Redistricting can be confusing. Just look at the maps it produces. They often look like awkward puzzle pieces intended to stump voters rather than ensure they are fairly represented.
In the past, Colorado politicians would gather every 10 years to take new census data and redraw districts across the state. The Colorado Reapportionment Commission was responsible for the redistricting process for almost 50 years after voters approved the commission in 1974.
Members of the 11-person committee were appointed by legislative leaders, the governor and the chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. Six of the 11 members could be from the same political party.
In 2018, Colorado voters amended the state Constitution, creating the Colorado Independent Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Commissions, seemingly in an attempt to decrease the partisanship in the redistricting process.
The two commissions, which consist of four Democrats, four Republicans and four unaffiliated voters, are redrawing the Colorado legislative and congressional maps for the first time this year.
In October, the Legislative Redistricting Commission approved the final state Senate map, which would see Durango’s Senate District 6 change dramatically.
The current eight-county district would be replaced by a new 14-county district that spans east to Costilla County and covers only a portion of Montrose County to the north. Mineral, Saguache, Rio Grande, Conejos, Alamosa and Costilla counties would be added to the district.
The map awaits approval from the Colorado Supreme Court, but if it holds, Don Coram, Durango’s current state senator who lives in a part of Montrose County being cut out of District 6, would no longer represent District 6.
The Republican from Montrose would be replaced by Cleave Simpson, a Republican from Alamosa.
Through the oddities of redistricting, Durango would be represented by someone for whom voters never cast a ballot.
ahannon@durangoherald.com
