GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Republican primary is just one day away and Stephen Varela is making sure you know his name.
Varela is a U.S. Army veteran who served for four years experiencing active combat, deploying twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as a member of Colorado's Army National Guard for four years.
Varela currently serves as a member of Colorado's Board of Education, representing the 3rd District.
WesternSlopeNow talked with Varela about the issues he would address if he were to become your next representative in Congress. Immigration and the border were some of those top issues.
"People are afraid of what is happening over the border and what's coming over from over the border. We have terrorists that are coming into the country and when we say terrorists, a lot of folks think right away, the Middle Eastern. Somebody that's over there that is an actual part of Hamas or Al-Qaeda. We have people that are coming in from South America when they're coming into this country that are not acting or operating as an American citizen. They're essentially criminals."
Varela sees himself as the middle ground when compared to the other Republican candidates running in CD-3.
"When you're looking at the other candidates in this race like myself, Ron Hanks and Jeff Hurd... You have Jeff Hurd who is the very anti-Trump candidate, and then you have Mr. Hanks who is the Anti-Johnson, and then you have myself who is this middle ground guy who's saying 'Let's bring everybody together and let's start focusing on our district and let's get back to legislating.'"
Varela's campaign has knocked on more than 10,000 doors in the district, all in hopes of becoming the first Latino Republican to represent CD-3 in Congress.
Click here to visit Stephen Varela's campaign website.
Click here to learn where the voting drop boxes are located.