{{short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Gail Schwartz | image = Gail Schwartz.jpg | state_senate = Colorado | state = Colorado | district = 5th | term_start = January 10, 2007 | term_end = January 7, 2015 | preceded = Lewis Entz | succeeded = Kerry Donovan | alma_mater = University of Colorado | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Alan E. Schwartz | profession = | party = Democratic }} '''Gail Sheridan Schwartz'''<ref name="about"/> is a former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2006, Schwartz represented Senate District 5, which covers a large section of south-central Colorado, ranging from Aspen, and Delta, Colorado through the San Luis Valley to the New Mexico border.<ref name="map">{{cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district05s.html |title=State Senate District 5 |accessdate=2008-04-04 |work=COMaps |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304220843/http://www.comaps.org/district05s.html |archivedate=2008-03-04 }}</ref> Schwartz left office in 2015 after serving two terms and unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives in Colorado's 3rd congressional district.

==Biography== Born and raised in Chicago, Schwartz holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Colorado. Schwartz has worked as Director of Development, and later Acting Director for the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority. She has also worked as a real estate and marketing consultant and as an executive for Sno-Engineering, Inc.<ref name="about">{{Cite web |title=About Gail |url=http://www.gailschwartz.org/biography |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105160756/http://www.gailschwartz.org/biography |archive-date=January 5, 2009}}</ref>

Schwartz was involved in education issues in the Aspen School District, including campaigning for a $4 million local bond election for technology in local schools. She received the Aspen School District's "Outstanding Service Award." She was appointed by Governor Roy Romer to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as a representative of the Western Slope from 1995 to 1999.<ref name="about"/>

In 2000, Schwartz was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado from Colorado's 3rd congressional district.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McAvoy |first=Tom |date=June 3, 2000 |title=Dennises selected delegates to the Republican Convention |work=Pueblo Chieftain |url=https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/2000/06/03/dennises-selected-delegates-to-republican/9098224007/ |access-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811075921/https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/2000/06/03/dennises-selected-delegates-to-republican/9098224007/ |archive-date=August 11, 2022}}</ref> She faced Republican incumbent Hank Anton and campaigned on increasing accessibility to higher education, particularly for the largely rural and underserved Western Slope of Colorado.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nadzam |first=Bonnie |date=22 October 2000 |title=Aspen resident stresses higher education while campaigning for CU seat |work=Steamboat Pilot & Today |url=https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/aspen-resident-stresses-higher-education-while-campaigning-for-cu-seat/ |access-date=2008-04-26}}</ref> She was elected with roughly 51 percent of the popular vote, becoming the third Democrat on the nine-member board.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Poppen |first=Julie |date=8 November 2000 |title=Democrat looks like winner in CU Regent race |work=Rocky Mountain News |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&retrievalId=24ed06cc-e242-474a-ba98-ad86fdd0a49c&hitCount=1&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA66749885&docType=Brief+article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA66749885&searchId=R1&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-09-26 |via=Gale}}</ref> After being elected, Schwartz supported adding sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jefferson |last=Dodge |title=Regent: Add sexual orientation to policy |url=https://www.cu.edu/sg/messages/1333.html |work=Silver & Gold Record |date=30 November 2000 |accessdate=2008-04-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922092407/http://www.cu.edu/sg/messages/1333.html |archivedate=22 September 2006 }}</ref> Schwartz also served as vice-chair of the Board of Regents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=MCO12494 |title=Senator Schwartz |accessdate=2008-04-04 |work=Project Vote Smart |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520173503/http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=MCO12494 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Schwartz is married; she and her husband, Alan, have three daughters.<ref name="about"/> {{As of|2018|post=,}} her family resides in Basalt, Colorado.<ref name="Essex-2016"/>

==Electoral history==

===2006=== {{Election box begin no change| title= 2006 Colorado State Senate election, District 5<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coffman |first=Mike |title=Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2005 Coordinated 2006 Primary 2006 General |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2006AbsractBook.pdf |access-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401005901/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2006AbsractBook.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate =Gail Schwartz | votes = 24,677 | percentage = 51.0% | change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Lewis Entz (incumbent) | votes = 23,691 | percentage = 49.0% | change = }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 48,368 | percentage = 100 | change = }} {{Election box gain with party link no change | winner = Democratic Party (United States) | loser = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

===2010=== {{Election box begin no change| title= 2010 Colorado State Senate election, District 5<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gessler |first=Scott |title=2010 abstract of votes cast |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf |access-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407025004/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate =Gail Schwartz (incumbent) | votes = 26,355 | percentage = 51.5% | change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Bob Rankin | votes = 25,269 | percentage = 48.5% | change = }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 51,624 | percentage = 100 | change = }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Democratic Party (United States) | swing = }} {{Election box end}}

===2016=== {{Election box begin no change | title=Colorado's 3rd congressional district, 2016 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/63746/184388/Web01/en/summary.html |title=Official Results November 8, 2016 General Election |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=December 14, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001035911/http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/63746/184388/Web01/en/summary.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Scott Tipton (incumbent) |votes = 204,220 |percentage = 54.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Gail Schwartz |votes = 150,914 |percentage = 40.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Gaylon Kent |votes = 18,903 |percentage = 5.0 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 374,037 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change| |winner = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

==Legislative career==

===2006 election=== In the 2006 Colorado legislative elections, Schwartz defeated incumbent Republican Lewis Entz with less than 51 percent of the popular vote. Schwartz was elected to represent Senate District 5, which includes Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral, Pitkin, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties.<ref name="map"/>

