Week of October 13, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 45
Marshall outraises Huffman in HD43 race District leans right BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Campaign donations in the race for the Colorado House District 43, which covers all of Highlands Ranch, slightly favor the Democratic candidate in an area that has historically leaned red. Bob Marshall, the Democratic candidate running against incumbent Republican Rep. Kurt Huffman, has raised $39,127 in donations compared to Huffman’s $32,476, according to Oct. 4 campaign finance reports available through the Colorado Secretary
of State’s Office. However, thanks to a $100,000 loan from himself, Huffman has managed to outspend Marhsall. Huffman has spent around $120,000 so far, Marshall with Marshall spending roughly $54,000. Marshall has loaned himself $36,000. A closer look at the donors show dozens of lobbyists, political committees and small Huffman donor committees donated to Huffman, including $500 from the Realtor Small Donor Committee and $400
each from the Colorado Energy Future PAC and the National Federation of Independent Business Colorado PAC. Small donor organizations can collect up to $5,350 to donate to state legislature candidates through individual contributions of up to $50. Political committees and lobbyists, who classify as individual donors, can give a maximum of $400 to candidates. Only three small donor or political committees showed up in Marshall’s donors, including $1,000 from the Littleton Fund for Children and Public Education and $2,000 from the Douglas County Democratic Party Small Donor Committee and $200 from
the AFT Colorado chapter. Highlands Ranch has been represented by a Republican in the Colorado House since at least 2008 and has largely voted Republican in most other races with the exception of the district narrowly voting to send Democrat Jason Crow to Congress representing House District 6 in 2020. Huffman was appointed to the HD43 seat by the Colorado GOP in June when former Rep. Kevin Van Winkle became the Colorado senator for District 30, so both Huffman and Marshall would be first term representatives. The next campaign finance filing deadline for candidates is Oct. 17.
Trubucha brewery keeps it real
Trubucha employees take a group selfie after setting up at the South Pearl Street Farmers Market.
Kombucha business holds line on prices BY RACHEL LORENZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Like most business owners, Marc Gaudreault has seen inflation drive up the cost of goods this year. But the founder of Trubucha, a kombucha brewery in Lone Tree, has been loath to pass it on to customers in the form of higher prices. Instead Gaudreault decided the answer for his company was increasing volume. “It wasn’t trying to make more profit off the same person,” Gaudreault said of his approach. “It was trying to provide more product for more people out there.” Trubucha started in 2016 when Gaudreault turned his hobby of brewing kombucha at home into a business and began selling the fizzy fermented drink at farmers markets. In December 2017, he opened the Trubucha taproom and production facility in a 2,000-square-foot space about two miles south of Park Meadow mall. Trubucha continued production during the pandemic and saw a rise in the popularity of farmers markets which, unlike some other outdoor events, were considered essential businesses akin to grocery stores. To increase volume, Gaudreault said he could go to more farmers markets — or offer a larger variety COURTESY OF TRUBUCHA
SEE BREWERY, P8