Victory! Douglas County Says NO to the Power Grab

Stop the Power Grab wants to express our sincere gratitude for the support shown from Douglas County voters. Together we have prevented a disastrous outcome for our community and sent a clear message to elected officials: transparency and honesty will defeat secrecy, political ambition, and special interests. 

“This is about the people,” said Angela Thomas, “It’s time the commissioners listen to what the people have to say, and they spoke loudly tonight.”

We call on the Board of County Commissioners and all elected officials who supported Home Rule to reflect on the outcome of this wasteful special election, and to return to doing the jobs they were elected to do instead of trying to make headlines and further their own political careers. 

“I am so impressed by this result,” said Julie Gooden, a key organizer with Stop the Power Grab, “This community rejected the false narrative of Home Rule.”

“There was bipartisan rage at this wasteful special election, and that is reflected in the huge turnout and decisive vote against Home Rule,” said Kelly Mayr, a member of the Stop the Power Grab Steering Committee. 

“This is the expected result when commissioners disrespect We The People and purposefully keep them out of the governing process,” said Lora Thomas, a former Republican county commissioner in Douglas County.

“This is a thunderous victory for honest transparent governance.  The numbers don’t lie.  This was a broad based win across the political spectrum of Douglas County’s well-educated and reasonable citizenry rejecting the backroom good ole politics of the past.  Politicians across the state should take note,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, a Democrat representing Highlands Ranch.

We also congratulate the Vote No candidates for the Home Rule charter commission on a well fought campaign. Twenty of the twenty-one seats for the commission were won by candidates who were committed to transparency and accountability.

Had voters approved the creation of a Home Rule commission, we are comforted knowing they also trusted candidates fighting for them to write a fair and thoughtful charter to put to voters. By winning potential commission seats, we have also shown that an attempt to consolidate power in the hands of a few politicians will never go unchallenged. Anyone attempting to initiate Home Rule in the future will be required to make their case to voters for the privilege of writing a Home Rule charter. “Home Rule in Douglas County will lose,” said Barrett Rothe, a candidate for the Home Rule commission, “If they want to try again, we will be there.”