Public Comments

My name is Ken Fellman, and I write to support keeping the entirety of the City of Arvada within one Congressional district. I have lived in Arvada for 34 years, and I am a former City Councilmember (1993 – 1999) and Mayor (1999 – 2007). Arvada has had a long and mostly successful experience in working with its Congressional representatives on a wide variety of federal-state-local issues. I have experienced that relationship during times when the City was divided within multiple Congressional districts and have seen it work more recently as we are part of one district. With a population of over 120,000 and a size of about 40 square miles, Arvada itself is more diverse today than in past years. City leaders have worked hard to promote the quality of life in both the older and newer parts of the City. When addressing issues such as attainable housing, transportation or policies impacting global warming, this requires all parts of the community to contribute to solutions. Often times this involves working with our Congressional representatives to maximize the collaboration and assistance the federal government provides our community. We can be far more effective in working with our delegation, when we have one House member representing the entirety of the City. One House member whose job it is to take the time necessary to get to know the entire community and how it fits within his or her district. One House member who understands when collaborating with the City in connection with federal programs and policies, how the entire City will be impacted, and that the work our House member is doing for our entire City will benefit his or her district. I can recall working with House members who truly wanted to be more helpful, but felt constrained in how much they could do, given that they “only had a small piece of Arvada” while other parts of the district were entire municipalities or counties. The 7th CD today includes centers of aerospace, technology, environmental leadership and manufacturing in the communities that surround us from Westminster to Golden to Lakewood. Many Arvada businesses support these industries and even more Arvada residents work in these neighboring communities. Keeping these communities of interest together in one House district is critically important to all of us living here. Arvada is Colorado’s 7th largest city, and over the past 20 years has become a real leader in the metro area in addressing regional issues. We also have a strong connection to our history and have worked hard to retain much of the community charm from our roots as a small farming town. Keeping all of Arvada within one Congressional district is an important priority that will benefit Arvada and our regional neighbors. I appreciate your consideration of these issues.

Hello - I am a 23 year resident of Arapahoe County. I am writing to ask that the Commission keep Arapahoe County in one congressional district. I believe having one representative at the federal level will best serve the needs of our community.

What shared interests unite your community? I live in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Routt County, District 3. I am the father of 2 school age children. Steamboat Springs is a small community with ranching and agricultural roots that still permeate our area. This is one of the main reasons we moved here. To be in a small community with small town values and a close knit feel. Additionally, the Ski Area also has roots within the community and is a part of our rural history as well. The community of Steamboat Springs and Routt County are united by ranching, agricultural, skiing , and outdoor recreation as well as oil and gas. This is the identity of Steamboat Springs and Routt County as a whole. Routt County extends to the Wyoming border and borders Moffat County to the west. This is a rural county and needs to remain so. What are your community’s public policy concerns? Being turned into an urban area and getting rid of all oil and gas, ranches, and turning into a front range, urban environment. Raising taxes, having unbiased schools, freedom in health choice and freedom in our county following and interpreting laws in an unbiased fashion. Also, that businesses can thrive and that ranching, agricultural, mining and oil and gas families can thrive. We don't want any policies to change to that. Additionally, our water resources need to stay in NW Colorado for NW Colorado residents. What geographic areas or features are important to your community? Mountain's, Lakes, rivers, valleys, farm land, large ranches. This is what makes Routt County so unique. What else should the commissions know about your community? Steamboat Springs is a unique community as is all of Routt County. We are a community/county that is based in agricultural, ranching, mining, oil and gas foremost, with world-class skiing. We are also a respite and escape from urban life. We want our community to remain in our district. and for CD3 to remain as it is currently mapped We do not want to be redistricted!!! We don't want any changes to the district mapping nor be any part of a district which includes an urban area whatsoever. Thank you for your time.

