T’Naus Nieto
The Chronicle-News
‘I wake up every day, wanting to represent this district to the best of my ability,’ says Winter
Representative Ty Winter wasted no time in his two years serving and helped pass numerous pieces of legislation that he hoped would support southeastern Colorado residents despite being a Republican in a Democratic House supermajority. As the election draws near, the incumbent hopes to continue his strides to serve the good people of House District 47.
Message to the community
When asked if Winter had a message to the community, he said, “Other than getting married and having my daughters, this has been the greatest honor of my life. About ten years ago, I got excited about becoming active in my community, and I served on numerous boards and committees in this community and across the state. It’s the most fulfilling thing on earth. It’s the most important job I’ve ever had. I’m telling the stories of people’s lives at the state capitol, trying to represent them and fight for them, and make sure we get what we need in House District 47, all while being responsible with taxpayer dollars, which is important. And this year, we’re starting $9 million in the hole… I love the good people of House District 47, and when reelected in November, my commitment is to go back to work and keep doing the work of the people through representative government.”
Background
A lifelong resident of southeastern Colorado and the Trinidad area, Winter had been married for 21 years and had two daughters, ages 16 and 10.
When asked about his background, he said, “I’m a local kid, born and raised here in Las Animas County,” Winter said. “I was raised on a cattle ranch north of Trinidad, a fourth-generation cattle ranch. My wife, mother, and I run Combi (funeral) Homes. We’re third-generation funeral directors. It’s been part of loving this community, and in southeastern Colorado, it’s what brought me to run for office—trying to advocate for our small town, our rural values, and our way of life.
Challenges
When asked about the challenges he would face if reelected as the House District 47 Representative, Winter said, “The challenge we face is the rural-urban divide. It’s real. Most of the state legislators are centered around the Denver Metro area… and they forget about us in the southeast corner. My biggest challenge is getting up and telling the story of this District because that’s really my job. My job is to pass law, but my job is to represent the good people of House District 47. And the way to do that is to tell their story and try to convey to the supermajority that legislation passed, at the golden dome, at the fishbowl, has effects on people outside the metroplex (and it’s) exasperated in House District 47.”
“Energy policy has crushed jobs, attacks on farming and ranching, making it harder for small businesses and landlords. I hear from people all over the District. I hear it from everyday people wondering why inflation is so high in Colorado. It’s the highest inflationary rate of any state in the nation. Why is gas so expensive, and why is the cost of their energy going up? As I said, climate goals at the state, for the number of blue-collar jobs we lose, it becomes hard to justify that to folks when you put that up against the minimal gains.”
“The destruction of the steel industry in Pueblo. It’s hard to see. This year, we had the union come up and testify against numerous bills from the super majority… We’ve seen a monumental shift, not only nationwide, but a lot of blue-collar workers realize that our party is the party of labor. And that’s the monumental shift I’ve seen just this last year at the capital.”
Colorado Republicans versus Democrats
“I travel all over rural Colorado, and in House District 47, a lot of Democrats that I talk to are Kennedy Democrats, conservative Democrats,” Winter said. “They want to pray, they want to send their kids to school, they want fiscal responsibility, they love the flag, they love their county, and they’re not the far-left radicals who we deal with at the state capital that pass that legislation. So that’s why we tell people it can’t be Republican versus Democrats anymore in rural Colorado. It has to be rural values against urban values, and we have to start standing up together and telling people, ‘We live where we live for a reason. If we wanted to live where you live, we would live where you live. And please start to listen to us because we’re citizens of this great state.’”
Rural Colorado
Winter referenced and paraphrased his special sessions speech, saying, “It’s unfortunate when they don’t listen to us, and they pass legislation in that building that kills a proud people’s way to make a living. We’re the home of the mighty minors. We got proud roughnecks that drill oil and gas that heat this county. We have proud farmers and ranchers who work hard to feed this state and this county. You know, rural Colorado, we feed you, we cloth you, and we heat your homes, and you are passing legislation that’s taking a proud people’s ability away to make a living for their families and put food on the table.”
“The price of everything is going up around here, and government is making it harder and harder for them to live. And they hook our people on government money like a drug, and that’s not what America is about. America is about making a living and working hard, and we have to pull back some of this red tape and regulation and get Colorado’s economy moving forward. I have no problem with some of the directions we’re going with technology, but we can’t discount any of the things that happen in my District.”
“So getting people to stand up and say we’re going to work together for the values of this District and we’re going to put that 10% of things that we disagree about, that unfortunately, the media and talk show hosts use to divide us more than unite us. So, I’m really working hard to draw those lines. I believe that I have done exactly what the majority of voters in this District sent me to do. I stuck with the values and beliefs that I ran on. And I also found ways to work across the aisle to get important legislation passed. I worked in a bipartisan fashion. I worked with the county on the other side, and I believe that my resounding voice needs to be rural Colorado needs to work together. I believe we have more that unites us than divides us. I can promise you that once reelected I will continue to fight for this District, for our values and way of life.”
