Elected Officials
Secretary of State Bernie Buescher (D)
Colorado Secretary of State
Bernie Buescher was appointed Colorado’s Secretary of State in December 2008 by Governor Bill Ritter.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Buescher served two terms in the Colorado General Assembly and was the chair of the Appropriations Committee (2007-2008) and Chair of the Joint Budget Committee (2006 & 2008). Mr. Buescher successfully carried many significant pieces of legislation, including legislation to provide mental health counseling for the young victims of child abuse, and legislation for the reallocation of Federal Mineral Lease revenues to create a permanent fund on behalf of higher education.
A native of Mesa County, Mr. Buescher practiced law in Grand Junction for many years, representing small businesses; in 1986, he was named CEO of West Star Aviation and grew the business from 28 employees to over 220. In 1996, Governor Romer asked Buescher to reorganize the Colorado State Fair. This project was so successful that Romer appointed Buescher to his cabinet as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance where he made his mark inaugurating the Colorado Children’s Basic Health Plan. Since 1996, Mr. Buescher has owned and managed two small businesses.
Mr. Buescher’s extensive community involvement was crowned in January, 2004 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce along with his wife, Mary Beth. Mr. Buescher was recognized for his work as Chairman of the Board of St. Mary’s Hospital, member of the boards of the Colorado Health and Hospital Association, and Riverview Technology Corp. where he worked to preserve jobs at the Department of Energy site in Mesa County. Mr. Buescher has been awarded Legislator of the Year by many organizations, including Colorado Youth Corps, Colorado Association of Non Profits, the National Association of Social Workers, the Colorado Economic Development Council (twice), the University of Colorado, and the United Veteran’s Committee.
Mr. Buescher has also served on boards including the Mesa County Economic Development Councils, the Colorado Transportation Commission, the Colorado Economic Development Commission, and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation.
Mr. Buescher received his JD degree from the University of Colorado and a BBA from The University of Notre Dame. Mr. Buescher and Mary Beth have been married for 36 years, have four children and one grandchild.