Victoria Buckley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Victoria Buckley
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|---|---|
| 32nd Secretary of State of Colorado | |
| In office January 10, 1995 – July 14, 1999 |
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| Governor | Roy Romer Bill Owens |
| Preceded by | Natalie Meyer |
| Succeeded by | Donetta Davidson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 2, 1947 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | July 14, 1999 (aged 51) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Victoria Buckley (November 2, 1947 – July 14, 1999) was an important American politician. She served as the Secretary of State of Colorado from 1995 to 1999. She made history by becoming the first African American woman to hold a statewide office in Colorado.
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Victoria Buckley's Early Life and First Steps
Victoria Buckley, also known as "Vikki," was born in Denver, Colorado, on November 2, 1947. She grew up in the Park Hill area of Denver. After finishing East High School, she earned a special degree in drafting, which is like technical drawing.
Vikki started working in the Secretary of State's office in 1974. She began as a clerk-typist and worked her way up. She learned a lot about how the department worked. Eventually, she was chosen to be the deputy Secretary of State.
Her Political Journey and Historic Wins
The Secretary of State of Colorado is a very important job. This person is in charge of elections, keeping official records, and helping businesses register. When the person holding the job decided to retire, Vikki Buckley decided to run for the position.
Many people were surprised when she won the Republican party primary election. She beat three other candidates to become her party's choice. In the main election, she ran against candidates from other parties. Vikki Buckley won with over 57% of the votes! This was a huge moment for Colorado. She became the first African American woman to hold a statewide office in the state's history.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Victoria "Vikki" Buckley | 622,281 | 57.36 | |
| Democratic | Sherrie M. Wolf | 393,980 | 36.32 | |
| Constitution | Douglas Campbell | 68,410 | 6.31 | |
| Write-In | Daniel Brewer-Ward | 153 | 0.01 | |
| Total votes | 1,084,824 | 100 | ||
After she was sworn into office, Vikki Buckley started making changes. She wanted to make the office work better for everyone.
In 1998, Vikki Buckley ran for re-election. She did not have anyone running against her in her own party. In the general election, she faced several other candidates. She won again with over 49% of the votes, showing that people trusted her to continue her work.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Victoria "Vikki" Buckley | 614,760 | 49.11 | |
| Democratic | Ric Bainter | 563,945 | 45.05 | |
| Libertarian | Geoffrey Lloyd | 31,765 | 2.54 | |
| Reform | Patricia Craven | 16,527 | 1.32 | |
| Constitution | Clyde Harkins | 14,668 | 1.17 | |
| Natural Law | Rolland Fraser | 10,234 | 0.82 | |
| Total votes | 1,722,096 | 100 | ||
The same day she started her second term, Vikki Buckley had to get medical help for her heart. She was treated for an irregular heartbeat. She was released from the hospital after six days.
After the sad events at Columbine High School massacre, Vikki Buckley showed great support for the community. She spoke at the funeral of one of the victims, Isaiah Shoels. She also spoke at a large convention held in Denver shortly after the tragedy, showing her dedication to her state.
Victoria Buckley's Personal Life and Legacy
Vikki Buckley was a mother to three sons. She raised them mostly on her own.
On July 13, 1999, Vikki Buckley was found at her home in Denver. She was taken to the hospital. Sadly, she passed away the next day, July 14, 1999, at the age of 51.
To honor her, Vikki Buckley's body was placed at the Colorado State Capitol. This was a very special tribute, as she was the first person to be honored in this way since 1970. She was buried in Fairmount Cemetery.
See also
- Black conservatism in the United States
- Buckley v. American Constitutional Law Foundation, Inc.
