Club 20 Western Colorado Candidate Debates

By Valerie Maez

October 7, 2024

Photo: Jeff Hurd(R) Candidate CD3

For readers unfamiliar with Club 20, it is an organization of civic minded citizens of the twenty Western Slope Counties in Colorado. Initially, Club 20, which was founded in 1952, was formed to get roads paved so as to facilitate  obtaining a larger percentage of highway funds allotted to Colorado. Through Club 20’s efforts most of the  major highways on the West Slope were paved by the end of that decade. Club 20 became a unifying voice on other issues of mutual concern  across the 20 Counties such as water, agriculture, natural resources, and energy issues, especially uranium. Recently, it expanded its efforts into economic development, public lands, air transportation, tourism, recreation,

and telecommunications. Club 20 has a governing Board  of Directors which is comprised of elected members, which is equally divided among the Counties. An Executive Committee makes management decisions which is composed of the elected Officers of the Board of Directors. The group’s standing committees are open to all members who recommend policy to the full Board of Directors. The full Board of Directors vote before any position is established on any issue by the group.

Photo: Adam Frisch(D) candidate for CD3

On September 21, Club 20 hosted a day long forum for candidates running in the Western Slope’s legislative districts to debate their opponents in the upcoming November election.

The cost of attending the debate was not cheap, but given the significance of this election and the fact that actual presence in any meeting is much more informative than what a zoom can provide.

 Of the 13 legislative districts that Club 20 hosted, five have jurisdictions that pertain to us living in the Montezuma Valley. Two debates not directly impacting us in Montezuma County that were of interest, were SD-5 and HD 57. Our current State Representative in HD 58, Marc Catlin, is running as the Republican nominee for the open seat in SD-5. His Democrat opponent is Cole Bueger from Silt, Colorado. Their debate was a bit acrimonious over a personal issue between them towards the end of the debate.  All debates are up on You Tube

The Dolores River Runs Through These Legislative Districts:

There are five legislative districts that  are on the ballot this November that affect those of us in the Montezuma Valley.

 Congressional District 3, has Republican nominee Jeff Hurd facing Democrat Adam Frisch.

The debate between Jeff Hurd and Adam Frisch was interesting as one saw both candidates position themselves as Centrists. Considering this was the last debate of the day, those of us who sat through all of the previous debates, it was abundantly clear that after what has been left leaning Democrat governing in Colorado we were witnessing is a race to the center. One hopes that even the most un-engaged voter can see that for what it is worth. At the end of the debate, I wondered, out loud, why Club 20 didn’t invite the Libertarian running for CD3. It would have been more interesting, to say the least.

Colorado Senate District 6 has Democrat Vivian Smotherman challenging Republican incumbent State Senator Cleave Simpson. This debate was cordial between the two candidates with Senator Simpson highlighting his ability to work across the aisle to pass legislation and Vivian Smotherman emphasizing a background based on world travel and community connections.

Photo: Cleave Simpson (R) candidate SD6

Colorado State House District 58 sees Republican Larry Don Suckla running against Democrat Kathleen Curry for the open seat. This is perhaps the most critical race for those of us who know the ramifications of what the Dolores River is confronting these days. There are those who claim one thing while engaging in deceptive conversations of just wanting to protect the river. Just say no thank you, as the Dolores River is doing fine with  our existing stakeholders. It was illuminating that out of all the debates, only Larry Don Suckla spoke about the Dolores Canyon Country.

Photo: Larry Don Suckla (R) candidate HD58

Colorado State House District 59, which has 9 of Montezuma County’s 12 precincts in that district has Democrat Katie Stewart facing Republican Clark Craig.

Photo: Clark Craig (R) HD59

Colorado State Board of Education has an election to determine who will represent Congressional District 3 in Denver. That election has local resident Sherri Wright running against Ellen Angeles from Montrose. The debate was somewhat one-sided as Ms. Wright was unable to attend.

I encourage all voters to obtain as much information on who you will be voting on this coming election.

The stakes have never been so high.