Public Comments

Colorado Redistricting Commissioners, Once again thank you for your time and effort especially thank you for listening to our recent testimony. The new District 3 map shows me you truly listened and absorbed comments from the many Western Slopers who trusted you and testified regarding the Club 20 map and issues associated with Western Colorado. There still remains a major issue to address in this communication. As discussed in my earlier testimony the final issue to be resolved surrounds Colorado River Water. The new CD3 map separates the River from its source in Grand County. To protect Western Slope Water it is imperative that Grand and Eagle Counties be included in CD3. By essentially following the Colorado River drainage from Grand County and the Club 20 map you will have accomplished this goal. You must be getting tired by now but rest assured your efforts are appreciated. Thank you so much. K J Heinschel Montrose, CO (submitted via email 9/16/21)

Commissioners. Thank you for your diligence in fulfilling this important project. I have looked at the state districts for house and senate seats and they look good but you need to keep the western slope intact for district 3. We are very similar in economy, lifestyle and in general our way of life. We have very little in common with Boulder and Larimer counties. A better way would be to keep the current district 3 intact and tweek around the edges to fulfill the population part of the equation and not remove the northern counties from the district. Thanks for your time, Keith Caddy (submitted via email 9/17/21)

Thank you for all your work and out reach you have done to create the new Congressional maps. I would like to encourage you to approve the Schuster map. This map creates a competitive district for CD3 while keeping Eagle County whole and paired with a few counties that share our similar rural resort issues. I do appreciate your efforts.

I am commenting in support of the so-called Schuster Map. As a Grand Junction resident, I desperately want to live in a competitive district, where the free exchange of ideas are what determine the outcomes of our elections here, rather than a district which only further entrenches the anti-science, anti-reality power base for petty demagogues. If Colorado's 3rd district becomes blood-red, the area will operate like a mini-Afghanistan in the state, giving political cover and opportunities to the enemies of our democratic system. It will also drive economic downturn for the area, as businesses flee or avoid moving to an area which will immediately become fervidly anti-vaccine. (It's my understanding that healthcare industries are the #1 source of jobs in Mesa County. I doubt that will stay the same if we are completely under the thrall of those who would filibuster reality.) Please, for the future of Western Colorado, give us a competitive district!

To all the Commissioners for CO redistricting, My husband and I want to thank you for all the time, thought, listening, and hard work you've put into the redistricting map. We live in district CD-3 in Montrose County. We are pleased with the latest map, but would ask that you would include Grand and Eagle Counties in CD-3. The Colorado River is critical to our rural Western Slope farms and ranches. Please consider this request. Again we thank you so very much for all your time and for listening to our voices. Sincerely, Nancy & Refugio Benitez Montrose, CO 81401 (submitted via email 9/17/21)

This redistricting plan is not a fair assessment of the need for representation. Rural areas have very little voice. 85% of the state is underrepresented by 23% of voices. Counties and communities should not be broken up. If you place any rural communities with Boulder, it is a death sentence for the rural population/voices. As the Bradford Blog explains regarding the redistricting recommendations: “Our voice is so diluted and there are little shared interests with most of those counties thatwe are essentially not represented in the State House of Representatives. This situation is even more galling when you read the Staff Memo to the Legislative Commissioners – where they state they tried to preserve as many “communities of interest” as possible. Either Delta County does not count as a “community of interest” or not enough of us spoke up, in the last go-round.” “I believe we need to restate, again, and with increased numbers and volume that Delta County needs to be kept whole! All of Delta County should be placed with Mesa County. It shares the same watershed and most of the Grand Mesa. As described above, splitting Delta County reduces its voice and places undue hardship on the citizens, businessesand governing officials of our county.” You condemn rural Colorado to obscurity when we are the breadbasket for the state. Remember that. Debie Bennett, Hotchkiss (submitted via email 9/17/21)

PLEASE move Loveland back into Congressional District 2 to continue our community interest in communities west of I 25. And, PLEASE move the Arkansas Valley back into Congressional District 4 with Weld and the other Eastern rural communities. This change will balance Loveland returning to CD2. Thank you for listening. Judy Stout

If my understanding is correct the commission has removed Fort Collins from CD4, moved it to CD2 and replaced it with Loveland. If Fort Collins does not represent a community of interest with CD4 what makes the commission think Loveland does. If the commission want to keep communities of interest together maybe looking a changing the boarder of CD 3 and 4 would be a better approach at keeping communities of interest together and leaving Loveland in CD2 where we have a lot more in common with our surrounding communities. I know you can't keep everyone happy but moving Loveland makes no sense at all. We have nothing in common with the oil and gas community of Greeley and the eastern plains. We have a lot in common with the front range. Please move Loveland back into CD2. Bob Massaro (submitted via email 9/18/21)

TO: Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission, Thanks again for your time and Patience in a difficult task, anf listening to our prior comments from the Western Slope. Referring to the Club 20 map and considering the important issue of consistent Water Management for the Western Slope, it is very critical that the Upper Colo River drainage in Grand and Eagle Counties be included with CD-3. Some of the South East Counties (example). Pueblo, Crowley, Otero, Las Animas, might be exchanged? Again, Thank you for your consideration and efforts Allan Miller Montrose, CO (submitted via email 9/18/21)

Please put Loveland back into Congressional District 2 to maintain our community of interest with communities west of I-25. I also Suggest that the Commission move the Arkansas Valley back into Congressional District 4 with Weld and the other Eastern rural communities. This change will balance Loveland returning to CD2. Thank you.