By Naomi Riess | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
For more than three decades, I have worked with families, farmers, ranchers, property owners, small businesses and local governments across Southwest Colorado. I have helped people navigate land-use rules, permitting requirements, water issues and development approvals. Through that work, I have seen how government decisions made far from our communities can affect whether a family can build a home, whether a business can expand and whether a landowner can continue using property responsibly.
That is why I am concerned about the direction Colorado is heading.
Families and seniors are watching the cost of housing, insurance, property taxes, utilities, food and health care continue to rise. Small-business owners face higher labor, energy, insurance and compliance costs. Farmers and ranchers are dealing with increasing expenses while also navigating more complicated regulations.
The Legislature cannot control every economic pressure. Inflation, interest rates and federal policies all play a role. But state lawmakers do control Colorado’s budget, taxes, fees, mandates and regulatory policies. They decide whether government becomes more disciplined and responsive or more expensive and difficult to navigate.
Colorado’s total operating budget was approximately $27 billion in fiscal year 2016-17. For fiscal year 2026-27, total operating appropriations are approximately $49.7 billion, including about $17.46 billion from the General Fund. That represents an increase of roughly 84 percent in spending over a decade. That’s a significant increase.
Population growth, inflation, federal funding and Medicaid expenses explain part of that increase. Still, taxpayers deserve to know whether that growth has produced equally meaningful improvements in affordability, public safety, education, health care and essential infrastructure. The question isn’t simply how much government spends – it’s whether Colorado families are seeing better results from that investment.
Too many people I meet don’t feel more secure. They feel squeezed.
Democrats currently control the Colorado House of Representatives, and Katie Stewart is part of that governing majority. She did not create every policy or spending decision of the past decade, but incumbency brings responsibility. Voters have the right to evaluate her record based not only on the number of bills she has sponsored, but on whether the policies she supported have made life more affordable and government more accountable.
Katie brings legislative experience, school-board service and relationships within state government. Those experiences deserve recognition.
My experience has been built differently. I have spent more than 33 years operating a small business and working directly with people affected by government decisions. I understand permitting, land use, water, agriculture, property rights and local planning
because I have worked on these issues alongside the people whose homes, livelihoods and investments are at stake.
I have also spent decades serving our community through schools, youth programs, agriculture, historic preservation, mediation and local planning efforts. Those experiences taught me that good leadership begins with listening, understanding consequences and finding practical solutions.
This election is not a choice between experience and inexperience. It is a choice between continuing with an incumbent whose votes and results can now be evaluated and choosing a representative whose experience comes from solving real-world problems outside the Capitol.
Balanced representation matters. When one party controls the agenda, spending and policy decisions need stronger scrutiny. Southwest Colorado needs an independent voice willing to question rapid budget growth, challenge one-size-fits-all mandates and insist that rural communities be heard before new regulations are imposed.
Healthy communities require healthy local economies, safe neighborhoods, affordable energy and housing, and government that works with people instead of against them.
I believe government should focus on its core responsibilities: protecting public safety, supporting education, maintaining infrastructure, respecting property rights and making it easier – not harder – for people to build homes, operate businesses and remain in the communities they love.
The question before us is simple: Has the current direction made Southwest Colorado more affordable, secure and hopeful?
If the answer is no, it is time for greater accountability, stronger balance and a new approach to representation. I believe Southwest Colorado deserves representation that is practical, accountable and grounded in the people who live here. Together, we can restore balance, protect opportunity and build healthier communities for the next generation.
Naomi Riess is the Republican candidate for Colorado House District 59. A Southwest Colorado land-use consultant and small-business owner with more than three decades of experience, she has worked with property owners, farmers, ranchers, businesses and local governments on land use, water and development issues while serving in a variety of community leadership roles.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.