Bob Marshall
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Values & Motivation
Do you personally support or oppose the move to Home Rule? Why or why not?
Oppose. Home Rule could be good or bad. But this is bad. Nothing done in secret behind closed doors is good. And the commissioners are not being honest about what Home Rule is about. They also placed it on the ballot in a secretive process w/bare minimum standards for their own self-interest & special interests; not the people's.
Why do you want to serve on the Home Rule Charter Commission?
To ensure an open and transparent process, which has not yet occurred, that will hopefully yield a product that is in the interest of the entire county for the long-term and not the current narrow special interests of the moment.
What do you see as the most important values that should guide the charter-writing process?
Transparency and avoiding self interest and special interests from dominating the process. No person who serves on the charter commission, if approved by the voters, should be allowed to become a commissioner.
Approach to Governance & Representation
How would you ensure that the charter reflects the needs of all Douglas County residents - not just those in power or politically aligned?
Have 5 commissioners, elected by district or proportional voting, so that all areas of Douglas County have representation. This needs to be in conjunction with term limits and a prohibition on anyone who serves on the Home Rule charter commission from serving as a commissioner if the charter is enacted.
Checks and Balances
Should the County Commissioners have the power to appoint any or all elected positions such as Commissioner, Sheriff, Clerk, Assessor, Treasurer, Coroner, and/or Surveyor without a public vote as well as other boards such as library board, planning commission, water commission and others?
Sure. In the case of coroner and surveyor, they should be appointed positions with minimum qualifications. For example, the coroner should be a licensed M.D., or at the very least a R.N. or P.A.. I'd keep several of the other offices elected positions to preserve some independence.
Would you support or oppose charter provisions that limit the consolidation of power into the hands of a few officials?
Absolutely support.
Resistance to Extremism
How would you respond if fellow commissioners proposed changes that would reduce public input, centralize control, or limit democratic participation?
My entire public career has been ensuring open transparent government that respects political minorities, without regard to who those political minorities may be. I have taken on my own party and the entire legislature over these good governance issues. I am against abuse of power no matter who has the power.
Community Engagement
What specific steps would you take to engage residents across the political spectrum, including those who may not trust this process?
My political mantra is: SHOW UP. TALK TO EVERYONE. BE POSITIVE. I take that second point seriously and talk to everyone because even if people don't agree with you, if you show respect and actively engage with others, it creates good will and trust in the system which is more important than any single political issue.
Are there any community groups, institutions, or individuals you believe should be involved in shaping or reviewing the charter?
Be good to have the PTO, teachers' groups, parents' groups, ACLU, Common Cause and multiple other good governance groups involved.
Against home rule
YES
If home rule initiative passes, are in favor of...
Do you believe the Board of County Commissioners should retain sole authority over appointing library trustees, rather than allowing an independent library board to do so?
NO
Do you believe Douglas County should use Home Rule to opt out of the state minimum wage?
NO
Should the future Home Rule charter grant the County discretionary power to regulate local elections differently from state standards (e.g., voting access, procedures)?
NO
Do you oppose converting currently elected county positions—such as sheriff, coroner, or clerk and recorder—into appointed positions under a Home Rule charter?
NO
Do you support preserving current term limits for county commissioners and other elected officials and maintaining current campaign finance law any future Home Rule charter?
YES
In a future home rule charter, should the state, not county commissioners, retain the sole authority to approve changes to elected officials’ compensation?
YES
Do you support expanding the number of commissioners to 5, with 3 of them being elected by district and 2 at large?
YES
Are you prepared to stand alone, if necessary, to defend principles of transparency and fair representation?
YES
Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
Don't believe a Home Rule county has the authority to opt out of the state minimum wage as that is constitutionally set. Nor can the county materially differ from state voting process standards, which the Colorado Supreme Court has already addressed with Weld County trying to ignore the state's anti-gerrymandering statute for county commissioners. And I would likely support having an appointed coroner and surveyor. But not other positions.