Scott Bottoms Runs for Governor on Fiscal Reform and School Choice

The wind off the Grand Mesa carries a specific kind of bite this time of year, cutting through layers of wool and flannel, reminding anyone standing on the ridge that Colorado weather doesn’t negotiate. It’s the same chill that seeps into the bones of commuters on I-70, the same cold that makes the difference between a pleasant drive and a dangerous one. Scott Bottoms knows that cold. He knows the weight of it, because for over thirty years, he’s been serving communities through ministry, military duty, and now, public office.

Bottoms, the U.S. Navy veteran and lead pastor of the Church at Briargate in Colorado Springs, is running for governor, and his pitch is simple: Colorado is at a crossroads. He argues that decades of one-party rule have led to reckless spending, failing schools, rising crime, and unaffordable energy and housing. It’s a familiar narrative for those of us who’ve watched property taxes climb and feel the squeeze on the wallet, but Bottoms is framing it as a crisis of freedom, not just finance.

"Why I’m running," he writes in his opinion piece, is because Coloradans deserve better than "skyrocketing costs, soft-on-crime policies and bureaucrats who prioritize ideology over results." He points to our state’s ranking among the worst for car thefts, drug use, property crime, and overall cost of living. Homelessness is up. Families are struggling. And too many feel their government no longer listens.

If you look closely at his platform, there’s a warmth to the idea of "fiscal responsibility," though the mechanics are where it gets interesting. Bottoms wants to implement a "Colorado D.O.G.E." — Department of Government Efficiency — paired with an Open Ledger Act. This isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about transparency. He’s promising real-time, public dashboards showing every tax dollar spent. No more accounting gimmicks. Balanced budgets only. He wants to audit agencies, sunset ineffective programs, eliminate taxpayer-funded lobbying, and cut unnecessary regulations, permits, and fees. And yes, he promises to slash property taxes to make homeownership affordable again.

But it’s the education angle that might hit closer to home for many neighbors. Bottoms believes parents, not the state, know what’s best for their children. He wants to expand school choice, including vouchers and charter options, and codify parental authority over education, healthcare, and moral upbringing. He’s pushing for curriculum transparency and rejecting "politicized content." He also wants to protect "biological reality" in sports and facilities, a phrase that always sparks a bit of debate in local school board meetings.

Then there’s the law and order piece. Bottoms argues that soft-on-crime policies have fueled chaos. He wants to repeal them, restore meaningful sentencing for violent offenders, child predators, and drug traffickers, and fully fund and train law enforcement. A task force will target the drug crisis, cartel activity, and border-related threats through coordinated federal, state, and local action. Mental health services, especially for those struggling with addiction, are part of the mix, though the details on funding there are still taking shape.

It’s a bold vision, rooted in faith and family, guided by constitutional principles. But is it practical? Can a Department of Government Efficiency really deliver on the promise of slashed property taxes without gutting essential services? And what does "biological reality" mean in a classroom in Delta County, or a high school gym in Grand Junction?

Bottoms is a native Coloradan, and he’s been in the trenches for decades. He’s sponsored measures to protect minors and promote school choice. He’s pushed back against mandates. Now, he’s aiming for the top job. The question is whether the voters, tired of the current administration’s approach, are ready to trade one set of problems for another.

The sun dips below the peaks, casting long shadows across the valley floor. The air grows still, holding its breath. You can feel the anticipation, the hope, the worry. It’s all there, waiting for the next chapter.