State legislator to teach course in politics

By Ky Belk
The Metropolitan

Jeanne Faatz knows a thing or two about political campaigns.

Faatz, a former public school teacher who is currently a Metro instructor, has occupied the District 1 seat in the Colorado House of Representatives for the last 10 terms. This fall, sheâll be sharing the secrets of political campaigns and public policymaking with students enrolled in SPE 316, Communication in Politics.

Faatz said the course prepares students to influence public policy by providing them with a deeper understanding of where and how public policy decisions are made.

ãThis class is for the person who is looking at the world and saying, ÎI want to have a role,âä Faatz said. ãThe Metro student is like that.ä

The class will center around two main projects, Faatz said.

Students will prepare a paper analyzing the policymaking body of their choice. The students will then run a mock campaign with two candidates chosen from the class.

The ãcampaigningä will include writing and delivering speeches, as well as developing complete campaign plans, Faatz said.

Faatz was first elected to the House in 1978. A Republican, she currently serves as the assistant House majority leader and is a member of the Finance and State Veterans and Military Affairs committee and the Legislative Council.

She was the 1984 Gates Fellow to Harvardâs John F. Kennedy School of Government and is listed in both Whoâs Who in American Politics and Whoâs Who of American Women.