Jeff Hurd is a Colorado native, a husband, a father of five, and an attorney committed to his community and to improving life in rural Colorado.
Jeff's running for the 3rd Congressional District because he feels western and southern Colorado deserve a sincere, authentic, and hardworking Congressman. Someone who cares about policy and delivering results for communities and for working families, and who wants rural Colorado to thrive. Someone focused on doing something instead of just being someone.
Jeff grew up in Grand Junction, and after high school went to college and eventually law school. His career brought him to New York City, where he worked on complex matters with and against some of the brightest minds in law. In 2014, Jeff returned home to western Colorado with his wife, Barbora, to raise their family.
Since returning home, Jeff has built a law practice focused on rural Colorado. For years he has worked with-and advocated for-rural hospital districts, fire districts, school districts, and broadband internet providers. Most of his work involves serving electric cooperatives, which are a vital part of rural communities across Colorado. At the same time, Jeff has also served the Grand Junction business community and the broader Colorado legal community in various leadership roles.
VALUES, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY
As a conservative, Jeff is committed to the Constitution, limited government, individual rights, free markets, and the rule of law. He knows government can be a force for good but is usually best when it creates the conditions for individuals, families, and businesses to thrive. Jeff knows that to advance these principles Colorado needs a serious leader focused on discussing the issues, and avoiding the angry and cynical kind of politics that wears people down.
Barbora Hurd, Jeff's wife, also studied law and is originally from Czechoslovakia. Growing up under communism and with a Soviet army base in her city, Barbora would listen to Radio Free Europe with her family from behind the Iron Curtain. Seeing communism fall taught her an important lesson about how ideas, not power, have the final say in political affairs. Now a proud U.S. citizen, Barbora deeply appreciates the ideas and ideals of the United States, the importance of democracy, and the need for leaders to serve with humility and integrity.
Barbora and Jeff are currently raising their five children-three boys and two girls-in Grand Junction. With faith at the center of their family, Jeff and Barbora are committed to raising responsible, considerate, and competent children who are committed to Christian principles.
EARLY LIFE
Jeff grew up an average kid in Grand Junction. He attended public elementary school, played Little League baseball, and learned to swim at the city pool. His first official job outside the home was bagging groceries at the local City Market grocery store. Jeff has worked fast food, he's stocked store shelves, and he's waited restaurant tables.
Jeff's dad was a psychologist working with low-income families. His mom did not go to college so that she could work to support her family. She passed away from cancer when Jeff and his middle brother were teenagers and their youngest brother was only nine, but she and Jeff's dad raised their boys to value self-sacrifice, integrity, and to always strive to be part of the solution.
EDUCATION AND CAREER
After graduating from Grand Junction High School, Jeff went to Notre Dame. He worked in the dining hall washing dishes to help pay for college. After graduating, he returned home to work for the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.
Soon after getting married to Barbora, Jeff enrolled in the University of Denver for law school and graduated with high honors. After law school, Jeff served as a law clerk to federal appeals court judge Timothy M. Tymkovich in Denver.
Jeff later went on to receive an advanced law degree from Columbia Law School, again graduating with high honors. After working several years at Sullivan & Cromwell, a well-respected international law firm headquartered in New York City, Jeff knew he wanted to return to Western Colorado.
RETURN TO COLORADO
In 2014, Jeff and Barbora moved their family back to Grand Junction where Jeff became co-owner of a small law firm. He experienced the ups and downs of being a small business owner, as well as the responsibility of providing for employees that relied on him. Through hard work and many hours, his practice became so busy that Jeff eventually opened, and now leads, the Grand Junction office of Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe PC, a nearly 100-year-old Colorado commercial law firm.