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Aaron Gutierrez Democrat
Residence: Pueblo
Profession: Attorney
Education: BA — Colorado College; JD — Western Michigan University Cooley School of Law
Experience: Pueblo native, local attorney, and former Public Defender. I’ve worked in water law, federal policy, and Veterans Court. Cancer survivor focused on lower healthcare costs, safety, and local jobs.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
1. Economic Growth & Job Creation: Cut red tape for small businesses and secure investments to make District 3 a hub for high-paying local jobs. 2. Public Safety & Judicial Reform: Leverage my background in the justice system and Veterans Court to support law enforcement, fiercely protect victims, and invest in behavioral health resources to reduce recidivism. 3. Lowering Healthcare Costs & Protecting Resources: As a brain cancer survivor, I will work to expand affordable care and cut prescription costs. As a former water court clerk, I will aggressively defend Southern Colorado’s water rights.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
To lower costs for Southern Colorado, we need practical state solutions that respect local control.
First, we must make housing more accessible. That means cutting red tape for local developers to build workforce housing faster, protecting mobile home communities from predatory fee spikes, and expanding state incentives to encourage private investment in affordable homeownership.
Second, we need targeted tax relief that puts money back into working families’ pockets—expanding property tax exemptions for long-time seniors and easing state fee burdens on small businesses that create local jobs.
Finally, we must control essential daily expenses. Childcare is often a family’s highest monthly cost, so I support local public-private partnerships to increase providers.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
Regardless of party majorities, effective governance means prioritizing Pueblo over partisan politics.
First, protecting Southern Colorado’s water is a shared necessity. Drawing on my legal background clerking for a Water Judge, I see clear common ground in defending senior water rights, improving agricultural efficiency, and securing regional water storage infrastructure.
Second, public safety demands bipartisan action. Working with the Pueblo Veterans Treatment Court taught me that we can support law enforcement while expanding behavioral health services and diversion programs to reduce recidivism and make our neighborhoods safer.
Finally, we can unite on cutting red tape for local small businesses and supporting workforce training programs that match local industry needs.
A new governor will take office next year. What opportunities are there for legislation or other changes that did not gain traction under Gov. Jared Polis?
A change in the governor’s mansion presents fresh opportunities to advance policies that previously stalled.
First, we can strengthen worker rights. A new administration opens the door to pass the Worker Protection Act, eliminating outdated state election hurdles so Colorado workers can negotiate freely for fair pay and safer working conditions.
Second, we can overhaul housing strategy. Instead of top-down statewide mandates that preempt local control, a new executive creates space for collaborative, incentive-based legislation that partners with local municipalities to expand workforce housing tailored to Southern Colorado’s unique needs.
Finally, we can pursue balanced natural resource policies that modernize rural energy infrastructure and protect agricultural water rights.
Dana Charles Republican
Residence: Pueblo West
Profession: Practice Administrator
Education: Some college and 30+ years of leadership, management, and practical education gained through a distinguished career.
Experience: 30+ years of leading people, managing operations, solving problems, and serving patients and the community. Decades of hands-on, real world leadership
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
Balance and pragmatism: Push back on one-party legislation that goes too far, too fast, and ensure Pueblo has a strong, independent voice at the Capitol. Pueblo has long sent the same ideology to the State Capitol, and we are not a better community because of it.
Crime and public safety: Support law enforcement and prosecutors and advance policies that hold criminals accountable and make our communities safer.
Affordability: Reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and oppose policies that drive up housing, insurance, energy and everyday costs.
I’m not sure any one of these priorities is more important than another. I will bring a laser-like focus to advancing all three, where it matters and when it matters.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
Affordability starts with recognizing that one size does not fit all. Pueblo should not be governed as though we are Denver.
I will look for opportunities to repeal policies that increase costs on hardworking families. Two examples:
HB25-1296: Repeal provisions that tax overtime income Colorado workers can exclude federally.
SB26-155: Repeal the new homeowners insurance enterprise fee and pursue solutions that actually lower insurance costs.
No more fees. No more unnecessary taxes. Enough is enough. Colorado families deserve to keep more of what they earn.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
I will build relationships with colleagues in both parties to advance Pueblo’s priorities. My entire career has been built on building meaningful relationships, listening, earning trust, and bringing people together to find solutions. Pueblo needs a different voice and greater balance at the Capitol.
There is evidence that bipartisan cooperation is possible. HB26-1166, the 2026 Department of Public Safety supplemental, ultimately passed the Senate 33-0 and the House 62-2.
I can’t imagine Democrats and Republicans don’t both want safer streets for the people we represent.
This race truly isn’t about being a Republican or Democrat. Sometimes it is simply about doing the right thing for the people we represent.
A new governor will take office next year. What opportunities are there for legislation or other changes that did not gain traction under Gov. Jared Polis?
I would like the next administration to take a different approach in three areas:
Public safety: Strengthen accountability for repeat and dangerous offenders and better support law enforcement and prosecutors.
Affordability: Stop adding fees and taxes and focus on lowering the cost of housing, insurance and everyday life.
Regulation: Restore local control and recognize that one-size-fits-all mandates do not work for communities like Pueblo.
Whether our next governor is a Democrat or Republican, I will seek common ground and build relationships. Republicans don’t always agree either. My responsibility is to do what is right for the people I represent.
