Aaron’s Biography

Aaron Harber hosts “The Aaron Harber Show TM” (HarberTV.com/Info) which has been available (as recently as the first quarter of 2019) to television broadcast platforms which serve over 61 million households and 127 million Americans.  This was when the show completed a 26-program series on AEG & Mark Cuban’s AXS TV.

The program currently is seen on (1) PBS12 (Denver’s Channel 12, Colorado Public Television) over-the-air by antenna, and Channel 12 on COMCAST, DirecTV, and DISH), (2) statewide six times a week on the COMCAST Network in Indiana, (3) statewide five times a week on the COMCAST Network in Michigan, and (4)  the Web via free, 24/7 online accessibility worldwide at HarberTV.com.  In the second quarter of 2023, PBS12 will be offering the over-the-air broadcast television program to all 354 Public Television Stations.

Aaron is the recipient of the prestigious “Broadcaster of the Year” award from the Colorado Broadcasters Association — the top award for an individual and an honor not given every year by the CBA.  The 60-second television spot highlighting the award can be viewed at HarberTV.com/Award.

He also was selected as the 2019 recipient of the “Geosciences In The Media” award from the +40,000 member American Association of Petroleum Geologists for his extraordinary breadth of in-depth programming in the fields of Energy and the Environment.  He has made these topics accessible to and intelligible for citizens by hosting more programs (+327) and more guests (+421) in these and related fields than any other over-the-air broadcast entity in the history of television.

He also has developed the concepts for two series whose productions are expected to be based in Washington, D.C. — “The American Civility Initiative TM” (HarberTV.com/Civility) and “The Great Climate Change Debate: What Does The Science Really Say? TM” (HarberTV.com/Climate).  In addition, his series addressing issues related to the widespread misunderstanding and misperceptions of vaccines and health issues are in development via HarberTV.com/Vaccines.

Both D.C. television series are modeled on “The Great Economics Debate: What Is America’s Financial Future? TM” produced in Washington and featuring the Chairmen of the Simpson-Bowles Commission — Senator Al Simpson and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles — and other nationally-recognized experts (HarberTV.com/SB).

A small sampling of Aaron’s more than 1,000 in-studio and on-location guests (all of Aaron’s interviews are done in-person) includes Presidents (Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Donald Trump), heads of state (Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Iceland President Ólafur Grímsson, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Ireland President Mary Robinson,  Iraqi President Barham Salih) U.S. Supreme Court Justices (Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O’Connor), Secretaries of State (Madeleine Albright, James Baker, John Kerry, Colin Powell), Attorneys General (Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions, Nicholas Katzenbach), EPA Administrators (Lisa Jackson, Gina McCarthy, Scott Pruitt, William Reilly), Senators (Wayne Allard, Bill Armstrong, Michael Bennet, Hank Brown, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Dick Durbin, Bill Frist, Cory Gardner, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Russell, Al Simpson, Arlen Specter, Tim Wirth), Governors (Steve Beshear, Richard Celeste, Mitch Daniels, Asa Hutchinson, John Hickenlooper, Dick Lamm), FBI Director Robert Mueller, Generals (John Allen, Wesley Clark, Michael Hayden, David Petraeus, Colin Powell), CBS Anchor Bob Schieffer, economist Paul Krugman, Media mogul, Ted Turner, PBS Anchor Jim Lehrer, Forbes Inc. Chairman Steve Forbes, Directors (James Cameron, Oliver Stone), Hollywood Producer Brian Grazer, Ambassadors (Daniel Ayalon, Max Baucus, Sam Brown, Nicholas Burns, Bill Cabaniss, Ryan Crocker, Joseph Detrani, Stuart Eizenstat, Lukman Faily, Husain Haqqani, Chris Hill, Swanee Hunt, Sallai Meridor, Imad Moustapha, John Negroponte, Strobe Talbott, Peter Wittig), First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson, NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams, wellness guru Deepak Chopra, Oilman T. Boone Pickens, Jordan’s Queen Noor, TV’s Dr. Mehmet Oz, Secretary of Agriculture and Designated Survivor Dan Glickman, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretaries of Transportation Ray LaHood and Elaine Chao, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist Eli Broad, Actor Kevin Costner, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, CNN’s John King, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist, Civil Rights icons Jesse Jackson and John Lewis, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, billionaire philanthropist Phillip Anschutz, and Sportscaster Bob Costas.

