Public Comments

I have seen the latest congressional redistricting map and I think there is room for improvement. The districts need to fairly represent rural Colorado. The current map gives the front range a much stronger voice. I urge you to consider the rural voice as well and fairly draw the districts. My grandchildren are the 6th generation on our family ranch in Western Colorado. We help feed this state. We deserve to have our voice represented in our state. Thank you, Sara Dodero, Rancher

Legislative Redistricting Commissioners: My name is Alan Philp, and I am a lobbyist on behalf of Colorado Neighborhood Coalition. Our maps were referenced in Tuesday night’s discussion, and I would like to provide some context. Colorado Neighborhood Coalition is a nonprofit organization committed to citizen participation. One of the ways in which we encourage citizen participation is to offer training on how to draw or develop maps or even provide direct help in developing maps. This is a very intimidating process and difficult to engage for people unfamiliar with the process of drawing districts. CNC has assisted a number of individuals and groups in the development of maps, one of which, the Farm Bureau, has been openly discussed. When we help someone develop a map, we make it clear it is their map, not ours. Such was the case with the Farm Bureau. We find plenty to like in the Farm Bureau’s maps, but choose not to endorse those maps. Mario Nicolais, Steve Tool, Kathleen Curry, and William Hobbs and I worked collaboratively to develop and submit maps last week. You can find those maps here: House: https://davesredistricting.org/join/0c71e3d3-f8d1-4cf5-8b48-0d0c92710403 Senate: https://davesredistricting.org/join/f750a323-1660-42d8-88b4-5a031387574b To date, these are the only legislative maps Colorado Neighborhood Coalition has endorsed. The common thread between our maps or any others in which we have input is to promote the creation of a large number of competitive seats that respect political subdivisions and communities of interest, particularly racial and ethnic communities of interest. You will you find that theme incorporated into CNC’s submission (the full report for which is attached and was submitted last week by Mr. Nicolais). Our point is simply to demonstrate that there are a number of ways to respect communities of interest and political subdivisions while accomplishing the goal of drawing competitive districts. This process is iterative for you as a commission, as it is for those of us on the outside. We learn better ways to incorporate the concerns of communities’ interest as this process progresses. We attempt to incorporate public testimony, to the extent possible. We learn to draw better maps. Thank you for all your work and participation in this process. It is exciting to observe.

In many states you'll find districts drawn where urban and suburban districts reflect an extremely small portion of the states land mass, natural resources, farming communities, and outdoor interests, but are still comprised of larger populations with higher voting power. As a result, you see urban and suburban residents carrying the weight of the vote, edging out the voice of those who live in the remaining 70, 80, or 90% of the state. Colorado is no exception. Districts need to be drawn so that those who live 'outside the city' and 'in the rest of the state' actually have a voice, and actually have a vote. Or perhaps the weight of each district should be evaluated by land mass, so the urban 10% of land dwellers with urban interests doesn't continually outvote the rural 90% of residents whose livelihood is often negatively affected by the current voting system.

Please do not group Douglas co with the farm regions of CD 4. The urban ideals of much of DoCo are not reflected in CD 4

I obviously live in a mountain community, Evergreen. Being redistricted with an urban area, such as Denver Metro, Lakewood, Boulder or any other densely populated area is not fair to our community as they do not share the same values and priorities as us folks in the mountains. I would appreciate it if you would not attach us to an urban community in a legislative or congressional district. We moved up here to get away from the congestion, pollution, crime, noise, and most everything else that goes with urban life. Thanks!! Pat

I have lived in Grand County for 42 years. Three years prior to moving to Grand County I lived in Boulder. Boulder and Grand have both changed drastically in 42 years! It was a shock even 42 years ago to not have the ammenities at my finger tips. But, the Grand County life style fits me better than the city life. It makes no sense to have us in a district with Boulder County. Our community has so very little in common with that district. Our job market is not as varied, we have fewer education options, our health resources are fewer. Our community has more in common with the third congressional district. I hope you will make a decision that is in the best interest "of the people", not a decision based on politics to benefit one party. Thank you for taking my comment into consideration. Clarisse McGowan

I do not believe that the way that the new maps are being drawn would be fair to anyone living in rural Colorado counties. Larimer county does not share very many common interests with Logan County when it comes to communities of interest. The way that these maps are drawn now is an attack on Colorado Agriculture, animal agriculture and crop production and allowing the maps to go through as they are proposed would be detrimental to this very important part of Colorado’s history and economy.

In a state like Colorado, where a majority of the people are located in the large, metropolitan areas, the Colorado residents in the less populated areas have no voice. I do not support dividing districts based solely on population. As representatives of all residents of Colorado, it is your responsibility to ensure that the voice of all of the people is not lost. In our last election, 42% of Coloradans voted for Trump, and 55% voted for Biden, but the current state districts resulted in 41 Democrat state house representatives and 24 Republican state house representatives, a 63% to 37% ratio. Obviously, the current state district make-up does not represent all of the people. Please consider making district boundaries based on common values in that area so that all Colorado voices can be heard.

All people are to be counted equally no matter where you reside. Rural America is the back bone of this country. Those voiced need representation equal to those who have chosen city life. To think that political power is more important than the people’s wishes is mind boggling.

I am concerned your redistributing is intended to mute the rural voices of CO, and for example, further infringe the gun rights of citizens that do NOT break our laws.