By Lindy J. Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
While both candidates have successfully identified issues that are top of mind for voters in the U.S. House District 3 race — primarily the economy, border, health care, public lands, agriculture and water issues — a Club 20 debate last week on the Western Slope showcased a sharp contrast in both candidates’ specific policy solutions and demeanor.
In his opening statements, Adam Frisch, the Democratic nominee, told the audience: “I’m here tonight because rural Colorado has been left behind and ignored. Everyone feels forgotten, misunderstood and taken advantage of by Denver and D.C.”
“We are tired of the ‘Angertainment’ that seeps into our lives. It’s destructive to our families and communities. I just don’t have any room for partisan politics or bickering,” he added.
The irony of his opening statement was not lost on the room, with his next statement contradicting his previous statement. He launched a full-on attack alleging that his opponent, Jeff Hurd, the Republican nominee, was beholden to corporate PAC money and extreme politicians. “I certainly won’t be taking any money from Denver lobbyists who are trying to take water out of the San Luis Valley,” Frisch said.
Later during the debate, Hurd responded to the allegations by naming corporations that have donated to Frisch. He cited the Trial Lawyer Association, Blue Hen PAC, the Motion Picture Association, Toyota and American Airlines.
The motivations to initially enter the race were defined by Hurd: “There appears to be two Colorados. One is the Front Range; it imports jobs, money and opportunity. The other is rural Colorado, our greatest export are our kids. Many grow up, leave and don’t come back. I’m running so that families in rural Colorado can stay and thrive.”
He continued, “The moment I decided to run, I was at the Craig power station meeting with plant operators and with miners. They are about to lose their jobs because of bad Democrat energy policy.”
Pointing to his life events and experiences, he said he learned service from his father, who led the Marrilac Clinic, a clinic in Grand Junction ensuring that underserved people get medical care. He also talked about his pro-bono work with low-income families, ensuring access to representation with legal issues.
“My opponent, an Aspen Democrat, says he’s moderate, but look at what he does,” Hurd said in his opening comments in response to Frisch’s attack.
Frisch supported a 2016 liberal energy agenda on the Aspen City Council, which levied a fee on fossil fuels. He was also the vice-chair of an environmental group that focuses on pushing for a carbon free, net zero policy in the name of social justice.
Concluding his opening, Hurd asked the audience to notice the difference in what Frisch says, and what he does.
“I do what I say, which is boring. A reporter once said I was as exciting as a bread sandwich, and that’s OK. Rural Colorado doesn’t need excitement, it needs someone to fight for it, not loud, but smart. That’s me,” Hurd said.
Noting the demand for cleaner energy resources, specifically nuclear, and the increasing demand for energy overall, and that CD3 is home to vast and diverse options for energy solutions, the moderator asked how the candidates envisioned nuclear energy’s role in the district’s energy portfolio and the existing infrastructure.
Frisch responded, “We need nuclear to be on the table. I’m very excited, like a lot of people, especially in the northwest corner to watch what’s happening with Terra Power,”… backed by Bill Gates. Terra Power is building small nuclear modules in Wyoming near a retiring coal mine facility. “They just broke ground on next generation small modular nuclear. I hope they bring it down to Colorado, especially in Craig,” Frisch said.
Hurd added that coal, oil, gas and, yes, nuclear and renewables should be in Colorado’s energy portfolio.
“In Congress, I am going to fight for our energy families. They are indeed the backbone of rural Colorado. If you care about the environment, our economy and national security, then you ought to support Colorado energy. My position is to pick the best of the above,” Hurd said, summarizing by noting the best resources that provide reliable and affordable resources that meet the growing electric demand are needed. “Nuclear is key to that,” he said.
The candidates were then asked about the increasing demand from the Colorado River Basin water users. “What is the next step for Colorado in the big river discussion and how do you plan to support the many needs on the river and still protect one of our state’s greatest assets?” the moderator asked.
“Water is our lifeblood; I will oppose any efforts to export our water to the Front Range and out of state,” said Hurd.
Under the allocations in the Colorado River Compact established in 1922, the downstream states are allotted seven million acre-feet per year for their users.
“We need to make sure they are living within their (means) obligations,” Hurd said. His specific plan outlined developing more high-altitude storage and eliminating invasive species that ‘suck up’ water. “We are outnumbered in terms of representation by California, Nevada, and Arizona. We need leadership and I’m smart, and am willing to learn the water law to keep our water here,” he said.
