John Andrews: Rallying Americans for the Good Fight
The Western Conservative Summit has been making its mark since 2010, Backbone Radio since 2005, and the Independence Institute since 1985.
John Andrews, after decades as an influential voice in Colorado politics, is today one of his state's Christian conservative elder statesmen. His mission, John says, is to "rally Americans for the good fight of defending liberty and reviving responsibility in a nation under God.”
He does it with books that range from Downstream and the Senator Leland stories to Backbone Colorado USA and Responsibility Reborn; a citizens group called Americans for America; his media and consulting activities; and this website.
Andrews has led five think tanks, most recently the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, and was the originator of the Western Conservative Summit, Backbone Radio, and the Head On TV debates.
He was previously President of the Colorado Senate, chairman of the State Policy Network, and director of TCI Cable News. He was a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon; an education appointee under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush; founder of the Independence Institute and co-founder of State Policy Network; and Republican nominee for Governor of Colorado in 1990.
John was a state senator from 1998 to 2005, leaving on a term limit. As Minority Leader he led the GOP back to majority control. As Senate President he helped pass bills establishing education vouchers, extending tort reform, curbing union power, expanding charter schools, requiring parental notification for a minor’s abortion, and restoring the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms.
Senator Andrews’ legislative achievements also included bills cutting the capital gains tax, providing toll lanes to reduce traffic congestion, and drawing permanent congressional districts. He was honored as national legislator of the year by the American Legislative Exchange Council, and as family legislator of the year by the Rocky Mountain Family Council. The Colorado Union of Taxpayers saluted him as a defender of TABOR, the state’s tax limit.
John was born in Michigan and grew up in the Colorado mountains. He served as a US Navy submarine officer after graduating from Principia College in 1966. He has been married since 1967 to the former Donna D’Evelyn of Bakersfield, California. They have three grown children and a grandson, all living in the Denver area.
John and his late brother Jim (L) co-authored Downstream, an essay collection.
“I’m committed to defending the permanent things,” says the Presbyterian elder. “We must reassert the timeless political principles of the American founding, together with the moral and spiritual truths of our Judeo-Christian heritage.”