Marriage, parenthood, careers, and politics: The Romeros say proudly, 'We haven't done it alone'
SALT LAKE CITY — When Representative Ross I. Romero (Dem. - Salt Lake and Summit Counties) was a child growing up in Salt Lake City, he used to wear a T-shirt ® that said, "I’m a Rare Bird - A Utah Catholic." Today, he said, he’s add a few more rarities to the description. "I’d have to say, ‘I’m a Rare Bird - A Utah Catholic, a Hispanic, a Democrat, and I Want to be Your Next Senator. They’d have to make a bigger T-shirt." Romero, his wife of nine years Cecilia, and their 14-month-old son, Marcos, live in a modest, comfortable home in St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Both Ross and Cecilia are lawyers, he a corporate litigator with Jones, Waldo, Holbrook and McDonough, and she, a commercial contract litigator with Holland and Hart. Ross earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Utah in 1993, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor in 1966. That’s where, he met Cecilia on virtually her first day on campus as a freshman. She’d arrived with her mother, her three aunts, and firm advice: "Don’t fall in love with someone from out of state." Later that evening, at a get-acquainted dance for Hispanic students, she met Ross, 5 years her senior and already interested in politics. So much for firm advice. Ross, a graduate of Highland High School, had joined the Young Democrats at an early age. He entered the University of Utah asking his advisors which classes he should take to prepare for a career in law and politics. They steered him toward the law classes he would need and political science. "I loved the University of Utah, and I never thought of getting my post-graduate degree from anywhere else," he told the Intermountain Catholic in a June 19 interview. "But I met the dean of admissions at the University of Michigan, and found a kindred soul with whom I had much in common. We’d both worked with Upward Bound, a program for children of socio-economically disadvantaged parents, we both had a love for education. He told me to look him up, and I did. The University of Michigan is one of the top five law schools. I applied, and was accepted." Romero had also been accepted for post-graduate work at the University of Utah, so he took his dilemma to his professors, Professors Scott Matheson, Jr., John Flynn, and Bob Flores. "To their credit, they gave me wonderful advice," Romero said. "As loyal as they are to the University of Utah and its law program, they helped me recognize what an opportunity I had to go to Michigan. They encouraged me to go. I really benefitted from their advice." When he met Cecilia, he said, what drew him to her was her pride in her Latina/Native American heritage. Her Father was Ethnic Mexican, her mother, Sandra Barron, half Chippewa/Ottowa Indian. Cecilia’s grandmother, a full-blooded Chippewa, influenced Cecilia with pride in her large extended family and Native American accomplishments. "Then, he got approval from my father," Cecilia said. "In fact, my father said, ‘He’s the one.’ He was right." Cecilia’s family reminded Romero of his own. Although his parents had divorced, both parents had encouraged Ross to pursue his education and his law degree. His mother, Anita Bruce, a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Kearns, is a teacher, and Ross always attended the schools at which she taught. His grandmother, Dora Dell, "helped define me as a Catholic and she awakened my ethnic identity." From the beginning of their relationship, and on into their life together, their families, the Barrons and the Bruce family, have supported them, loving them, and encouraged them, modeling for them how they should love each other. Cecilia and Ross have taken that modeling to heart, working hard at getting them both through school, earning their degrees, all the time sharing responsibilities. After Ross earned his Juris Doctorate in 1996, his desire was to return to Utah to begin his career in the law firm for whom he’d already worked for two summers as a clerk. Convincing Cecilia to leave her beloved University of Michigan and continue her studies at the University of Utah, was another matter. They’d tried living apart for one summer, and it simply didn’t work. Finally, Ross resorted to wheeling and dealing. He offered her a car, all the long distance minutes she would need to stay in touch with her family and friends, and that they would return to Ann Arbor to marry. "I loved the University of Utah, too," Cecilia said. "The professors give you more individual time, and the classes are smaller." They returned to Ann Arbor to marry in 1997, and Cecilia earned her degree from the University of Utah in 2002. Getting married by long distance is usually not recommended, but Cecilia’s family, her mother, her aunts, and her sisters, stepped in, eager to help them plan. "They did it all," Cecilia said. "It was wonderful for us, and a very special wedding gift. We didn’t have to do much to prepare." Their nine years together have been busy ones. They have learned that politics can be all consuming, Ross said, so Cecilia drew up a contract, albeit a friendly one. "It was a good idea," Ross said. "It forced us to sit down and talk about the important things. We had to set priorities, and especially when Marcos was born, we had to make sure that we scheduled our time well. Through all of this, and with so few hours in the day, we know we have to keep talking." Enter Grandma. Sandy Barron, whose job had been out-sourced to another country, packed up her Michigan home and moved temporarily to Utah. She’s been a live-in grandma for almost a year, caring for Marcos during the day, and pursuing her education in the evenings. By the time she returns home in August, Sandy will have earned an Associate of Arts Degree in juvenile justice. In 2005, Ross Romero was approached by the local Democratic leaders and asked to run for the House of Representatives’ seat to be vacated by Scott Daniels, whom Romero had supported and for whom he’d campaigned. "I wasn’t really ready to enter politics yet, but they gave me the opportunity, and we talked it over." Since taking over that seat, Romero has served on the Commerce and Revenue Appropriations Subcommittee; the House Judicial Committee; and the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. Romero is well known in the community through his law work and his activism. He was mentored by the late Sen. Pete Suazo. His public service has included: member of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce since 2001; member of the Young Alumni Board for the University of Utah from 1998-2001; service on the Salt Lake Board of Adjustment, 2001-2003; A Member of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board since 2002; and service on the Utah Minority Bar Association, he served as the organization’s president in 2003 and 2004. He also had earned membership into the Beehive Honor Society at the University of Utah in 1993, attended the Washington Center, and served an internship in Washington D.C. in 1992. Today, he is campaigning for the Senate seat that will be vacated by Senator Karen Hale. "I have learned that serving in the legislature is not as partisan as campaigning. Local candidates often get lost in during the national election years. Cecilia teases me that as a Utah Democrat, I’m much more moderate than a Michigan democrat. I think that’s because I am a lawyer and I have been a champion and advocate for people who don’t have all the benefits we have had. "I understand what it means to have a lot less than I have, and so does Cecilia. I am willing and qualified to look at the business side, but I’m also a strong advocate for the public. I advocate for public educators, and I’m not shy about supporting the social issues that are favorites of the democrats, like health insurance for everyone and quality health care. These are issues that the Democrats lead out on in a big way. They are certainly on the minds of legislators on both sides." Ross and Cecilia often campaign together, and they often bring Marcos, and even Sandy with them. As Sandy prepares to return to Michigan, Marcos will be making the transition to a day care facility, and the Romero’s have made their decision carefully. "We learned what questions to ask, and we’ve looked closely at policies, child abuse records, and whether they can provide the safe and loving environment we want for Marcos." Politically, both Ross and Cecilia wrestle with the issues of the day. They often turn to prayer to help them make decisions, and have sought the counsel of their pastors and parish priests, from Father Joseph Mayo, current rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, who was Ross’ pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish, to the Dominican priests who lead the Catholic Community at St. Catherine’s. "I’m always looking for the best option," Ross said. "I want to be fair to people. I had the opportunity to hear Bishop Niederauer speak about the political issues, and I learned a lot from him. Clearly, we have to look at all the risk factors of every decision we make and understand that none of these decisions are easy and none of them are black and white." Ross and Cecilia believe it is vital for parents to continue talking to their children, even when the conversations are painful. "My Catholicism has taught me that we need to help those in need and those who ask," Ross said.
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