Letters, April 22: Home rule is political theatrics, waste of money. Vote no

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Letters to the editor at Colorado Community Media, April 22, 2025

Douglas County residents will soon be asked if they want to become a home rule county. Do not be misled by this. It doesn’t do what it sounds like. It mostly pertains to mundane procedural matters. The county isn’t going to be able to thumb its nose at the state and do whatever it wants. It isn’t going to be able to poke the governor in the eye. It isn’t going to be able to opt out of state law. Masking would have still been required. Grocery bag fees aren’t going away. This is political theatrics. It’s grandstanding by the county commissioners so they can say they’re “fighting for you.” It’s performative.

I suggest you educate yourselves and research what home rule really means. Then tell the commissioners to put the election money to better use.

Chris Demarest

Castle Rock

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When I heard that Douglas County was considering home rule one question jumped out — Why? Why do the county commissioners want home rule?

There is not anything inherently good or bad about home rule. At its simplest level, adopting a home rule charter allows a local government to restructure itself to legislate on issues of a purely local concern. Importantly, home rule does not allow local governments to exempt themselves from existing state laws. There are 102 home rule municipalities in Colorado, including every city and town in Douglas County.

Home rule counties are more unusual. Of Colorado’s 64 counties, only four are home rule. Two of those, Denver and Broomfield, are integrated city and county entities — essentially large municipalities. Another is Pitkin County, which is essentially just Aspen, Snowmass, and Basalt. The final home rule county in the state is Weld — which would also make it the only similarly situated county to us if Douglas County adopts a home rule charter. Weld County adopted its home rule charter 50 years ago.

This disparity makes sense because most of the benefits of home rule are more easily realized at the municipality level. Building codes can vary by city. Municipal criminal codes address local concerns. City police departments enforce those codes with charges written into municipal courts. Meanwhile, we already have county courts and municipalities within a county may want different building codes. With all Douglas County cities and towns already under home rule charters, what need is there for a county home rule charter?

And yet, the county commissioners already spent $500,000 in taxpayer money to start a project that may end up costing much more. Commissioner George Teal is quoted as listing “COVID-19 precautions, gun regulations, taxation and immigration” as the motivation for home rule. But COVID is long past over, home rule does not allow the county to exempt itself from state gun laws, and it’s unclear what the county thinks it can do on taxation or immigration.

County home rule is a solution searching for a problem, not the panacea the county commissioners would have us believe. We’re talking about a process that allows reorganization of the government structure, not secession. We already enjoy any benefit that home rule can provide because every municipality in Douglas County is already home rule. This is a waste of taxpayer money with no benefit. Vote no on home rule.

Tom Walton

Parker

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As citizens and taxpayers in Douglas County who believe in transparency, accountability, and responsible governance, we are deeply concerned about the current push for home rule — and we strongly urge voters to say no on June 24.

First, this rushed initiative to place home rule on the ballot will come at a steep cost to taxpayers — a staggering $500,000 for a special election that didn’t need to happen this way.

Second, unlike other grassroots-led efforts, this push is being driven by just three people in power, not by the broader community. When those already holding authority take the reins of such a significant change without wide public input, it raises serious red flags.

Most troubling are indications that open meeting laws may have been violated, and that much of this process was planned outside the public’s view. That’s not how good government works — that’s how trust erodes.

We believe in good governance, not governance behind closed doors. That’s why we encourage voters to protect transparency and accountability by voting no on Home Rule on June 24.

Doug and Eiko Browning, MD

Highlands Ranch