Monday, October 1, 2007

STEVEN CHAVEZ APPOINTED NEW DIRECTOR OF COLORADO CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION


Gov. Bill Ritter and Department of Regulatory Agencies Executive Director Rico Munn today announced the appointment of Steven Chavez as the new director of DORA's Civil Rights Division. Chavez will lead the division of 31 employees in enforcing discrimination laws throughout the state, including protecting consumers against housing, employment and public accommodation discrimination. 
 
"The enforcement of civil rights laws is a high priority for me and my administration," Gov. Ritter said. "I'm confident Steve Chavez will lead this important agency effectively."

 

"We are proud to welcome Steve to the department," Executive Director Munn said. "His combined legal background and career in public service prepare him well for this important post."
 
"I am honored to be asked to lead such an important agency of state government for the benefit of all the people of Colorado," Chavez, 58, said. "I also believe that the vigorous and fair enforcement of Colorado's civil rights laws is an important part of Gov. Ritter's Colorado Promise to create a better place for our children and future generations. I look forward to serving the public in a way that protects something as vital and fundamental as their civil rights, particularly during a time of tremendous change in our country."
 
Steven Chavez has a long-standing career as an attorney representing the State of Colorado on a number of complex employment and environmental law cases.  He also developed an expertise in workplace violence prevention and has assisted numerous agencies in the safe resolution of potentially volatile situations.
 
Since 2001, he has served as the personnel director of the Colorado Department of Transportation, administering a personnel system for 3,300 employees. At CDOT, Chavez has gained valuable experience assisting employees and managers work through a variety of issues to create a more productive workplace and help CDOT attract a more diverse workforce.
 
Prior to this post, Chavez was a first assistant attorney general in the Attorney General's Office. In that post, he supervised a team of employment law trial lawyers that represented all agencies of the state. Earlier in his career, Chavez was an enforcement attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency.
 
"I have always been passionate about the fair treatment of all people," Chavez said. He has assisted numerous community leaders in their efforts to gain fair treatment for Colorado's citizens.
 
The Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) is charged with enforcing the state's anti-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodation. The Division also engages in preventative measures by providing training to groups and information to individuals regarding current laws. The CCRD works in close cooperation with federal and local agencies and community-based organizations whose missions parallel its own. The CCRD maintains formal work-sharing agreements with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to avoid duplication of effort on those cases where joint jurisdiction (state and federal) exists.
 
For a photograph of Chavez, please contact Karen Gerwitz at 303-894-2338 or 303-917-4973.
 
DORA is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business environment in Colorado.  Consumer protection is our mission.