Aaron’s career in broadcasting began in 1992 when he served as the host of the “The WatchDog” — a political issues, consumer affairs, and citizens’ rights program on the Talk of the Rockies Network.  In 1994, he became host of “Against The Rush” — a humorous but cogent response to Rush Limbaugh.  The show was produced by USA Talk Network and broadcast on 51 stations by the Talk America Radio Network.

Aaron gained national recognition when he was sued frivolously for $20 million by Limbaugh, et al, for using the word “Rush” in the title of his national radio talk show.  With broad-based support across the entire political spectrum, Aaron won the First Amendment case in Federal Court when Limbaugh was forced to dismiss his own case after wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal resources.  Limbaugh threatened to sue Aaron again but never followed through — permanently sealing Aaron’s Free Speech victory.

The talk industry’s leading publication — “TALKERS MAGAZINE” — selected Aaron out of 5,000 hosts across the country as one of America’s 100 “Most Important Talk Show Hosts” (along with such luminaries as Don Imus, Gordon Liddy, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Schlesinger, Howard Stern, and Bruce Williams).  In 1997, he moved from Talk Radio exclusively into the television arena, beginning as a guest host, then becoming a co-host two years later, and eventually having his own program (titled “Spontaneous Combustion”) on Public Television.

From 2002 to 2009, Aaron served as the host of “The Aaron Harber Show” on KBDI-TV Channel 12 (Colorado Public Television) — a meticulous look at the issues of the day — and its “Capitol Report” special editions.  He also has developed the concept for “Blind Justice” — a critical examination of America’s Legal System — which is expected to be in development for some time due to his other commitments.

From 1998 to 2009, Aaron served as the on-camera Political Analyst for CW2 of the CW Network (previously Tribune Broadcasting station KWGN/WB2 – including when it was part of the Warner Brothers Network).  He also has served as an on-air political analyst for ABC affiliate KMGH Channel 7 and CBS affiliate KCNC Channel 4 and has made appearances or had his program footage used both locally (e.g., NBC affiliate KUSA Channel 9) and nationally (e.g., “The Chris Matthews Show”).

In 2000, Aaron hosted the groundbreaking nonpartisan campaign series, “Election 2000,” which was broadcast on over-the-air television (Colorado Public Television KBDI/TV-12) as well as on the Web, thanks to funding from the John S. and James L Knight Foundation and a partnership with The Denver Post.

Two years later, he hosted the nonpartisan “Election 2002” series on Colorado Public Television as a demonstration of how to promote unbiased election-related broadcasts and provide citizens with extensive candidate access and election coverage.

Aaron served as a host on “Colorado Decides 2004” when it became a joint venture of Channel 4/KCNC-TV (CBS-4), KBDI-TV Channel 12, and the Rocky Mountain News.  For “Colorado Decides 2006” he served as the host/moderator and/or the primary questioner for all 21 programs — including “live” call-in television shows.

He reprised his role for “Colorado Decides 2008” and also served as the key on-air political commentator for a special live nightly series at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, held in Denver.  During the Convention, Aaron was the on-air commentator in the arena for 2½ hours every night of the National Convention along with the CBS4 lead anchor team.

In 2008, Aaron also hosted the nation’s first extensive, long-form series on any race at the federal level.  Titled, “The Senate In Balance TM,” Aaron hosted 22 special half-hour programs (SenateCO.com) which provided citizens with an in-depth look at the contest between Democratic U.S. Representative Mark Udall and former Republican U.S. Representative Bob Schaffer.  Other participants and supporters of the project included the retiring incumbent U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R) and Colorado’s other incumbent U.S. Senator, Ken Salazar (D), as well as all of Colorado’s living previous U.S. Senators — Bill Armstrong (R), Hank Brown (R), Ben Campbell (R), Gary Hart (D), and Tim Wirth (D).  The initiative received many accolades as did Aaron for his impartial work.

