Public Comments

As a Jefferson County resident, I support the preliminary map as opposed to the newer maps that have been released. The preliminary map combines where I live with other areas in the south metro area, which is what I view as our community. The more recent staff maps gerrymander Jefferson County into multiple districts and puts my area with a manufactured group of rural counties. I live in the Denver suburbs and have much more in common with the other Denver area counties instead of these foothills and mountain counties, like Summit County. These new maps violate the principle of keeping areas together that have a community of interest.

After viewing the 2nd Staff Plan for Colorado Congressional Districts, I was surprised by the Logic it presented! It brings together like-minded communities with common economic, geographic and population equivalence. Many Colorado citizens are interested and concerned with this process and how it plays out. We urge this Commission to go forward with the Second Staff Plan as presented. Please do the right thing for the citizens of the State of Colorado.

Every map you come up with has the same problem. Obvious and extreme gerrymandering of the Denver area districts. Hmmm. Why do I bother submitting my comments?

Funny, I was born in Boulder and after College in the Springs I moved to Vail. Boulder and the Front Range are fundamentally different! Economy, water, lifestyle, politics, rural or not rural, tourism, federal lands, and nature to name just a few important issues where the regions differ. I want to finally get out of CD2 with Boulder! The mountains, western slope nor the eastern slope should ever be in a district with the I-25 corridor.

I would like to see a third map which does not include Mesa County with Pueblo County. Grand Junction is a border town. It should be included with Northwestern Colorado. It is not part of the eastern slope of Colorado. The new 8th district heavily favors voters who are part of the upper middle class to the wealthy along I-25. The people living in southern Colorado outside of Pueblo County are not being fairly represented as people with a long heritage of working the land and caring for agriculture and livestock. They are being misrepresented by numbers and economic status to favor the upper middle class and the wealthy in concentrated areas around the I-25 corridor and the ski resorts off I-70.

The most recent map shows a NW portion of Longmont included in HD 13. I do not believe severing this older section of Longmont from HD 11 honors the community interest of the city. The McIntosh Lake area has been an integral part of Longmont for many decades. It should remain in HD 11. The SW section of Longmont is more recently annexed and developed and has greater affinity with HD 13. Many residents in SW Longmont work in Boulder and have a relationship with other residents in HD 13. Please consider the map submitted by Longmont resident Mike Butler when considering these comments. Sincerely, Gordon L. Pedrow Retired Longmont city manager (1993-2012) 20 year resident of McIntosh Lake area

Rural Colorado is important to me. Our interest differ from suburban Colorado ! The Sept 15th is a acceptable plan for Rural Colorado or second choice the June Preliminary Plan. Please listen to the voices of the people. Thank you for your hard work.

As a resident of the smallest county in Colorado, Broomfield, I am surprised you would divide it up into 2 different congressional districts. Broomfield is a community of interest in regards to our concerns for oil and gas issues, housing, economic interests and water conservation. We are not a rural community so we should not be placed in a district that has a majority of rural citizens as our interests differ. You have made a point of keeping municipalities together such as Erie so that same rationale should be applied to Broomfield.

I am a native to Colorado, born and raised in Denver. As Denver grew the political atmosphere changed and I felt led to move my family to a rural area where my beliefs as a conservative Coloradan felt safe. We are redistricting and I realize the balance you are trying to achieve in the population 721,714 voters per district. This may sound good but you are asking to put multiple Historically Conservative Rural Counties in with a major Metropolitan Area. Jefferson county has a recent historical record of supporting a very liberal party. This is the complete opposite of what the rural counties are voting. One Representative cannot protect the interests of both rural people and people that live in highly populated areas with interstates, light rails and 24 hour everything. I am not asking for anyone to agree with my beliefs. I personally feel it is a good thing that people disagree. But this seems to me like those who disagree are being silenced. I am asking please put Lake, Chaffee, Custer, Teller, Park and Fremont Counties in District 3. Rural counties have different challenges and issues and need Rural county representatives. Thank you for your time. Rob Paulin

The latest maps are an improvement over previous iterations - kudos to the commission for the constant improvement. Vail Valley Partnership is Eagle County's regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization, dedicated to the vitality of the Eagle River Valley. As such, we are encouraged that the commission has kept the Eagle River Valley together in the current congressional and state legislative maps. Congressional District 2 is a good fit for Eagle County and our community is well represented in the latest state house and senate maps as well. We encourage you to keep the Eagle River Valley together in the same districts moving forward with future maps. Thank you for your work on this effort.