Public Comments

Please see my attached PDF comments -- as of September 18, 2021 -- on Legislative Redistricting (Colorado House and Colorado Senate) for districts located in Douglas County. My comments are specific to the most recent proposed maps published by the Legislative Commission staff.

I do not suppprt the redistricting of the western slope. It takes away the conservative voice.

I disagree with statements that Gunnison County should be paired with Chaffee, Lake and Pitkin counties. Perhaps, Chaffee County could be grouped with Gunnison County, but Lake and Pitkin counties have entirely different economies. I believe the argument to put Lake and Gunnison counties together based on higher education is a stretch. Western Colorado University is a four-year institution with graduate studies while it is a community college in Lake. In making that argument, Western shares more in common with Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. Again, Pitkin and Gunnison counties are two different watersheds, two different transportation arteries, and two very different economies. Gunnison County shares many interests with Montrose County including mental health facilities, health care systems, shopping, Hispanic representation and a threatened species, the Gunnison Sage Grouse. Again, I remind the commission that Gunnison County is part of Region 10 with Montrose, Delta, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. Additionally, I encourage the commission to make these districts competitive.

After taking a look at the legislative redistricting maps, I would please ask that we make them more competitive. It is a criteria of our constitution to keep them competitive. Thank you.

My name is David Burks, I’m a 30-year resident of Loveland. I’m a small business owner (My company is called Sweet Heart Winery and Event Center). I’m also speaking as a board member for the Northern Colorado Legislative on behalf of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. I would like to provide input to Second revision to the proposed congressional map, which I feel strongly results in a woefully inadequate representation of the concerns and needs of the Northern Colorado region. As I’m sure the commission is aware, Northern Colorado’s project growth surpasses that of the most of the state. Colorado State’s own government forecasts predict the Northern Colorado population to exceed 900,000 by 2030. Last year Weld County was the fasted growing County and Larimer County was the 3rd fastest growing county, just slightly behind Douglas County. With this growth, unique challenges, unlike those that are facing the Denver metro area and other parts of the state, must be managed. These issues include housing, water, transportation, air quality, tourism, education and building and attracting a high-quality work force. All of these issues and more have unique Northern Colorado nuances which are not always in alignment with the metro area. Yet the congressional maps as proposed are very likely to result in representation for Northern Colorado to come from the Denver Metro area given the population density of those areas. I strongly encourage the board to take action to mitigate the likely under-representation of Northern Colorado, through these recommendations: 1. Structuring the maps to insure at least one member of congress resides in either Weld or Larimer Counties. o As currently designed 6, perhaps even 7 of the 8 seats would likely be filled by people residing the Denver metro area. 2. Loveland and Fort Collins should be joined in their congressional representation. The overlap in community interest between these two major Northern Colorado cites is substantial, and again unique in many ways. 3. Greely should be connected to the agricultural and energy interests of Weld county with an additional congressional representative. These critical interests are losing their voice, yet remain as vital resources for our state and region. These changes would result in 2 of 8 seats providing solid representation for Northern Colorado which will continue to be the primary growth engine for Colorado for the next decade and likely beyond. Thank you for taking the time to consider my testimony and I implore you to make these needed revisions to give Northern Colorado the congressional representation so needed to successfully address the growth challenges I’ve outlined herein.

First, with the state house District 26, it includes Steamboat Springs, which is where I live. I think it should include all of Routt County. When I released your most recent maps in my newscasts, both on the air, on our website, and on social media, there were some comments, specifically from those in North Routt who wanted the entire county to be together. I think Routt County residents would be served best by being together. Speaking of counties, I would highly encourage all of Routt and Eagle Counties be together in both the State Senate and House Districts. Although we live in Routt County, my family has spent a huge amount of time in the last two years in Eagle County, both Vail and Edwards, utilizing their world-class medical facilities so we have gotten to know that part of Eagle County, and its residents, very well. Routt and Eagle Counties are so very much alike with world-class ski resorts and then surrounding smaller communities where typically a good part of the work force lives. Routt and Eagle have the same interests so it makes perfect sense to have these two counties completely together in both categories. For the Senate district, it would be important to keep all of the ski communities together to ensure effective representation. These are the counties that have ski areas such as Steamboat, Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Loveland, and Winter Park. (Routt, Eagle, Summit, Grand, and Clear Creek) They are extremely similar and a good State Senator would represent these communities of interest the best. Thank you for all that you do.

Please keep the city and county of Broomfield in one piece! Please do not split us up into two!

Dear Commission Board, Rural Colorado deserves a seat at the table and the map put forth on September 15th delivers that by ensuring two rural districts. The map includes contiguous geographic areas, has equal populations as required by the Constitution, preserves communities of interests, ensures Congressional districts are well represented and not dominated by the front range, includes compact districts, and maximizes the number of politically competitive districts. The Commission should be applauded for listening to public comments and putting forth the September 15th map. Way to go, Commissioners! Thank you.

I am strongly not in favor of redistricting a portion of House District 3 into HD 2. There really is almost no commonality with Boulder area. Certainly we are all Coloradans and want what is best for our families and communities. However commonality for the most part ends there. In 2020 Garfield and Eagle county suffered a huge loss with the Grizzly Creek fires that shut down I-70 and isolated our communities. We cared deeply about that issue and so did our State and Federal congressional representatives. They fought to get us the hell we needed and rallied support a d all levels. Running through that same canyon is the Colorado River, and it’s watersheds. Western slope water rights need to be protected against the enormous pressure from all downstream users. As important to Western Colorado water users is the constant battle to keep water on the western side of the Continental Divide and not have water diversions to satisfy the growth frenzy of the front range. I remember some 40 years ago I was with a college student group visiting the Capital. I stayed late and was invited to a bar commonly frequented by legislators. I ended up in a long discussion on water with a leading state senator and high official of the City of Denver. It was clearly stated that for the sake of representing the Senator’s community and the Denver official’s job performance that a relentless effort was to divert water to the eastern watershed. That long ago story is an example why Western Colorado must have its own representation in the Colorado watershed of Garfield and Eagle counties. We can’t be thrown in with Boulder area. Our voice would become silent. Water policy therefore water availability is the single most important factor to maintain Western Colorado agriculture ranch and farm lands. It is said that “might makes right” if persons wish to bully the disadvantaged. Please resist the easy political victory of redistricting a portion of HD 3 and place it in HD 2. Instead do what is right, not by might but by ethics and keep Garfield and Eagle county family represented at the State and Federal levels by not combining with Boulder area. Be fair to Western Colorado and make a good decision that is ultimately good for all of Colorado by preserving for us the voice of the West.

Teller County should stay in district 5. The majority of Teller County residents work in El Paso County. We share a combined court, a major highway artery (Hwy 24) along with other front range issues, such as water, CDOT funding for the area (members of PPACG) to work together. There is nothing wrong with the district at this point, if isn't broken don't fix it. Please leave Teller in District 5 with the majority of El Paso County.