There are probably as many iterations of the American dream as there are people who have dreamt it. Among them is Vera Ortegon – Colorado politico, Colombian-born immigrant and devout Republican.

A veteran of local elected office, a onetime candidate for lieutenant governor and currently the state’s Republican National Committee member, Ortegon has been around the block a few times when it comes to politics in the Centennial State.

What’s it like being an immigrant as well as a leader in a party that long has taken a hard line against illegal immigration? Ortegon tells us – and draws a bright line between the experience of legal immigrants and that of the millions of undocumented immigrants now in the U.S.

How about being a Hispanic Republican in heavily Democratic Pueblo? Is she a fish out of water? Not so fast, she says; America’s, and Colorado’s Hispanic population is a lot more complicated and diverse and doesn’t so easily lend itself to such political cliches.

And it wasn’t her Hispanic heritage at all – or even ideology in general – that first drew her into politics in her adopted hometown in southern Colorado. It was water. The Rutgers-educated microbiologist and biochemist elaborates on that and a lot more in today’s Q&A..

Colorado Politics: You are a Puebloan and a Latina – two characteristics that some say should make you a Democrat. What brought you to the Republican fold?

Vera Ortegon: While I am currently a U.S. citizen, I wasn’t born one. I was raised in Colombia, South America, and moved to this incredible country with a hope for a better life. However, I had two gifts that I still have with me today: a strong work ethic and an unshakeable religious belief. Armed with these skills, I worked my way through American culture and society.

Then, a man named Ronald Reagan came onto television and promised me that if I continue to work hard and believe in God, this country would reward me. He earned my vote that day – and my continued admiration – because his promise has held true to this day.

Vera Ortegon

CP: How do you sell the Republican message to Hispanic Coloradans, especially in your heavily Democratic hometown? What in particular about your party do you think should resonate with Colorado’s – and America’s – rapidly growing Hispanic population?

Ortegon: My message is the same whether or not I am dealing with Hispanics. The biggest misconceptions of the “Hispanic voting bloc” is that we are a monolithic bloc and vote as such. Hispanics and Latinos come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and values, so one “targeted” message does not/will not work.

Hispanics and Latinos worry about their children’s education; having a job to feed their family; the safety of their daughters; paying for health care; paying too many taxes; traffic and terrible roads, etc. They care about the same issues we all care about.

Yet, like all other minorities, their biggest concern is being taken for granted and ignored. Not listened to. This is where the Republican Party needs to do a better job. The party’s message works for all walks of life: Work hard and the American dream becomes achievable. The Democrats have done an exceptional job of convincing minority communities the government is their friend and will provide a path to success. And yet, the Republican message will be their true path to self-sufficiency and fulfillment.

Despite how the echo chamber of social media and mass media outlets like to paint the Republican Party, we are the party with the big tent, where all different voices are heard and respected.

CP: What inspired you to enter politics and seek political office? What was it like running in your first race?

Ortegon: When I came to this country, I earned an advanced degree in microbiology and biochemistry, which led me to a professional career in water quality and management. After moving to Colorado, where water is king, several friends convinced me to run for the Board of Water Works in Pueblo. I only agreed to run because I thought I would lose, but I believed I could do the job competently. I ran a campaign on my knowledge of water quality and budget management. On Election Day, nobody was more shocked than I was when I won.

I served on that board for 11 years, until I was appointed to Pueblo’s City Council to fill a vacancy. During the next election cycle, I ran for the council seat and won. Again, the issues were simple: budget management; the knowledge of running a utility company; job attraction and retention; and transparent communication with the citizens of Pueblo. During my term, I was elected by my colleagues to serve as City Council president, like I did at the Board of Water Works, and I did so with distinction. It was a true honor.

CP: You have an extensive record as a party activist and loyalist. You now serve as a Republican national committeewoman from Colorado. The post suggests you’re a party insider; tell us about you responsibilities and the role you currently play in the GOP.

Ortegon: The position of Republican National Committeewoman (NCW) is a post for a “Colorado insider,” not a party insider. To get elected to this position, one needs to have a pulse on the local and state dynamics to represent the Colorado Republican Party and our issues on the national stage. As your NCW, Colorado is my No. 1 priority.

My role is very simple: help get Colorado Republican candidates – statewide and locally – elected. The Republican National Committee (RNC) provides a tremendous amount of data and resources to help mobilize an infrastructure to support our candidates. While this will always be a work in progress, we have made tremendous strides here in Colorado. And it is my job to stay focused on building the infrastructure – even on Nov. 7 [the day after the upcoming midterm elections].

CP: You joined former state Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp in his 2014 bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, running as his pick for lieutenant governor. Kopp, who was ultimately unsuccessful in winning the party nomination, was the only candidate to name a running mate before the primary. What drew you to his candidacy, and what did you learn from that attempt at statewide office?

Ortegon: When Sen. Mike Kopp was running for governor of Colorado and asked me to be his lieutenant governor, it was such an honor and an easy “yes.” Not only was it a chance to engage with citizens throughout the great state of Colorado, but also my political ideology is/was similar to Mike’s.

I will always treasure my time as a lieutenant governor candidate because I got to listen to the needs, wants, fears, dreams of our citizens. By the end of the campaign, I learned we share the same issues and concerns, regardless of race, creed or party affiliation. We all care about our families, the economy, educational system, quality and low-cost healthcare, civic and religious freedoms. Some of us simply disagree on how to best achieve the optimal results regarding these subjects.

I fear we sometimes forget that simple fact. We all are striving for the same goals, and simply differ on the how.

CP: To return to an earlier point, you are a Latina in a party that, many say, needs more Latinos and Latinas – not just casting ballots but also holding office. And you are an immigrant who approaches the issue of immigration with a mix of principle and pragmatism: Your position is we must secure our borders as a nation before taking up comprehensive immigration reform; you’ve also said of illegal immigrants in the U.S., “They’re here. We can’t send back 12 million people.” Where, ultimately, do you see the Republican Party going on immigration, and how will that sit with the Hispanic voters the GOP may have to cultivate to win in the future?

Ortegon: One of the most important issues being debated is the issue of immigration. If you come to this country legally, and pursue the path to citizenship, it opens the door to the American dream. Pure and simple.

As an immigrant who legally pursued this path, I’ll never forget the moment I was declared a citizen of the United States, the greatest country on earth. Citizenship means the right to vote; the chance to be protected by the Constitution; the chance to meaningfully engage with our society; and the opportunity to achieve the American dream. I am evidence of this being real and attainable. My husband is a physician, we own multiple small businesses and have two sons, a doctor and a lawyer, who have lives we couldn’t have even dreamed about for them living in Colombia. That is truly the American dream!

But, if you enter this country illegally, you are relegated to a life of fear, a life of living in the shadows and a life of minimum opportunities. It is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve one’s dreams under these dire circumstances.

As such, I support strengthening our borders to prevent people from coming over illegally and subjecting themselves to a harsh life hiding from our institutions. Yet, we need a conscientious plan for those 12 million or so people that are already here, who cannot be returned to their country of origin. This is why I support the creation of a special status where they can stay, get out from underneath the shadows, yet cannot achieve full citizenship until they go through the legal process to do so.

CP: Will you seek elected office again? If so, what post?

Ortegon: At this point in my life, I am not interested in running for any specific position. But, if I am called to serve my country or state, I am always ready to serve.