William B. "Bernie" Herpin, Jr. | |
---|---|
Member of the Colorado Senate from the 11th district | |
In office September 11, 2013 –January 7, 2015 | |
Preceded by | John Morse |
Succeeded by | Michael Merrifield |
Personal details | |
Born | August 1943 (age 81) St. Petersburg,Florida,U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Linda Elaine (Bjornerud) Herpin |
Education | University of Kansas (BS) Webster University (MA) |
Profession | Colorado State Senator |
William B. "Bernie" Herpin,Jr. is a former member of the Colorado Senate,serving from 2013 to 2015. A Republican,Herpin is a former member of the Colorado Springs,Colorado city council and a United States Navy veteran.
Herpin represented Senate District 11,which encompasses Manitou Springs,Colorado and eastern Colorado Springs. [1] On September 10,2013,he defeated recalled Senator John Morse in a historic recall election—the first such election in Colorado history. [2]
Herpin was born in St. Petersburg,Florida in August 1943. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts degree in Computer Resource Management from Webster University. Herpin and his wife,Linda have three daughters and seven grandchildren. They have resided in Colorado Springs,Colorado,since 1962. [3]
In August 1965,Herpin enlisted in the United States Navy. After completing his schooling and serving on the USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641),he was selected for the Navy Enlisted Scientific and Education Program and attended the University of Kansas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.
Herpin served on board the USS John Marshall (SSBN-611),the USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601). He also served at the Naval Submarine Training Facility (Pacific) with duty stations in New London,CT;Charleston,SC;Vallejo,CA;and Pearl Harbor,HI. In 1980,he transferred to the US Air Force and was assigned to Headquarters,North American Aerospace Defense Command,in Colorado Springs,Colorado. He retired from military service as a Captain in 1985 and,in the same year,graduated from Webster University with a Master of Arts degree in Computer Resource Management.
Since 1985,Herpin has worked in the private sector as a defense contractor supporting the Air Force. He left Lockheed Martin in December 2013 to serve as a Colorado State Senator. [4]
Herpin was originally appointed to an at-large council seat in March 2006 to complete the term of a member who had resigned. He was elected to a full term in April 2009 as the representative of District 4,which covers the southeast quadrant of the city. [3]
Herpin has served as a volunteer with the Colorado Springs Police Department for more than 30 years. [4] He is currently[ when? ] the Team Leader of the Colorado Springs Police Department Disabled Parking Enforcement Unit and a member of the CSPD Stetson Hills Division's Speed Monitoring Team.[ citation needed ]
Per the wording of the recall ballot,Herpin replaced Senator John Morse on September 10,2013,when Morse was recalled in the first legislative recall election in Colorado history;Morse was recalled by a margin of 51% to 49%. [5]