Commissioners attend meeting

Rio Blanco County commissioners Kai Turner and Ken Parsons attended the final meeting of the joint select committee on redistricting in Grand Junction last Saturday.

Following the 2010 census, the legislature is required to redraw the boundaries of Colorado’s seven congressional districts and the Colorado General Assembly appointed a 10-member committee to evaluate proposed maps, solicit public feedback on the redistricting process and then make recommendations to the General Assembly.

“Ken and I both testified and the short version is we want to remain a rural district and have representation at the federal level,” Turner said. “Some from Garfield and Eagle County (not all) felt the line should go to Boulder County, which might eliminate a congressman ever coming from the west again. Naturally we spoke in strong opposition of that scenario and suggested maybe Grand or Chaffee or portions of one or the other be added to the third like Kremmling.”

The Associated Governments of Northwestern Colorado (AGNC), which represents Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt, Garfield and Mesa counties, presented a resolution (below) at the meeting which Turner said explains “our position.”

WHEREAS: Every decade, after the census, the legislature is charged with redrawing congressional boundaries to make sure each district has roughly the same number of people; and

WHEREAS: The 2010 census indicates that changes in Colorado’s population will require some boundary adjustments in its congressional districts; and

WHEREAS: The Third Congressional district as presently configured represents all of the AGNC counties along with the rest of Western Colorado; and

WHEREAS: the AGNC membership represents the municipal and county governments of Northwestern Colorado; and

WHEREAS: The Western Slope is a political as well as geographical region sharing many common elements which constitute a “community of interest”; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AGNC urges the General Assembly and Governor to support the concept of keeping the Western Slope, as a “community of interest”, intact to the maximum extent possible and to maintain the Western Slope within a single Congressional district.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AGNC opposes any plan for redistricting that would divide the western slope among Congressional districts.

By bobby [email protected] I Rio Blanco County commissioners Kai Turner and Ken Parsons attended the final meeting of the joint select committee on redistricting in Grand Junction last Saturday.Following the 2010 census, the legislature is required to redraw the boundaries of Colorado’s seven congressional districts and the Colorado General Assembly appointed a 10-member committee to evaluate proposed maps, solicit public feedback on the redistricting process and then make recommendations to the General Assembly.“Ken and I both testified and the short version is we want to remain a rural district and have representation at the federal level,” Turner said. “Some from Garfield and Eagle County (not all) felt the line should go to Boulder County, which might eliminate a congressman ever coming from the west again. Naturally we spoke in strong opposition of that scenario and suggested maybe Grand or Chaffee or portions of one or the other be added to the third like Kremmling.”The Associated Governments of Northwestern Colorado (AGNC), which represents Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt, Garfield and Mesa counties, presented a resolution (below) at the meeting which Turner said explains “our position.”WHEREAS: Every decade, after the census, the legislature is charged with redrawing congressional boundaries to make sure each district has roughly the same number of people; and WHEREAS: The 2010 census indicates that changes in Colorado’s population will require some boundary adjustments in its congressional districts; and WHEREAS: The Third Congressional district as presently configured represents all of the AGNC counties along with the rest of Western Colorado; and WHEREAS: the AGNC membership represents the municipal and county governments of Northwestern Colorado; and WHEREAS: The Western Slope is a political as well as geographical region sharing many common elements which constitute a “community of interest”; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AGNC urges the General Assembly and Governor to support the concept of keeping the Western Slope, as a “community of interest”, intact to the maximum extent possible and to maintain the Western Slope within a single Congressional district. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AGNC opposes any plan for redistricting that would divide the western slope among Congressional districts.

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