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Craig — With his family already in bed, Randy Baumgardner had a quiet Tuesday night, despite it being the culmination of his first political struggle.

Baumgardner, 51, of Hot Sulphur Springs, apparently won the Republican nomination for Colorado House District 57 on Tuesday, but he's not letting anything go to his head.

"Well, that's what they say, but nothing's official yet," Baumgardner said.

Still, he said he is ready to take the next step, this one toward the Nov. 4 general election, when Northwest Colorado voters will decide between him and Democratic candidate Todd Hagenbuch to represent local residents in Denver.

"It was a relief, basically," Baumgardner said about watching Denver news broadcasts declare him the probable winner of Tuesday night's Republican primary election.

"Now it's time to get ready for the next battle," he added.

Hagenbuch, 31, of Steamboat Springs, said he's ready to start the official campaign.

He made no bones about what the hot issues would be.

"We all know what the issues in Northwest Colorado are," Hagenbuch said. "Natural resources is the one big thing, and under that we have to consider water, our forests and the devastation from the mountain pine beetle, in addition to oil and gas development."

Hagenbuch considers water rights a specialty of his. He said he completed course work at Colorado State University on water law as well as came to understand its finer points through working on his family's ranch.

"I know water law from the back of a shovel and more," Hagenbuch said. "Keeping Western Slope water on the Western Slope is certainly one of my major priorities."

Baumgardner said water rights are a particularly strong subject with him, as well. Through working on his ranch, he said he has helped negotiate water agreements between ranchers and Front Range interests.

The goal is to find an amenable solution for everyone, or as close as possible, Baumgardner said.

"Water is a finite commodity and everybody needs it," he said. "We need to keep some of it here and let some of it go to the Front Range, too."

On energy industry development, both candidates said drilling and harvesting Colorado's natural resources must continue.

In addition, Baumgardner said Colorado and the United States need to develop everything they have, including less traditional sources, such as renewables and bio-fuels.

Hagenbuch said that while development occurs, Coloradans should be able to ask for "100 percent buy-in" from energy companies to help stabilize and grow the communities they have entered in Northwest Colorado.

"The oil and gas companies have recorded record profits as of late," he said. "There should be no shame in communities asking for some of that back."

Extra tax revenue from energy companies would be used to strengthen infrastructure in communities impacted by energy development in areas such as roads, housing and schools, Hagenbuch said.

Affordable housing is another issue Hagenbuch feels is important for legislators to tackle, as well as affordable health care.

"I want to focus on making and keeping Northwest Colorado affordable for families such as mine," he said.

Which does not necessitate raising taxes, Hagenbuch added. Politicians should be able to help families secure low-interest loans and find cheaper insurance.

Baumgardner added additional interests, as well. He said protecting the right to bear arms and private property rights are central issues to his campaign.

The odd man out in this election is Dan Korkowski, 53, a resident of Grand Lake who ran against Baumgardner for the Republican nomination and, according to preliminary returns, lost that election.

Korkowski said his first political struggle will shape his life for the better.

"It's been an incredible experience," he said. "There have been some marvelous people that I've met. I've learned so much about the state and the people here. That in itself is something I'll always take with me."

Baumgardner and Hagenbuch expect to make their first public appearances after the primary election at the Routt County Fair this weekend in Hayden.

Their first scheduled debate is planned for the Club 20 fall meeting from 11:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 6 at the Two Rivers Convention Center in Grand Junction.