Hit piece?
Just two days before the interview, The Colorado Times Recorder published an article titled “Funding the fringe: mainstream Republicans are backing election deniers on Colorado’s ballot. “ The article specifically referenced Winter with election denial social media posts and conspiracies to the LAC GOP Facebook page while he was Chair. Winter took a moment to address the article and The Colorado Times Recorder as an organization.
“The Colorado Recorder is not a legitimate news organization,” Winter said. “I’m going to be honest about it. The authors of most of those articles are political operatives. There is a journalist that just came out, I just saw this this morning, that talked about how the left is attacking conservatives, trying to dehumanize them. We saw Melina Trump say the same thing. We’re all people. I’m a man with a family. I grew up in this community. People know who I am. They wrote a couple of hit pieces on me. If you go to their Facebook page, it seems like they write a hit piece on any upcoming Republican that they’re a little nervous about. They call us the upcoming rising stars and try to knock us down. So, when I was Chairman of the Republican Party at one time, I advocated. I’m the farthest thing from the fringe. Record over rumor. I deal with this all the time. Unfortunately, locally more. When I came in as County Chair, I did a really good job. And a handful of folks in this community can’t look at my record over their rumors. I have just dispelled these rumors and myths numerous times, and they’re trying to connect dots that aren’t there. That isn’t real political discourse. There’s a handful of people in this town that perpetrate stories against me, but guess what? The people of House District 47, my friends and neighbors, know who Rep. Winter is. I have represented this District above par. I have done nothing at the state capital in the last two years since I have been there to ever warrant any of these attacks against me. What it comes down to is, nowadays, there’s so much vitriol in politics that these are the articles they put out. So I tell people to look at my record over rumors and your news sources… You’ll probably find more truthful information in a stall at Trinidad State College than you will find on the Colorado Times Recorder.”
When asked about election denial specifically, he said, “What it comes down to it, there’s a lot of questions that people wanted answered, and it seems like those questions got glossed over, and people were calling people crazy. To throw it back, where was all the outrage when Hilary Clinton claimed that Trump didn’t win in 2016? She flat out said, ‘He did not win this election, ‘They cheated.’ You can go back. I think Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar penned a letter wanting to check and change our voting machines because they thought they were outdated and penetrable. George Bush and Al Gore… I think there’s a lot of time we forget history. So, my answer is that people have questioned elections for those last few cycles. I don’t think it’s anything out of the ordinary. I think it’s something a far-left news organization, or actually, a far-left tabloid, that has what they consider themselves journalists, that write hit pieces, because they are operatives for the other side.”
“I wake up every day wanting to represent this District to the best of my ability. I would never want to put a stain on this District in any way. It’s that important to me. I love this country… I believe what I’m fighting for is real. I’m fighting for my kids and your kids, our grandkids. I take it that serious and to have a few naysayers with a bullhorn to try and connect dots against me… As I said, political hit operatives out of Denver have written numerous articles that never show up in any major news source because even major news sources in Denver know the Colorado Times Recorder is a tabloid.”
Opponent
When asked about the differences between him and his opponent, Winter acknowledged the contrasting beliefs and origins between him and his competition and the areas he felt made him a better candidate.
Winter said, “I put over 60K miles in the last three years talking to people. I know the issues, I know the people, I have my finger on the pulse of House District 47 and the needs. The only way to know what’s going on in your District is to be in every county numerous times. I’ve only seen my opponent a few times. She only started campaigning in late August. So, trying to make up 60K miles is tough. I have numerous endorsements. I have all three county commissioners in this county, county commissioners in Otero and Crowley, and that’s based on the work I’ve done. I have the record.”
Winter continued, “So what it comes down to is I have the record, I’ve done the work, I have the know withal. I’m from here, and my opponent has only lived in the District for two years. We had a debate. You can listen to it on KSBK. We debated at the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. If you watch the debates, it’s really going to paint a picture of who is most qualified, who has the knowledge, and who has the work ethic to represent the good people of this District. They need a representative who’s going to fight for them and be all in. Part of that is campaigning, getting to know the issues, and knowing what this District needs. And I have to say, based upon the conversations and things that we had in debates on my record and the things I’ve been able to accomplish for this District along with my endorsements, from commissioners to lawmakers, I believe I’m the person best suited for the job. And I believe that the record and the good work I’ve done for this District will show at the ballot box in November.”
Accomplishments while in office
As an incumbent, Winter was asked about his accomplishments and what he was most proud of during his time representing House District 47.
He said, “There’s just been so much. First and foremost, I was elected as the assistant minority leader, which puts me in a really good position to advocate for this area. I have monthly meetings with the governor, where I can sit down, right across from him, and talk about my District and the needs of rural and southeast Colorado.”
