By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
As Colorado elections draw near, the Club 20 debates offer a glimpse of the possible representation from which to choose in the state legislature.
With Democrats holding a supermajority in the House (46-19) and a near supermajority in the Senate (23-12), the Club 20 debates last week were crucial for voters who want their interests represented.
Water rights, agriculture, the housing crisis and healthcare were key issues dominating the discussion, as rural and urban Colorado face differing challenges. Where common ground can be agreed upon is a task often left to state lawmakers to tackle.
Water Rights
Water management was a central theme across all debates, with candidates recognizing the importance of securing Colorado’s water resources for agriculture, recreation and growing urban populations.
Dave Williams (R, HD 13): “It’s very difficult when [more than] 85 percent of the water goes into agriculture and all the homes are not where the agriculture is. I know that government is always looking for a way to divert water from agriculture to more urban type development where the housing is more central. It’s always going to be a problem as we dry up more ranch land, which is happening for a lot of different reasons.”
Marc Catlin (R, SD 5): “The Colorado River is the heart blood of the 5th District. I passed a bill this year to put another $20 million from the state coffers into purchasing that [Shoshone] water right for the benefit of the Western Slope.”
Cole Buerger (D, SD 5): “Water is not a partisan issue on this side of the mountain. We’re all working hard to protect it, every single last drop.”
Catlin’s deep knowledge of water policy stood out, and his legislative experience in securing water rights was a clear strength. Buerger, while aligned on the importance of water, presented a proactive approach to managing resources efficiently, highlighting the bipartisan nature of the issue.
Agriculture
Agriculture, key to the rural economy, was another key theme, with candidates discussing how best to balance agricultural needs with other demands.
Kathleen Curry (D, HD 58): “We run cattle in Gunnison County and we have had changes to our allotments, so this is an issue that hits home for our family and regrettably the Colorado General Assembly has limited authority in this regard. What I think is happening is there’s more pressure on our federal lands from the recreation community and it needs to be balanced with the agricultural producers that frankly were there first.”
Larry Don Suckla (R, HD 58): “I was the chair of public lands for two years for the state of Colorado. I was also the vice chair of public lands for all of the counties in the United States for two years prior to that. So I have a lot of knowledge about public lands. My family has run cattle on public lands for 81 years, and I see the conflict stemming from directives coming out of Washington, D.C. It’s essential to remember that public lands are meant for multi-use. The BLM’s mission emphasizes this, and we should ensure all activities are permitted so that everyone can prosper without favoring one user group over another.”
Suckla highlighted the importance of local control and his extensive experience with public lands, while Curry stressed the need to balance the interests of agriculture with the increasing pressures from the recreation community to protect their livelihoods.
Healthcare
Rural healthcare access was a pressing issue for many candidates, with discussions around expanding telehealth and incentivizing medical professionals to work in underserved areas.
Vivian Smotherman (D, SD 6): “We are losing doctors, we are losing nurses, we are losing healthcare professionals in these rural areas because, one, they cannot afford to live because our housing is too expensive. Two, our schools are not up to par. Our schools and education system needs to be better if we want these young professionals to come into our communities.
Cleave Simpson (R, SD 6): “It’s not about spending more money; it’s about making sure we prioritize the right programs, like education and healthcare. Last session, Sen. Roberts and I passed legislation about remote patient monitoring and initiatives to improve accessibility quality healthcare at an affordable rate. There isn’t a silver bullet, but I’ve been open and engaged with those folks that have the expertise to help advance that effort.”
Smotherman stressed the importance of improved living conditions and education to attract healthcare workers. Simpson shared efforts he’s engaged in to improve rural healthcare while pointing toward leveraging effective programs to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality.
Affordable Housing
Candidates proposed solutions ranging from zoning reform to public-private partnerships to address the housing crisis.
Nathan Butler (R, HD 26): “We can’t rely on just one solution from the state to fix housing. We need local, tailored solutions — like zoning reforms and community-driven initiatives — to build homes our workers can afford.”
Clark Craig (R, HD 59): “As a member of the Regional Housing Alliance, we are actively working on projects in Ignacio, Bayfield and Durango, with plans to add 400 housing units in the next few years.”
Katie Stewart (D, HD 59): “Public-private partnerships are key to tackling affordable housing. We need to make sure people can live in the communities where they work.”
Craig’s experience in developing affordable housing projects in southwest Colorado complements Stewart’s emphasis on collaborative partnerships and innovative models to address affordable housing challenges effectively.
Rural vs. Urban Divide
The rural-urban divide was a recurring theme, with candidates emphasizing the need for rural representation in a state government that tends to prioritize urban areas.
Julie McCluskie (D, HD 13): “I have spoken often down at the legislature about the Western Slope way, the way many of us have shown up in the legislature, Republican or Democrat, to focus on problem solving first and partisanship second. We are about building consensus. There is honor in compromise. And I am proud that most of the legislation I have carried has either been with a Republican prime sponsor or has earned Republican votes. I believe that for policy to be lasting in this state, we must be open to diverse viewpoints, especially those that may not align with our own.”
Caleb Waller (R, HD 57): “If your intention at the state level is to regulate oil and gas out of business, you have no business representing Western Colorado.”
Elizabeth Velasco (D, HD 57): “I’ve been fearless in sharing how important our priorities are here in the Western Slope.”
During cross examination, Waller questioned how Velasco’s advocacy for $5 million in funding for illegal immigrants in Colorado represents the constituents of HD 57.
To watch the full debates, visit the Club 20 YouTube channel.