Greg Brophy, a Republican gubernatorial hopeful, believes in his heart that northern Colorado counties should secede from the state, but his head tells him something else.
“As an individual, because I want this great state to stay together, I will vote against it on the ballot, but I’m really happy that my county commissioners are putting it on the ballot and talking about it,” he told the Cortez Journal on Thursday.
A native of Wray in Yuma County, Brophy said all measures have been exhausted in attempts to ensure elected officials, namely Gov. John Hickenlooper, and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly heed concerns on gun control and a rural renewable electric bill.
Brophy said Colorado’s 36th governor has simply ignored every group and nearly all of legislators from rural Colorado who took a position to oppose those bills.
“The secessionist movement is sort of the last desperate act of a constituency that feels like they haven’t been listened to,” Brophy said.
When reminded secession hasn’t proved advantageous in American history, Brophy said that’s why his head disagrees with his heart.
“In my heart, I want to go,” he said. “I want to secede, but my head tells me it won’t work, and we need to keep this state together.”
Running as a libertarian conservative dedicated to kitchen-table issues, Brophy said he believes Colorado can be a beacon of light for freedom for the entire nation.
He was in Cortez Thursday, and met with gun-rights activists at the Summit Shooting Center earlier in the day. Brophy said he opposed any future gun-control measures, despite the fact that firearms have safety locks.
“More gun control has never improved public safety,” he said.
A member of the Colorado Legislature for the past decade as both a senator and a representative, Brophy said his record shows that he is able to work across party lines to enact legislation for all Coloradoans. He specifically mentioned his efforts to work with Democrats to reform the state’s public pension program.
“I know we can work with the other side without compromising our ideals,” he said.
As a result of his legislative experience, Brophy said while someone may have the best idea in the world, in order to get legislation passed one must be able to work with others with different views.
“It’s time for an experienced leader to run for all of the state,” he said.
After the primary, Brophy said he would like to return to Montezuma County, perhaps as part of a bicycle tour. An avid cyclist, Brophy said he wants to connect with all citizens.
“I’m not a typical Republican,” he said. “I’m a typical Coloradoan.”
