Highlands Ranch – Voters in the state’s largest unincorporated community chose by an overwhelming margin to consolidate its government from four leadership boards into one, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.
Four metro district boards, with five elected members each, will merge into a seven-member board that will represent all of Highlands Ranch’s 86,000 residents.
For consolidation to pass, all four districts had to approve three questions.
Each of the questions passed by about a 2-to-1 margin in each district, according to preliminary results.
The turnout, 7,567 ballots, was a record for the 25-year-old master planned community, which accounts for about one-third of Douglas County’s residents.
Proponents say consolidation will simplify confusing district boundaries, making it easier for residents to know their elected officials. The new structure also would give leaders a more direct hand in governing the entire subdivision, they say.
Moreover, the move is expected to save up to $60,000 a year in board members’ pay, legal fees, insurance and other administrative costs. Highlands Ranch metro districts have a $14.6 million budget this year.
Fewer, more powerful representatives, however, could infuse greater politics into the former neighborhood elections that were beset by low voter turnout and little campaigning.
“If it means more politics, then that might be a good thing,” said resident George Walker, a retired political consultant. “If people want my vote, they should ask me for it and tell me why they want it.
“That is the greatest benefit, or the greatest detriment, depending on your opinion of politics, to this whole thing.”
The four metro districts will appoint seven of their members to the new board, and they will take office sometime in the next six months, once new boundaries are drawn.
They will serve until the next regular election in 2008.
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-820-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
