Du Quoin Native Is Colorado's Newest State Represenative

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Carole Rees Murray credits the education she received in the Du Quoin school system to the success she has had as a forward-thinking Castle Rock, Colo. education activist and now newest member of the Colorado General Assembly.

She has fond memories of the faculty and staff at the Du Quoin High School, particularly the influence of longtime educator Betty Thornton. Mrs. Thornton taught alongside husband Joe for many years at the high school.

Murray, a native of Du Quoin now living in Castle Rock, Colorado, was elected as a Republican to the Colorado House of Representatives in the November 4 election.

Murray served as the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder for eight years until she was term-limited, and was most recently serving as the legislative liaison for the Douglas County School District. Previous to those positions, she was the Executive Director of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Douglas County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States in recent years.

When Murray and her family moved there 30 years ago, the population was around 12,500, and is now estimated to be close to 300,000.

Murray's house district includes the southern one third of the county, along with all of neighboring Teller County. Her swearing-in will be January 7 and the Colorado General Assembly meets for a maximum of 120 days. Her sister, Verna McAteer, and brother, Randall Rees, will be attending the swearing-in ceremonies.

Before moving to Colorado, Murray was a language arts teacher at JB Ward School. She graduated from Sacred Heart School, Du Quoin Township High School and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She has two daughters, Rachel and Claire, who both live in the Denver area. Her husband is Lisle Gates, principal of Castle View High School in Castle Rock, who has three children and six grandchildren.