Aaron left Colorado Public Television in 2009 and received an offer to have his program originate from commercial station KCDO-TV (K3 Colorado, Channel 3) which also allowed his programs to be carried on a variety of other channels, stations, and networks.  Aaron accepted the offer and joined the team at Channel 3.

In addition to his regular program, Aaron became the host and moderator for the 48-program series titled, “Colorado Election 2010 TM” (Colorado2010.com) which provided more election programming on federal and state races than any other program known to be broadcast over-the-air in American history.

He also created the innovative experimental Publishers Advantage Initiative as a way to assist newspapers by using television to attract readers, subscribers, and advertisers to print publications.  The Publishers Advantage Program was a pilot effort structured to allow newspapers and other publications to use television programs and segments to become more competitive with all forms of media.  Aaron’s efforts to support newspapers have been lauded by many journalists, including an Editor at The Wall Street Journal.

Due to the national and international focus of his program, “The Aaron Harber Show,” in 2010 Aaron also was named the host of a new KCDO-TV (K3 Colorado Channel 3) series, titled “The Aaron Harber Show: Colorado Now!” which had a focus on Colorado opinion- and thought-leaders, events, and organizations.

Aaron also has hosted “The Energy Roundtable TM” — a series within “The Aaron Harber Show” (HarberTV.com/Energy) focused on issues related to Energy, the Environment, the Economy, and their interrelation.

With his distinctive background as a former consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as well as having done public opinion polling for a major utility Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado), consulting for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (under a subcontract), and academic work in the energy arena plus being an energy royalty owner concerned about the impacts of energy development on the property where he and his family reside, Aaron is uniquely qualified to address energy-related issues at a level not normally seen in journalistic fields.

The Energy Roundtable” series has featured over 300 programs and more than 400 guests.  No other television series broadcast over-the-air has featured more energy-related programs in the history of the United States than “The Energy Roundtable.”

In 2012, Aaron hosted “Colorado Election 2012 TM” to serve the people of Colorado with over half a year of nonpartisan programs dedicated to candidate races and ballot issue campaigns.

With the help of the Colorado Broadcasters Association, Aaron also expanded The Publishers Advantage Initiative by creating The Broadcasters Advantage Program, which provided “The Aaron Harber Show” programs to radio and television stations, at no charge, as a way to give them access to more nonpartisan content.

These efforts were based on Aaron’s belief in the importance of maximizing the quality of published content and sharing it to support other journalists.  Because Aaron is widely recognized as being fact-based and nonpartisan, he sees leveraging that reputation by sharing content could make a small contribution to increasing the public’s confidence in journalism.

In 2014, Aaron was the moderator of “Colorado Election 2014,” the nation’s first such joint venture between a major newspaper (The Denver Post) and an over-the-air commercial television station (KCDO-TV Channel3).  The public affairs series was formally announced by The Denver Post (bit.ly/CO2014) and also was broadcast by COMCAST Entertainment Television and ION television (KPXC-TV).  To inform citizens, a record-setting total of 75 half-hour public affairs programs were produced and broadcast in the series.

In 2015, Aaron began serving as the moderator of a second statewide weekly program, “The Aaron Harber Show: Colorado Business News TM” on KCDO-TV Channel 3, COMCAST Entertainment Television, and ION Television.

While his regular weekly program continued to concentrate on national and international guests and issues, the focus of “Colorado Business News” was on business activity in the Rocky Mountain region, with an emphasis on economic and financial issues and stories in Colorado.  Initially this was done in conjunction with the Denver Business Journal, the State’s primary business publication, which was a content partner in the first season of this broadcast initiative.

In 2016, Aaron hosted a new election series — “Your Decision 2016 ™” — which, once again, provided citizens with in-depth debates and analyses of ballot issues and candidates.  The series was seen on Channel 3 KCDO-TV, ION Television, and COMCAST Entertainment Television, and also was made available 24/7 online.  In 2018, Aaron served as the host & moderator of “Your Decision 2018 ™” — a public affairs election series which produced 52 half-hour programs featuring candidates, ballot issues, and political experts for the benefit of the public.

