I am commenting on THIS ARTICLE in the Denver Gazette…
Colorado citizens who hold the belief that, “the best government is the government closest to home” are waking up to a golden opportunity—Douglas County’s special election on June 24 asks voters whether to empower a charter commission to draft a home rule charter, and I’m here to say: hell yes, they should seize it. Speaking as one of only two Colorado counties ever to adopt home rule (alongside Pitkin and my own Weld County, where I’m privileged to serve as a Commissioner)—it’s time more communities pushed back against Governor Polis’s centralizing edicts and reclaim authority over their own backyards.
Why home rule matters. Under Colorado law, statutory counties operate at the whim of the legislature: infinitely subject to one-size-fits-all statutes passed in Denver. Home rule counties, by contrast, craft their own charters to decide the number of commissioners, their salaries, departmental duties—even public safety and tax policy—all within the limits of the Colorado Constitution. Douglas County commissioners Abe Laydon, George Teal, and Kevin Van Winkle were wise to approve $500,000 for this special election—they recognized that when state lawmakers overstep (think onerous bag taxes, mask mandates, or the latest threat to TABOR), the real check on Big Government is a charter penned by locals who actually live here.
Don’t buy the “power grab” line. Opponents are already screeching that this is a commissioner power play—and sure, politicians love more autonomy, but only when it cuts the red tape choking our neighborhoods. In fact, Douglas officials held more than 32 public meetings—including an hour-long town hall with nearly 9,000 attendees—to hash out details on property taxes, open space, homelessness, even immigration policy . If that’s a “rush job,” I’ll take “rushed democracy” every day over months of backroom lobbying in Denver. Besides, a judge already cleared the special election to proceed despite meritless open-meetings lawsuits—proof that transparency wasn’t some afterthought but baked into the process.
Local control beats state overreach. It’s no secret that Polis’s administration has grown fond of imposing statewide rules that ignore regional priorities. While metro Denver elites champion higher taxes and tighter regulations, Douglas citizens want to protect their property rights, shield constituents from runaway spending, and ensure public safety resources match actual on-the-ground needs. Home rule could give counties a fighting chance to say “no thanks” to ill-fitting mandates—whether it’s a frivolous county bag tax or a half-baked public-health decree—without waiting for the legislature’s painfully slow and often myopic sausage factory.
Weld County’s success story. As a commissioner in Weld—one of Colorado’s pioneering home rule counties—I can attest to the power of proximity. We’ve tailored our approach to oil-field safety, kept spending in check, and streamlined permitting for small businesses. When state bureaucrats in Denver propose sweeping restrictions and regulations, we tweak our local codes instead of begging for carve-outs. Douglas County stands to gain the same nimbleness: it’s the government closest to the people that best reflects their values, not a distant assembly of ideologues, er, politicians more interested in red-flag laws than rural road maintenance.
A coalition for common sense. Imagine a wave of home rule counties—from Douglas to Mesa to El Paso—each drafting charters that lock in tax relief, uphold TABOR, and codify parental rights. That’s the coalition I’m working to build in Weld: a network of jurisdictions that collectively tell Denver, “Hands off.” It’s chilling that nearly 54 percent of Douglas respondents polled oppose home rule—likely a function of fearmongering about “deregulation.” But once voters grasp the reality—a focused, citizen-driven charter rather than more arbitrary statutes—they’ll see this is exactly the tool needed to check an administration increasingly out of touch with everyday Coloradans.
What voters need to know. When you step into the booth Tuesday, you’ll face two questions: first, whether to elect a 21-member Charter Commission to study and write a charter; and second, which candidates best represent your district. Take it seriously: these are the folks who will draft the document for citizen approval that forever reshapes how your property taxes are set, how many law enforcement officers patrol your streets, and whether local boards can battle ill-considered state edicts.
Bottom line: Polis’ Colorado works fine for downtown Denver cocktail parties, but it’s a lousy fit for Parker, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock. Local voices matter—a home rule charter amplifies them. Douglas County’s “yes” vote isn’t about indulging commissioners; it’s about empowering citizens to decide what matters in their communities. As someone who’s witnessed home rule’s benefits firsthand in Weld, I urge you: support Douglas, push for your own county, and let’s restore government of, by, and for the neighborhoods we actually call home.
