As the residents of Douglas County, Colorado, navigate through a maze of meetings and debates over the prospect of home rule, sentiments range from support to skepticism. A recent series of town halls has intensified the discussion on this key issue, which could alter the face of governance for the county. According to CBS News Colorado, residents left a town hall meeting frustrated, with an undercurrent of tension palpable as they walked through what a home rule charter could mean for them.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners sparked this debate back in March by taking steps toward adopting a home rule charter. As the wheels of change grind forward, there will be two critical votes on the horizon. In a June 24 special election, voters will determine their interest in home rule and elect members for a charter commission. An evident dissatisfaction was vocalized during the town hall, as some residents grappled with the idea of changing a system they don't perceive as broken. "You said tonight this is the safest, healthiest county and now you want to change that and go to home rule. I don’t understand, it’s old ‘if it's not broke don’t fix it, ’" an attendee opposed to the change, as per KDVR.
Supporters of the move argue that home rule offers a certain autonomy from state mandates. Douglas County Attorney Jeffrey Garcia conveyed this stance, saying, "You get to opt out of some state legislation. You get to retain all the authority that exists today. So, if we became home rule tomorrow we wouldn’t lose any of the authority we have today," as reported by KDVR. However, for many residents, the crux of the matter isn't the potential for increased local control but rather the comprehensibility and transparency of the process itself. With town hall meetings lasting only an hour, the brevity has left many attendees feeling shortchanged on time to have their questions and concerns properly addressed.
