# Edward Casso

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**Edward Casso** (born 1974[2]) is a former legislator in the [U.S. state](/source/U.S._state) of [Colorado](/source/Colorado). Elected to the [Colorado House of Representatives](/source/Colorado_House_of_Representatives) as a [Democrat](/source/United_States_Democratic_Party) in 2006, Casso represented House District 32, which encompasses suburbs of [Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver,_Colorado) in northwestern [Adams County](/source/Adams_County,_Colorado), from 2006 to 2012.[3]

## Biography

Born in [Thornton, Colorado](/source/Thornton,_Colorado), Casso earned a bachelor's degree in political philosophy from the [University of Colorado at Boulder](/source/University_of_Colorado_at_Boulder) in 1997.[4] He was the first member of his family to attend college. While at CU, Casso was president of the CU College Democrats.[2] There, he was a precinct committeeperson for the [Boulder](/source/Boulder_County,_Colorado) County Democratic Party[4] and a member of the vacancy committee that appointed [Ron Tupa](/source/Ron_Tupa) to the [Colorado State Senate](/source/Colorado_State_Senate).[2]

After moving to [Adams County](/source/Adams_County,_Colorado), 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](/source/Young_Democrats_of_America).[2] He has also served as chair of the [Colorado Democratic Party](/source/Colorado_Democratic_Party) Outreach Commission, and worked as an intern for Congressman [David Skaggs](/source/David_Skaggs).[4]

Before being elected to the legislature, Casso worked as a teacher in an alternative high school during summers,[5] and as a substitute teacher for [Denver Public Schools](/source/Denver_Public_Schools).[6] Casso resides in [Commerce City, Colorado](/source/Commerce_City,_Colorado);[2] he and his wife, Selena, have two children: Cecelia and Aristotle.[4]

## Legislative career

### 2006 election

In the 2006 Colorado legislative elections, Casso defeated Republican Tracey Snyder with 57 percent of the popular vote.[3] Casso was endorsed by the *[Denver Post](/source/Denver_Post)*,[7] but not the *[Rocky Mountain News](/source/Rocky_Mountain_News)*.[8]

### 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. [9]

During the 2007 session, Casso sponsored two bills to revise the ways in which schools' [CSAP](/source/CSAP) test scores were reported. One, which would have exempted scores from [special education](/source/Special_education) students,[10] was killed in a Senate committee;[11] 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.[10]

Following the legislative session, Casso was present at the [Colorado State Capitol](/source/Colorado_State_Capitol) during an incident in which state troopers shot and killed a mentally ill individual gunman targeting Gov. [Bill Ritter](/source/Bill_Ritter). Casso observed the dead body and afterwards supported increased security, including [metal detectors](/source/Metal_detector), for the state capitol building.[12][13][14] He also served on the interim legislative Health Care Task Force[15] and the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission between legislative sessions.[16]

In October 2007, Casso was honored by LARASA, the Latin American Research And Service Agency with the [Lena L. Archuleta](/source/Lena_L._Archuleta) Education Service Award, for his work in the legislature, including a vote in committee that benefitted LARASA Learning Centers.[17][18]

After the legislative session, Casso was elected deputy whip for the House Democratic Caucus.[19]

### 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. [20]

After killing a bill he sponsored to extend a combined [high school](/source/High_school)-[community college](/source/Community_college) program to school districts on the [Ute Mountain](/source/Ute_Mountain_Ute_Tribe) and [Southern Ute Indian Reservation](/source/Southern_Ute_Indian_Reservation), at the request of tribal leaders,[21] Casso is expected to travel to the reservations to discuss the program following the legislative session.[22]

### 2008 election

Casso sought a second term in the legislature in 2008 and faced no opposition in either the August Democratic primary[23] or the November general election.[24]

### 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.[25] He was also nominated for the post of House Majority Caucus Whip, but lost the caucus' vote for the post to Rep. [Claire Levy](/source/Claire_Levy).[26] Casso has also sponsored legislation to declare September 11 a state holiday.[27][28]

