Editor's note: The Following was forwarded to the Kiowa County Press from the Kiowa County Commissioners.

To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners,

Greetings,

My name is Chaz Evanson, and I am running as an unaffiliated candidate for Governor of Colorado. As a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, not to uphold power for its own sake, but to protect the God-given rights of the people. That same sense of duty drives my campaign today. I believe our state is in serious danger, not just morally or economically, but structurally.

Let’s speak plainly: Colorado no longer functions as a constitutional republic. It has drifted into a centralized democracy, where 50 percent plus one now governs the whole. The Founders warned us that such systems inevitably descend into mob rule, eroding liberty and crushing local governance under the weight of one-size-fits-all laws. John Adams said it best: “There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”

My campaign is built on the firm conviction that we must restore Colorado to its intended design: a republic, where law, liberty, and local authority restrain power and secure justice. I believe that county governments, like yours, are essential to that restoration. You are not just administrative units of the state; you are constitutional guardians of your people.

My campaign is built around three guiding pillars: Restore, Reform, and Protect. While each of these principles includes specific policy proposals, the reforms outlined in this letter represent one of the most urgent sub-plans under the “Reform” pillar, namely, reforming the very structures of government to guard against tyranny and restore the voice of the counties. You are central to this effort.

Pillar 1: A Colorado State Electoral College

Restoring Balance to Statewide Elections

Under our current system, statewide elections are decided almost entirely by a handful of urban counties. The other 59 counties are largely ignored. This is not balanced governance, it’s urban centralism. My plan proposes the creation of a Colorado State Electoral College, modeled after the federal system, where each county is assigned a number of electoral votes based on its population (with every county receiving at least one). To be elected governor, a candidate would need to win a majority of these electoral votes, not just run up margins in metro areas. This change would force every statewide candidate to engage with rural, mountain, agricultural, and small-town communities, not just campaign along the Front Range. It would make our state government truly representative, geographically balanced, and structurally fair.

Pillar 2: Local Ratification of Laws and Amendments

Guarding Against Top-Down Tyranny

Today, the state government in Denver can impose sweeping laws, affecting your county’s economy, schools, land use, and values, without ever asking for your consent. That is not how a republic functions. To restore proper checks and balances, I propose a local ratification mechanism that returns real governing power to Colorado’s counties. Under this reform, all major state laws, mandates, or executive orders with statewide impact, such as tax increases, education policy, or regulatory expansions, would require approval by a simple majority of counties before taking effect. This ensures that no single region or party can dictate policy over unwilling communities.

Furthermore, when it comes to changes to the Colorado Constitution, I propose a supermajority ratification requirement by the counties, similar to the federal amendment process, which requires approval from three-fourths of the states. This would protect Colorado from the political winds of the moment and force broad, geographic consensus before any permanent constitutional changes could be made. In both cases, this reform makes clear: Colorado belongs to its people, not just its politicians. County governments, elected by their local citizens, deserve a seat at the table before state-level decisions are made that reshape our way of life.

Pillar 3: A County-Selected State Senate

Restoring County Representation in State Government

Currently, both chambers of Colorado’s General Assembly are based solely on population. This gives urban centers near-total control over the legislative process and silences the unique concerns of rural and less-populated counties. That is not how representative government was meant to function. I propose a bold yet historically grounded reform: restructure the Colorado State Senate to consist of one senator per county, chosen directly by each Board of County Commissioners. This mirrors how U.S. Senators were once selected by state legislatures prior to the 17th Amendment, and it restores the State Senate to its proper role as a protector of local interests against centralized power. It guarantees that every county has equal voice in shaping statewide laws, not just those with the most voters.

A Governor Who Works With Counties, Not Over Them

Let me be clear: I do not believe the Governor should rule by executive order or behind closed doors in Denver. I believe the Governor should lead through consultation, partnership, and constitutional principle. Should I be elected, I will formally seek input from Colorado’s Boards of County Commissioners before signing major House Bills, Senate Bills, or Executive Orders. I will also champion the legislative and ballot-initiative processes required to advance these structural reforms. I will stand with counties, not against them.

These changes won’t be easy. Entrenched interests rarely surrender power willingly. But with public pressure and principled leadership, they can be accomplished. And they must be because Colorado must once again become a republic.

Together, We Can Rebuild a Free Colorado

I’m not asking for a partisan endorsement, I’m asking for your support as a Board of Commissioners, as representatives of the people in your county. You are not just a local body, you are a constitutional authority that must no longer be ignored. My campaign is built on the belief that government must flow upward, from God to the people, from the people to their counties, and from their counties to the state, not the other way around.

While others seek to silence local governments, centralize power, or bypass your input entirely, I am the only candidate offering a serious and actionable plan to restore your voice. Not just in rhetoric, but in law, in structure, and in process.

I invite you to join me, not as party affiliates, but as defenders of local sovereignty and accountable government. With your support, we can build momentum. With your leadership, we can show the people that Colorado’s counties are not powerless. You are essential to restoring balance, protecting liberty, and rebuilding the constitutional republic we were meant to be.

I would be honored to meet with your board, listen to your concerns, and work together to ensure the people of your county are never ignored again.

With deep respect and unwavering resolve,

Charles “Chaz” Evanson