co_gov_SCHOETTLER
LT. GOVERNOR GAIL SCHOETTLER
Age: 55 Born: October 21, 1943; Los Angeles, California Education: University of California - Santa Barbara, M.A. (1975), Ph.D. (1969); Stanford University, B.A. (1965) Military: None Family: Married - Donald Stevens; Five children (two are stepchildren) Hometown: Parker, Colorado Religion: No affiliation Career: Lt. Gov. (1995-present); State Treasurer (1987-94); Exec. Dir., Colorado Dept. Of Personnel (1983-86); Douglas County Board of Education (1979-87); President, Denver Children's Museum (1975-85); businesswoman (1975-83); Founder, Women's Bank (1978) |
• Born Gail Sinton in 1943, Schoettler (pronounced SHETT-ler) and her twin sister Patricia grew up on a cattle ranch in Shandon, California, a rural community with a population of approximately 500. Her brother still manages the cattle ranch.
• Schoettler attended Stanford University and majored in economics at the urging of a professor who thought she had a knack for the subject. She graduated with honors in 1965. During college she met John Schoettler, and she married him at age 21. His geology career took them to Santa Barbara, where she found her career options limited. She enrolled in graduate school at the University of California and received her Ph.D. in history in 1969.
• The Schoettlers moved to Colorado in 1969, where Gail Schoettler became involved with the business community. She served on the boards of Equitable Bankshares of Colorado and Equitable Bank of Littleton, and in 1978 she helped found the Women's Bank in Denver to help serve the needs of small business. During this time she also got her masters degree in history and served as President of the Denver Children's Museum.
• While her children were attending Colorado public schools, Schoettler ran and was elected to the Douglas County Board of Education. She servd on the school board for eight years, beginning in 1979, and served as president beginning in 1983. That same year she was named executive director of the state's Department of Personnel under Gov. Dick Lamm (D), but she left that position in 1986 to seek statewide office.
• In 1986, Schoettler was elected State Treasurer, where she served two terms managing the state's assets. During this time she also divorced her husband of 25 years and married her second husband, Dr. Donald Stevens.
• Schoettler was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1994 with 55% of the vote on a ticket with then-incumbent Gov. Roy Romer. Romer is not seeking re-election due to term limits.