Congressional candidate Trisha Calvarese visits northeast Colorado

"Rural communities need a revival. They've been left behind for too long." Those sentiments are among the reasons why Trisha Calvarese is motivated to seek a congressional seat. She is the Democratic candidate for District 4 who is challenging Republican Congresswoman, Lauren Boebert, in the November general election.

Calvarese, who held a "meet and greet" dinner meeting at Happy Jacks BBQ restaurant the evening of Friday, August 23, emphasized that she "is here for people first" and also her advocacy for working people. Work as a speech writer for the AFL-CIO and then work at the United States National Science Foundation introduced her to the world of federal workforce-related legislation. She cited the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, related to research and development of semiconductors, as an example of something worth investing in because this advancing industry also includes creating jobs.

Her additional interest is access to rural healthcare. It was sparked by her personal experience with navigating the healthcare system when she returned to Colorado to provide end of life care for both her parents.

To serve both those interests and support for families, she has a high interest in the development of the workforce by promoting multiple pathways for people to advance their career interests. This especially includes alternatives to college degrees such as Career and Technical Education schools. Formally referred to as Vo-Tech schools, Calvarese recognizes the role that these training entities have in providing rewarding and essential service jobs. She thinks people should have greater access to them.

Additionally, she believes that schools need to do more to prepare students for career pathways having to do with "the AI world they're living in now." She did not, however, speak more specifically about what possible federal policies or funding would apply to the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

Calvarese was born in Sterling and raised in Highlands Ranch when Douglas County was still rural enough to support the presence of wild horses. Her parents were Republican conservatives. This still has an influence on her today. "Don't call me a liberal because I take great offense to that," she said. Instead she describes herself as a pragmatist who "just likes to get things done."

Prior to leaving Holyoke, Calvarese and her campaign coordinator, Bryce Snyder, dropped by the Vets Club to meet Post Commander Terry Barth. Their next stop was to be a Saturday morning meeting in Julesburg.

Calvarese and Boebert are set to debate each other on Sept. 3. Hosted by the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, it will be held in the Roxborough Park area. The focus of the debate is to be business and economic policy.