WOODY CREEK — Rifle Republican and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Russ George has endorsed Democrat Adam Frisch in his race against incumbent Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District.

George is a fourth generation Rifle native and served in the state’s house from 1993 to 2000. He was speaker of the house in 1999 and 2000.

Frisch’s campaign announced George’s endorsement in a press release on Thursday.

“I support Adam Frisch for Congress because he looks for political and economic balance,” George said in the release. “He will work to enhance an honest and realistic relationship among government, business and personal rights.

“All points of view matter to Adam.”

After serving in the house, George was appointed by Republican and Democratic governors to run the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.

He also has served on the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Colorado’s Interbasin Compact Committee.

George is the latest endorsement from Republicans and unaffiliated voters in Colorado.

Last week, former CO-3 Republican primary candidate and state senator Don Coram endorsed Frisch. Coram is the co-chair of the organization Republicans for Frisch — a coalition of CO-3 Republicans distancing themselves from Boebert in favor of a candidate they feel better represents conservative values such as the economy, caring for veterans and protecting water in Colorado.

A Grand Junction Daily Sentinel op-ed last week featured 24 Mesa County conservatives urging readers to “put country before party” and vote for Frisch.

The op-ed read that Boebert is “making Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District a laughingstock.”

Frisch said endorsements, such as those from Coram and George, are an honor.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Russ George, who for decades has been a valuable leader on Colorado’s Western Slope and has earned the respect of Coloradans across the political divide,” Frisch said in the release.

“Colorado’s 3rd congressional district deserves a leader who will work across the aisle to achieve victories in Congress for their families, their businesses, and their communities. Boebert has failed to get things done, as evidenced by her 0-39 legislative record.”