La Plata County voters stood slightly left of the state as a whole as they have done in the past in partisan decisions in November’s election. Hillary Clinton had a 9-point margin over Donald Trump, 50 percent to 41 percent, in La Plata County, which contrasted to total state voters’ 48 percent to 44 percent. (In Boulder County, which La Plata County is compared to on occasion, it was 70-22 in favor of Clinton).
La Plata County was slightly more supportive of returning Michael Bennet to the Senate over Republican Darryl Glenn, 52-42, than the state’s 50-45.
But many issues on the ballot were not necessarily partisan.
La Plata County was right on the mark when it came to favoring the “Raise the Bar” constitutional amendment, 57 to 43 (statewide was 56 to 44), but significantly more in favor of acquiring end-of-life control, 74 percent to 26 percent (statewide, 65-35). Boulder County exceeded La Plata County’s enthusiasm for control in that final six months, 79-21.
(Boulder County strongly opposed Raise the Bar, 37-63, probably because close-in oil and gas drilling has residents urging a prohibition on fracking. Raise the Bar will make it more difficult to put anything in the state’s constitution.)
The state supported a higher minimum wage, 55 to 45, and so did La Plata County but by a greater margin, 62 to 38. Democrats are likely more in favor of a mandated minimum wage then are Republicans.
When it came to returning to a statewide presidential primary, La Plata County favored that 69 percent to 31 percent. That support exceeded the statewide average of 64 to 36. After Democrats were overrun by participants at their caucuses, and Republicans did not tally their caucus favorites for president, the decision was made to ask voters whether a state-organized presidential primary was needed.
Allowing the unaffiliated to vote in a party’s primary without adopting a party affiliation, La Plata County matched the statewide numbers, 54 to 46. Statewide was 53-47. The unaffiliated will now choose one of two ballots received in the mail. Do not vote both.
County voters by a wide margin wanted to significantly raise the tax on tobacco, 59 percent to 41 percent, a question which failed statewide, 47-53. Tobacco companies and retail outlets heavily funded the anti-position, often with mailings which did not identify the tax but unfairly claimed that a yes vote would result in huge vague and unpredictable government spending. La Plata County voters would not have been influenced by Denver television ads, and it is also possible that some no votes were a result of not wanting tobacco taxes to be in the state’s constitution.
A single-payer health plan lost overwhelmingly statewide, as it did in La Plata County. Twenty six percent favored, 74 percent opposed. Statewide it was 21-79. For many, even though there are significant issues with the Affordable Care Act, it was too big a step, and one that would be in the constitution.
And looking at House District 59 which spreads over six counties, challenger Barbara McLachlan won very narrowly over J. Paul Brown; only 600 votes of 45,500 cast separated them. Democrat McLachlan won the home county of both candidates and the largest county, La Plata, 54 percent to 46 percent. That was a decisive 2,300-vote margin. Large Democrat turnout in Gunnison County also may have been a factor.
A more minor question, whether to excuse a small amount of taxation incurred by businesses operating on state and federal land, was favored in La Plata County. It lost, however, statewide. The yes argument was that it costs more to collect the tax than what was owed. Statewide, voters apparently wanted even small amounts collected.
In coming elections, expect more statewide issues to become statutes rather than to be added to the constitution. With “Raise the Bar,” it will require signature gathering from all the state Senate districts and 55 percent of the vote to add something to the constitution. But statutes carry weight. Legislators are able to change them, but they would risk voters’ wrath.
We have heard of no significant issues associated with the state’s first presidential election by mail-in ballot, and we congratulate the many county clerks. Being able to review the ballot for about three weeks should have made for more thoughtful decision making.
