God has given me the gift of ideas. Tens of thousands of ideas. I have spent a lifetime imagining what could be. Good ideas. Okay ideas. Horrible ideas. This podcast – Regular Folks Rising – was not one of them. No, this podcast was my best friend’s idea. Regular Folks Rising belongs to Hugh McKean ..read more

Show Notes A bit different direction with the RFR Podcast this episode as Hugh asks, “What brings you joy?” Bottom line: Scott and Hugh derive a tremendous amount of joy out of their jobs. Just to link to the names Hugh drops – Colin Larson and Rich Holtorf. There is not a huge amount to link to in the show notes for this program – just a good conversation to listen to – thank you for doing so ..read more

Show Notes Scott likes silence! Just to be clear… The show begins with a tangent (frankly, the whole show is a tangent, but it is fun talking to you) about Hugh’s love of lightening. And just to prove he knows what he’s talking about – here is a source. (3:05 in the show.) Hugh and Scott spend time speaking of people we enjoy and folks we would like to have on this show, including Director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association Dan Haley, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon (13:23), Political rock star Dick Wadhams (14:26) – and plenty of people we disagree with – Speaker of the Colorado House Alec ..read more

Show Notes Hugh gives a brief review of the 2022 General Assembly. Hugh discusses Colorado Legislature interim committee assignments. A synopsis of those workings can be found HERE. The session is 120 days – or one-third of the year. Legislators meet with constituents and discuss legislative ideas in the other two-thirds of the year – “the interim.” Hugh is on the Interim Water Committee. On the day we recorded this podcast (Friday May 27, 2022) Hugh visited Chimney Hollow Reservoir. Hugh spoke of the Alva B. Adams Tunnel. Hugh discusses his efforts to expand the use of pumped hydro. Backgroun ..read more

Show Notes Hugh turns the tables and asks questions of Scott. Hugh’s legislative session is hyper-intense. Thank the good Lord above that the Colorado General Assembly only meets 120-days a year. Not so many politics in this show – it’s a little more personal. Hugh and Scott share the basic tenant that parents should be the central driver behind the education of their children. If technology was supposed to be such a time-saver, where did all that time go? Great point by Hugh! The three big focusses of the Republican party at the state legislature this year include affordability, public safety ..read more

Episode Five Show Notes Regular Folks Rising is a podcast that, among many other things, hopes to help close the gap that exists (and seems to be growing) between “the governed” (Regular Folks) and the people who “govern” (elected representatives and policymakers). Hugh and Scott both worry that this gap is widening. It is usually the negative interactions that bring the governed to an intersect with the governing (i.e., a traffic ticket, a zoning violation, etc.) The perception of regular folks is that there is a lot of bickering and a lot of ideological clashes that go on – and they would n ..read more

Show Notes… Hugh suffers, albeit momentarily, from control board envy. And no, the profanity delay should not be conflated with suppression of First Amendment Rights. Don’t go there. We then get down to work… The Fundamental Level of Regular Folks Involvement is the Vote We touch on election integrity. “The franchise” is not the local ownership of Mcdonald’s or Five Guys. The franchise is the most fundamental of all rights – the true power of regular folks – the right to vote. Hugh and Scott both believe that “Motor Voter” in the state of Colorado has made our voting roles terribly inaccurate ..read more

It’s an even-numbered year. That means the political arena gets much more, well, silly. Thus, it’s Silly Season. In Episode 3, Hugh and Scott talk about how the process of electing representatives can sometimes create an interesting intermix with the process of governing. There are Great Republican Candidates! Hugh – the Colorado General Assembly’s House Minority Leader – has traveled the state to meet them. We believe this will be a Republican wave election year – ultimately, that is up to you! Find a candidate and volunteer and donate! Where do you find Republican candidates? Your local cou ..read more

Show Notes In this episode… We vow to use notes when we produce podcasts. That’ll never happen. Yes, we laugh and have fun. But the base-level premise of Regular Folks Rising is regular folks, people like us and you, becoming empowered to participate in the important role of self-governance. Election season is off and running and we talk about one of the easiest ways for you to get involved is to attend the meetings and gatherings held at the local level by your local parties – for us, the Republicans. In Weld County, here are a couple suggestions on how to connect… The Weld County Republican ..read more

Welcome to Regular Folks Rising. Our names are Hugh McKean and Scott James. Hugh is a contractor from Loveland, Colorado, who happens to be Minority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives. Scott is a media talent from Johnstown, Colorado, who happens to be Chairman of the Weld County Board of Commissioners. Bottom line – we’re regular folks, not pedigreed politicians, whose desire to help people and make a difference in our communities led us into jobs as elected public servants. The government in which we represent you is decidedly better when you are involved. But how do regular fo ..read more