“I’ve passed numerous pieces of legislation. One thing I’m proud of is that I’ve been very meticulous about the bills. I was honored to put bills that would help my District. And I looked at all the different areas where we’re having issues.”
Winter was a prime sponsor of SB23-186, a Senate Bill that was very relevant to the local area. It was the Oil and Gas Commission Study on Methane Seepage in the Raton Basin.
“It was huge for Las Animas County and Huerfano County,” Winter said. “That was to see how much natural coalbed methane we have that leaks into the atmosphere, and if so, hopefully, the results prove that we need to keep drilling and pulling this gas out of the ground and selling it because it’s already going into the atmosphere.”
Winter referred to another legislative action relevant to rural areas in Colorado. “I passed Senate Bill 23-083 (Physician Assistant Collaboration Requirements),” said Winter. “That takes a look at healthcare in rural Colorado and how we can attract more rural providers into the district by taking the reins off of physicians’ assistants and allowing them to do their jobs.”
“This year, one of our hallmark bills was House Bill 24-1249, and I was a prime co-sponsor. It passed, which is a tax credit for agricultural stewardship practices. That’s the bill that infuses $3 million a year into soil health practices… It helps our farmers and ranchers in southeastern Colorado.”
Winter was a co-prime sponsor for HB 23-12-47, which the bill itself calls “A requirement that the Colorado energy office conducts studies to assess advanced energy solutions in rural Colorado, and in connection therewith, making an appropriation.”
He said, referring to the bill, “I’m trying to figure out a way to replace our energy interests in the southeast corner. When the voters voted against Proposition 112 (Minimum Distance Requirements for New Oil, Gas, and Fracking Projects Initiative), the supermajority in Denver passed Senate Bill 19-181 (Protect Public Welfare Oil and Gas Operations), which basically put restrictions on oil gas instances. They went against voters because over 64% of voters said that they didn’t want those restrictions… I’m like anyone else. I want clean skies and everything, but we also have to worry about blue-collar jobs as well and be able to balance that, and I think we can do that. We produce cleaner natural gas in this state than anywhere else in the nation, and I’m proud of that.”
In 2023, Winter passed SB 23-174 (Select Behavioral Health Services for Members Under 21), allowing youth access to behavioral health care services.
Winter said, “In District 47, we have some of the [highest] numbers of children on Medicaid in the state… If your child is having a mental health crisis, you can bypass your primary physician and go straight to the mental health professional that you need to get that kid the help they need as soon as possible. Mental health is a huge issue that I’m trying to touch on. There’s a lot of strings being pulled to try and get money in different areas, and sometimes mental health services suffer, but we’re trying to work on that.”
“I also passed Senate Bill 23-044 in 2023,” Winter said. “It’s the veterinary education loan repayment program to help with recruiting large animal vets to southeastern Colorado.”
Winter continued, “With the reintroduction of the wolf and a lot of the laws that come out of the capital and all of the fuel fees on gas… [there’s] an anti-production livestock attitude that comes out of the capital… Farmers and ranchers take the brunt on their backs. It’s getting harder and harder for them to make a living. So, providing these funds to try and help them combat all of those other things is very important.”
Regarding education, Winter touched on another bill of which he was a prime sponsor, SB24-099, which allowed employment after retirement for rural schools.
Winter said, “We’re having a hard time recruiting teachers and superintendents for rural schools. Some people from that community who had retired from PERA (Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association) can now come out of retirement, not get hurt on their retirement, and keep putting into it. So, they can still collect, they keep contributing, and they’re able to fill that gap in schools where we can’t recruit.”
Winter also passed legislation to strengthen the enforcement of human trafficking with SB24-035. He said, “I passed this with majority leader (Monica) Duran in a very bipartisan fashion… Whether people want to believe it or not, we have a crisis at the border. and unfortunately, human trafficking is something we deal with. And in America, I hate to say it, there’s a problem. A lot of people are trafficked in this country. We enhanced sentencing, and we’re basically saying that if you traffic people in the state of Colorado, you will be punished.”
Winter mentioned being a prime sponsor for HB24-1244, which was the Minor Autopsy Report Release Requirements. the minor autopsy.
“This is the bill that we worked with the Press Corps… This makes it to where a minor’s autopsy isn’t a public record, and there has to be more investigative journalism done to get the information.”
Winter spoke about the controversial murder of a minor from Colorado Springs, where her mother found out the autopsy details on the news.
Winter said, “That was one of the most emotional bills I ran since I’ve been there… parents that have had their children’s autopsy reports sensationalized all over the news and internet… I don’t get emotional often, but hearing the parents talk and their schoolmates was touching. I’m proud of that bill.”
Winter touched on many other pieces of legislation that he was a part of and working toward. He said, “Those are just some of the successes. I know it’s a lot, but a lot happens in two years… What’s crazy is that I think we have a lot of really good ideas that aren’t brought to the table because of the supermajority.”
