Public Comments

Dear Commissioners, My wife and I moved to Durango many years ago for reasons of quality of life, exceptional schools, outstanding outdoors opportunities and the community of Durango itself. Not having been able to attend last Saturday's redistricting meeting in Durango, I am sending you my comments in writing. Colorado is, possibly more so than any other US state, known for its outdoor recreation and tourist industry, an important reason for people living and moving here. Our national forests, wilderness areas, ski resorts and more benefit our state's economy and provide jobs. While the present congressional preliminary maps drawn take into consideration different "communities of interest", be these based on economics, education, ranching etc., CD3's preliminary map is dominated in favor of farming, water and extractive based industry interests. These interests are diametrically opposed and not compatible with the outdoors industry, resulting in Colorado's scenic beauty, outdoor opportunities and tourist industry being drowned out. Our outdoors and tourist industry needs and deserves to have a voice benefitting all Coloradoan’s and CD3 needs to be redrawn. To achieve the latter may require dividing several counties, yet I feel strongly that our exceptional recreational opportunities and economy deserve that voice. Thank you for your efforts drawing fair and competitive districts, a challenging and important undertaking especially in regard to CD3, yet in need to be addressed. Sincerely, Werner Heiber

Attached is a copy of my presentation to the Commission on 07/31/21

Commissioners, Thank you for serving! I know this is an almost impossible task. I reside in the Town of Erie, which is divided by County Line Rd., respectfully Boulder County and Weld County. My husband and I intentionally bought a house on the Weld County side and have lived in the same neighborhood for almost 20 yrs. I wish to express my thoughts on the preliminary maps for both the House and Senate districts. The districts as presented creates a disparity for those of us living on the Weld County side of Erie. I can attest to the fact that the larger Weld County and Boulder County communities are very different. In Weld County, we value agriculture AND responsible energy production, all while protecting the air, water and land for future generations, like my three young children. The judicial system reflects the Town of Erie’s contentious relationships with Boulder County, and specifically Lafayette in developing or continuing intergovernmental agreements. However, over the past 10 years, the Town of Erie and Weld County have been able to sign off on at least two intergovernmental agreements regarding economic, commercial, and residential growth. Most of the residential development is happening, and will continue to happen on the Weld County side of Erie. The Town of Erie has always been part of the Carbon Valley area ( Erie, Dacono, Frederick, Firestone and Mead), dating all the way back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when the area boosted some of the most productive coal mines in Colorado. It would make sense to keep these communities with their history, cultural and shared interests together in respective house and senate districts. For these reasons, I am asking that House District 38 follow county boundaries as closely as possible, and that Weld County be divided into only TWO Senate districts. (See attached a map) I propose that district 38 adhere to political subdivisions, and only cross county boundaries in order to pick up the following: Town of Erie in Boulder County, the town of Berthoud in Larimer County. The remainder of the district would be Weld County, including the southern Weld I-25 corridor communities of Dacono, Firestone, Frederick, Mead and Berthoud. With regard to the senate district, again, because of the population in Weld County, there should be two full senate seats in Weld County. I am asking that you divide Weld County accordingly: a.City of Greeley, and City of Evans in a single district b.Senate District 32 to include the municipalities of Severance, Windsor, Johnstown, Milliken, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Erie, Dacono, Fort Lupton, Platteville, and Gilchrist and surrounding unincorporated Weld. Dividing Weld County in this proposed manner would present the most compact, contiguous senate districts in Weld County, and would ensure fair and effective representation and a commitment to our community’s legislative interests. I also believe the residents in Boulder and Larimer counties should be assured the two senate districts their population dictates. Weld County should be afforded the same consideration. Thank you again for your time, and service. DeAndrea Arndt 828 Lehigh Cir, Erie, Weld -- Grandview neighborhood

Sorry , In my previous comment I meant to say: Living, working and shopping and commuting back and forth to work make Boulder and Broomfield County better matches.

