ALAMOSA — Adam Frisch, Democratic candidate for Congressional District CO-3 (CD3), launched a new broadscale ad campaign on Monday where he not only pledges to protect water in the district but also questions connections his Republican opponent, Grand Junction attorney Jeff Hurd, has to "special interests" working to export valuable water from the San Luis Valley to the Front Range.
"The entire Southwest is stealing our water," Frisch says in the ad. "They're sucking us dry, driving up housing costs and families out of their homes. I don't take corporate money and will protect our land and our water. It's vital for our economic future and our way of life."
In a conversation with the Valley Courier, Frish confirmed that he is referring to Hurd's connections to Bill Owens, a former Republican Colorado governor. Owens and an unnamed Denver water developer are backing a determined effort to export 22,000 acre-feet of water a year out of the San Luis Valley via a pipeline that would deliver it to the Front Range.
The name of the company is Renewable Water Resources (RWR). According to previous coverage by the Valley Courier, they look to spend $118 million on the effort, including $50 million to be put in a "community fund" to offset the impact of exporting the water – an export, that water experts in the Valley and beyond say, is not sustainable and will deplete the aquifer more than it already is. Despite hitting brick walls on their first effort to export, RWR continues to make its presence and intentions known.
Owens' association with Hurd goes back to the beginning of Hurd's campaign in the primary as he was one of the first and, clearly, the most prominent Republican to come out early with an endorsement.
A review of the Federal Election Commission filings shows that Owens and Sean Tonner, a former staff member in Owens administration who is now the chief lobbyist for RWR, both donated to Hurd in the fall of 2023 in the amount of $1,000 each.
From the launch of his campaign, Frisch has made it clear that he won't take Corporate Political Action Committee (PAC) money because "there's a reason that a PAC is making that donation." He feels the same can hold true with politicos who put their name and money behind a candidate, which, he says, is why he places such value on his own independence and, in turn, questions Hurd's.
"What other type of interests and what other type of money is coming into southern Colorado? Of all the things you don't want to be associated with in the San Luis Valley, it's the group trying to pull a Crowley County." (Farmers in Crowley County sold off their water rights to a Front Range developer, which destroyed the county and much of its way of life.) "So, why won't he distance himself from Owens?" Frisch asks. "Why won't he give the money back?"
Since launching his campaign in 2021, Frisch has prioritized preserving and protecting Colorado's water, including the Colorado River and the Rio Grande. As he told Colorado's Water Congress when in a presentation two weeks ago, he also wants to bring the Arkansas River into the conversation.
"I'm on the road about 25 days a month going all over this district speaking and listening to people," he says. "And there are fifty different things going on in different communities. But the one priority that always comes up in the conversation – always – is water."
Frisch, who spent eight years in his "previous life" on Wall Street working in finance and derivatives, is concerned about the language he hears in discussions about water. The language is similar to what he heard working on Wall Street. "What I'm really worried about is the monetization and commoditization of water, which just puts it in the marketplace. And you know who's going to win that one."
Given that water is personal property and the use of that property is governed by state law, the role of the federal government has, historically, been limited. But that's changing and Frisch sees a place where strong representation is needed.
"Defending Western and Southern Colorado's water is a top priority for me," he says, "and in Congress my number one committee choices will be made with protecting water - along with our domestic energy and ag industries.
"I'll use that position to make sure CD3 receives the resources it deserves to support further improvements to the water system like improving existing storage facilities and securing more funds for the Arkansas Valley Conduit. I will also support and loudly advocate for the hardworking Colorado water professionals who are fighting to negotiate water agreements with other states and Tribal Nations, so that every water user in CD3 can access the water they depend on."
The Valley Courier reached out to the Jeff Hurd campaign for comment. Because of time constraints and Hurd being unavailable, the campaign was only able to send a brief statement in response by press time.
"Irrespective of individuals or organizations support for Jeff, he will make each and every legislative priority and decision based on what is best for the district. Jeff has consistently, publicly and loudly campaigned on protecting San Luis Valley and CD3 water. To say anything otherwise is to be dishonest and downright wrong. Jeff wants to grow crops in the San Luis Valley, not houses in Denver," said Nick Bayer, campaign spokesman.