### 2010 legislative session

After Casso praised Gov. [Bill Ritter](/source/Bill_Ritter_(politician))'s decision not to run for a second term in January 2010 and harshly criticized the sitting Democratic governor, House Speaker [Terrance Carroll](/source/Terrance_Carroll) replaced Casso as vice-chair of the House Business Affairs Committee with Rep. [Sara Gagliardi](/source/Sara_Gagliardi).[29]

### 2012 legislative session

Representative Casso announced he would not seek reelection in the [2012 General Election](/source/United_States_elections,_2012).[30] Casso is succeeded by former [legislative aide](/source/Legislative_staff_in_Colorado) [Dominick Moreno](/source/Dominick_Moreno) who was elected over his Republican opponent.[31][32]

### 2016 Congressional election

Casso formed an [exploratory committee](/source/Exploratory_committee) for the [2016 election](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Colorado,_2016) to the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) in .[33]

## References

1. ["House Journal - January 10, 2007"](http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csljournals.nsf/(jouhse)/C74DAE3008365363872572580079AA44/$FILE/Jn10.pdf). *Colorado General Assembly*. Retrieved December 8, 2007.

1. ["Edward Casso (HD 32)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071013211218/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/edward-casso-hd-32.html). *Colorado House Democrats*. Archived from [the original](http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/edward-casso-hd-32.html) on October 13, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. ["State House District 32"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080304221257/http://www.comaps.org/district32h.html). *COMaps*. Archived from [the original](http://comaps.org/district32h.html) on March 4, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.

1. ["Representative Edward Casso"](http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=66685). *Project Vote Smart*. Retrieved April 6, 2008.

1. Casso, Edward (September 7, 2006). ["Candidate profile: Edward Casso"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110929221827/http://denver.yourhub.com/CommerceCity/Stories/News/Government/Story~122382.aspx). *YourHub.com*. Archived from [the original](http://denver.yourhub.com/CommerceCity/Stories/News/Government/Story~122382.aspx) on September 29, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. Bartels, Lynn (February 7, 2008). ["Citizen Legislator, February 8"](http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/07/citizen-legislator-february-8/). *Rocky Mountain News*. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. Editorial Board (October 7, 2006). ["State House races"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110524061420/http://www.denverpost.com/dempsey/ci_4448954). *Denver Post*. Archived from [the original](http://www.denverpost.com/dempsey/ci_4448954) on May 24, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. Editorial Board (October 12, 2006). ["Our choices for the Colorado House"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061201094305/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/editorials/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23964_5059375%2C00.html). *Rocky Mountain News*. Archived from [the original](http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/editorials/article/0,2777,DRMN_23964_5059375,00.html) on December 1, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. ["House Committees of Reference"](http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView). *Colorado General Assembly*. Retrieved April 6, 2008.

1. Brown, Jennifer (March 9, 2007). ["Don't mess with CSAP, panel says"](http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5389761). *Denver Post*. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. Staff Reports (April 12, 2007). ["Under the dome"](http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_56464161). *Denver Post*. Retrieved April 23, 2008. [dead link]

1. Couch, Mark P. & Jennifer Brown (July 17, 2007). ["Gunman: "You're gonna pay""](http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_6391301). *Denver Post*. Retrieved April 27, 2008.

1. Frosch, Dan (July 17, 2007). ["Troopers Kill Gunman Near Office of Colorado's Governor"](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/us/17colorado.html?pagewanted=all). *New York Times*. Retrieved April 27, 2008.

1. Staff Reports (July 17, 2007). ["32-Year-Old Thornton Man Shot, Killed Inside State Capitol"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071010064537/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13691120/detail.html). *TheDenverChannel.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13691120/detail.html) on October 10, 2007. Retrieved April 27, 2008.

