Background
Apuan, Dennis was born on October 30, 1964 in Manilla, Phillipines.
Apuan, Dennis was born on October 30, 1964 in Manilla, Phillipines.
Apuan represents House District 17, which encompasses portions of southwestern Colorado Springs, Colorado and the Fort Carson military base. Born in the Philippines, in Manila, Apuan emigrated to the United States at the age of 20. Moving to Colorado Springs from Los Angeles in 1997, Apuan took a job at Broadmoor Community Church, where he began as a janitor but later became the church"s business administrator.
Apuan also served as vice-chairman of the El Paso County Democratic Party for four years.
In 2003, Apuan was among four peace activists arrested for trespassing and sentenced to perform community service for protesting nuclear weapons at Peterson Air Force Base. Apuan also participated in non-violent protests against the Iraq War at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City and in 2007 in Colorado Springs.
2008 election
Choosing to run for the state house shortly before the Democratic district assemblies in February, Apuan took a leave of absence from his position with the Colorado Progressive Coalition to seek the state house seat being vacated by retiring Republican Representative Stella Garza-Hicks. Apuan had no opposition in the Democratic primary in August, and faced Republican Kit Roupe in the November 2008 general election.
While his opponent"s candidacy was endorsed by the Denver Post, Apuan was endorsed by the Colorado Springs Independent.
During the final weeks of the campaign, Apuan was characterized by Roupe in a mass mail advertisement as a "violent, anti-war, anti-military protester," in reference to his anti-war protest activities, charges Apuan described as "totally false."
Apuan prevailed by a narrow margin of less than 600 votes, winning just over 51 percent of ballots cast in the race. Apuan himself had difficulty casting a ballot in his own race. After first not receiving a mail-in ballot, Apuan was given an incorrect ballot at a polling place on election day.
He ultimately was able to cast a provisional ballot in the correct district.
During his campaign and after his election, Apuan expressed priorities of small businesses tax cuts, fostering jobs in clean energy, and reducing health-care costs. He plans on sponsoring legislation to protect those on military deployments from home foreclosure.
2009 legislative session
Foreign the 2009 legislative session, Apuan was named to seats on the House Finance Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Apuan has sponsored legislation to allow organizations providing inclusive elder care to employ physicians.
Although Apuan had hoped to sponsor legislation providing free college tuition to military veterans, state budget constraints led him to instead propose legislation to provide child care for military families.
Another bill of Apuan"s would provide prospective homeowners with information about future energy bills.
Former business administrator Broadmoor Community Church. Community organizer Colorado Unity. Regional director Colorado Progressive Coalition.
Former member University Colo-Colorado Springs Diversity Strategic Planning Team. Program director & chairman Pikes Peak Justice & Peace Commission.