HD44 Colorado: Anthony Hartsook vs. Alice Nilemo | Elections

In the Colorado General Assembly’s 44th House District, Republican Anthony Hartsook hopes to continue his service with a second term, while Democratic opponent Alyssa Nilemo aims to win the newly redrawn district this November.

Regardless of who wins, both candidates face a changing political landscape in Douglas County and continued rapid growth.

At first glance, it may seem that they have little in common. However, Hartsook and Nilemo are vying to represent a new district that includes Parker, Stonegate, Sierra Ridge, Meridian Village and Stepping Stone in Douglas County.

“The beauty of our area is that we have both urban and dirt country roads,” Hartsook said. “You’re close enough to the city that if you want to go to Denver … you can do that, and you’re pretty close if you want to ski or go to the flats.”

Nilemo expressed similar affection for her home in Parker, noting that it is experiencing a “significant growth spurt.”

“Parker is changing,” she said. “I think it’s trying to preserve the best parts of a small town and respect the fact that it’s a bustling place where a lot of people want to live.”

Whoever wins seat HD44 on November 5 will have to consider how best to express the concerns of a growing population. They must also navigate the allocation of limited resources such as water and the constant demand for housing, while balancing tradition and embracing change.

Seat HD44 is one of four House seats in Douglas County, with 400,000 residents and an overall Republican lean. Currently, 47% of the county’s registered voters are unaffiliated, 33% are Republican and 18.5% are Democrat.

It is Colorado’s wealthiest county and the eighth wealthiest in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report.

While most of Douglas County’s elected representatives are Republicans, Democrat Bob Marshall of District 43 in Highlands Ranch won in 2022, signaling a potential shift.

However, politics isn’t the only thing changing in Douglas County. Its population has grown 31% since 2010, according to USAFacts. Courtney Sadler, a 17-year Parker resident, noted that she has “seen the construction of one local elementary school, four charter schools, one neighborhood high school and one neighborhood high school.” high school…all this construction and it seems like the work can’t get done fast enough to meet the demand.”

With this growth comes significant changes in political boundaries. In 2010, each Colorado county represented about 77,614 voters in the Colorado General Assembly, but today that number has grown to 88,800.

All four congressional districts in Douglas County were redrawn in 2021, but the most significant changes occurred in HD44, represented in the House by Hartsook, the incumbent known for wearing his signature cowboy hat.

He recently wore the hat with his son, Harrison Plevnia Hartsook, wearing it. He said Hartsook’s character was mainly created for entertainment, although it had a deeper meaning.

“You know, the cowboy lifestyle, you work,” he said. “You are honest, you are faithful to God. You don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you. I like to think that my family represents that. I like to think (my father) and I imagine that.”

Hartsook credits his 26 years of service in the U.S. Army with instilling in him the values ​​of loyalty, service, duty, courage and respect. He was stationed in Italy, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan throughout his service, eventually retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Following his retirement, Hartsook worked as director of business development for veteran-owned small business Aspen Communications and worked as a legislative assistant for then-U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman. Coffman is now the mayor of Aurora.

Hartsook decided to run for office after seeing “the government arbitrarily close businesses” during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A supporter of small government, he felt it was not in the best interest of the people and entered the 2022 race, where he defeated Bob Henry, who challenged the Democrats.

Confident that HD44 will continue to favor Republicans if elected, Hartsook said he will continue to support bipartisan cooperation, civil debate and balance in state government.

“It used to be that in the world of political discussions there were discussions and disagreements about ideas,” Hartsook said. “Too often now people attack people. I find this very, very disappointing. Let’s continue discussing ideas. Let’s focus on discussing political issues rather than attacking individuals.”

To keep his seat, Hartsook will have to beat Democratic opponent Alyssa Nilemo, who attributes her passion for politics to that of the Republican governor. During World War II, Nilemo’s grandfather, Herb Inouye, and his family emigrated to Colorado. Then-Colorado Governor Ralph Carr opposed the internment of Japanese Americans. He promised that they would be safe if they reached Colorado.

