897198EFF049756C872582810069D4AF Hearing Summary

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

A letter from Doris Beaver opposing the bill was distributed to the committee [Attachment F].

Representative Catlin, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-221.  The bill allows counties with a population of less than 70,000, either by board of county commissioners referendum or citizen initiative, to change the method for electing county commissioners.  For counties that currently elect county commissioners by vote of the whole county, this bill allows that method to be changed to elect commissioners by district.  For counties that currently elect county commissioners by district, the method can be changed to elect county commissioners by vote of the whole county.

Charly Minkler, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Craig Cates, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

J. Paul Brown, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Cates and Mr. Brown responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Minkler responded to questions from the committee.

Ben Tisdel, Ouray County Board of County Commissioners, testified in opposition to the bill.  He distributed a handout to the committee [Attachment G].

Richard Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

Eric Bergman, Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill.  He provided a handout to the committee [Attachment H].

Deanna Bartee, representing herself, testified remotely from Adams State University in support of the bill.

Brant Harrison, Colorado Farm Bureau, testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University in support of the bill.  He answered questions from the committee.

Anita "Sweetie" Marbury, Mayor of Durango, representing herself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in opposition to the bill.

Jean Walter, representing herself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in opposition to the bill.

Lawrence Zauberis, representing himself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee.

Malynda Nelsen, representing herself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill.

Paula Craig, representing herself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill. She answered questions from the committee.

Tara Farrell read a statement from Travis Oliger in support of the bill remotely from Ft. Lewis College.

William Swapp, representing himself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill.

Judy Spady, Free Counties Project, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill.

Tom Prossee, representing himself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill.

Randy Kirkpatrick, representing himself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill.

Debbie Lee, representing herself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill.

Tara Farrell read a statement from Ray Wallace in support of the bill remotely from Ft. Lewis College.

Tara Farrell, representing herself, testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College in support of the bill.

Theresa Conley, Conservation Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

Representative Catlin made concluding remarks about the bill.