State Rep. Larry Liston has developed a reputation in the Colorado House for speaking frankly while behaving genially. The latter attribute no doubt has helped file the edges off the former; as Colorado Politics contributor Kelly Sloan put it in his June 13 column, “No one can stay mad at Larry Liston for very long.”

And yet for all his cheery affability, the veteran Republican state representative from Colorado Springs has weathered a couple of particularly muddy primaries in his time on the campaign trail, once in an unsuccessful bid to move up to the state Senate. Alas, seeking even so modest an elective office can be a high-stakes gamble.

Liston, of course, puts it more frankly in today’s Q&A: “Politics is a dirty business.” Then again, even such a jaded truism comes across as, well, genial from Larry Liston.

Read on for his view of GOP prospects in a state that veered sharply, historically to the left in last fall’s midterm election; his take on the Trump phenomenon, and whether he’ll ever seek higher office (again).

Colorado Politics: You are one of fairly few Coloradans to have served in the General Assembly, left the body, and then run and served again – in the same chamber, the House. Along the way, after being term-limited the first time around, you ran for state Senate but lost a tough primary. A few years later, you weathered another primary and this time won – a seat back in the House.

To say the least, you’ve paid your dues and then some. But it also raises the question many have pondered over the years at the Capitol – whether Colorado’s constitutional term-limits, adopted by voters in 1990, do more harm than good. Are you a supporter of term limits? 

Larry Liston: Yes, I have had a most interesting tenure in the Colorado legislature. After serving eight years in the House from 2005-12, I thought I was finished with my service. Unexpectedly, right as the 2012 re-districting was completed, I was drawn into an open Senate seat. I was encouraged to run and gave it a good run, but I was not prepared for an ugly, nasty and contentious primary. My opponent hired a political hit man, who totally misrepresented my good record, and ran a smear campaign against me – and it worked. I learned some important lessons. No. 1, politics is a dirty business, and No.2, always be prepared for the negatives.

I thought I was through with the political world. I had served my district well, got some good things done for the people of Colorado and had given back something to the people of my district. I had served eight years and believed in term limits and still do to this day.

Three years passed and constituents came to me and encouraged me to run against the incumbent who had succeeded me in my House district. He was not up to the job, got nothing done in Denver and was only a pawn for a select few people in Denver. I discovered that if a person is out of office for four years, they can indeed run again. So, with the help and support of many good people, we gathered over 1,800 signatures and petitioned onto the ballot.

We were prepared for another smear campaign, as the incumbent in that race hired the same hitman who had been hired by my opponent in my Senate race a few years earlier. We were organized and ran on getting things accomplished for the people of my district and won handily in the primary, 62% to 38%. The voters of my district seem pleased with me; I won with 73% of the vote in 2016.

To answer your question specifically, yes, I do believe in term limits. Eight years is a good amount of time to serve, but given the opportunity to bring back an accountable, effective and experienced representative, the people of HD-16 liked what they saw in me, so they returned me to office. They knew me; they trusted me and appreciated my service to HD-16. I followed the rules, but just returned to office in a unique way. 

Larry Liston

• Represents Colorado Springs’ District 16 in the Colorado House, 2005-2013; 2017-present.
• Vice chair, Colorado GOP, 2001-2003; recognized as the Republican of the year in 2001 by the leadership of El Paso County GOP.
• Financial consultant with RBC Dain Rauscher in Colorado Springs, since 1977, rising to to first vice president with the firm.
• Graduate of the inaugural class of the Republican Leadership Program in 1989 and the Campaign Management School of the Leadership institute in 1999.
• Holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colorado State University; graduated Wasson High School in Colorado Springs.

CP: Only 67 miles separate conservative Colorado Springs and liberal Denver, yet they always have been worlds apart politically. It seems other parts of the Front Range have been drifting left of center as well – certainly, by the lights of last November’s election. All the levers of state government power are in Democratic Party hands.

As a longtime Colorado Republican who grew up in the state, do you think the statewide playing field eventually will tilt back toward the GOP, or is a more fundamental shift underway across the state amid a rapid influx of new residents from other political climes?

Liston: It has been frustrating and difficult to see Colorado morph into California “East.” As a 52-year resident of Colorado / Colorado Springs, I have seen and experienced the changes in our state. I still believe that Colorado is a center-right state, but with the large influx of out-of-state, new residents, that is changing, unfortunately.

We all know that a large number of people has moved here from California, Illinois and from states back east. I can’t blame people for wanting to leave the disasters of those places, but unfortunately, they were part of the problem in electing liberal progressives in their former states, saw them get thoroughly messed up, and then brought their same political beliefs to Colorado. Now, many of these new people are voting in the same policies and politicians that screwed up their former states! They are truly “Californicating” Colorado.

