La Plata County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Lee is holding public meetings to hear public comment on proposed commissioner district boundary line adjustments in Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio over the next two weeks.
For the first time since 2017, the commissioner districts must be adjusted because the population differences between them exceed 5%. Lee and her staff have drafted two proposed maps, each of which would make minor tweaks to the commissioner districts to bring them into compliance with state law.
La Plata County commissioners are elected at-large, meaning all eligible voters may participate in all elections, regardless of the district in which that voter resides. However, candidates may only run to represent their district of residence.
Jack Turner notably moved in 2021 so that he could run to represent District 1 in the 2022 election after losing narrowly in the District 2 race in 2020.
According to GIS maps released by Lee’s office using census data, District 2, which includes Durango and a part of the Animas Valley, has a population of 18,253.
District 1, which comprises the western part of the county but extends a little east of U.S. Highway 550, has a population of 19,125; District 3 is composed of the eastern part of the county, including Bayfield and Ignacio, and has a population of 17, 680.
Draft option one would bring the populations of districts 1 and 3 closer by extending the southern third of District 3’s western boundary – everything south of County Road 300 – west to align with U.S. Highway 550.
Draft option 2 would balance the populations by extending parts of the western boundary of district 3 – areas north of Highway 160 – west toward Durango.The proposed changes are drawn along existing lines, such as voter precincts, census tracts and property lines.
“These are really minimal changes, but it's still really important to get public input,” Lee said.
Although she is only required to hold one opportunity for public comment – which occurred April 11 – Lee said she prefers to offer three extra, more localized opportunities for comments.
Neither of the two options would change the district in which any sitting commissioners reside.
Following public comment, Lee will recommend one of the two options to the BoCC, which will vote on and likely approve the new districts.
Lee will present the options at 5:30 p.m. April 25 at the Durango Public Library. She will also present the proposed adjustments at 6 p.m. May 1 at the Pine River Library, and at 6 p.m. May 4 at the Ignacio Community Library.
The proposed drafts, as well as the existing district map, can be found on the clerk and recorder’s website.
“I don't get a lot of attendees usually,” Lee said of her redistricting meetings. “In fact, sometimes nobody comes. But sometimes there's people that bring really great points.”
Comments can also be submitted by email at tiffany.lee@co.laplata.co.us. All comments must be received by 5:30 p.m. June 8.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