In 2018, after Mark Cuban saw programs Aaron did with former F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller, Cuban offered and Aaron accepted the opportunity to have “The Aaron Harber Show” broadcast nationally on AXS TV.  This broadcast arrangement increased the broadcast distribution of the program from platforms which served a maximum of 15 million people to platforms which served over 125 million Americans.

In 2020, Aaron hosted “Your Decision 2020 ™” in conjunction with the Denver Gazette, the Colorado Springs Gazette, and Colorado Politics.

In 2022, Aaron hosted “Your Decision 2022 ™” on PBS12 (Channel 12, Colorado Public Television) and expanded the series to include special programs on Election Integrity and Ballot Security.

Aaron was an occasional columnist for Colorado’s major political publication, “The Colorado Statesman,” and served in the same capacity previously for The Denver Daily News.  He writes occasionally for various publications, including “Colorado Politics.”  His writings are available on the television program’s Website — HarberTV.com.  At the request of Arianna Huffington, he wrote columns for- The Huffington Post.  His columns have been distributed by numerous publications across the country, including The Washington Post online.

Although it is true the highlight of Aaron’s life was being a Bat Boy for the Chicago White Sox at age 15 (he was one of the winners in a Chicago newspaper essay-writing contest), it hasn’t been completely downhill from there.  Aaron began his business career days after being graduated from college, when he started the Colorado Accounting & Tax Service with $1,500 he had saved from college jobs he performed while working his way through school.

Since then, he has been involved in numerous businesses ranging from public opinion survey research to high technology (where he organized software companies) to venture capital to Talk Radio to movie and television production, among others.

An environmentalist and an Equal Rights and Equal Opportunity advocate, Aaron also is a strong pro-business, Free-Market proponent.  He believes a properly and fairly regulated Free Market can create the best opportunities for everyone.

Unlike many other talk show hosts who give opinions about subjects they know little about, Aaron has extraordinary firsthand experience and knowledge about business, government, education, politics, the Law, entertainment, Media, and the Press.  His media activities are widely recognized for their consistent fairness, accuracy, accessibility, and nonpartisan nature.

As co-founder and chairman in the early 1990’s of the Women’s Equity Fund, an experimental venture capital firm helping women and men start new businesses and expand existing ones, Aaron promoted the concept of changing the often unfairly limited access women had to business capital.

He was the chairman of Centre Entertainment, Inc. — a video and film production and distribution company (“A Norman Rockwell Christmas” and “Legend Of The Spirit Dog”).  He served as president of Wild Horse Productions, Inc. — a company originally formed to develop the feature film concept, “Wild Horses,” for Animal Planet and Discovery Communications, Inc. for which a complete script and casting received final approval.

Aaron pioneered the 100-year vision for the Golden Run community in Colorado, as an example of the possibilities for the nation’s first truly sustainable, large-scale, zero net energy, zero net waste community (GoldenRun.com).  The vision was for an imaginatively designed, walkable, economically sustainable, environmentally friendly, and multi-generational neighborhood focused on the needs of mature adults, senior citizens in their later years, young families, the disabled, and people requiring special levels of care.

Golden Run’s emphasis is on providing Affordable and Attainable Housing on a large scale as part of a highly-desired, robust community with high quality housing for those who often are shut out of such opportunities.  The community notably is targeted to serve the needs of indigenous populations with an emphasis on members of Native American tribes.

The concept is to create a community of luxury Affordable Housing where people can live, work, play, recreate, shop, be creative, and enjoy life — all in an ecologically sound manner — with a special emphasis on meeting the housing and family life needs of Veterans, Native Americans, and people with disabilities. Golden Run remains only a concept and will continue to be refined in the coming years but is supported by a National Sustainability Council (bit.ly/CouncilGR) which includes national and international leaders in the sustainability arena. 

