Southwest Colorado Needs Affordability, Accountability and Balance

from: Naomi Riess

Candidate, House District 59

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% 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.