Your Monday Update, Principle #6 and Upcoming Events

Elk River

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

PRINCIPLE OF THE WEEK: #6

There is an old saying that a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. Public service works the same way: when someone steps forward to run for office, they are not taking something from the rest of us, they are adding light. Yet too often, those who step into that role are met not with debate, but with intimidation.

Citizens should be free to run for or hold office without being threatened or harassed.

This principle sounds obvious. Of course people should be able to serve their community without fear. But it is under real strain. A 2026 survey found that more than half of local election officials worry about the safety of their colleagues, and nearly a quarter fear being assaulted at home or at work because of their job. This is not limited to election administrators. Candidates up and down the ballot, from school board to Congress, increasingly report threats simply for putting their name forward.

A functioning democracy depends on good people being willing to serve. When we normalize threats and harassment as a cost of running for office, we do not punish any one party or candidate. We shrink the pool of people willing to step up at all, and we all lose something because of it.

As Theodore Roosevelt put it, credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena, who strives, who errs, who dares greatly, rather than to those who only stand on the sidelines and criticize. Whatever our disagreements over policy, we should be able to agree that the people willing to enter the arena deserve safety, not intimidation.

A Note On Elections Coverage

As candidates ramp up activity ahead of the November election, we plan to include a fuller list of candidate- and election-related events in this space each week. This will not be a complete list. If you are aware of an event or opportunity we should include, please let us know.

Upcoming Events

8/19 -- RTB Social Hour

4:30-6:30 PM, Cruise Control Kitchen and Bar, downtown Grand Junction. Just a social gathering this month; no organized discussion, just some brief information on upcoming events.

8/20 -- Meet Colorado Forward Party, Candidates

6:00-7:30 PM, Grand Junction Convention Center, 159 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Join Forward Party candidates for an evening featuring an overview of the Forward Party, candidate remarks, and an open Q&A. Learn more here. Shared for informational purposes only; does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate or political party.

8/26 — Better Ballots Colorado

5:00-7:00 PM, Grand Valley Event Center, 2400 Consistory Ct, Grand Junction. Register here.

9/8 — Indivisible Colorado Speaker Series: Election Protections and Vision for Colorado, with AG Phil Weiser, Candidate for Governor

7:00 PM. Hear from Phil Weiser on election security and his priorities if elected. Shared for informational purposes only; does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate or political party. VIRTUAL EVENT. Register here.

9/9 — Save the Date: RTB Fall Gathering at Sauvage Spectrum

5:30-8:00 PM (time to be confirmed). A chance to meet candidates on the Mesa County ballot this November. All local and CD3 candidates have been invited. A food truck will be on site. More info to follow. 

9/14 — Save the Date: Who's Telling the Truth? What Media Literacy, Authenticity, and Gatekeeping Mean Now

5:00-6:30 PM, Meyer Ballroom, Colorado Mesa University Center. Despite extraordinary challenges, independent local newsrooms continue to play a vital role as watchdogs focused on preserving our democracy. This interactive community conversation will include a moderated panel with reporters and researchers, followed by audience participation at table conversations addressing what is needed to ensure our communities receive news they trust on the issues important to them. RSVP link coming soon. Get tickets here.

9/20 — How to Have Difficult Conversations

10:30 AM-1:00 PM: A discussion and screening of the movie Reuniting America, presented by Braver Angels. Unitarian Universalist Church, 536 Ouray Ave, Grand Junction. Registration required here.

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: 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 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: Ballots will be mailed on October 2. Vote Early.