Inouye became a dedicated community leader and instilled in Nilemo the values ​​of service and community. These values ​​inspired her to work in hospice and disability services and later as an executive assistant in the City Manager’s office in Westminster. Nilemo currently works in higher education and advocates for reforming the political process to make it easier for working-class people to hold public office.

Nilemo decided to run because she disagrees with the way Douglas County handles public education and its treatment of the LGBTQ community.

If elected, Nilemo would be the only Asian American in the Colorado House of Representatives. This is crucial for Nilemo’s campaign manager Paula Smith, who identifies as Korean American.

“As a woman and a person of color, I really liked the idea that we would have someone in the state House representing and giving a voice to not only people of color, but women as well,” she said. “And that’s what we’re missing here, especially in Douglas County.” Nilemo’s campaign slogan is “People Before Politics,” and this mission is personal to her.

“I’ve been really lucky… but I also know that at certain points in my life I’ve been away from home or I didn’t know where my next meal was going to be,” she said. “And I was counting on the food pantry or the kindness of someone else. And so I think knowing that I couldn’t be where I am today without other people being kind makes me feel even stronger.”

Problem Solving

Housing

Housing is a major issue in Douglas County due to rising property taxes, housing costs and supply demand.

Hartsook said he supports repealing government regulations to make homes more comfortable and cheaper to build, believing that “housing is directly tied to water; if you don’t have water, you can’t build houses.”

For this reason, Hartsook said he is calling for more reservoirs to be built to store and retain water.

Nilemo said she wants to “see a healthy housing development” where starter homes are affordable and there are options available when people are ready to downsize.

Small business

Nilemo plans to work “hand in hand with unions and small businesses” to ensure fair wages and access to goods and services.

Hartsook said, “Small business is the engine of America.” If elected to a second term, Hartsook said he plans to support them by cutting crime, lowering taxes and limiting bureaucracy that impedes “growth and prosperity.”

Education

Both candidates have experience in the education sector. Hartsook taught in Army schools, taught high school algebra in Italy while overseas, and worked with elementary and middle school students in math, science, reading and art in El Paso, Texas.

Nilemo has worked in early childhood education and is currently the Associate Director of Activation at the Auraria Campus, where she works to secure funding for higher education, performing arts and community events.

Hartsook serves on the House Education Committee, where he recently sponsored a bill to improve resources for science teachers. He said, “Parents know best the educational needs of their children,” and supports the right of parents to choose where their children go to school and what they learn.

Nilemo wants the state government to increase funding for public education while supporting competitive teacher pay, a comprehensive curriculum and the quality of school buildings.

Like Hartsook, she believes parents should be able to choose whether to send their children to public or private schools, but notes that “it should be a real choice.”

Crime

Hartsook advocates for “truth in sentencing laws” that require offenders to serve the majority of their sentence before being eligible for release.

In addition, Hartsook said he believes the growing number of immigrants in Colorado is contributing to the rise in crime. A state spokesman said that “law enforcement will work with ICE to deport undocumented criminal migrants.”

Nilemo said law enforcement has too many problems to deal with. She hopes to support them by “investing in strong mental health care, community programs and social services.”

Healthcare

Hartsook said “one size does not fit all” when it comes to health care and opposes mandatory insurance.

Nilemo wants health care decisions to be made by patients and their doctors, not by the government or “someone on the phone letting you use your insurance.”

In addition, Nilemo said reproductive health care must be safe, accessible and affordable.

Will Vice President Kamala Harris or Donald Trump become president?

“As a Republican, I will vote on the Republican ticket,” Hartsook said, adding: “I like Trump’s policies. I wish they would tape his mouth shut.”

Nilemo said, “I hope it comes as no surprise to anyone that I vote for Kamala and Walz. “I believe that for once in history, this vote will decide whether we want to preserve democracy.”

Iris Pixler attends Colorado College.