Dominick Moreno

Dom Moreno
Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate
In office
February 23, 2022 – September 1, 2023
Preceded bySteve Fenberg
Succeeded byRobert Rodriguez
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 11, 2017 – September 1, 2023
Preceded byJessie Ulibarri
Succeeded byDafna Michaelson Jenet
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 32nd district
In office
January 2013 – January 11, 2017
Preceded byEd Casso
Succeeded byAdrienne Benavidez
Personal details
Born (1985-02-07) February 7, 1985 (age 39)
Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationGeorgetown University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Dominick Moreno (born February 7, 1985) is an American politician who served as a state legislator in Colorado. A Democrat, Moreno represented the 21st district of the Colorado Senate from January 11, 2017 until he resigned on September 1, 2023 to serve as deputy chief of staff to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.[1][2] Before his election to the senate, he represented the 32nd district in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2012 to 2016.[3]

Biography

Early life and education

Moreno was born and raised in Commerce City, Colorado, and earned a B.A. in American Government from Georgetown University. Coming from a working-class family, Moreno was able to afford tuition at the institution as a consequence of generous scholarships he received.[4][5] Moreno returned to Colorado to work in retail and the service industry throughout his time at Georgetown. He spent breaks abroad teaching English in northern Mexico in the village of Palmitas. After graduation, Moreno moved back to Colorado and served for two years on the city council of Commerce City.[4] In 2017, Moreno completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

Legislative career

Prior to his election to the state legislature, Moreno worked as a legislative aide to Ed Casso, his predecessor as the district's representative.[6] He is openly gay,[6] and became one of four LGBT members of the House of Representatives alongside Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, Representative Joann Ginal, Representative Paul Rosenthal and Representative Sue Schafer.[3]

2012 election

In the 2012 general election, Moreno faced Republican challenger Paul Reimer. Moreno was elected by a wide margin of 67% to 28%.[7][8]

School board service

In July 2018, Moreno was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Adams County School District 14 school board, filling out the term of a board member who resigned. Moreno is a graduate of schools in the district and continued to serve in the General Assembly.[9]

References

  1. ^ Goodland, Marianne (September 1, 2023). "Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet picked to succeed Dominick Moreno in Colorado Senate". Colorado Politics. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  2. ^ Birkeland, Bente (August 4, 2023). "A top state Senate leader is stepping down for a job in Denver mayor's administration". CPR News. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Colorado House Democrats pick Ferrandino for speaker, historic first for gays". Denver Post, November 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "About Dominick – Candidate Information Page". Archived from the original on 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  5. ^ "Dominick Moreno – Legislator Information page – Ballotpedia".
  6. ^ a b "Second gay man announces bid for Colorado General Assembly"[permanent dead link]. OutFront Colorado, September 22, 2011.
  7. ^ "CO – Election Results – Colorado Secretary of State". Archived from the original on 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  8. ^ "State House 2012 Election Results – Denver Post". Archived from the original on 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  9. ^ Robles, Yesenia (2018-07-09). "Adams 14 votes to appoint Sen. Dominick Moreno to fill board vacancy". Chalkbeat. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
Colorado Senate
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate
2022–2023
Succeeded by