Jerry Sonnenberg Explained

Jerry Sonnenberg
Office:President pro tempore of the Colorado Senate
Term Start:January 11, 2017
Term End:January 4, 2019
Predecessor:Ellen Roberts
Successor:Lois Court
State Senate1:Colorado
District1:1st
Term Start1:January 7, 2015
Term End1:January 9, 2023
Predecessor1:Greg Brophy
Successor1:Byron Pelton
State House2:Colorado
District2:65th
Term Start2:January 10, 2007
Term End2:November 4, 2014
Predecessor2:Diane Hoppe
Successor2:Jon Becker
Birth Place:Sterling, Colorado, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Vonnie Constance
Children:4
Education:Northeastern Junior College

Jerry Sonnenberg (born May 1958) is an American farmer and politician who serves on the Logan County commission. He served in the Colorado Senate from the 1st district as a member of the Republican Party. During his tenure in the state senate he served as the President pro tempore. Prior to his tenure in the state senate he served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 65th district.

Sonnenberg was born in Sterling, Colorado, and was educated at Sterling High School and Northeastern Junior College. He started farming in 1979, worked as a cattle rancher, and served on the board of the Colorado Farm Bureau. He managed one of Representative Don Ament's campaigns and served as a precinct chair in Logan County, Colorado. He was elected to the state house in the 2006 election and served until he was elected to the state senate in the 2014 election.

Early life and education

Jerry Sonnenberg was born in Sterling, Colorado, and graduated from Sterling High School and Northeastern Junior College.[1] [2] [3] He started farming his family's 7,000 acre farm in 1979, and worked as a cattle rancher, but had to sell his herd of sixty cattle due to a drought in 2002.[4] [5] He married Vonnie Constance, with whom he had four children.

He served on the board of the Colorado Farm Bureau and was later the only farmer in the Colorado House of Representatives.[6] [7] He managed one of Representative Don Ament's campaigns.[8] He served as a precinct chair for the Republican Party in Logan County, Colorado.

Career

State legislature

Sonnenberg won the Republican nomination and was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives from the 65th district without opposition in the 2006 election.[9] He won reelection in the 2008 election against Dan Conn's write-in candidacy.[10] He faced no opposition in the 2010 and 2012 elections.[11] [12] [13] Sonnenberg and Jon Becker were redistricted into the same district for the 2012 election, but Becker chose to not seek reelection.[14] He defeated American Constitution Party nominee Doug Aden for a seat in the Colorado Senate from the 1st district.[15] [16] He defeated Democratic nominee Debra Gustafson in the 2018 election.[17] [18]

During his tenure in the state house he served on the Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources committee.[19] Sonnenberg served as the vice-chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs committee and as the chair of the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy committee in the state senate.[20] [21] [22] On November 10, 2016, he was selected to serve as the President pro tempore of the Senate.[23]

Sonnenberg supported Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election.[24]

Later life

Jane Bauder, a member of the Logan County commission from the 3rd district, declined to run for reelection. Sonnenberg won in the 2022 election.[25] [26] He was inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in February 2023. Sonnenberg announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for Colorado's 4th congressional district in the 2024 election after Ken Buck announced his retirement.[27] He was endorsed by former U.S. Senators Cory Gardner, Hank Brown, and Wayne Allard.[28]

Political positions

Sonnenberg supported Initiative 31 in the 2022 election which would reduce the income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%.[29] He opposed repealing the death penalty stating that "I believe that the Bible tells me the direction that I need to go, and why the death penalty is important to society."[30] He voted against allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.[31] His scores from the American Civil Liberties Union ranged from 44% in 2013, 28.6% in 2014, 60% in 2015, 33.3% in 2016, 66.6% in 2017, 20% in 2018, and 0% in 2019.[32]

