Randy Fischer (born c. 1951) is a former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. An engineering consultant with a background in natural resources, Fischer was first elected as a Democrat in 2006 to the Colorado House of Representatives, Fischer represented House District 53, which encompasses the western half of Fort Collins, Colorado. In the legislature, Fischer sponsored legislation relating to uranium mining and also focused on water and environmental issues. In the house, he served for a time as Deputy Majority Whip and chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources committees. Term limited, he did not seek re-election in 2014, and his term ended in early January, 2015.
Biography
Early life and education
A third-generation Coloradan born and raised in Fort Collins, Fischer attended Colorado State University, earning a bachelor's degree in natural resource management in 1976. Upon graduation, he was named Outstanding Graduating Senior for the College of Natural Resources; he later served on the CSU College of Natural Resources Alumni Board. He went on to earn a master's degree in civil engineering from Colorado State in 1989.
Career and public service
During his time at CSU, he worked for the Poudre School District's Outdoor Education Program, and has since worked in the fields of construction, and agriculture, including a stint as a professional beekeeper. He currently runs an engineering consulting firm, specializing in abandoned mine cleanup and acid mine drainage.
Fischer served on a number of local boards and commissions, primarily dealing with natural resources and land use issues, including the Larimer County Rural Land Use Advisory Board, the City of Fort Collins' Water Board, Storm Drainage Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board, and City Plan Update Committee, and on the board of the Legacy Land Trust. His wife, Kathy, is a former high school teacher; they have lived in Fort Collins for over 30 years.
Legislative career
2006 election
After having worked on campaigns for Fort Collins city council and the Larimer County Board of Commissioners, Fischer first ran for public office in 2006, seeking the legislative seat being vacated by Congressional candidate Angie Paccione. He took 59 percent of the vote in a four-way race against Republican Anne Yeldell, Libertarian Mark Brophy, and Constitution Party candidate Darren Morrison.
2007 legislative session
In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Fischer sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Education Committee. .
Shortly after his election, Fischer identified "education, health care and renewable energy" as his top legislative priorities. During the 2007 session, Fischer sponsored legislation which would allow counties to enforce stormwater regulations.
Following the regular session, Fischer served on the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax and federal mineral lease revenues.
2008 legislative session
In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Fischer sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Education Committee.
In the 2008 legislative session, Fischer plans to sponsor legislation to
direct severance tax revenue to the Colorado departments of Wildlife and Parks and Recreation. Fischer has also sponsored a bill to expand funding for the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and to create a statewide collaboratory for water-related research. He has also introduced legislation designed to protect instream water rights for users who choose to let water flow downstream rather than be diverted, which was passed and signed into law by Gov. Ritter.
Another bill, requiring vehicle registration and emissions testing for mobile diesel equipment, including farm and construction vehicles, was opposed by farmers, contractors, and local governments, and was stripped of penalties for noncompliance in committee. In response, Fischer proposed a revised version of the legislation which would use registration fees to create a fund for replacement of polluting vehicles with cleaner vehicles.