Meet Joan Fitz-Gerald
A Strong Political Force
The first female to be president of the Colorado senate, with a one-hundred percent pro-choice voting record, Joan Fitz-Gerald is the perfect endorsement for the National Women’s Political Caucus.
Joan’s relationship with politics began with her studies at Marymount Manhattan. A double major in Political Science and History, she went on to obtain a law degree at Fordham. Soon after meeting her husband, Joan relocated in Jefferson County, Colorado; a place she has called home ever since.
Joan began her intimate knowledge of the working class while fighting for her campaign to be the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder. She took time to connect with the constituency and did so through door-to-door canvassing. The only women running for this position, in a republican strong hold for the past century, Joan was the first female elected and re-elected to the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder.
Her diligence and dedication to politics has been a visible aspect of her campaign since her earlier days of running for County Clerk and Recorder. In tune with the American spirit and heralding from a diverse background, Joan Fitz-Gerald has held the position of President Pro Tempore of the Colorado State Senate, Minority Leader of the Colorado State Senate, State Senator for Colorado, and President of the Colorado State Senate. Her undisputed experience accompanied with her involvement in organizations and local caucuses has prepared her for a future in federal representation.
Joan Fitzgerald’s volunteer based campaign is dedicated to daily canvassing and nightly phone-banking precinct by precinct. The effort is confident that her opposition’s less than genuine relationship with the middle class, pronounced by his large individual donations to his own campaign, will win her a seat in Colorado’s House of Representatives. According to the May 10th
general assembly Joan was represented with 60.1 percent of the vote. We here at the National Women’s Political Caucus hope it stays that way.
Joan Fitzgerald has been a long standing friend of the National Women’s Political Caucus and has always focused on issues pertinent to our cause. Let us support her in her endeavor of becoming Colorado’s second district House Representative.
For further information on Joan Fitz-Gerald please visit her website.
Summer Intern's Reflection on Witnessing History
By: Sara Yunus
This weekend was truly one of the best of my life. I had the honor of attending Hillary’s speech, where she officially resigned and endorsed Barack Obama. I was incredibly excited to have this opportunity to go to this event but I did not really know what to expect. Being from California, we do not have many political events like this too often, like they do here in D.C. So I woke up Saturday morning, put on my “Hillary 08” t-shirt, dragged along my Republican roommate (Lizelle) with me, and made my way to the National Building Museum to see my hero. After finding the perfect spot to stand on the third floor, I watched Terry McAuliffe greet and socialize with supporters, leading me to recognize how genuine of a guy he was. I was also very excited to see John King from CNN reporting on the floor, directly below from where I was standing. The building was completely filled with Hillary supporters and I was overwhelmed by all the different people who showed up; people of different race, age, and gender. With the room cheering her name, Hillary finally made her grand entrance onto the red-carpeted stage, accompanied by her mother, Bill, and Chelsea. WOW. She was so graceful and elegant as she entered the room.
“Well, this isn’t exactly the party I’d planned, but I sure like the company.”
After hearing these first words come
out of her mouth, I started to get a little
choked up. This was the candidate I had
supported for so long; this was the woman I
looked up to as a hero and as a role model;
this was MY presidential nominee whom I
defended time and time again in opposition to
critics. And being at this historic event,
watching her resign her bid for presidency in
person, was just surreal. As I rested my head
against a railing, reality hit me and I finally
came to realize that her fight for the
presidency was over. But listening to her
speech really inspired me to keep my head up
and dream big. I think everyone in the room was
awed by Hillary’s words, including my
Republican friend Lizelle, who was screaming
and cheering just as loud as I was! For most of
the speech, I was completely Star-Struck; being
in the same room as Hillary and Bill (whom I
also greatly admire) was unbelievable.
I was just baffled by her
speech, but it was her remark on breaking the
glass ceiling that really hit me:
“Although we
weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest
glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s
got about 18 million cracks in
it.”
Hillary has set the stepping stones
for women in politics. She has shown America
that a woman IS capable of being
commander-in-chief and she has proven that
although gender may be a barrier, it is a
barrier that CAN and WILL be
broken. Every little girl and young women
in America should learn from her to dream
big and disregard skeptics. Her speech was
elegant, professional, and inspiring. And it
REALLY reinforced my desire to be a politician
one day. So I really should thank Hillary, for
motivating me in reaching my goals.
As the speech came to an end, and people started to leave the building, I was so moved by what I had just heard that I did not want to leave. I stood there, watching both Hillary and Bill thank their supporters and make their exit. It was like watching a royal family gracefully step down from the thrown.
So all in all,
this was a day I will never forget. I know I
will be telling this story to my children one
day and I know that I had the privilege of
witnessing history. But as a message to
Hillary: Thank you for being such a wonderful
role model. Thank you for never giving up, even
when it seemed as though everyone in America
wanted you to drop out. Thank you for being
strong and brushing off all the negativity
thrown in your direction. And, Hillary,
whatever you decided to do next in your career,
whether it be Vice President or Senate Majority
Leader, you have 18 million supporters to back
you up 110%!
-Sara
Yunus
NWPC Summer 2008 Intern