Colorado's Governor: A Look at the Highs and Lows

Governor Jared Polis's time in office has been a mix of good and not-so-good moments. Let's break it down. First, the economy. Colorado kept growing, and Polis gets some credit for not making things harder for businesses. But, to be fair, the state was already doing well before he started. He didn't do much to fix the red tape or help small businesses with rising costs. So, it's a decent grade, but not great. Now, money matters. Polis said he was careful with spending, and he was, sometimes. Colorado didn't mess up big time with the budget. But spending still went up, and big promises for schools and healthcare were put off for later. It's like he played it too safe. Housing is where Polis really struggled. Homes got way more expensive, especially in places like Denver. He talked a lot about it, but not much changed. Families who could once afford a home couldn't anymore. This is a big deal, and Polis didn't do enough.Crime and homelessness also got worse. Polis let local leaders handle it, but that didn't work well. People felt less safe, and homelessness was more visible. He should have done more. On energy and the environment, Polis tried to do both: help the planet and the economy. But it was a mess. Energy got more expensive, and rules kept changing. It's like he couldn't decide what to do. Schools didn't get much better, even with more money. Kids are still behind after COVID, and not enough is being done to help them catch up. This is a big letdown. Polis stayed calm during COVID, but his decisions weren't always the best for Colorado. Small businesses and parents had a tough time, and he didn't do much to help afterward. Overall, Polis wasn't the worst governor. He was smart and did some good things. But he was too careful and didn't fix the big problems. Colorado needs someone who will make tough choices, not just keep things the same.