News (USA)

Out service member announces bid for Colorado state House

Out service member announces bid for Colorado state House

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Army Veteran Brian Carroll on Thursday announced his candidacy for the Colorado State House of Representatives, and is believe to be the first out Armed Forces Veteran in the country to officially file and run for office since the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” last month.

Brian Carroll

Carroll, who currently serves in the Colorado Army National Guard, served two tours in Afghanistan and one Iraq with Army Special Forces Information Management Division, Special Operations Command and was openly gay despite “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

“This is an historic day,” Carroll explained, “as far as I know I am the first out Veteran and active National Guardsman in the country to officially run for office since the Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

“I am proud of the work that I did fighting alongside Mark Udall and the thousands of Service Members nationwide to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I will continue to fight for equality, serving my country and our great state of Colorado in the Army National Guard while exercising my right to run for public office. I look forward to a robust and energetic campaign where I will have the opportunity to engage the voters and constituents of House District 28 to hear their concerns and hopes for a better future.”

After completing six years of active duty, Carroll returned to Colorado and joined the Colorado Army National Guard, 19th Special Forces Group, and served as a Veterans Affairs Specialist for Senator Mark Udall, assisting military and veteran constituents with cases pertaining to healthcare, housing, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal.

While on active duty, Carroll specialized in building infrastructure and information technology resources throughout remote regions of Afghanistan and Iraq and worked with U.S Forces and local communities to build schools, medical clinics and ensured that there were free and fair elections.

Editor’s Note: Use of Carroll’s military rank, job titles and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement from the Department of Defense or the U.S. Army.

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