Senate Bill 18-221 to allow Colorado counties to vote for county commissioner’s by District is permissive, and it provides opportunity to end “at-large” voting in counties which need and support this change.
In La Plata County, we have a voting base of Fort Lewis College students whose votes are heavily pursued come election time. The student population isn’t easy to factor when setting district boundaries, yet student numbers are sufficient to influence a vote in any county commissioner election. Student voting is likely partisan and not well informed of La Plata County issues, which is a legitimate concern, especially when these votes can lead to legacy decisions impacting residents of La Plata County long after the students have moved on.
La Plata County Commissioner Lachelt, District 2, opposes this bill (Herald, April 17) and claims voting by district would pit commissioners against each other and not serve the whole county’s interests, an ironic position for this official who’s working against the best interests of residents in Districts 1 and 3 to achieve county-wide zoning, which most local farmers and ranchers oppose.
We have a very diverse county — resource wise, economically and geographically, and socially — which makes voting by district the logical choice in La Plata County. Our rural communities in Districts 1 and 3 are frustrated with the city and college control achieved by at-large voting. Elected officials who oppose SB 18-221, thereby opposing the option for more representative government, deserve to be booted out of office at the next election.
Naomi Dobbs
Durango