 

Aaron also was a co-founder and served as president and chairman of Silicon Valley software company TeamOne Systems (in the Apollo, Digital, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Sun Microsystems markets) which tackled the national need to improve productivity in almost every business domain by automating the writing of computer software.  He also was elected as chairman of the innovative fiber-optic large-display start-up company Mall TV, Inc. and he served as chairman of one of the nation’s first retail Virtual Reality start-up companies, V-Space, Inc.

For over three decades, Aaron has served as president of American Research Corporation, where his work included strategic planning, research, business advisory services, organizational consulting, public opinion polling, and computer software.  He has managed software development projects, served private and public sector clients domestically and internationally, and participated in state and federal government projects.

A sample of his past customers at ARC include Bank of America, Motorola Corporation, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Atari, Inc., Memorex, SPRINT, Case Western Reserve, Environment Canada, Rockwell International, Knight-Ridder’s VIEWDATA Corporation, Unisys, Public Service Company, Hughes Aircraft, the U.S. Department of Energy, Tandem Computers, Security Pacific National Bank, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Aaron also was elected to as a member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton University.  He served as a member of Princeton’s Department of Civil & Geological Engineering’s Advisory Committee as well as on numerous other committees (including the University’s primary fundraising and resources committee).

Aaron worked internationally after being elected Vice-President and then President of the 3,000-member International Tandem [Computers] Users’ Group, and helped lead the group to its independence as an autonomous and self-sufficient organization.  His efforts included international negotiations to bring user groups based in other countries into the international organization.

While registered as an Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Aaron extensively donated his financial and tax advisory services to men and women starting businesses as well as to charitable organizations on a pro bono basis.  He continues to assist many groups today as an informal advisor and volunteer.

Aaron’s community involvement also has included doing fundraising for the University of Colorado, serving as the first president and chairman of the Nancy Spanier Dance Theatre of Colorado, working as a Volunteer Probation Counselor for the City and County Courts of Denver, and serving on the board of directors of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra.  He has served on the board of director and has been a frequent volunteer auctioneer for the annual fundraiser for the Boulder Chamber Orchestra.

Aaron was co-director of the Chicano Film Project, which produced the unprecedented documentary film, “Los Inmigrantes.”  He has worked as a volunteer for ECO-CYCLE and as a Relief House Parent for Attention Homes (an alternative to jail for young offenders).  He has been recognized for his work addressing the needs of people with disabilities and received the Colorado Cross-Disabilities Coalition’s American Disabilities Act award.

Over three decades ago, he was the first (and then only) male ever elected to the Board of Directors of the Boulder County Women’s Resource Center and for decades has been a strong proponent of equal rights for women.  During his tenure, the Boulder County Women’s Resource Center created the nationally-recognized SAFEHOUSE for women and children.  He also has served as the moderator and the facilitator of numerous panels and as a keynote speaker.

Aaron was elected Secretary of the Colorado Democratic Party in 1983.  He was elected as a Presidential Delegate to the 1984 National Convention in San Francisco and also was elected to the Convention’s original National Credentials Committee.  He was a candidate for Secretary of State in 1982 and later won his party’s nomination for that office in 1990.

In both 1996 and 2000, Aaron won election in statewide party races at the State Convention to represent Colorado in the Electoral College.  In addition to his 1984 national delegate win, he similarly was elected as a Presidential Delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Chicago (1996) and Los Angeles (2000).

Aaron has served as parliamentarian and secretary of numerous political assemblies and conventions, at the county, congressional, and state level.  He was elected as chair of State Senate District 17 and as Vice Chair of House District 31, and has held many other elected party positions — ranging from Precinct Committeeperson to Caucus Chair and Secretary to County, Congressional, State, and National delegate.

Aaron has held no partisan position since 2000 due to his work in the Media.  He remains committed to continue to be seen as an objective, independent, nonpartisan member of the Press.

Aaron is known for his fairness and the equal access he has provided Republicans and Democrats to all his radio and TV shows — including his exclusive broadcasts from the 1996 Republican National Convention.  He has broadcast his show “live” from places as disparate as the Democratic Leadership Council to the White House Press Room to the Pentagon to the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Aaron also traveled to Iraq during the War at the invitation of General David Petraeus where he interviewed the General at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad (the former palace of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) and traveled to other locations in Iraq and Kuwait.

