Jim Kolbe Death, Obituary – Former U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe was both a treasure for the state of Arizona and a national leader. Over the course of more than three decades, he was known as “Mr. Southern Arizona” and served his community with enthusiasm and dedication. Additionally, prior to that, he served our country honourably in Vietnam. Jim Kolbe has made a name for himself as a thought leader on issues relating to international relations and economic sustainability. His conviction that America can increase its leadership position around the world by promoting free trade and free entrepreneurship has been a defining characteristic of U.S. foreign policy.
He was very frugal in every sense of the word. In point of fact, he was a significant leader in the movement to remove the United States penny from circulation due to the fact that its production cost more than it was actually worth. Jim Kolbe had a crucial role in the welfare reform, the proposed amendment to the United States Constitution to require a balanced budget, and the establishment of the line-item veto to eliminate wasteful expenditure. In addition to being a political trailblazer, Jim Kolbe was the first openly gay Republican to serve in the United States Congress.
He made it possible for many members of the LGBT community, including myself, to run for office and be successful without having to hide or hedge their statements. It was a tremendous honour for me to earn his support in my campaign for the Arizona Legislature, which is where Jim Kolbe began his career as an elected official. On the other hand, Jim Kolbe’s political strategy in regard to this matter was far ahead of its time. He made the observation, “I would rather be recognised as ‘Jim Kolbe, the trade specialist in Congress who happens to be homosexual,’ rather than ‘Jim Kolbe, the gay congressman from Arizona,'”
Being a part of the LGBT community and holding elected office are both pointless endeavours in today’s world as a direct result of Jim Kolbe. During this trying time, my thoughts and prayers are with his husband, Hector, and the rest of the Kolbe family. Even though Jim Kolbe is no longer with us, the political and policy legacy that he leaves behind will continue to have an impact on many people. Jim Kolbe’s dedication to reaching compromises and working with members of both parties was one of the most prominent aspects of his professional life. His approach will forever serve as a model for how we might maintain the vitality of our republic by cooperating with one another.