Frisch agreed that water is a critical issue to voters. “Water should not be a political issue. I want to empower our water experts to work with other states,” he told the audience.
When asked how each candidate would balance competing interests on public lands, Frisch said, “No matter who you are, what age you are, how long you’ve been here, and across the political spectrum, we all have some connection to public lands.”
Striking a contrast between Denver versus rural Colorado, he said, “We have too many people on the consumer side driving the conversation instead of people on the producing side.”
Hurd, with more specificity, said, “Local communities need to be stakeholders. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has too much control. They are making bad decisions for local Colorado. I will support Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) reform as 70 percent of [the 3rd District] is federal lands.”
In terms of the candidates’ positions on economics, inflation and small businesses, moderators asked them for specific policies to help with increased cost of living.
Hurd vowed to work with the congressional delegation on reducing federal spending and focus on reducing federal regulations that put enormous cost burdens on families and small businesses.
Frisch echoed national talking points of the Harris/Waltz campaign: “While inflation is down, cost of living is still high. Corporatization is why we are seeing these prices. Industrial and corporate agriculture is killing the options for us to sell in farm and ranch communities,” he said, citing corporate greed.
When asked about how they would work in bipartisan ways for the 3rd District, Hurd said, “It would be foolish to say that bipartisanship is not necessary.” He added that issues like the Farm Bill, H2A visa reforms, and water all needed to be solved in a bipartisan way. “I know, as a Republican, I am not going to be able to be successful without working with the delegation in congress, both Republican and Democrat.” He said that he would work with state leadership to bring solutions to the 3rd District.
Frisch said he wanted to join the Problem Solvers caucus. “Team D and Team R is a broken system. I was the first person running for Congress that called on Joe Biden to step down and pass the torch,” he said.
Hurd responded: “I do believe that political and moral courage are critical at this time. Health care solutions for rural Colorado can’t be solved without bipartisanship.”
Frisch’s cross-examination of Hurd was a hostile and rapid-fire volley of accusations. “Are you going to release a list of past legal clients so that we can see if there is any conflict of interest?”
Hurd calmly responded, ”There are legal ethics rules that prohibit me from doing that, including attorney–client privilege.”
Frisch took his next shot on the issue of abortion. “How are you going to vote on Colorado Amendment 79? Again, Hurd replied with calm conviction, “I’m pro-life, with exceptions. I fully believe that this issue should be left to the states.”
In Colorado currently, there are no restrictions on abortion at any time during a pregnancy or for any reason.
Frisch wanted to know if Hurd would be returning any of his PAC donations and mocked the endorsement of past Gov. Bill Owens.
“No, I am not going to return the money. I may not agree with him on every issue, but I am proud of his support,” Hurd said.
Frisch launched into allegations that Hurd has been elusive during the campaign.
“You have not had a single event open to the public, only closed-door meetings with no notice and with political insiders,” he said.
Hurd responded to the attack: “I’ve been to so many events that I’ve lost track. I’m here; campaigning is not a box-checking exercise. You can have all the money, and you do, and travel across the district and lose,” he said to Frisch. “You have to be authentic, connect with people, and earn their trust, and that’s what I’ve done.”
Hurd was deliberate in his close. Pro-normal politics benefits Colorado, he said, starting with a repeat of Frisch.
“Stopping the circus and ‘angertainment’ I think appeals to voters,” Hurd said. “If that’s the case, why did you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars interfering with the Republican primary, attacking me and helping one of my opponents?”
Frisch said: “I learned early on there was a high probability that it was going to be you or Ron Hanks that was likely going to win the primary, so we decided to start working in the primary to start messaging for the general election. We also ran pushback against you for hiding, which it seems (sic) you have done.”
Hurd interrupted to counter, “You don’t get to filibuster here, this is my cross…Why did you stop running the ad after the primary if that was a part of your general election messaging?”
Hurd completed his cross by looking to the audience and asking, “Do you believe what Adam is saying, or do you believe what he is doing? I’m the only one on this stage that didn’t interfere with a primary.”
Election Day is Nov. 5. With Colorado ballots being mailed out the second week of October, voters have a clear contrast in the candidates that allows them to be informed about their choices.