MEET DUANE GURULE
From the Arkansas Valley to the State Capitol
​
Duane Gurule is a fourth-generation Southern Coloradoan, rooted in the Arkansas Valley.
​
His family’s story is the story of this region. In the 1930s, his family migrated from Trinidad to the Rocky Ford area, leaving work in the mines to labor in the sugar beet fields of the Lower Arkansas Valley. They built a life through hard work, sacrifice, and a deep connection to the land and community.
​
Duane was raised in that same community, but his path wasn’t easy.
​
Growing up, his family moved between Denver and Rocky Ford due to housing instability, giving him a firsthand understanding of the challenges many families face just trying to stay afloat. He grew up in poverty, in an environment impacted by drugs, and became involved in gangs at a young age.
​
Despite those challenges, Duane found stability and support in public schools—with the guidance of educators and coaches who believed in him. He graduated from Rocky Ford High School and attended Otero Junior College through concurrent enrollment.
A Second Chance and a New Direction
​
Duane made a mistake that led to his incarceration, and he takes full responsibility for that chapter of his life. He served time at Trinidad Correctional Facility and Kit Carson Correctional Facility—an experience that forced him to confront his choices and decide what kind of future he wanted to build.
​
That experience became a turning point.
​
While incarcerated in state facilities, Duane took advantage of every opportunity available to him—especially education and job training programs. Through programs like computer classes at Trinidad Correctional Facility, he discovered a path forward. Those experiences gave him real skills, discipline, and a new sense of purpose.
​
They changed the trajectory of his life.
​
After his release, Duane committed himself to doing things differently—to building a life defined by accountability, service, and opportunity. That journey ultimately led him to higher education, a career in technology, and a life dedicated to helping others succeed.
​
Today, Duane carries that experience with him—and it shapes his belief that when we invest in people and provide meaningful opportunities for growth, we don’t just change individual lives—we build safer, stronger communities.
Building a Life of Service and Leadership
​
Duane returned to school and earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Metropolitan State University of Denver, launching a successful career in IT and systems management.
​
He and his wife of 12 years built their life in the Denver metro area while raising their family—but in 2018, Duane made a decision that defines his leadership today.
​
He moved his family back home to Rocky Ford.
​
Bringing his remote IT career with him, Duane saw firsthand the opportunity to expand remote work in rural Colorado, attracting higher-paying jobs while allowing families to live in the communities they love.
​
Today, he and his wife are raising their four children—two young adults and two elementary-aged daughters—in the same community that raised him.
Creating Opportunity & Fighting for Rural Colorado’s Future
When Duane Gurule returned home to Rocky Ford, he didn’t come back to sit on the sidelines—he got to work.
​
He founded a nonprofit focused on improving quality of life and economic vitality across Southeast Colorado. Through a no-cost food pantry, youth programs, and a small business incubator, his work helps families meet immediate needs while building long-term opportunity.
​
As Mayor of Rocky Ford, Duane has focused on transparency, economic growth, and bringing people together to solve real challenges. In every role, one thing has remained constant.
​
Duane steps up, speaks out, and fights for those who are often overlooked.
​
His background in IT gives him a unique approach to leadership, one focused on solving problems at the system level, not just the surface. That means doing more with fewer resources, maximizing the impact of public investment, and delivering solutions that actually work in real communities.
​
Duane’s leadership has been shaped through programs like the Latino Leadership Institute and the Colorado Governors Fellowship, and in 2025, he was recognized as one of MSU Denver’s 10 Under 10.
​
He’s running for Colorado State Senate because he knows rural communities are being left behind, and he believes we can do better.
​
Colorado is growing and thriving, but too many rural families are still facing rising costs, limited access to healthcare, water challenges, and fewer opportunities close to home. Duane represents a new generation of leadership, one grounded in lived experience and focused on delivering innovative, forward-thinking solutions.
​
He’s not running to maintain the status quo. He’s running to build communities where families can afford to stay, where young people don’t have to leave to succeed, and where opportunity is within reach for everyone.
​
He’s lived the challenges. He’s done the work. And he’s ready to fight for rural Colorado at the State Capitol.