(Colorado Newsline) Republican U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert and Democrat Trisha Calvarese sparred over economic issues in a debate  Tuesday afternoon, an untelevised event at a country club that was the only debate scheduled ahead of the election so far.

They are vying to represent the 4th Congressional District, which includes the state’s Eastern Plains and juts into suburban Douglas County.

“I’m not running for a political agenda for myself. I’m running for the people. I’m hearing from them, and I want to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs,” Calvarese said in front of a full banquet room at The Club at Ravenna in Littleton.

The debate was hosted by the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation and moderated by Ernest Luning of Colorado Politics.

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It only included questions about industry, the workforce and the economy. The district includes much of Colorado’s agricultural and energy industries on the Eastern Plains, as well as technology, health care and manufacturing interests.

Calvarese spoke about maintaining funding for recent economic legislation such as the CHIPS and Science Act and being a “conduit” to resources that exist within the government for business and industry, including in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Boebert said that instead of increasing government spending, she would work to further shrink the federal government, regulations and regulators like the Environmental Protection Agency that limit industry.

“If we’re going to talk about the red tape and the EPA, then the real issue to address is the EPA itself, and to minimize that or defund it altogether,” Boebert said in response to a comment from Calvarese about the detailed reporting farmers need to do to the agency. “That is the biggest hindrance that our farmers, ranchers, and oil and gas workers face on a regular basis.”

Boebert also criticized provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislation that incentivize renewable energy.

“You have the federal government propping up one industry over the other and creating an imbalance in the market. We need to allow the market to decide what industry is going to be most beneficial, most reliable and most responsible,” she said.

Meanwhile, Calvarese praised the investments within the Inflation Reduction Act.

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“It actually has a ton of potential to bring excellent, high-paying, quality jobs to our district. And, in fact, you want to talk about gas — there’s tons of pipeline that we need to replace right now that is leaking left and right,” she said.

She said she sees federal legislation, like the IRA and the CHIPS and Science Act, as important factors in shoring up American competitiveness and innovation.

“The pandemic made crystal clear the consequence of decades of offshoring and outsourcing our manufacturing and innovation base,” she said. “We need to make it in America, invent it in America and discover it in America.”

Boebert repeatedly defended her voting record in Congress, even when Calvarese pointed out votes she said were against district interests, such as Boebert’s “no” on a spending package that bolstered veterans’ health care benefits. Boebert countered that the thousand-page, omnibus bills Congress passes are not the right way to legislate, even if they contain some good ideas.

Calvarese said she would consider extending some tax cuts enacted by former President Donald Trump in 2017 that help businesses and have an offset in the budget. Boebert said she would vote to extend and expand all of those tax cuts, which largely benefited corporations and the wealthy. Both are supportive of a child tax credit, though Boebert said only American citizens should be able to receive it.

Boebert said she would not vote for an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 since 2009. Calvarese said she wants a $15 minimum wage for all workers, including those who earn tips.

The 4th Congressional District was represented by Republican Representative Ken Buck for nine years until he stepped down in March and was replaced by Representative Greg Lopez, who is not running for a full term in the seat. The district is the most conservative in the state.

Boebert, who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, handily won a crowded Republican primary in the 4th District after moving across the state in order to run for the seat.

Calvarese has challenged Boebert to two televised debates ahead of the election. Tuesday’s event was not open to the public and cost $35 for non-members of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation. Boebert did not commit to any other debates when asked by reporters Tuesday.

Voters will begin to receive ballots in the mail in mid-October. Election Day is November 5.

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