Ed Perlmutter
Ed Perlmutter is a Democratic politician from the U.S. State of Colorado. He is currently running for the U.S House 7th District (map) seat being vacated by Republican Bob Beauprez who is running for Governor of Colorado in 2006. He was elected to two four-year terms to represent the citizens of central Jefferson County as their State Senator from 1995 to 2003 - the first Democrat elected in the district in 30 years.
He graduated from Jefferson High School in Edgewater, Colorado and went on to study Political Science, History and Economics at the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating in 1975. He received his Juris Doctorate from CU in 1978 where he was twice elected President of his class while working part time as a laborer on construction projects. He is a director of the law firm of Berenbaum, Weinshienk and Eason, and has specialized in business reorganizations and commercial litigation. He served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association and served on the Board of Trustees and Judicial Performance Commission for the First Judicial District. He is a Trustee for the Midwest Research Institute (primary operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory), and a Board Member for the National Jewish Medical & Research Center. In 2000, Ed Perlmutter helped lead a team which succeeded in a Democratic takeover of the Colorado State Senate for the first time since John F. Kennedy was President. He has assisted numerous campaigns and most recently was co-chair of the Kerry Campaign in Colorado.
He has served on numerous Colorado State Senate committees including: Water, Finance, Judiciary, Child Welfare, Telecommunication, Transportation, Legal Services, Oil and Gas.
His legislative accomplishments as State Senator include: Chair of the Public Policy and Planning Committee, Chair of the Bi-Partisan Renewable Energy Caucus, President Pro Tem of the Senate during the 2001 and 2002 Session
Among the awards Ed Perlmutter received while in the Senate are: Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry award “Business Legislator of the Year”, Legal Aid Award for Equal Justice Under the Law, American Institute of Architecture award “Colorado Legislator of the Year” DARE Man of the Year, Jeffco Education Association Friend of Education , United Veterans Committee “ Legislator of the Year ”, Colorado Humane Society Distinguished Service Award, The AARP Outstanding Legislative Service Award, University of Colorado School of Law “Distinguished Alumnus Award”
His main opponents for the Democratic nomination are former State Representative Peggy Lamm and college professor Herb Rubenstein. The winner in the primary will face Republican Rick O'Donnell.
He is married to Deana Perlmutter. Ed and Deana have three children — Alexis, Abby, and Zoey.