I am hopeful that many of the people will realize what has gone on in our state with this past legislative session and make their voices known in 2020. Right now in Denver, there is no balance in the legislature, the executive branch or in the judicial branch. While Colorado has lurched to the left, I am hopeful that our citizens will say that this is not what we want Colorado to be, i.e., the next California. It will not be easy, but I am confident that Coloradans and our good unaffiliated friends and the GOP will rise to the challenge in 2020.

CP: You took to the House podium from time to time this past session to update your colleagues about the nation’s booming economy under the Trump administration – at least partly to needle your chamber’s ruling Democrats. Do you believe a strong economy and low unemployment are enough to overcome Colorado swing voters’ much-surveyed distaste for President Trump as he vies for a second term? Do you believe good economic news, if it continues through next year, could even nudge Colorado into the Trump column?

Liston: Yes, I took great pleasure in being the “town crier” for our great economy in 2018 and again in 2019. There can be no dispute that our national economy is very strong: Record high employment for everyone, especially for minorities; record low unemployment for minorities; wages are up for everyone, and taxes are down for most everyone. Record highs for the stock markets, low interest rates and last but not least, consistently strong GDP numbers for our national economy. If this situation had occurred during the Obama years, the Democrats would be broadcasting the news to the universe, but since all of this has been happening on President Trump’s watch, they have been totally silent.

As a proud capitalist, I was glad to give my “Good Economic News” report several times during each session. I did it because it needed to be said. You may not like Trump, but you have to give him and his administration credit for the positive economy. Lord knows that if things were bad, the Democrats would put all the blame on the president.

I also gave my reports because most Democrats seem to be economic illiterates. They talk about the economy, but know little or nothing about what is truly going on in our state or nation. Somebody has to inform them, so I was glad to do it.

I do believe that in most elections, that people vote their pocketbooks. That is what the Democrats fear the most. If next year at this time the economy is doing fairly well, Donald Trump will be in the hunt here in Colorado and especially, nationally. You can’t argue with success and prosperity. Over the last two and half years, we have had success and certainly lots of prosperity. What are the Democrats offering? Higher taxes, income and wealth re-distribution, open borders, impeachment talk and socialism. Optimism sells; socialism will be a turnoff.

CP: You have a long-standing reputation as one of the legislature’s happy warriors – game for any dust-up under the Gold Dome, but pretty much cordial to the very end, win or lose. How important is congeniality in shoring up a politician’s – or an entire party’s – public image? How about a willingness to compromise?

Liston: I take pride in getting along with most people, even those I disagree with the most. As a rational and reasonable adult, I know that I won’t get my way all the time, especially in the political world if you are in the minority. I don’t take myself too seriously and know my limits in governance. I believe that if people don’t like you then they will rarely support you, even if you are correct on the issue. I also believe that if you can get along with others, have a smile on your face and be respectful to others, you can get most of what you want legislatively.

I like to win – who doesn’t? – so if I have to compromise a bit to get 60% or 70% of what I want, then I will do so. I figure I can always come back later and get more of what I want another day. As it relates to our party, we can still stand for our basic principles of less government interference in people’s lives, personal responsibility and low taxes, but should not be perceived as just the party of “No.” We have to reach out to the voters more vigorously, use social media and be tenacious but have a smile on our face as we do so.

CP: What is the GOP’s greatest challenge in attempting to win back the swing voters in Colorado that the party evidently lost in our state in the 2018 election?

Liston: For the GOP to be more successful in 2020, I believe that we have to more clearly contrast our party as defenders of the people and supporters of their basic rights. We are the party of freedom, both economic and personal freedoms. We have a real opportunity in 2020 to inform the voters that it was our party that fought against the national popular vote effort that is being forced on Colorado; it is our party that fights for our Second Amendment rights, and it is our party that will fight against the overreach of Referendum CC, which will effectively gut TABOR. I think 2020 will offer the voters a clear choice between freedom and self-determination versus socialism and more government control of our daily lives.

CP: Is it better strategy at this point for Colorado Republican candidates and officeholders to embrace the Trump administration or to distance themselves from it – or does it matter as much as pollsters and pundits say it does?

Liston: I believe that for legislative races here in Colorado, we need to focus on the state and local issues that affect citizens’ lives since we can do little to influence what goes on nationally. To be successful for our legislative races as mentioned above we need to distinguish ourselves as to how we will do things differently from the overreach of the Denver/Boulder Democrats.

For instance, we need to inform the voters that we will not pass onerous rules and regulations that will harm our oil and gas industry, which is so vital to Colorado. We can also distinguish ourselves in the areas of mental health care, school choice and that there are better ways to finance needed transportation infrastructure. As I said earlier, we can’t just be the party of “no,” but talk about unique and better ways that government can work for the people, not just direct their lives.

We can’t dictate how President Trump will run his race, and we should run our own races here in Colorado. I support President Trump, but in the end, I answer to my own district voters.

CP: Do you hope to serve another eight-year stint in the House? Would you ever run for another office?

Liston: Right now, I am content to continue to serve the good people of HD-16 and will probably stay in the House. I still have two terms left and will evaluate what I want to do after the 2020 redistricting process.