Healthcare workers in Salida. Farmers and ranchers across Park County. Corrections officers in Fremont. Recreation and hospitality workers in Buena Vista. Miners throughout the district. Aerospace suppliers feeding defense primes and NASA missions. Public servants doing the work of government. These are the industries that anchor SD4 — and these are the industries that keep the entire state of Colorado running.
The prosperity these workers generate keeps flying right over them. Colorado lost 11,700 jobs in 2025 — the first net decline since the pandemic. The hardest hit sectors were professional services, manufacturing, and retail. Industries at the heart of our district, leaving us to pay the price.
We can't regulate our way out of a jobs deficit. We can't wait for Washington to fix it. We need state action that recognizes what SD4 actually builds — and what it costs to keep building it.
Regulatory Relief That Fits
Healthcare clinics. Family farms. Mining operations. Tourism operators. State mandates written for Denver are choking out the rural businesses that keep SD4 working. Rural Colorado isn't the Front Range, and shouldn't be regulated like it. SD4 needs a voice that has lived experience in rural living and isn't there to just be a mouthpiece for special interests.
Workforce That Lands Real Jobs
Corrections, healthcare, trades, agriculture, mining, aerospace manufacturing, tourism — these are SD4's economy. Training programs should tie directly to who's hiring and what they need, with placement rates that prove the investment is working.
Healthcare That Stays in the Community
Rural hospitals, clinics, and the providers who staff them are the backbone of SD4 healthcare. When facilities close or talent leaves for the Front Range, families end up driving hours for care they should get at home. State investment in retaining rural healthcare services, facilities, and providers keeps care where SD4 actually lives.