Richard Holtorf, a Republican farmer, rancher, feedlot manager, and Army veteran of Washington County, has been appointed as the new State Representative for House District 64. In Kiowa, 115 delegates gathered to appoint a representative to fill this position, which recently became vacant due to the death of former State Representative Kimmi Lewis. 

Delegates who served on the vacancy committee consisted of county Republican Central Committee members, including precinct leaders, from the nine counties in House District 64. Holtorf was one of five candidates from across the district who sought to fill the position.

After approximately five-and-a-half hours and six rounds of speeches and voting, Holtorf received a majority of the votes needed for appointment, with 76 of 115 delgates.

Representative Holtorf will now serve out the remainder of Lewis’s term for the duration of the 2020 legislative year. 

Holtorf says that he has “big boots to fill,” and that he is “honored to have been selected to protect and advocate for the rural values of eastern and southern Colorado at the State Capitol.” He pledged to hold on to private property rights, Second Amendment rights, the agricultural and small business economic base in rural Colorado, and small town values.

Colorado House District 64 is the largest of the 65 districts across the state. Holtorf is enthusiastic about visiting all nine counties and listening to constituents from all across eastern and southern Colorado to ensure that he is able to best serve as their voice in the state legislature. House District 64 includes Baca, Bent, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa, Las Animas, Lincoln, Prowers, and Washington counties.