Sonnenberg received a F rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[33] He supports a national ban on abortion.[34]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Senator Jerry Sonnenberg . Colorado Senate Republicans . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603203636/https://www.coloradosenaterepublicans.com/sonnenberg/ . June 3, 2021.
  2. News: Jerry Sonnenberg Colorado State Representative, District 65 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100112015233/http://www.electsonnenberg.com/Bio.htm . January 12, 2010.
  3. News: Jerry Sonnenberg's Biography . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129212341/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/66361/jerry-sonnenberg . January 29, 2022.
  4. News: June 6, 2003 . Voters to decide on water projects . 1 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118055257/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92870693/the-daily-sentinel/ . January 18, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: January 6, 2020 . Q&A with Jerry Sonnenberg Speaking up for rural Colorado . Colorado Politics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129204459/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/q-a-with-jerry-sonnenberg-speaking-up-for-rural-colorado/article_ec0413fe-2c30-11ea-a20d-77f972825d8d.html . January 29, 2022.
  6. News: October 14, 2003 . Rally: Public-private partnerships would finance the projects . 5 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118055554/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92870778/the-daily-sentinel/ . January 18, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: March 11, 2014 . Rural lawmakers struggle to make themselves heard . 5 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220123185312/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93282168/the-daily-sentinel/ . January 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: January 3, 1999 . Don Ament searches for ag chief and finds himself . 10 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220122153425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93185572/the-daily-sentinel/ . January 22, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2006 Primary 2006 General . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028222925/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2006AbsractBook.pdf . October 28, 2021.
  10. News: Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2008 Primary 2008 General . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182520/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf . January 18, 2022.
  11. News: Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2010 Primary 2010 General . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211218054445/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf . December 18, 2021.
  12. News: 2012 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221037/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/primary/republican/stateReps.html . January 29, 2022.
  13. News: 2012 General Election Results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221155/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/general/representatives.html . January 29, 2022.
  14. News: February 5, 2018 . Colorado state Rep. Jon Becker announces he won't seek re-election . Colorado Politics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129204105/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/colorado-state-rep-jon-becker-announces-he-wont-seek-re-election/article_fc00f841-bc02-5e3a-abf3-243f8bbbe2f4.html . January 29, 2022.
  15. News: 2014 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220113040516/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/republican/stateSenate.html . January 13, 2022.
  16. News: 2014 General Election Results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221550/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/senate.html . January 29, 2022.
  17. News: 2018 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221753/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/primary/republican/stateSenate.html . January 29, 2022.
  18. News: 2018 General Election Results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129221922/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateSenate.html . January 29, 2022.
  19. News: August 3, 2014 . Plan to take water from agriculture will do irreparable harm to Colorado . 13 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220123185757/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93282498/the-daily-sentinel/ . January 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  20. News: March 9, 2017 . Rolling-coal bill stalls in state Senate . A9 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220123192838/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93284859/fort-collins-coloradoan/ . January 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  21. News: April 17, 2015 . Senate panel delays vote on rain-barrel bill . 3 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220123192906/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93282928/the-daily-sentinel/ . January 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  22. News: November 18, 2014 . Colorado Senate Republicans announce committee chairs . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129202659/https://www.denverpost.com/2014/11/18/colorado-senate-republicans-announce-committee-chairs/ . January 29, 2022.
  23. News: November 11, 2016 . Western Slope lawmakers get leadership posts . 2 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220123190948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78212253/the-daily-sentinel/ . January 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  24. News: October 13, 2016 . Less than half of the Colorado's GOP lawmakers have signed a letter supporting Donald Trump . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129203518/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/10/13/donald-trump-down-ballot-problem-colorado/ . January 29, 2022.
  25. News: January 10, 2023 . New commissioners among Logan County Officials sworn in Tuesday . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110235347/https://www.journal-advocate.com/2023/01/10/new-commissioners-among-logan-county-officials-sworn-in-tuesday/ . January 10, 2023.
  26. News: Logan County Commissioner - District 3 - Republican Party . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609124851/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/Logan/114003/web.285569/ . June 9, 2023.
  27. News: Porter . Brian . December 8, 2023 . Jerry Sonnenberg announces bid for Congress . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240730220202/https://www.fortmorgantimes.com/2023/12/07/sonnenberg-announces-bid-for-congress/ . July 30, 2024.
  28. News: Paul . Jesse . February 21, 2024 . Cory Gardner reenters Colorado political conversation to make endorsement in crowded 4th Congressional District race . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240730220907/https://coloradosun.com/2024/02/21/cory-gardner-jerry-sonnenberg-endorsement-lauren-boebert/ . July 30, 2024.
  29. News: November 18, 2021 . Colorado voters to decide on whether to cut income taxes on the 2022 ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129200643/https://www.denverpost.com/2021/11/18/colorado-election-2022-income-tax-cut/ . January 29, 2022.
  30. News: January 30, 2020 . Senate on verge of advancing Colorado death penalty repeal . Colorado Politics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129212527/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/senate-on-verge-of-advancing-colorado-death-penalty-repeal/article_0a29cd0e-430d-11ea-81e9-37f66ee7ae2c.html . January 29, 2022.
  31. News: April 14, 2012 . House Democrats still hoping to find a Republican sponsor for civil unions bill . Colorado Politics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129212828/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/house-democrats-still-hoping-to-find-a-republican-sponsor-for-civil-unions-bill/article_566eac82-8245-5845-af27-cae0a4b600d2.html . January 29, 2022.
  32. News: August 1, 2013 . 2013 Legislative Scorecard . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117012054/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2014-legislative-scorecard . January 17, 2022.

    News: August 1, 2014 . 2014 Legislative Scorecard . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117052600/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2015-legislative-scorecard . January 17, 2022. ;
    News: August 1, 2015 . 2015 Legislative Scorecard . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117052817/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2016-legislative-scorecard . January 17, 2022. ;
    News: August 1, 2016 . 2016 Legislative Scorecard . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117053004/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2017-legislative-scorecard . January 17, 2022. ;
    News: August 1, 2017 . 2017 Legislative Scorecard . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129213412/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2018-legislative-scorecard . January 29, 2022. ;
    News: August 1, 2018 . 2018 Legislative Scorecard . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129213612/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/2018-legislative-scorecard . January 29, 2022. ;
    News: August 1, 2019 . 2019 Legislative Scorecard . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129213755/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/2019-legislative-scorecard . January 29, 2022.
  33. News: Jerry Sonnenberg . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507011452/https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/jerry-sonnenberg/ . May 7, 2021.
  34. News: Perez . Chris . January 29, 2024 . Is Jerry Sonnenberg the Biggest Threat to Lauren Boebert in Colorado's 4th District? . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240730221129/https://www.westword.com/news/is-jerry-sonnenberg-lauren-boeberts-biggest-threat-in-colorados-4th-19093602 . July 30, 2024.

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