Aaron’s political views include what he believes are the best elements from both major parties and from some minority parties.  His philosophy is to consider as many views as possible and come to rational, thoughtful positions not bound by any particularly partisan, “blind-faith” ideology.  He believes in offering people a “helping hand” and assisting them in becoming independent — not dependent.

A staunch supporter of the concept of public disclosure, “sunshine” laws, Open Records Acts, and transparency, Aaron fought a precedent-setting battle against the State of Colorado in 1982 in which the Secretary of State ultimately was required to release public information in its most usable form (i.e., electronic rather than wasteful and useless paper).

A decade later, in 1993, he won a case against another government entity (the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District) which had tried to use the law and the cost of litigation to hide important public information from citizens and the Press.

In 1994, at the request of the Sierra Club, he agreed to intervene in a case against the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District filed by the Sierra Club by formally supporting the Club’s position in a joint filing.

And in 2014, he forced the Town of Erie to be more transparent in the disclosure of public meetings previously held in what essentially was secrecy.

Colorado Governor Roy Romer appointed Aaron to the Colorado Department of Law’s Collection Agency Board (“CAB”) in the Office of the Attorney General in 1988.  Aaron served there under both Democratic and Republican Attorneys General and promoted improvements on behalf of consumers.  He was elected in 1989 as the first public member ever to serve as Chairman of the Board.

In 1990, he was appointed by the Governor to serve as a business representative on the State’s Complete Count Committee for the 1990 U.S. Census.

Aaron has chaired numerous domestic and international events and is known as an excellent public speaker, moderator, and facilitator.  He mediates crises and advises numerous organizations pro bono.  His favorite activity is problem-solving in a “win/win” mode.  Every year he also donates many of his appearances to assist charitable groups.  For more information about Aaron’s moderating work and speaking topics, go to HarberTV.com/Speak.

Aaron has served as a member of the board of the Prostate Cancer Education Council.  His greatest contribution to helping fight cancer was his directorial debut in 2006 when he directed General Colin Powell in the production of four nationally-broadcast television Public Service Announcements encouraging men to get tested.

He also has volunteered multiple times as the emcee of various charitable events (such as the annual “Free To Breathe” charity 5K race in Denver to support lung cancer survivors and lung cancer research) and has personally hosted fundraising events (e.g., for a local church, for a charter school, et cetera).

Aaron also served on the Accountability Committee for his daughter’s public school, Peak to Peak K-12 Charter School, helped with the school’s fundraising (including the school’s primary annual fundraising dinner and auction), and worked in the school’s cafeteria as a volunteer serving lunch to students.  He also helped with fundraising and was a volunteer who helped served as the emcee and auctioneer for the annual major fundraiser at his daughter’s elementary school (Bixby School) where he also helped serve lunch for many years.

He has served on the Advisory Board of the Ohio Center for Broadcasting and the Colorado Media School and donates a considerable amount of his time every week to charitable organizations to help them with organizational planning and fundraising as well as to individuals who need business and personal advice.

In 2021, Aaron was appointed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, which is responsible for coordinating the more than 300 public and private institutions of Higher Education which operate in Colorado and are overseen by the Colorado Department of Higher Education.  His four-year appointment won unanimous Senate confirmation in 2022.

As a Commissioner, Aaron’s focus is on creating greater access for financially disadvantaged and nontraditional students, minimizing Student Debt, improving the quality of instruction, lowering administrative costs at colleges and universities, eliminating unreasonable barriers to students and former students (such as withholding official transcripts from students seeking employment or other academic opportunities), improving academic and career counseling at multiple levels (i.e., middle school, high school, and college) so prospective students make better choices and are better prepared for college and for their post-college experience, and doing everything possible to create greater value to students for the degree or certifications they receive.

Aaron was graduated first in his class from Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, where he gave the valedictory address at the school’s commencement, held at Macky Auditorium at the University of Colorado, in which he criticized the Board of Education due to the high dropout rate of graduates who matriculate at colleges and universities.

Aaron received his undergraduate degree (A.B.) from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (concentrating in Economics).

