By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
Meet Larry Don Suckla, the cowboy legislator from Colorado’s vast District 58, who’s set to shake up the Golden Dome with his down-to-Earth wisdom and dash of rural humor.
Suckla has attended three training sessions along with other newly-elected state representatives in preparation for the 75th Legislative Session.
One thing he’s already noticed? The capitol’s dress code.
“I didn’t know you couldn’t wear a hat in the Supreme Court chambers, or denim in the chambers where we’ll be voting,” he said. “But I like to wear black denim — you can’t even tell it’s denim. To me, representing the eight counties of HD58 includes the way I dress.”
Suckla has engaged in debates over the capitol’s dress code because he sees his attire as a way to represent rural Colorado and his constituents.
House District 58 encompasses eight counties: Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel. This expansive district reflects the diverse needs and priorities of rural Colorado.
Known for his straightforward approach and unwavering dedication to the needs of his eight-county district, Suckla is quickly earning recognition for his ability to balance humor with serious advocacy. This approach could prove especially vital as Colorado reflects on the trials of 2024, with the growing need to address the disconnect between urban policies and rural realities.
This disconnect becomes even clearer to Suckla when he travels.
“Flying over the mountains, you realize how vast and rugged Colorado is,” he said. “Then you cross over to see this massive city, and it dawns on you why the votes often go the way they do. There are more people in that one area than the rest of us combined.”
For Suckla, the contrast between rural Colorado’s sprawling landscapes and Denver’s concentrated urban population illustrates the challenge of ensuring that rural voices are heard.
“You fly over 400 miles of beautiful countryside, and then there’s this giant city,” he reflected. “It shows how decisions are made by people who live in a completely different reality from us.”
His observations fuel his drive to represent his district’s needs.
They remind him, he says, of the pivotal role he’ll play for rural Colorado. And the future of the state’s economy as he keeps in mind the distinct identities of the counties he represents.
Reflecting back on 2024, Suckla doesn’t mince words. “2024 was a drought, too many weeds,” he said, describing a year of challenges worsened by what he views as a disconnect between urban policymakers and rural realities. “These people along the Front Range don’t understand the basics of where their food comes from. Beef starts from a cow.”
This frustration underscores why Suckla was elected: to bring common sense to the Capitol and advocate for the Western Slope’s unique needs.
Suckla’s office in Denver is open to all constituents, no matter their political leanings. In an effort to foster collaboration, he has reached out to county commissioners across his eight counties.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re Republican or Democrat,” he said. “If they’re up here testifying on something, even if I’m against it, and they need a place to work, my office is theirs to use as long as I’m not in it.”
This inclusive approach underscores his philosophy that his office belongs to the people, not just the representative.
In his office at the capitol, Suckla shares a story about the chair designated for him. The capitol staff informed him that the chair was exclusively his, but he saw it differently. When constituents visit, he insists they have every right to sit in what he calls “their chair,” reinforcing his belief that his office is truly the people’s space.
“They told me nobody else is allowed to sit in that chair except me,” he recalled. “But I told them that chair doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to the 88,500 people I represent. If they come to visit, they have every right to sit in their chair.”
For Suckla, even something as small as a chair symbolizes his philosophy of putting his constituents first. “It’s not my office,” he said. “It’s the office of the 88,500 people I represent.”
Water management tops Suckla’s agenda. With a rancher’s firsthand knowledge, he emphasized the importance of building more water storage: “Water in our region is used seven different times before it returns to the river,” he explained. “We need to create more storage in the upper basin to ensure our communities thrive.”
Suckla is also focused on cutting red tape and overregulation in agriculture: “There’s nothing wrong with our cow herd,” he said, pushing back against electronic cattle ID tags and other mandates. “Let them continue doing it the way they’ve always done it, and we’ll have a healthy product.”
If he had the power to make sweeping changes for the New Year, education was top of mind: “If I could wave a wand, I’d take $900 million from higher education and double every K-12 teacher’s salary,” he said, decrying high administrative costs in colleges.
Despite entering the political arena, Suckla remains firmly rooted in his community. “They’re not going to unground me,” he said. “I’m grounded on this farm, on this ranch and in this community. I know where I came from, and they’re not going to take that away from me.”
This groundedness extends to his approach in the legislature. He believes one of the most important aspects of his role is ensuring that the state government respects the autonomy of his counties.
“Local control is so important,” he emphasized. “The decisions Montezuma County makes might not work for Montrose County. My job is to help where I can and prevent stupid laws from taking hold.”
He views overreach by the state government as a significant threat to the independence of rural areas and has vowed to advocate for policies that leave his counties alone to make decisions that suit their unique circumstances.
He emphasized that rural counties have long managed their own affairs effectively, arguing that state government overreach often complicates rather than helps. With a deep respect for local governance, he advocates for policies that empower communities to make decisions that best suit their circumstances, free from unnecessary interference.
Suckla’s optimism shines when he talks about his fellow new legislators: “The people did a good job electing them,” he said. “This year is going to be interesting in a very positive way.”
When asked to pick a spirit animal for the legislature, Suckla chose the coyote.
“They’re cunning and resilient. They can survive in Phoenix, Ariz., or on top of Lone Cone,” he said. It’s a fitting metaphor for the adaptability and resourcefulness he’ll need in the year ahead.
As Colorado enters 2025, Suckla’s mix of humor, integrity and determination promises to be a guiding force. Whether it’s preserving rural values, protecting water or fighting for local control, Suckla’s vision for his district is clear: “Let’s follow through and get it done.”