Dear Editor,

It is time for mountain residents of Boulder County to have a larger, more meaningful voice in county government. I urge my fellow mountain neighbors to vote “YES” on Ballot Question 200 to expand the Board of County Commissioners from three to five members, and to vote for Option A on Ballot Question 201.

Currently, because urban centers like Boulder and Longmont have large population densities of over 110,000, city voters hold a disproportionate influence over the outcomes of every single commission seat.

Expanding the board via Question 200 ensures a greater diversity of voices. However, the structure chosen under Question 201 is what truly protects us. Option B would maintain two "at-large" seats, allowing high-density urban populations to continue dominating those outcomes. Conversely, Option A establishes a "district-only" model where commissioners are elected exclusively by the residents of their specific districts.

Our mountain and foothills neighborhoods have an estimated population of roughly 30,000 residents. Depending on how district lines are drawn under Option A, mountain communities could compose a substantial portion of a dedicated district.

This structure ensures our unique geographic and rural interests are fairly represented at the county level and paves the way for electing a commissioner who actually resides in our mountains. Let’s claim our seat at the table.

Garry Sanfacon

Nederland