The calls came shortly after Terrance Carroll was elected speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives: Did he have any campaign yard signs left?
It took the Denver Democrat a few days to figure out what was going on. People wanted a piece of history, and he had just become a part of it.
The grandson of a sharecropper, Carroll has the distinction of serving as Colorado’s first black House speaker. Although his term doesn’t expire until early January, he banged the gavel on Wednesday for the last time during the regular session.
His legacy includes four years as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he played a major role in criminal justice changes, and as an education reformer who sometimes bucked his caucus.
“I hope I’m remembered for my grace and, for the most part, coolness under pressure,” he said.
A GOP leader’s praise
Rep. Amy Stephens of Monument, the House GOP caucus chair, praised Carroll on three fronts: his fairness, devotion to his late mother and fashion sense.
“Terrance has always been one of my favorite people,” she said.
Carroll, who can’t return because of term limits, talked about his legislative career this week between his attempts at brokering a deal on Senate Bill 191, a controversial teacher tenure measure he backed.
With the state facing the worst financial crisis since the Depression, he’s spent plenty of time dealing with painful budget issues. Tax credits for candy sales have been eliminated, property tax breaks for seniors suspended and money for schools has been cut, all under Carroll’s watch.
Carroll became a lawmaker in March 2003, when he was appointed to the seat held by Rep. Peter Groff, who resigned to take Penfield Tate’s seat in the Senate.
Groff would go on to become the first black president of the state Senate. When House Democrats elected Carroll speaker two days after the November 2008 election, Colorado made history. It was the first time any legislature had been led by two blacks.
Carroll has presided over a chamber where the Ku Klux Klan held such sway in the early 1920s that state representatives brought their robes and hoods with them to the Capitol so they could go directly to their rallies at night.
“It shows you that history can change, that over time, people’s attitudes can evolve,” Carroll said.
The busy life of a leader
Since his election as speaker, Carroll’s life has been a whirlwind. He’s traveled statewide on behalf of fellow Democrats. He’s written numerous speeches, appeared at a number of events and tried to attend as many gatherings as possible involving at-risk kids.
His former chief of staff, Will Coyne, said Carroll knows which fights to pick and usually wins them.
But not always. Last year, the speaker failed in his attempt to raise caps on medical malpractice awards after he got rolled by his own caucus.
Carroll, who passed the bar while serving in the legislature, plans to practice law full time.
As the session came to a close Wednesday, Carroll’s caucus made fun of all the awards, honors, photos, plaques, doodads and memorabilia he collected during his time in the legislature.
He said he doesn’t have room in his house for everything, but he wants to make space for the one campaign yard sign he has left. He plans to frame it and hang it on his wall.
“Terrance Carroll: Progress. Commitment. Integrity.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
Terrance Carroll
Age: 41
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Residence: Denver
Occupation: Attorney at Greenberg Traurig
State lawmaker: 2003 to present; elected House speaker in 2008
Previous jobs: Police officer, ordained minister
Hobbies: Avid cyclist
Education: University of Denver College of Law, 2005; master’s degree, Iliff School of Theology, 1999; bachelor’s, Morehouse College, 1992
