Betsy Markey

Elizabeth Helen Markey (born April 27, 1956) is a former American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for CO's 4th congressional district from 2009 to 2011.

She also served as assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs in the United States Department of Homeland Security.

She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Betsy Markey was born in Cresskill, New Jersey, as the sixth of seven children.

The 4th District had been in Republican hands since 1973.

It was generally considered a safe Republican district, but Musgrave was considered potentially vulnerable.

The three-term incumbent had never been able to establish a secure footing in the district, in part because her Democratic opponents attacked her for her focus on social issues (such as the Federal Marriage Amendment) and her allegedly poor constituent services.

Markey attended college at the University of Florida from 1974 through 1978.

Her last semester was completed abroad at a university in Poznań, Poland.

Markey was hired as a staff assistant to the vice president for development and planning at American University in 1981.

Markey completed a Masters of Public Administration in 1983 from American University.

After completing a degree in political science, Markey worked for a short period of time on the staff of U.S. Senator John A. Durkin (D-NH).

She later went on to work for U.S. Congressman Herbert Harris (D-VA) as a caseworker/legislative assistant on one of the Congressman’s subcommittees.

In 1983 Markey was selected to participate in the Presidential Management Fellows Program, a competitive two-year management program track in the federal government.

Markey went on to hold positions in the United States Treasury Department as budget and program analyst, as human resources specialist, and as staff assistant to the deputy commissioner of the United States Customs Service.

In 1984, during the Reagan Administration, she was recruited by the United States Department of State to develop computer security policies for the newly formed Office of Information Systems Security.

Markey served as director of computer security policy and training and worked with all bureaus to craft computer security policy.

She created the department’s first comprehensive computer security training program for management, security personnel and support staff globally.

For her work, Markey received the State Department’s Meritorious Honor Award.

Markey left the Department in 1988 at the GS-14 level.

After leaving the State Department in 1988, Markey co-founded a software firm, Syscom Services.

In the mid-1990s, Markey was also the owner of Huckleberry’s, a successful and popular coffee and ice cream shop in Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado.

By 1995, Syscom ranked #99 in the Inc. 500 listing of America’s fastest-growing private companies.

She sold her small business in 2000.

After winning the open 4th District seat fairly easily in 2002, Musgrave had only narrowly held on in 2004 and 2006.

Another factor that made Democrats hopeful of defeating Musgrave was the district's demographics.

The 4th is a large and mostly rural district.

Markey was hired as regional director of Colorado’s North Central and Eastern Plains for U.S. Senator Ken Salazar in January 2005.

She resigned the position in May 2007.

Markey announced her decision to run for United States House of Representatives for Colorado's 4th congressional district in June 2007.

Markey worked as president of the board of directors of the Food Bank for Larimer County.

She chaired the Food Bank’s capital campaign which raised nearly a million dollars to expand the Food Bank facility and the services they provide.

As Chair of the Larimer County Democratic Party she oversaw a large expansion in the role the party played in Northern Colorado.

Markey also founded the Larimer County Democratic Business Coalition, a network of small business owners in the community.

During that time she also participated in the Local Legislative Affairs Committee (LLAC) for the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce.

In June 2007, Markey filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, and formally announced her intention to run in Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District against Marilyn Musgrave.

She quickly garnered numerous key supporters including many past and present elected officials.

In the 111th Congress, Markey voted for the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, an economic stimulus package, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a cap-and-trade bill which ultimately did not pass.

Markey also voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, landmark health care reform legislation.

In his memoir, A Promise Land, Barack Obama described Markey as a promising and principled young House member who faced electoral defeat despite taking tough votes on critical issues such as healthcare and the Recovery Act, emphasizing Markey's commitment to her principles in the face of political challenges.