Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams was a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Williams is beginning her second term as state senator for District 28 after serving eight years in the Colorado House of Representatives. Senator Williams, a Democrat, is the only enrolled American Indian state legislator in Colorado (Comanche). In 2007 Williams was elected assistant caucus chair for the Senate Majority Caucus. She will serve as vice-chair on the Business, Labor & Technology Committee, as well as the vice-chair of the Transportation Committee for the 2010 session.

Suzanne Williams
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 28th district
In office
2004–2011
Succeeded byNancy Todd
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Ed
Education
  • MA, Special Education, University of Colorado, 1974
  • BS, Baylor University, 1967
Profession
  • Special Education Teacher, Cherry Creek School, 1978-2000
  • Learning Specialist, Public Education

On December 26, 2010, Williams was involved in a fatal car crash near Channing, Texas. The car Williams was driving veered into oncoming traffic, killing Brianna Michelle Gomez.[1] Williams' son and two grandsons weren't wearing seatbelts and were hospitalized with injuries.[1] Williams faced a grand jury investigation into the cause of the fatal crash, and no criminal indictment was issued.[2] She was later cited with three misdemeanor traffic violations.[3]

As an American Indian, she is the only enrolled Native state legislator in Colorado. Williams is related to J. Howard Williams, a former Texas president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.[4] Dr. J. Howard Williams served the seminary for five years, from August 1953 until his death in April 1958.

Before running for the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives, she taught school in the Cherry Creek School District for 22 years. Williams is an advocate of children, Native American causes, and basic human rights. Williams has been recognized throughout the years for her humanitarian causes, as well as, her positive nature. During the 1990s, Williams was nominated and named "Mother of the Year" in Colorado. As a Colorado representative and senator, she has intentionally sat upon committees that have furthered human causes.

Political history
  • Senator Colorado State Senate, 2005–2011
  • Former majority caucus chair, Colorado State Senate
  • State legislative and senatorial candidates campaign teams, 1987–1994

Caucuses/non-legislative committees
  • Legislative chair, Colorado Early Childhood Commission, present
  • Assistant caucus chair, Colorado State Senate, present
  • Member, Council on the Arts, present
  • Member, National Caucus of Native American State Legislators, National Conference of State Legislatures, present
  • Member, Police Officers and Firefighters Pension Reform, present
  • Senate Democratic chair, Transportation Caucus, present
  • Member, Transportation Legislative Regulatory Commission, present
  • Member, Accountability Committee, Cherry Creek District, 1985-1987
  • Co-chair, Early Childcare and Education Commission

Memberships and organizations
  • Member, American Mothers Association, Colorado Chapter, present
  • President, Aurora Sister Cities, present
  • Member, Beyond War Foundation, present
  • Board member, Colorado Medicaid Consortium, present
  • Member, Colorado Special Education Advisory Board, present
  • Board member, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, Colorado, present
  • Member, Foundation for Global Community, present
  • Member, Advisory Board, I-225 Policy, present
  • Member, National Organization of Women, present
  • Member, Advisory Board, Sungate Foundation, present
  • Board member, United Cerebral Palsy Association, present
  • Board of directors, Drug Abuse Resistance Education Colorado, 1998–present
  • Member, United Cerebral Palsy Board, 1998–present
  • President, Aurora Sister Cities International, Incorporated, 1996-1999
  • Local Board, Art in Public Places, 1998
  • Member, Aurora Rotary, 1998
  • Board of directors, Women in Government, 1998
  • Member, American Association of University Women, 1996
  • Member, Aurora Business and Professional Women, 1996
  • Political liaison coordinator, Cherry Creek Educators Association, 1988-1995
  • Board, Cherry Creek Educators Association, 1990-1994
  • President, Parent-Teacher Organization, 1979-1981

Awards
  • 2007 - Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Woman of the Year
  • 2006 - Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber Honoring Senator Suzanne Williams
  • 2006 - Community Colleges, Legislator of the Year
  • 2006 - Ending Colonial Legacy” Honoring Women Warriors
  • 2006 - SUNGATE Foundation “Champion of Children” Award
  • 2004 - Delta Kappa Gamma Friend of Education
  • 2004 - Aurora Business and Professional Women-Sculptors of Aurora
  • 2002 - Denver Indian Chamber of Commerce
  • 2002 - Denver Indian Family Resource Center
  • 2001 - American Institute of Architects, Legislator of the Year
  • 2001 - Colorado Women's Lobby
  • 2000 - Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce
  • 2000 - Colorado Optometric Association
  • 2000 - Early Childhood Care and Education
  • 1999 - Hazel Petrocco Women's Leadership Award
  • 1998 - Colorado Association of School Nurses
  • 1998 - Colorado Society of School Psychologists
  • 1998 - Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children
  • 1996 - Colorado Mother of the Year

References
  1. Texas police investigate fatal crash involving Colorado state senator, CNN, December 28, 2010
  2. Colorado State Senator Likely to Face Grand Jury in Deadly Texas Crash, January 6, 2011
  3. Colorado state Sen. Suzanne Williams cited with 3 traffic misdemeanors after fatal Texas crash, May 24, 2011
  4. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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