A memorial service for legendary lobbyist Margaret “Peg” Ackerman will be held at 10:30 a.m., Dec. 3, in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the state Capitol.

Ackerman, 85, lost her battle with cancer on Friday.

A native of New Mexico, Ackerman’s first career wasn’t in politics. She was a chemist at a time when opportunities for women in science were few and far between.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of New Mexico , she worked for several companies, including Shell Oil and the Lawrence National Lab at the University of California. Then it was off to graduate school and back to New Mexico, where she obtained a PhD. in chemistry from UNM in 1971.

Between obtaining her doctorate and when she came to Colorado, Ackerman held a postdoctoral fellowship at the UNM’s school of medicine. She also worked in radiochemistry for Analytical Development Corporation and Rhoads Scientific.

But she gave up the life of a scientist and became a lobbyist in Colorado, where her clients included the County Sheriffs of Colorado, whom she represented for more than three dozen years.

According to former Rep. Claire Levy (D-Boulder), Ackerman made the career change because it was hard for women to get jobs in the sciences at that time. She volunteered to talk to lawmakers about something she cared about, and that went pretty well, Levy recalled.

“Before she knew it she was a lobbyist,” she said.

Ackerman founded Ackerman Information Services in 1980. In addition to the sheriffs, she also represented county clerks, public trustees, professional land surveyors, county treasurers, county coroners, and Colorado chiefs of police.

Former state Sen. Peggy Reeves (D-Fort Collins) first knew her when Ackerman lived in Fort Collins. “We became good friends,” and would meet for breakfast before Reeves headed off to the state Capitol. “I always paid attention to what she had to say.” 

Ackerman spent many a Thanksgiving with the Reeves family and remained good friends for years after Reeves’ service in the legislature ended.

“She was so well respected” at the Capitol, said former Rep. Peggy Kerns (D-Aurora). Even when she began to fail physically, her mind remained sharp. “Organizations that had her as a lobbyist got their money’s worth.”

She was “small in stature but huge in knowledge, credibility and reputation, a giant,” said former state Rep. Dan Williams, now a lobbyist, who said he met Ackerman around 1985. From the get-go, Williams said, she was the “epitome” of what a lobbyist should be. “She was fair and honest and gave you as much information you wanted and in an honest way.”

After Williams became a lobbyist, it was Ackerman that he went to as a mentor.

“She was so gracious and eager to help all of us understand what it was to be a lobbyist. In those days, the old hands wanted us to be good, honest information bearers. It wasn’t about winning at all costs or how much money you could dole out,” he said. “She helped instill in me integrity over the long run is the name of the game. Anything short of that, you’re harming the integrity of the process,” Williams said.

Lobbyist Corky Kyle said he met Ackerman shortly after she started lobbying. “Peg was one of the first people I met when I first got started in 1981. She was always extremely helpful. If I had a question I knew I could talk to her, and she’d set me on the straight and narrow.”

Levy said at one hearing, Ackerman showed up with a couple of sheriffs in tow. “She’s a tiny lady whose shoes weighed as much as she did….[and] despite the size disparity, she had all of [the sheriffs] whipped into shape with their talking points in order.”

And having three minutes to testify didn’t inhibit Peg, Levy said. “She could say what was needed to be said in less than a minute.”

Levy and Ackerman connected outside the Gold Dome over greyhounds. Levy had adopted two retired racing greyhounds, and Ackerman wanted to adopt one. After that happened, Levy would visit to see the dog. “Peg indulged that animal and loved her. When you bond over animals, it’s a completely different thing than bonding over issues or music or sports or other things that bring people together. Peg and I shared a love for that breed of dog that transcended the realm in which we both worked.

“I’m fortunate to have gotten to know her outside the committee room,” Levy said.”She was a neat lady!”

Former Senate President Kevin Grantham said he knew Ackerman when she was lobbying for the sheriffs. “She was always a great representative for all the sheriffs in Colorado and really helped us get through some pretty tough issues throughout the years. She was a rock-solid, steady hand at doing her job, and we’re going to miss her.”

Sheriffs both past and present have lined up to salute Ackerman.

Sheriff Justin Smith of Larimer County said Ackerman had a passion for the duties of the sheriffs and was “always a class act.” It didn’t matter which party was in power, he said; “she had earned the respect of legislators on both sides of the aisle.

“You couldn’t stop that woman,” Smith said. To look at Ackerman, you thought she’d ease her way through, and she amazed everyone. “There was that fire you couldn’t put a stop to.”

Smith’s predecessor, Jim Black, said that he first met Ackerman when she came to Larimer County to investigate female perceptions of discrimination in the sheriff’s department. At the time, she was a field organizer for the National Organization for Women, which included working for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in several states.

She didn’t find any evidence of discrimination, Black said, and then they started talking about the legislature.

The board for the county sheriffs’ organization wasn’t happy with their lobbyist at that time, and after meeting Ackerman, they hired her. “She was the ultimate professional who knew all the nooks and crannies of Colorado politics. It will be very difficult to replace her.”

Sheriff Tony Spurlock of Douglas County said that Ackerman was “considered a force to be reckoned with at the Capitol, with her in-depth knowledge and well-reasoned advocacy.” Ackerman’s passionate legacy will forever be remembered and treasured by the County Sheriffs of Colorado, Spurlock said.

Ackerman was also a diehard Rockies fan and bought tickets for years from Kerns, whose family held season tickets. Reeves said Ackerman would take family members to the games and explain the game of baseball. 

“Man, she loved baseball!,”  Kerns said. Her dad had been a baseball fan – her mother died when Ackerman was young -and even in her final illness, her goal was to recover enough to go to just one more game, according to Reeves and Kerns. “Her love of baseball was an important part of her life,” Kerns said.

Ackerman is survived by her sister, Nene Koch (Jamie) and nieces, Amy Koch of Santa Fe and Julie Krause (Eric) their daughters Clara, and twins Lilia Krause and son Lucas James Krause of Woodinville, Washington. Peg’s remains will be buried at the Church of Holy Faith Mausoleum in Santa Fe.

Note: Mike Beasley provided assistance in compiling this remembrance.