Opinion | Kirkmeyer: I’ll fight for a safer, more affordable and more prosperous Colorado where every community prospers, if elected

Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in America. From the ranches and farms that feed our communities to the mountains, rivers and small towns that define the Western Slope, our state is worth fighting for.

Yet too many Coloradans feel like they are being left behind.

Families are struggling to keep up with rising costs, as Colorado now ranks 47th in affordability. Housing costs rank 48th, with home prices doubling in less than eight years. Many people are asking a simple question: Why does it feel harder to live and succeed in Colorado than it did just a few years ago?

That question is one of the reasons I am running for governor.

Businesses face growing regulatory burdens. Rural communities often feel ignored by decision makers on the Front Range. I know how rising prices and red tape affect a small business, having owned a dairy farm and a flower shop.

I am not running because I want a title. I am running because Colorado needs a governor who understands how government works, who respects taxpayers, and who is willing to focus on solving problems instead of chasing headlines.

As a state senator and a Weld County Commissioner, I’ve balanced budgets, built new highways, advocated for more water storage, fought for better law enforcement pay and benefits and boosted economic development. I built relationships across political lines and delivered results for the people I serve.

I believe Colorado’s future depends on getting back to the fundamentals: Getting government out of the way in the business and agricultural sector, while leading the way on infrastructure and public safety. 

First, we must make Colorado more affordable. Families should not have to leave the communities they love because they can no longer afford to live there. State government must live within its means, reduce unnecessary spending, and focus on creating an environment where businesses can grow, jobs can thrive and hardworking families can keep more of what they earn.

Second, we must support rural Colorado. The Western Slope should not be an afterthought. It is a vital part of our state’s economy and identity. That means protecting agriculture, expanding infrastructure, improving transportation corridors and ensuring rural communities have a strong voice in state government. I’ve got a transportation plan that doubles road funding without raising taxes, totaling $6 billion in the first four years, and I will hand over transportation planning to the state’s regional leaders, rather than the top-down approach we’ve seen from Denver in recent years. 

Water will remain one of the defining issues of Colorado’s future. I have expressed support for the Colorado River District’s efforts to complete the purchase of the Shoshone Water Rights as planned to benefit the Western Slope, at a time when other parties involved appeared to waver about the size of the call and its future uses. We must continue investing in water storage to protect Colorado’s agricultural producers and water users. Colorado’s water policies should be driven by science, practicality and collaboration, not political ideology.

We must also pursue a best-of-the-above energy strategy. Colorado has abundant natural resources and a talented workforce. I support recent efforts by Western Slope leaders to replace the jobs and energy production lost when coal-powered electric plants are phased out in Craig with dynamic new production sources, including nuclear. We can protect our environment while maintaining reliable and affordable energy for families and businesses. Energy policy should strengthen our economy, not make life more expensive for the people who power it.

Public safety must remain a top priority. Every Coloradan deserves to feel safe in their home, at work, and in their community. We should support law enforcement, hold criminals accountable, address the fentanyl crisis and ensure our justice system works for victims and communities alike. As a state senator, I passed laws that allocated an additional $350 million toward law enforcement recruiting and benefits, as well as a law to expand law enforcement eligibility for mortgage down payment assistance, so that they can live in the communities they serve. 

Most importantly, Colorado needs leadership that brings people together to solve problems. I have spent my career working with people who do not always agree with me. Real leadership is not about winning arguments. It is about delivering results.

Colorado faces serious challenges, but I remain optimistic because I believe in the people of this state. We have always been innovators, builders, ranchers, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers. When government does its job well, it creates opportunities for people to succeed.

That is the vision I am running on: a safer, more affordable and more prosperous Colorado where every community, from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains and everywhere in between, has the opportunity to thrive.

I am asking for your support because it is time for a governor who knows how to govern.

State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, is a candidate in the Colorado Republican primary for governor.