I was and am a supporter of Amendments X & Y. Colorado has been highly Gerrymandered but worst of all, The Colorado Legislature has for the last 30 years shirked their duty of drawing new Congressional, and State legislative maps. They have caved in to partisan pressure and ultimately let the Denver District Court approve maps. Much is being said regarding "communities of interest." That, however is a lower priority. Our Colorado Constitution must be followed when drawing new boundary lines. Priorities are clearly defined. Preserve: County Boundaries City Boundaries Communities of interest Compactness There is much to consider, but as much as possible, please keep counties and cities whole. Keep districts as compact as possible. Partisans added Boulder County and Larimer County together in CD 2, although both counties contained major universities, Those universities are very different and the people of the two counties are very different. Broomfield and Boulder Counties share more commonalities than do Boulder and Larimer. Living, working and shopping and commuting back and forth to work make Boulder and Larimer better matches. Weld County also has a major university but also Aims community college with several campuses in Weld and one in Larimer. Weld County has one Judicial District and three County offices in Greeley, SW Weld and Fort Lupton. Weld County Is one of the Leading Agriculture counties in the United States. Weld County is the leading Gas and oil producer in the State. It is also one of the leading Solar Energy producers in the state. Weld County should have at least 2, and because of growth, possibly 3 Senate Districts. So, I do ask, that the Commission keep Weld and Larimer Counties whole for congressional districts and to the greatest extent possible, legislative districts also. It is a big task but it can be done. Please do not give in to the partisan pressures. Observe County boundaries. Counties ARE major communities of interest for legal, business, roads, schools, Clerk & Recorder needs and more. Respectfully submitted, James Eckersley

I'm concerned with the desire to count prison populations as part of a district. I firmly believe this skews the representation of votors when a district is allowed to count people who cannot vote in their district, giving an unfair advantage to a representative that does not have to actually represent those they are counting in their districts. Considering this practice is agaisnt Colorado state law, I'm confident that any such action to count inmates as voters in the district they are incarcerated in would be challenged in court, slowing the process and harming public trust.

I understand that the preliminary maps for the House District in Highlands Ranch take the western portion of Highlands Ranch, and puts those residents with the same representative that will represent Larkspur and Sedalia. We need to keep all of Highlands Ranch in suburban House Districts, with either Lone Tree or Littleton/Centennial, because our issues align more closely with other suburban residents. Congressional representation should be all suburban or all rural. Keep Highlands Ranch together and do not split it up! We care about good schools, business development, and public safety, whereas those in rural districts care about completely different issues. Our community should be voting TOGETHER on our shared interests.

Colorado law currently prohibits the use of prison inmate populations in determining district apportionment. The census counts incarcerated people where they are physically located, but the problem, of course, is that any district that contains a prison was getting an artificial boost in their local population and political representation. For example, rural, white voters end up with more representation by counting prison populations as if they're members of their community, even though the prison population cannot vote. In order to ignore this law, the commission needs a super majority among themselves to decide not to follow Colorado state law on this matter. Of course, this would also make the maps they produce very likely to be challenged in court, since that's what happens when you break the law, and nobody should want that.

My name is Rhonda Solis and I am a long time Greeley resident. I have also been a school board member for 7 1/2 years and a lot of my comments come from a view of our schools, students and families. We have large populations of people of color with over 100 different languages. Many of them live on the North and East side of Greeley along with many residing in Evans. Although we have a large Latino population in Weld County, there is a difference when it comes to rural living versus urban area. It is important to keep communities together that can vote for representation that truly represents them. I have seen the CLLARO maps and think they have done the most work to try and keep like communities together. HD 50 is 48% Latino and competitive and I recommend that we keep that district intact. I don't envy the people that have to make these final decisions and yet I press you to fulfill your constitutional obligation and protect minority voices and other communities of interest.

As a voting citizen of Colorado I must insist that this commission honor the law's direction that the inmates of prisons be apportioned to their home district. This is clearly the only fair way to handle the question, as Colorado Law requires. And as would probably be upheld by court action. Gary Betchan