Weekly Email 7/6/26

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

Before we dive in, the RTB community joins Western Colorado in mourning the loss of three wildland firefighters who died battling the Snyder Fire near Grand Junction last weekend. Emily Barker, 38. Nick Hutcherson, 27. Sydney Watson, 26. They lost their lives battling a deadly wildfire, all to keep our community safe. We hold their families and crewmates in our hearts. 

Topic of the Week: Community Engagement — What Happened at the June Social Hour

While RTB has been holding social hours for over a year, these have traditionally been informal events, an opportunity for board members and volunteers to mix with old and new friends. Last month, we tried something different.

We sent out discussion questions on David French's book, Divided We Fall, in advance of the June 17 Social Hour. Over 50 participants attended, including 6 or 7 newcomers and two candidates for office. The informal but facilitated discussion covered topics ranging from the David French presentation to future RTB activities, alongside time for small group socializing. The response exceeded our expectations; many participants contributed thoughtful ideas, offered suggestions for future RTB actions, requested more gatherings like this one, and expressed a willingness to volunteer. This approach, topic-based, structured but relaxed, is one we'll be building on. RTB will offer more opportunities for facilitated social hours going forward.

Many thanks to everyone who attended. You are what makes this community worth showing up for.

Coming Up: July Social Hour: Wednesday, July 15 | 4:30–6:30 PM | Sauvage Spectrum, Palisade.

We're heading to Palisade to enjoy the orchards and vineyards! Watch this space for more details on food and a possible topic.

July 4 Recap: How Did You Celebrate the Country's 250th Birthday?

This July 4 marked the semiquincentennial, 250 years of American independence. We'd love to hear how you celebrated. Share your stories and photos in the comments on our Facebook page or submit them through the newsletter form below.

In the meantime, here's a reflection worth watching. Historian and Pulitzer Prize recipient Jon Meacham recently appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert to share his take on where America stands 250 years after gaining independence:

Watch Jon Meacham on Colbert here.

Getting It Right: A Clarification to Our Candidate Ratings Report

In the June 2026 RTB Candidate Surveys for local primary elections, our report stated that members of the group Stand for the Constitution "recruited Abby Silzell to run for Mesa County Clerk and Recorder." We want to clarify: the organization Stand for the Constitution did not formally recruit Ms. Silzell's candidacy, nor did it formally endorse her candidacy prior to the Mesa County Assembly, although individuals affiliated with the organization did recruit her to run. As a matter of policy, Stand for the Constitution does not formally endorse candidates for office until after primary elections are concluded.

We regret the imprecise language and are committed to accuracy in everything we publish.

Further Reading

Member submission from Deb Stetler: A new Pew Research Center report, Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology, goes beyond the simple partisan divide to examine the full range of political perspectives in America today. Worth a read for anyone trying to understand where we actually are as a country. Read the report here.

We will be keeping an eye on attempts to interfere with election results all the way through the midterms. This article separates fact from fiction in the recent California election fraud claims. California Election Fraud Claims — Tangle

June 30 Primary Results — A Nonpartisan Look at What Happened

Mesa County voters turned out on a smoky primary night, wildfire smoke blanketing the Grand Valley as ballots were counted. Here's what the results showed in our local and regional races:

CD3 — Republican Primary

Jeff Hurd won, advancing to face the Democratic nominee in November.

CD3 — Democratic Primary

Dwayne Romero defeated Alex Kelloff and will face Hurd in the November general election.

Mesa County Clerk and Recorder — Republican Primary

Incumbent Bobbie Gross leads 70% to 30% after the first drop of ballots and is on her way to retaining the seat. As the only party fielding a candidate, Gross is effectively elected to another term.

Colorado House District 54 — Republican Primary

This race was extremely close on election night. Watch for final results from the Mesa County Clerk's office as remaining ballots are counted.

Statewide

Sitting Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated senior U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to run in the November election. Political newcomer and self-described Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros surpassed 29-year incumbent Diana DeGette in the 1st Congressional District.

RTB does not endorse candidates; we inform voters. The November 3 general election is the next opportunity for all registered voters to weigh in.

Full Mesa County results here.

Upcoming Events

July 14 — RTB Delta County Annual Meeting | 6:00 PM | Orchard Town Hall, Orchard City, CO | Judge Steven Patrick will discuss Constitutional Law and answer questions. All are welcome.

July 15 — RTB Social Hour | 4:30–6:30 PM | Sauvage Spectrum, Palisade | Watch this space for more details!

November 3 — Colorado General Election

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30pm

• Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3pm

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update.

You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

Submit your recommendations here

Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.

Don't forget to vote in 2026: November general.