At Princeton, Aaron became the first person in the then 220-year history of the University to win the top two awards for being the person who did the most for his class (the W. Sanderson Detwiler Prize) and the person who did the most for the entire University during his four years in attendance (The Class of 1901 Medal).  For these accomplishments, he was the first person ever to receive both the W. Sanderson Detwiler Prize and the Class of 1901 Medal.

Aaron received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (concentrating in Ethics in business, government, and politics), where he also examined campaign finance laws and election practices in all 50 states.

Aaron’s primary role in life to date has been raising his daughter — whose unending homework questions kept him very busy for many years.  His hobbies are running (he is not very fast but he keeps going), basketball (his height helps), tennis (he’s not very good but he can play), and eating (he’s very good at this).

He also has been a Puppy Raiser and a courier (delivering puppies by air) for Guide Dogs for the Blind and has been caring for multiple pets — including retired Guide Dogs — for decades while living on and managing a 320-acre Colorado farm located between Lafayette and Erie — all for over a third of a century.

For more information or for any requests, please e-mail [email protected] or visit HarberTV.com.

 

SAMPLE OF JOURNALISTIC, PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show” on PBS12, Colorado Public Television, Channel 12 (2022 – 2023)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show: Your Decision 2022” on PBS12, Colorado Public Television, Channel 12 (2022)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “Your Decision 2020” in conjunction with the Denver Gazette (2020)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST (2010-2020)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show” on AXS TV (nationally) (2018-19)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “Your Decision 2018” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2010-2017)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show: Colorado Business News” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2014-2017)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “Your Decision 2016” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2016)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “Colorado Election 2014” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2014)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “Colorado Election 2012” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2012)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “Colorado Election 2010” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2010)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show: Colorado Now!on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2010-2014)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show” on KBDI-TV Channel 12(2002-2009)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Senate In Balance” on COMCAST & KBDI-TV Channel 12 (2008-2009)

Columnist, The Huffington Post (2008-2017)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show: The Energy Roundtable” on KCDO-TV, COMCAST, and ION (2007-2019)

Host, Moderator, Senior Executive Producer, “The Aaron Harber Show: Capitol Report” on KBDI-TV Channel 12 (2007-2009)

Host, Moderator, Primary Questioner “Colorado Decides” for KBDI-TV, Rocky Mountain News, CBS4/KCNC (2004-2008)

Executive Director, “Truth In Political Advertising Project” for campaign political advertising in Colorado (2006)

Executive Director, “Truth In Political Advertising Project” for the U.S. Senate race advertising in Colorado (2004)

Columnist and Political Analyst, The Denver Daily News (2004-2011)

Host & Moderator, Nonpartisan Political Series “Election 2000” & “Election 2002”  on KBDI-TV Channel 12 (2000-2002)

Colorado (KBDI/TV-12) Television Talk Show Host for “Spontaneous Combustion” (USA Talk Network) (1998-2002)

Elected Presidential Elector for Al Gore in the Electoral College (elected by the Democratic State Assembly in 2000)

Elected National Delegate, [Democratic National] Presidential Convention for Al Gore (2000)  *

Elected House District 31 Vice Chairman (2000-2002)  *

Elected Democratic State Convention Presidential Delegate for Al Gore (2000)  *

Elected Democratic Congressional Convention Presidential Delegate for Al Gore (2000)  *

Elected Democratic County Convention Presidential Delegate for Al Gore (2000)  *

CW2/WB2/KWGN TV-2 On-Air Political Analyst for “News@Nine,” “WB2 Morning News” & ”A.M. Sunday” (1998-2008)

National Radio Talk-Show Host for “Against The Rush” (Talk America Radio Network/USA Talk Network) (1994-1997)

General Election Political Commentator on KBDI (TV-12)/KMGH (Channel 7) combined coverage program (1996)

Contributing Columnist for The Colorado Statesman political newsweekly (1983-2011 [not continuous])

Presidential Elector for Bill Clinton in the Electoral College (elected by the Democratic State Assembly in 1996)  *