===2007 legislative session=== In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Schwartz was vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, and sat on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-02-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly |archive-date=March 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303170355/http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the regular session, Schwartz chaired the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax and federal mineral lease revenues<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07AllocSeverTax.htm |title=Allocation of Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Revenues |accessdate=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20071226001608/http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07AllocSeverTax.htm |archivedate=2007-12-26 }}</ref> and served on the Water Resources Review Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07WaterResourcesSched.htm |title=Water Resources Review Committee |accessdate=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210083753/http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07WaterResourcesSched.htm |archivedate=February 10, 2009 }}</ref>

===2008 legislative session=== In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Schwartz serves as vice-chair of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, and sits on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee and the Legislative Audit Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-02-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly |archive-date=March 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303165702/http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the 2008 session, Schwartz sponsored legislation to require Colorado's chief information officer to map broadband internet access in Colorado,<ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=Weiser |title=SPEAKOUT: Broadband for all |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/11/speakout-broadband-for-all/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=11 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-13 |archive-date=April 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417225352/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/11/speakout-broadband-for-all/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and legislation to require greater public disclosure about prospective mining activities.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Schwartz/Curry push mining reform bill |url=http://www.crestedbuttenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=506&Itemid=40 |work=Crested Butte News |date=30 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-03 |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925200029/https://crestedbuttenews.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=506&Itemid=40 |url-status=live }}</ref> In total, Schwartz sponsored 16 House and Senate bills, 14 of which were passed into law.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saccone |first=Mike |date=14 June 2008 |title=Lawmakers largely successful with bills |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-lawmakers-largely-suc/132475867/ |access-date=2008-06-19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===2009 legislative session=== Following the legislative session, Schwartz was appointed to a seat on the legislature's Capital Development Committee, replacing term-limited Sen. Sue Windels.<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Ashby |title=Area adds muscle on state construction committee |url=http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/06/14/news/local/doc48538a4952ebd737627270.txt |work=Pueblo Chieftain |date=14 June 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-14 |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119042443/http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/06/14/news/local/doc48538a4952ebd737627270.txt |url-status=live }}</ref> For the 2009 session of the Colorado General Assembly, she was named chair of the Senate Local Government and Energy Committee<ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Mook |title=Rice to chair House business committee |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/11/17/daily25.html |work=Denver Business Journal |date=18 November 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-23 |archive-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526093951/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/11/17/daily25.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and a member of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.<ref>{{cite news|first=Erika |last=Jensen |title=Senate Democrats Announce Committee Assignments |url=http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3530/2/ |work=The Cherry Creek News |date=13 November 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109013850/http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3530/2/ |archivedate=January 9, 2009 }}</ref>

Schwartz voted yes for Senate Bill 170 would have allowed students who are in the country illegally and who have graduated from Colorado high schools to pay in-state tuition plus the cost of a state stipend that other Colorado students receive. The bill was rejected.

In November 2008, Schwartz was named chair of a special legislative Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth, tasked with developing recommendations on bolstering Colorado's economy before the 2009 legislative session.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Legislative Leaders Convene Committee On Job Creation & Economic Growth |date=20 November 2008 |publisher=Colorado House Democrats |url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/legislative-leaders-convene-committee-on-job-creation-economic-growth.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511012829/http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/legislative-leaders-convene-committee-on-job-creation-economic-growth.html |archivedate=11 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Ingold |title=JStatehouse jobs panel convenes, given sobering outlook |url=http://www.denverpost.com/writersontherange/ci_11064266 |work=Denver Post |date=24 November 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-25 |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524084046/http://www.denverpost.com/writersontherange/ci_11064266 |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee developed some 30 proposals, ranging from public works projects to tax incentives, designed to spur job creation in Colorado, for consideration during the 2009 legislative session.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Ingold |title=Panel considers 30 bills to boost state's budget |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11559720 |work=Denver Post |date=27 January 2009 |accessdate=2009-03-12 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604143659/http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11559720 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Schwartz was one of a handful of Colorado legislators who attended the January 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama in person.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saccone |first=Mike |date=21 January 2009 |title=The Inauguration: Historic moment inspires Colorado political leaders |page=5 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-historic-moment-inspi/132411357/ |access-date=2023-09-25 |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925200124/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-historic-moment-inspi/132411357/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==2016 Congressional candidacy== Schwartz unsuccessfully sought to represent Colorado's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.<ref name="Matthews-2016">{{Cite news |last=Matthews |first=Mark |date=8 April 2016 |title=Gail Schwartz looks to unseat Scott Tipton |publisher=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/04/08/gail-schwartz-looks-to-unseat-scott-tipton/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708220653/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/04/08/gail-schwartz-looks-to-unseat-scott-tipton/ |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The ''Cook Political Report'' described Schwartz as the "top potential" recruit for Democrats for the race, citing Schwartz's previous successful campaigns in tough elections.<ref name="Matthews-2016" /> Schwartz won the Democratic primary for the seat, but lost to Republican incumbent Scott Tipton in the general election.<ref name="Essex-2016">{{cite news|last1=Essex|first1=Randy|title=Tipton coasts to primary victory; will face Schwartz|url=http://www.aspentimes.com/news/22700290-113/tipton-coasts-to-primary-victory-will-face-schwartz|accessdate=11 August 2016|publisher=The Aspen Times|date=28 June 2016|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822192310/http://www.aspentimes.com/news/22700290-113/tipton-coasts-to-primary-victory-will-face-schwartz|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://schwartzforcongress.org/ Campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schwartz, Gail}} Category:Democratic Party Colorado state senators Category:University of Colorado alumni Category:Women state legislators in Colorado Category:Living people Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:People from Pitkin County, Colorado Category:People from Gunnison County, Colorado Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:University of Colorado regents