cite news |author=Editorial Board |title=Post's picks in Colorado's House of Representatives |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10741559 |work=Denver Post |date=October 17, 2008 |accessdate=November 1, 2008 }} </ref>
===2009 legislative session=== For the 2009 legislative session, Casso was named to a seat on the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee and as vice-chair of the House Business Affairs Committee.<ref name="cmte09">{{cite press release |title=House Democrats Unveil 2009 Committee Chairs & Assignments |date=November 18, 2008 |publisher=Colorado House Democrats |url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/house-democrats-unveil-2009-committee-chairs-assignments.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103101139/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/house-democrats-unveil-2009-committee-chairs-assignments.html |archivedate=January 3, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> He was also nominated for the post of House Majority Caucus Whip, but lost the caucus' vote for the post to Rep. Claire Levy.<ref name="lead">{{cite news|first=Jeremy |last=Pelzer |title=Full list of 2009 Statehouse leadership positions |url=http://www.politickerco.com/jeremypelzer/2783/full-list-2009-statehouse-leadership-positions |work=PolitickerCO.com |date=November 6, 2008 |accessdate=November 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108184028/http://www.politickerco.com/jeremypelzer/2783/full-list-2009-statehouse-leadership-positions |archivedate=January 8, 2009 }}</ref> Casso has also sponsored legislation to declare September 11 a state holiday.<ref name="hol911">{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Lawmaker seeks state holiday to mark Sept. 11 |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/29/lawmaker-seeks-state-holiday-to-mark-sept-11/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=December 29, 2008 |accessdate=December 29, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="maker911">{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Riccardi |title=Lawmaker determined to make 9/11 a state holiday |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11552804 |work=Denver Post |date=January 26, 2009 |accessdate=February 22, 2009 }}</ref>
===2010 legislative session=== After Casso praised Gov. Bill Ritter's decision not to run for a second term in January 2010 and harshly criticized the sitting Democratic governor, House Speaker Terrance Carroll replaced Casso as vice-chair of the House Business Affairs Committee with Rep. Sara Gagliardi.<ref name="losespost">{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Democratic rep loses post after ripping Ritter |url=http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14149102 |work=Denver Post |date=January 28, 2010 |accessdate=January 8, 2010 }}</ref>
===2010 election=== {{Expand section|date=November 2012}}
===2011 legislative session=== {{Expand section|date=November 2012}}
===2012 legislative session=== {{Expand section|date=November 2012}} Representative Casso announced he would not seek reelection in the 2012 General Election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Edward_Casso |title=Colorado State Representative Edward Casso - General Information - Ballotpedia}}</ref> Casso is succeeded by former legislative aide Dominick Moreno who was elected over his Republican opponent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/111283/en/summary.html# |title=CO - Election Results - Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314203900/http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/111283/en/summary.html |archive-date=March 14, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-house/2012/ |title=State House 2012 Election Results - Denver Post |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708040426/http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-senate/2012/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===2016 Congressional election=== Casso formed an exploratory committee for the 2016 election to the United States House of Representatives in {{ushr|co|6}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/11/13/andrew-romanoff-take-break-gear-16-campaign/115193/ |title=House Democrats to recruit Andrew Romanoff to run again |access-date=November 18, 2014 |archive-date=November 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118124149/http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/11/13/andrew-romanoff-take-break-gear-16-campaign/115193/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080922015342/http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/House/members/Hou32.htm Colorado General Assembly profile]
{{Portal bar|Biography|Colorado|Politics|United States}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Casso, Edward}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:People from Thornton, Colorado Category:Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives Category:People from Commerce City, Colorado Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly