State Rep, Joe Salazar posted a picture of a meeting Thursday night and his thoughts on a proposed ballot initiative to change how Colorado maps its congressional districts.
A group of Democrats and Republicans interested in changing how Colorado maps its congressional districts are of a proposed ballot initiative, but outside groups are angered that they’re not part of the process, and they suspect bad motives.
A meeting convened Thursday by Democratic state Sen. Jessie Ulibarri and Reps. Joe Salazar and Angela Williams raised opposition to using a bipartisan, independent commission to draw the maps, instead of the current system. (Every 10 years the legislature changes the boundaries based on the latest census, a process that tends to break down into partisan squabbles eventually settled by the courts.)
Suspicions about motives to change the system have been deep since it was announced last month. A compromise last week to keep existing language on how the courts should draw up boundaries to protect minority voters has done little to appease those who say their input has not been welcomed.
Democrats who keep close watch on minority voting rights worry the Republicans involved in the amendment are trying to pull a fast one, while supporters of the constitutional amendment say it’s the fairest way to make districts more competitive. The commission would be made up of four Democrats, four Republicans and four unaffiliated voters, with a super majority of eight votes needed to approve a map. They contend the current system is too partisan and gives incumbents or certain parties in certain districts an easy path to victory. Only Colorado’s Congressional District 6 is considered competitive between the two parties among seven districts.
The measure is a long way from being decided. To get on the ballot, supporters will have to collect signatures from 98,492 registered voters, then win a statewide majority in the November 2016 election. If the amendment passes, the commission would draw up maps after the 2020 census for the 2022 election.
Those involved in drafting the amendment contend they have no hidden agenda.
“It’s hard to determine between people who have hurt feelings because they weren’t brought into the process earlier and those who have issues with what’s going on right now,” said James Mejia, a Democrat who is among the leaders of the proposed ballot initiative.
Here is the press release opponents sent out Friday:
Efforts to Minimize Minority Voting Spark Outrage in Civil Rights & Community Groups
Dozens of civil rights and community organizations are expressing their opposition and outrage at efforts to minimize minority voting in Colorado through language creating a new redistricting commission.
“Common Cause supports truly independent redistricting commissions, but this proposal doesn’t meet that standard. This is the first time in the country we’ve seen language proposed that would actually put a ceiling on minority voting representation. This proposal falls short on protecting communities of color, public input, competitiveness and actually giving independent power to the commission members,” said Elena Nuñez of Colorado Common Cause.
“There is no trust in this effort – itap fatally flawed. We’re tired of people going behind closed doors and deciding these issues – and giving no voice to communities of color. They haven’t even had a conversation with the people it will impact,” said Supt. Rev. Patrick Demmer of the NAACP and Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance.
A group recently announced they are attempting to restructure the way Colorado draws legislative and congressional maps. It is not known who is providing their financial backing. Without any public outreach, language was filed to put a measure on the ballot next November that would ban enhancement of minorities in voting districts and minimize communities of interest, resulting in outrage from civil rights and community organizations.
Dozens of people, representing NAACP, minority caucuses, the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, Common Cause, ACLU, Mi Familia Vota, Los Servicios de la Raza, businesses, local officials and education met Thursday at Escuela Tlatelolco in Denver to denounce the private discussions that are aimed at creating a ballot question to change how Colorado draws legislative and congressional boundaries.
“We are united against this clearly partisan effort – the first steps toward a commission were beyond clumsy – a handful of self-selected men sat down in a room and decided that they wanted to put a cap on minority voters in both the legislature and Congress,” said Nita Gonzales, CEO of Escuela Tlatelolco.
“These so-called bipartisan efforts to create an independent commission to draw legislative and congressional boundaries are laughable. Our voices were not at the table from the beginning,” said Rep. Angela Williams, chair of the Colorado Black Caucus.
“Colorado has a very competitive political environment both in the legislature and our congressional delegation. This proposal does absolutely nothing to move us forward – and would actually move communities of color backward,” said Rep. Joe Salazar, co-chair of the Colorado Latino Democratic legislative caucus.
