Businessman Jerry Natividad officially launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Michael Bennet Tuesday, becoming the 13th GOP candidate in the running.

Touting his business experience and deep Colorado roots, Natividad said he would be running as a political outsider intent on bringing western values to the Senate.

“Sen. Bennet and President Obama — those two are in unison and are not connected with the state of Colorado and our western conservative values,” Natividad said in an interview with The Colorado Statesman. “Sen. Bennet has basically sold out to the Washington insiders,” he said, adding, “Our government back in D.C. is corrupt. They basically really don’t care what is going on in the local economies of small communities and the state as a whole. That’s a big concern of mine.”

Natividad said he decided to get into the race because of concerns about the national debt and worries about the future of his children and grandchildren.

“When I take a look at not only the debt and the reckless spending that comes along with that and the lack of ability to return to the taxpayer value for every single dollar they send to Washington, we’ve got a problem. Washington is corrupt. I want break that D.C. power,” he said.

The campaign is launching a statewide media blitz this week, including television, digital advertising and extensive use of social media, he said.

“I’ve never done this before, so I’m an outsider,” Natividad emphasized. “I’ve never, ever, ever run for public office. I’m not a career politician. I’m simply taking a look at the future of the kids and grandkids of this country.”

Natividad is president and CEO of American Facility Services Group, a Lakewood-based facilities management company he founded in 1989, and also owns the Jeffco Regional Sports Facility. He has served on the boards of Colorado Republican Hispanic Assembly, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and was a member of presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s National Hispanic Steering Committee.

By most accounts, he’s joining the most crowded Senate primary field in the country. The other announced candidates are Colorado Springs business consultant Robert Blaha, El Paso County activist Charlie Ehler, Pueblo County activist Jerry Eller, former Aurora Councilman Ryan Frazier, El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, former CSU athletic director Jack Graham, perennial candidate Tom Janich, former state Rep. Jon Keyser, Michael Kinlaw, El Paso County Commissioner Peg Littleton, state Sen. Tim Neville and Jefferson County Commissioner Don Rosier.

Natividad said he was confident he’ll be able to petition his way onto the June 28 primary ballot, even though the deadline to turn in signatures is just over a month away.

“I feel totally comfortable with the folks that are driving this campaign, my consultants,” Natividad said. “Because we’re announcing today doesn’t mean there hasn’t been work in the background. I’m 100 percent comfortable with our ability to obtain the signatures we need.”

Blaha, Frazier, Graham, Keyser and Rosier have also had petitions approved by the Colorado secretary of state’s office and have been circulating them since the first week of February. In order to make the primary ballot by petition, a candidate must turn in valid signatures from 10,500 Republicans by April 4, including 1,500 from each of the state’s congressional districts.

Alternatively, candidates can win the support of at least 30 percent of the delegates to the state GOP assembly, which is set for April 9 in Colorado Springs. Delegate selection begins Tuesday at precinct caucuses held throughout the state.

Some of the more prominent names in Republican politics are involved in the Natividad campaign. Lead consultants include Josh Penry and Jake Zambrano of EIS Solutions, Shannon Kopp and Evelyn Lim of KL Strategies, Highline Strategies and Rock Chalk Media. Former House Speaker Frank McNulty is the campaign’s legal counsel and Sal Gomez, owner of Source One Management and a former official in the Reagan administration, is chairing his campaign. Ellie Reynolds is a media strategist for the campaign.

“We have an aggressive fundraising team that has jumped on board,” Natividad said. “We do have a budget in front of us. I will make available funds to the campaign if and when needed, but I’m totally confident that our fundraising initiative will be successful.”

Natividad said he hasn’t “given much thought” to the divisive Republican presidential primary and wouldn’t weigh in on the prospects of running on a ticket with Donald Trump.

“Any one of those individuals would probably be outstanding in comparison with Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton,” he said. “But I’m more interested doing what I need to do to win this primary.”

Colorado Democratic Party spokesman Andrew Zucker welcomed Natividad to the race with a jab at the number of Republican candidates and at the GOP’s presidential frontrunner.

“There are now 13 barely-known candidates rounding out the Colorado GOP Senate primary, making this the country’s most crowded and divisive primary, and while Donald Trump’s ascent threatens the eventual nominee’s ability to run a credible campaign, Michael Bennet will continue to work with anyone to get things done for Colorado and take on Washington dysfunction,” Zucker told The Colorado Statesman.

Born in Manzanola and raised in Rocky Ford, Natividad lives with his wife, Grace, in Lakewood. They have four children and nine grandchildren.

— ernest@coloradostatesman.com