Dear Representative Valdez

I’m writing this letter in response to your letter touting your support for your rural agricultural roots and how you’ve supported all the things that the government (State and Federal) continues to do to support our rural way of life. You also announced your desire to represent this district in the US House.  My concern is not so much what the government does for us as is what it does to us!   Therefore, I have a few questions for you about your past and future actions. 

Most recently did you speak out loudly against our Governors “Meat Out Day”?  Are you working hard to educate and hopefully end the effort of the public to dictate how livestock owners care for the animals they own?  Did you speak out against Wolf Reintroduction?  Are you working against “ANY” attempt to restrict gun ownership?  Are you helping to prevent further restrictions on our fossil fuel?  After all, the revenue was a huge benefit to the budget of this state.  Also anything that raises the price of fuel and petrochemicals is a big blow to agriculture.   As farmers and ranchers we are used to working harder and pinching pennies to survive, but these aggressive regulations will destroy agriculture in a hurry!   

If you aren’t successful in educating and changing the minds of your urban colleagues in Denver, how can you hope for any success in Washington?   Electric Vehicles, No Fossil Fuels, More Wilderness with less Grazing, Higher Estate and Capital Gains Taxes, Wealth Taxes, Open Borders, Free College, and GUN CONTROL are all ideas that are very popular with your potential East and West Coast colleagues in the House of Representatives, but not popular in the Third Congressional.   If they are successful in implementing what they are currently proposing the agricultural heritage that you claim to be proud of will rapidly disappear.   There will be no farm or ranch left to pass to the next generation.  Can you do in DC what you didn’t do very well in Denver and stand up against all these liberals?  Sir, I am looking forward to your answers!

Michael M. Mitchell, Retired

Father of a Farming Family

Monte Vista, CO