What shared interests unite your community? I live in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Routt County, District 3. I am the mother of 2 school age children. Steamboat Springs is a small community with ranching and agricultural roots that still permeate our area. This is one of the main reasons we moved here. To be in a small community with small town values and a close knit feel. Additionally, the Ski Area also has roots within the community and is a part of our rural history as well. The community of Steamboat Springs and Routt County is united by ranching, agricultural, skiing , and outdoor recreation as well as oil and gas. This is the identity of Steamboat Springs and Routt County as a whole. Routt County extends to the Wyoming border and borders Moffat County to the east. This is a rural county and needs to remain so. What are your community’s public policy concerns? Being turned into an urban area and getting rid of all oil and gas, ranches, and turning into a front range, urban environment. Raising taxes, having unbiased schools, freedom in health choice and freedom in our county following and interpreting laws in an unbiased fashion. Also, that businesses can thrive and that ranching, agricultural, mining and oil and gas families can thrive. We don't want any policies to change to that. Additionally, our water resources need to stay in NW Colorado for NW Colorado residents. What geographic areas or features are important to your community? Mountain's, Lakes, rivers, valleys, farm land, large ranches. This is what makes Routt County so unique. What else should the commissions know about your community? Steamboat Springs is a unique community as is all of Routt County. We are a community/county that is based in agricultural, ranching, mining, oil and gas foremost, with world-class skiing. We are also a respite and escape from urban life. We want our community to remain in our district. We do not want to be redistricted!!! We don't want any changes to the district mapping nor be any part of an urban area whatsoever. Thank you for your time.

Thank you all for your commitment to fairly represent the state of Colorado with the addition of a new congressional district. I'm 56 and have lived in Longmont/Boulder county for 54 years. Born in Denver. Ken Buck in no way represents the citizens of Longmont and it's surrounding areas - especially when this tone deaf man wears a "...Kill them all and let God sort them out..." t-shirt at a rally. Longmont's population has jumped in population over 14% in the last 10 years and we feel unheard and dismissed by Buck. Please let Longmont be represented in this new district and keep Ken Buck out of the important decisions that represent us. Thank you!

Dear Redistricting Committee, I have been a Longmont resident for over twenty years. Longmont has changed quite a bit in these last 20 years, but one thing that has not is our continued inclusion in Colorado District 4. Longmont is no longer a sleepy rural town, it is a thriving city with 4 high schools, and many industries that are not agricultural focused. I believe that Longmont, along with the many other front range cities (Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley) deserve to have their own district, one that recognizes the importance of these growing cities and their shared issues and industries. Longmont, along with Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley have seen some of the largest growth in the state of Colorado, with increasing minority populations. Our industries include renewable energy, technology, research & development, oil & gas, and thriving commerce in retail and restaurants. Longmont is currently an island in CO4 surrounded by other communities that are not in their district, but with who Longmont has similar community and commercial interests. I hope to see Longmont become part of a new 8th district, or at the very least be included in the same district as our neighbors directly to the north (Berthoud), west (Niwot), and the south (Louisville).

We are a rural summit area in Cedaredge, along with Carbonadale, Glenwood, Gunnison, and are largely Democratic and independent. However, this area was Gerrymandered at the State level to keep the rest of the Western Slope strictly Republican. We need more even districts at the state level. On the federal level for the house, a more evenly balanced district should be made and Pueblo should not be part of the district, as it has nothing to do with the western slope summit counties or the western slope of Colorado. I am a registered unaffiliated and I agree we need way more balanced districts that cover regional blocks, not strung together in long unusual lines to try to group party affiliations together. Enno Heuscher, MD, Director, Delta Montrose Electric Association.

Dear Commission Members, Previously, I sent a short comment regarding not dividing Pueblo County when Congressional redistricting occurs. I would like to briefly add that Pueblo County has little if any community of interest with El Paso and Douglas County. Our shared interests lie more with southern Colorado and the San Luis Valley. Thank you Mary Beth Corsentino

When we moved to Northern Colorado from the west slope we specifically requested real-estate agents to show us homes west of I-25 and NOT in Weld County to avoid the oil and gas development environmental negative impacts that we experienced in our past residence. Please don’t lump Loveland with anything in Weld Co. Our values in environment and community respect are nowhere near the same.

Western Colorado needs more diverse representation. We have too much geographical spread represented by one voice. Our interests and future needs are as varied as the landscape.