Public Comments

I would like to commend the Commission first and foremost for taking on this thankless task! Secondly, thank you for listening to the concerns of Western Slope citizens and the new map reflects that effort. I am in strong support of the redrawn Congressional map dated September 3, 2021

The current map with Boulder included in the NW corner of the state and Ft. Collins with the NE corner, Greely with the eighth district is a very good compromise that meets all the criteria you are tasked with and contains only one flaw I can see. It keeps district populations balanced; it minimizes gerrymandering and keeps districts politically competitive (the flaw is that it still basically breaks the state into 3 republican, 4 democratic and one politically-competitive districts instead of 8 competitive districts – which would be ideal, but probably unattainable meeting other criteria); it comes very close to balancing the political biases of techno-industrial versus agricultural-recreational and almost no-one likes it which means everyone is unhappy with it because it is not gerrymandered in their favor. IT IS BALANCED, keep it! Balancing the political biases of techno-industrial versus agricultural-recreational is critical because it places emphasis on fair representation of the states geo-political leanings. Accordingly, it will result in the most homogeneous representation of the entire states needs in the Federal arena and monetary distribution. The Coleman map is frightening because is lumps the state into economic and business cliques that only assure discourse and biased views from each section of the whole state. This will result in congressional representation of businesses not of the people and in the pork going to those that need it least. Remember the goal is to represent We the People (of the entire state), not we of separate biases. Please keep that as the paramount goal!

I am concerned that CD3 will include a section of the front range. Even though both areas include the common industries of farming, ranching and oil and gas production, the economies and issues are vastly different. Most of the ranching in the current CD3 is family run compared to large industrial ranching on the front range. One of the big issues in the current CD3 is water. This could result in conflicts between the front range and the western slope resulting in the elected officials having to choose between which side to support. Please keep CD3 as a a western slope district.

I appreciate very much that the Commissioners have considered people’s comments as they undertake the difficult task of redistricting Colorado. The result of your decisions will be important for maintaining a strong 2-party political system that represents the interests of Coloradoans. I think that the new map, which I strongly support, does a good job at keeping communities of interest together and giving ethnic groups more of a voice in the Congress.

The last re-districting effort resulted in the conservative northern Colorado localities to loose their political voice. Boulder county, much bigger and extremely liberal has silenced the northern Colorado area. We feel and believe our voices were silenced deliberately to push our state to a total liberal constituency. Please take Boulder county out of our district. Joyce M Bowser

Come on you guys, don't leave our rural communities in the dust! You know how to make these districts fair. It isn't rocket science. As t stands now the politicians wouldn't even have to campaign for the rural vote because they wouldn't need it - just isn't right! Do something politically good for our state for a change. You are suppose to be and 'Independent' commission but you aren't acting like it...do the right thing and make it as fair as you can for all Coloradoans.

As a rural resident of Weld County the proposed restricting is very concerning. Rural Colorado will loose its voice with these proposed new districts. The large metro area's do not have the same concerns as those living in rural areas and often what is right for one does not benefit the other. I do agree that redistricting needs to be done, but it needs to be done so that those living in specific communities can have ALL of their voices he heard. Rural Colorado depends on agriculture and those living in large metro area's do not understand what is needed for agriculture to make a profit. Colorado is already facing a water shortage yet new housing developments are already being approved, with little to no regard the water shortages that agriculture is already facing. That is just one example of how the metro area's refuse to look at agriculture as part of the states income. I'm doubtful that any of us voicing our concerns will actually be heard, but we can atleast try. The fact that this was proposed right before Labor Day weekend is extremely frustrating and does not sit well with many in the communities.

I am deeply troubled by your District 4 map that tears Fort Collins out of Larimer County. It makes no sense to me to separate the seat of government from its county. Our common interests and economy are surely tied to our county and our position as a major Front Range city. We, in fact, are diametrically opposed to many of the policy positions taken in Weld County regarding public health/COVID, policing/guns, air quality, and water rights. It is very hard to imagine that a congressman/woman could represent the eastern plains rural concerns of agriculture and natural resource extraction and also really listen to and support Fort Collins's concerns about air quality that is threatened by that very oil and gas production. Our economy and community of concerns align us with Front Range cities and the mountains to our west. Climate change, forest fires, flooding, air quality, and water rights figure large in our city and county. We are deeply concerned about urban growth and work on that concern with neighboring community Loveland. We, like Boulder, are becoming a technology center. And Fort Collins is a community that is working hard on creating better equity in our schools and health programs, embracing diversity and welcoming immigrants into our community. Homelessness too is being addressed. Like other Front Range cities, Fort Collins is a tourist center with thriving restaurants, music scene, breweries and outdoor activities. We are very simply entirely different than the Eastern Plains, and are inextricably linked to our county and nearby communities. Return Fort Collins to District 2!

The proposed redistricting map is an extreme take over of the voting people on the western slope . We on the western slope have little common with Boulder and Larimer counties. We are a rural area with the conservation of water, natural resources, and way of life important We are night and day different than the east slope counties . I see this as a way to negate all of the votes from the northern western slope.The east slope people will absolutely control us . Put us together with more like minded people . Ty

Being from Northeast Colorado we are a huge farming and livestock production area. Phillips county specifically where I live thrives on agriculture. Agriculture unites our community, it is the way of life out here and the same goes for all the counties surrounding us. Re-drawing the map has potential to take our say away from our community beliefs. The front range has their own beliefs, and we have ours. The two communities do have similarities, but in general are two totally different geographic areas. The two communities do not have the same interests. With the new redistricting proposal, Larimer County, Adams County, El Paso County, and Weld County have no business being in a district with the far Northeast Colorado counties. Again, we all do share similarities, but there are many differences and beliefs that could potentially take our voices away out here in Northeast Colorado. Our community is very tight knit, and everyone is family out here. When a neighbor needs a hand, nobody bats an eye. You just jump up and do it. Re-drawing the congressional map is a bad idea. We do not need Fort Collins's voting population making the decisions for Phillips and surrounding counties. Please take this into consideration as we deserve to have a voice out here! Thank you for your time!