Elected National Delegate, [Democratic National] Presidential Convention for Bill Clinton (1996)  *

Elected Congressional Convention Presidential Delegate for Bill Clinton (1996)  *

Elected County Convention Presidential Delegate for Bill Clinton (1996)  *

Talk Radio Host of “The WatchDog” (political and citizens’ rights program; Talk of the Rockies Network) (1992)

Parliamentarian, Second Congressional District Assembly and Convention (1998)

Volunteer, Colorado Dukakis for President Campaign (1998)

Adviser, numerous Colorado congressional, statewide, legislative, and local campaigns (1974-2001)

Volunteer, Boulder Valley School District Mill Levy campaigns (to increase school funding) (1980-1996 [not continuous])

Elected Chairman, State Senate [Democratic] District 17 (1991-1995)  *

Victor in First Amendment federal case when sued by Rush Limbaugh, et al, for $20 Million (1994-1996)

Victor in precedent-setting Open Records case against the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (1994)

Poll-Watcher, Democratic Party (1988, 1998)

Elected State Convention Presidential Delegate for Jesse Jackson (1988)  *

Elected Congressional District Presidential Delegate for Jesse Jackson (1988)  *

Elected County Convention Presidential Delegate for Jesse Jackson (1988)  *

Volunteer, Romer for Governor campaigns (1986, 1994)

Volunteer, Skaggs For Congress congressional campaign (1986-1996)

Elected Precinct Committeeperson (1986 – 2000 [not continuous])  *

Elected Precinct Caucus Secretary (1986 – 1998 [not continuous])  *

Parliamentarian, Colorado State Democratic Assembly and Convention (1986)

Elected Precinct Caucus Chair (1984 -2000 [not continuous])  *

Parliamentarian, Boulder County Democratic Assemblies and Conventions (1984-1998 [not continuous])

Co-Director, Colorado Mondale for President Colorado Speakers’ Bureau (1984)

“On-The-Floor” National Presidential Convention political correspondent for the Boulder Daily Camera (1984)

Elected National Delegate, [Democratic National] Presidential Convention for Gary Hart (1984)  *

Elected Member, Temporary Credentials Committee, Democratic National Convention (1984)  *

Elected Secretary, Colorado State Democratic Convention and Assembly (1984)  *

Elected Congressional Convention Presidential Delegate for Gary Hart (1984)  *

Elected County Convention Presidential Delegate for Gary Hart (1984)  *

Volunteer, myriad Boulder County Democratic Party events [Bingo, Truman Dinner, Tickets, Advertising] (1983-1996)

Member, Colorado Democratic Party State Central Committee (1983-1987)  *

Member, Colorado Democratic Party State Executive Committee (1983-1985)  *

Member, Boulder County Democratic Party Executive Committee (1983-2001 [not continuous])  *

Elected and served as Secretary of the Colorado State Democratic Party (1983-1985)  *

Member, Board of Directors, American Civil Liberties Union (Boulder) (1980-1982)  *

Candidate, Colorado Secretary of State (1982 and 1990 [Democratic Party Nominee in 1990])

Survey Researcher (political polling), Dick Lamm’s gubernatorial General Election re-election campaign (1978)

Principal Investigator/Survey Researcher (political polling), Colorado Nuclear Safeguards Amendment (1976)

Member, Board of Directors, Boulder County Women’s Resource Center (first male ever elected) (1975-1979)  *

Volunteer, Tim Wirth’s congressional (U.S. House and U.S. Senate) campaigns (1974-1986)

Survey Research Director (political polling), Dick Lamm’s Primary Election gubernatorial campaign (1974)

Volunteer, George McGovern’s presidential campaign (1972)

NOTES:  An asterisk (“*”) indicates position held was a result of winning a direct election or it was based on a position already held for which a related election occurred.  In the case of having won election to the Electoral College for the Democratic Presidential Slate in a statewide contest held at the State Party Convention, because Bill Clinton failed to carry the State in 1996 and Al Gore failed to win the State in 2000, no vote was cast by Aaron for President either time.  In some cases, years given for various activities may be best estimates.

Last revised:  12-01-2022