The Post Independent is publishing Q&As for our community’s house and senate district races ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Each candidate is provided 700 words including a bullet-point bio for a column along with 100 words for each of their answers in the Q&A section.

Caleb Waller is the Republican candidate for House District 57, which includes Garfield and Pitkin counties. You can read Democratic candidate for HD57 Rep. Elizabeth Velasco’s Q&A responses here.

If you are elected, what is the first issue you plan to act on and why?

If elected, I will immediately focus on housing, energy, and education. Our district is facing a housing crisis, with skyrocketing costs due to burdensome regulations. I will push for reforms to encourage affordable development. Energy is essential to our economy, and I will fight to protect our local energy production to ensure reliable, affordable power for residents. Finally, I will prioritize education by supporting parental rights and choice, ensuring families have a say in their children’s education. These issues demand immediate attention, and I am committed to addressing them simultaneously for the benefit of HD57.

A large percentage of voters in your district have identified the high cost of living as the most important issue to them. How do you plan to address this district’s housing and economic challenges?

To address the high cost of living in our district, I will focus on increasing housing supply and creating opportunities for economic growth. Construction defect litigation reform will help encourage the development of more affordable housing options, especially entry-level homes. I will also work to extend and expand opportunity zones, which will attract new businesses and investments to our area, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. By focusing on these supply-side solutions and engaging industries of choice, we can reduce housing costs and provide more opportunities for our district’s residents.

Recently, municipalities in House District 57 have begun passing non-sanctuary resolutions in response to the recent influx of migrants to their communities, stating they don’t have sufficient resources to support them. What role, if any, should the state play in helping local communities deal with this influx? 

The state must play a role in upholding the rule-of-law, which ensures protection, security, and a strong economy. Local communities in House District 57 are struggling with the recent influx of migrants due to limited resources, and it is inhumane to allow this without proper support. The rule-of-law is what attracts people to our country in the first place, and by enforcing it, we can maintain public health, safety, and economic stability. The state should help local communities manage this challenge by ensuring that immigration laws are enforced to provide long-term solutions.

Several school districts in House District 57 are seeing significant achievement gaps for minority students and those with limited English proficiency. How do you plan to help address this disparity?

To address the achievement gaps for minority students and those with limited English proficiency, I will prioritize improving literacy programs. Literacy is the gateway to all sectors of education and a prosperous life. Achievement gaps are best addressed through an early focus on foundational reading skills with tailored support and targeted interventions. I will advocate for such resources and methods because literate students are successful students who will become productive and prosperous citizens. Ensuring every student has the tools to achieve literacy will lead to greater success across all subjects and open doors for their future.

This part of the state is abundant in its natural resources, particularly in natural gas. What role do you think the state should have in regulating energy production and use in the district? 

Energy is essential to our economy and quality of life, and I believe the state’s role should be to create an environment that allows a free-market approach to thrive. By reducing excessive regulations, we can encourage innovation and investment in energy production, including natural gas and renewables. I support an all-of-the-above energy portfolio that fosters competition and keeps energy affordable for consumers. Additionally, I will advocate for expanding carbon capture technologies like methane capture, ensuring we maintain responsible energy practices without stifling economic growth. A market-driven approach will strengthen our energy sector and benefit our district’s economy.