John Scarffe, Gilpin County.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis visited Gilpin County at the Community Center, 250 Norton Drive, at 3 p.m. on November 2, 2022. The Community Center was filled with those wanting to meet the governor. When Governor Polis entered the room, he was greeted by a round of applause.
Gilpin County Democrat Committee Chair Eric Douglas introduced the governor after speeches by four other candidates. Douglas said the governor has already done a lot.
Polis said he was born in 1975 and now it seems we are returning to those days. Women are risking prison time to do what they need to for their own bodies.
“That will not happen in Colorado as long as I’m governor,” Polis said.
Polis said the state recently sent a stimulation package to residents for $750 per person or $1,500 per couple. They have been working on affordable housing and protecting the great outdoors.
They have created two new state parks. They reduced the annual fee to enter the parks to $29. With the help of Boys and Girls Clubs, they would like to create a culture of conservation.
President Joe Biden recently came to Camp Hale in Colorado. The President created a national monument there. Veterans who had trained at Camp Hale were there.
We need to tackle changes in the climate, Polis said. He has been out with AmeriCorps crews, who are trained to cut down trees, and they can cut down trees around houses. This will also give the crews skills for later in life as firefighters.
“It’s not a question of if, but when or where the next fire will strike,” Polis said.
They have tried to remove barriers to voting in Colorado. That’s the word we need to get out.
Polis said he would be honored to be the governor for the next four years. For more information, go to https://polisforcolorado.com/issues/.
Before Governor Polis spoke, four candidates for local, house and district seats spoke.
April Nielsen said she is running for County Assessor. She currently works in community development. She knows about building values and knows the team members in the assessor’s office. She said she would be a great fit. For more information go to https://www.themtnear.com/articles/april-nielsen-joins-race-for-assessor-in-gilpin-county/.
Candidate for Gilpin County Commission, District 2, Susan Berumen said she has been active in the schools and with the Library District. She also worked on bringing Clinica Health Care to Gilpin County, which is a need for basic services.
We need to keep moving forward. For more information go to https://gilpincountydems.org/candidates-2
Judy Amabile, already a Colorado State Representative, is running for House District 49, which includes Gilpin County. She currently is serving in District 13.
Amabile said it is the honor of her life to be able to serve, but she needs people to get out and vote. She hopes they help people in a very thoughtful way.
For more information, go to https://judyamabile.com/
Amabile introduced the next speaker, Dylan Roberts, running for District 8 in the Senate. She said he was chair of the business committee, which she sat on, and he was the best on economic developments, and they need him on the state senate.
Roberts said he is running for Senate District 8. He has been campaigning for a year now. He has been serving on the House District 26 He grew up in Eagle County and got a cap on the cost for diabetes health care.
He wants to work on affordable housing for the work force and expand access to broadband. He would like to see Colorado moving forward. For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/DylanforColorado/.
Following the presentation by Governor Polis, Gilpin County residents lined up to meet the governor and take photographs. At the end of the meeting, Polis shouted “Thank you Gilpin County.”