1. ["Health Care Task Force"](http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07HealthCareTFSched.htm). *Colorado Legislative Council*. Retrieved April 27, 2008. [dead link]

1. ["Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission"](http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07FPPAsched.htm). *Colorado Legislative Council*. Retrieved April 27, 2008. [dead link]

1. ["LARASA Honors Two House Democrats Today"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100511034845/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/larasa-honors-t.html). Colorado House Democrats. October 5, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/larasa-honors-t.html) on May 11, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. ["Bernie Valdez Awards Luncheon"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070822051909/http://www.larasa.org/events/bva.htm). *Latin American Research And Service Agency*. Archived from [the original](http://www.larasa.org/events/bva.htm) on August 22, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. ["House Democrats Elect Andy Kerr to Majority Whip "The next generation of Democratic leadership""](https://web.archive.org/web/20100511025201/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/house-democrats.html). Colorado House Democrats. November 9, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/house-democrats.html) on May 11, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2008.

1. ["House Committees of Reference"](http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView). *Colorado General Assembly*. Retrieved April 6, 2008.

1. Hanel, Joe (April 12, 2007). ["Tribes ask Capitol to drop ed bill"](http://www.cortezjournal.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080412_2.htm). *Cortez Journal*. Retrieved May 10, 2008. [dead link]

1. Berry, Carol (April 12, 2007). ["Fast College Fast Jobs program comes to a halt"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516094642/http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417214). *Indian Country Today*. Archived from [the original](http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417214) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2008.

1. ["Colorado Statewide Cumulative Report - 2008 Primary Election"](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). *Colorado Secretary of State*. Retrieved November 8, 2008.[dead link]

1. Editorial Board (October 17, 2008). ["Post's picks in Colorado's House of Representatives"](http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10741559). *Denver Post*. Retrieved November 1, 2008.

1. ["House Democrats Unveil 2009 Committee Chairs & Assignments"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100103101139/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/house-democrats-unveil-2009-committee-chairs-assignments.html). Colorado House Democrats. November 18, 2008. Archived from [the original](http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/house-democrats-unveil-2009-committee-chairs-assignments.html) on January 3, 2010.

1. Pelzer, Jeremy (November 6, 2008). ["Full list of 2009 Statehouse leadership positions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090108184028/http://www.politickerco.com/jeremypelzer/2783/full-list-2009-statehouse-leadership-positions). *PolitickerCO.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.politickerco.com/jeremypelzer/2783/full-list-2009-statehouse-leadership-positions) on January 8, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2008.

1. Bartels, Lynn (December 29, 2008). ["Lawmaker seeks state holiday to mark Sept. 11"](http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/29/lawmaker-seeks-state-holiday-to-mark-sept-11/). *Rocky Mountain News*. Retrieved December 29, 2008.

1. Riccardi, Nicholas (January 26, 2009). ["Lawmaker determined to make 9/11 a state holiday"](http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11552804). *Denver Post*. Retrieved February 22, 2009.

1. Bartels, Lynn (January 28, 2010). ["Democratic rep loses post after ripping Ritter"](http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14149102). *Denver Post*. Retrieved January 8, 2010.

1. ["Colorado State Representative Edward Casso - General Information - Ballotpedia"](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Edward_Casso)

1. ["CO - Election Results - Colorado Secretary of State"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170314203900/http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/111283/en/summary.html). Archived from [the original](http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/111283/en/summary.html#) on March 14, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2012.

1. ["State House 2012 Election Results - Denver Post"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140708040426/http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-senate/2012/). Archived from [the original](http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-house/2012/) on July 8, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2012.

1. ["House Democrats to recruit Andrew Romanoff to run again"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141118124149/http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/11/13/andrew-romanoff-take-break-gear-16-campaign/115193/). Archived from [the original](http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/11/13/andrew-romanoff-take-break-gear-16-campaign/115193/) on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.

## External links

- [Colorado General Assembly profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20080922015342/http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/House/members/Hou32.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Edward Casso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Casso) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Casso?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.