News: Candidates clash over Douglas County’s proposed home rule during forum

Colorado Community Media

Many voters still unclear on what change would actually occur1 / 01:21

Douglas County voters will face two decisions on June 24: whether to adopt home rule, and — regardless of how they vote on that question — who should serve on the charter commission if the measure passes. Up to 21 candidates can be selected to draft the new governing document, but their role only takes effect if the home rule measure is approved.

As part of an effort to inform voters and encourage them to select commission candidates regardless of how they vote on home rule, Douglas County Citizenry (DCC), a conservative civic group, hosted a June 11 meet-and-greet for Republican and unaffiliated candidates.

The event aimed to inform, not endorse, any position on the home rule initiative. But with the election fast approaching, it revealed sharp divisions among the conservative candidates — and left many attendees with more questions than answers. As conflicting perspectives played out on stage, some voters walked away still uncertain about what home rule would actually mean for the county.

“Democrats seem much more united in their opposition to home rule, where conservatives still seem pretty split about it,” a DCC organizer told the Douglas County News-Press at the event.

Several candidates used their two-minute introductions to champion the measure. Former state lawmaker Frank McNulty framed it as a chance to push back on state control, calling the commission “an opportunity for us to put a flag in the ground in Douglas County and tell the Democrats and the leftists in Denver (that) enough is enough.”

County Assessor Toby Damisch echoed that sentiment, accusing the General Assembly, Gov. Jared Polis and state courts of showing “absolute contempt for rural Colorado … and more so than anything else, they have total and unabated contempt for Douglas County.”

Other supporters focused on specific priorities they’d like to enshrine in a charter. Sheriff Darren Weekly, for instance, advocated for maintaining the independence of his office from county commissioners.

But opponents, including Lora Thomas, who is a former county commissioner, urged voters to reject the measure entirely. Thomas argued that proponents were overstating what home rule could actually change — particularly in areas like law enforcement and gun policy, where state law would still apply.

“There’s a lot of misinformation that is going on out there,” Weekly acknowledged. “We can’t get out of state law. State law is state law.”

Candidate Tom Wiens added to the mix of interpretations, suggesting that home rule would give counties virtually the same powers as home rule municipalities, a claim that is not accurate, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s office.

“The powers that a home rule municipality (has) and the powers that a home rule county would have … they’re the same for both … they’re generally the same,” Wiens said.

However, county and municipal home rule powers differ significantly. Counties remain more limited under state law, particularly in areas where the state legislature has preempted local authority.

Other opponents questioned the home rule process outlined by county commissioners – all of whom were invited to the DCC event but did not attend. Steven Arthur Boand and Charles O’Reilly criticized the proposed 60-day timeline to draft the charter as “rushed.” Boand, who once supported home rule, said he reversed his position after seeing how the process played out.

“If the commissioners’ favored candidates all win, we’ll be done with this in 62 days … that’s too short to get this right,” Boand said.

O’Reilly and others pointed out that the process lacked adequate public engagement. Some accused the county commissioners of having pre-planned the initiative without involving residents early on.

On the audience’s part, there was still a good deal of confusion around the legal mechanics of home rule. With less than two weeks before the vote, questions remained about what home rule would actually allow, how the 21 commissioners would work together, and how much public input there would be while a charter was formed.

Candidates were unable to answer many questions about the charter’s details, since its contents won’t be known until it’s written — and that will depend on who’s elected to draft it.

Damisch said a home rule charter could either raise or lower property taxes; for example, “depending on the commissioners that we elect.”

One attendee asked what would happen if the ballot measure fails this month.

“It doesn’t mean it’s dead forever,” said candidate Mindy Bandimere-Jordan.

Under Colorado law, residents can bring a home rule measure back to the ballot by submitting a petition signed by at least 5% of voters from the last general election. Boand suggested that if the current measure fails, it could be revived through that process.

“Perhaps, if we had more time to talk about it, we would broaden participation,” he added.

By the end of the evening, uncertainty still hung in the air.

“I came tonight hoping that I’d get clarity on whether to vote yea or nay,” one attendee said. “I honestly haven’t gotten that.”