Allegra Saunders (D, Denver) served in the State Senate from 1959 to 1962, took a break from the Senate, during which she served on the Denver Board of Education, then was elected to the Senate again and served from 1967 to 1970. In 1969 and 1970 Saunders was the Senate Minority Caucus leader. Prior to serving in the Senate, Saunders was on the State Board of Education from 1951 to 1958 and was the Director of Girls State in 1955.
Even as recently as 1970, Colorado female Senators had to stand up for equal treatment. In 1970, Saunders was serving as a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The committee was invited to tour a mine, but Saunders was told, “Lady Legislators are welcome on the trip but are not allowed in the mine.” Saunders challenged the restriction, went on the trip to the mine, and when she got to the mine she was told by the miners that it was “city-slickers” who perpetuated a superstition about women being taboo in Colorado mines and tunnels.
Colorado General Assembly Biographical Information
Denver Post article: Sen. Saunders suggested dropping “Where the Columbines Grow” as the state song
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