News
Elbert 4/3/13
Elbert County
April 4, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourelbertcountynews.com
Elbert County, Colorado • Volume 118, Issue 10
Commissioners eye new district lines Move to equalize populations will be decided this month By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com Elbert County commissioners aim to finish a job that started with the 2010 Census, to spread the county’s population equally among commissioner districts. The redistricting is required by law to ensure each district holds about the same number of people, said Blake Hepburn, Elbert County election clerk. At present, the population count in District 1, represented by Commissioner Robert Rowland, exceeds that in District 2, represented by Commissioner Kurt Schlagel, by more than 3,200 people.
The shift in district boundaries outlines the district commissioners represent. Commissioners must live in the district they represent, Hepburn said. Because commissioners are elected on an at-large basis, county residents can vote for commissioners across district lines, Hepburn said. “The only thing the district lines are doing is saying where the candidates can come from in (future elections),” Hepburn said. “The only commissioner district up for reelection in 2014 is District 2.” The boundaries proposed for District 2 would bring in about 1,850 people who live in highly populous precincts just northeast of Elizabeth, an area that now is part of District 1. Hepburn presented the proposed redistricting to commissioners March 26, thereby opening up a 30-day window for public comment. At the end of the 30-day period, commis-
present district populations District 1 — 9,180 District 2 — 5,947 District 3 — 7,768 Undetermined between Districts 1 and 2 — 191 Proposed district populations District 1 — 7,694 District 2 — 7,624 District 3 — 7,768 Note: District 2 will gain 1,849 people who live south of County Road 146, north of Colorado 86, between county roads 33 and 21. Source: Elbert County elections office sioners will consider the proposal for adoption. State statute requires redistricting at the end of every census period, and the proposed lines were recommended in 2011 by Republican and Democratic party chairmen, Hepburn said. It is unclear why the proposed lines were not adopted by com-
missioners at that time. Redistricting can only take place on oddnumbered years and this is the last chance to rectify the imbalance before the next election. Once the lines are redrawn, the clerk’s office will begin the task of redrawing precinct lines, Hepburn said. The proposed redistricting will impact Districts 1 and 2, leaving District 3 untouched. Once complete, each district will comprise about 7,700 people. According to the 2010 census, Elbert County’s population was 23,086. “While everyone votes on all commissioners, the district lines don’t come into play in a significant way,” Rowland said. “In terms of us voting, we vote on issues that affect the entire county. From a practical point of view, it doesn’t affect our election.” The commissioners all live in areas that will remain in their respective districts.
Death-penalty repeal fizzles Two Democrats help seal fate of bill By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com A Lakewood lawmaker’s vote on March 26 was pivotal in defeating a bill that sought to repeal the death penalty in Colorado. The bill was one of two pieces of legislation having to do with capital punishment that failed to survive at the Capitol in the same week. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who was one of two Democrats to vote against House Bill 1264 in the House Judiciary Committee, said in a recent interview that “my voters and my constituents don’t support (the repeal).” “It was a really tough choice,” Report the freshman lawmaker told Colorado Community Media. “Voting between what I thought should happen and where my district lies, and (hearing) the arguments on both sides. But, ultimately I’m the representative of House District 28.” Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, said during the committee hearing that his decision to vote against the bill had nothing to do with the views of his constituents. “I do not make this vote because of a set view of voters,” Gardner said. “I make it out of a sense of conviction that, for a category of crimes that represent the worst of evils, or for which there is no other specific deterrent, that the death penalty is appropriate.” Critics of the death penalty have long argued that the punishment is not fairly or consistently applied, and that it does not serve as a deterrent for committing capital crimes. They also have argued that executions disproportionately affect minorities and the poor. Worse, critics say, the wrong people sometimes end up getting sentenced to death. “There will be someone, somewhere who will be sentenced to death for a crime they did not commit,” said Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, the committee’s chairman. “As long as there are mistakes, there always will be a person who is a victim of that mistake.” Pettersen and Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver, joined all four Republicans on the committee to vote against the repeal. Four Democrats voted for the bill. Democratic Rep. Mike McLachlan of Durango was absent from the hearing due to illness.
Capitol
Lynda Edwards, who created the Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals with her husband, John, leans down to kiss Millie, a llama who has found a home at the facility just outside of Parker. Photos by Chris Michlewicz
abandoned animals find friends Parker-area couple opens home, hearts By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com When animals are no longer wanted or cared for, Lynda and John Edwards give them a loving home. Every animal in their barnyard has a heartbreaking story. There is Molly the zebu, a sacred cow from India that, despite being perfectly healthy, was going to be euthanized when the Denver Zoo closed its Krall exhibit. There is Fudgie, a plump,
15-year-old Chihuahua that was among 15 rescued “bait dogs” used to rile up pit bulls before a fight. There are the three roosters that were dumped over the fence and into the barnyard a month ago. Countless others have been abused or neglected. There are so many creatures at the Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals just east of Parker that its proprietor is unable to say exactly how many are on the 5-acre property. Regardless, the animals have gotten a second chance at life and even found some unlikely companions. It’s a common theme in the Edwards household, where foster children were Abandoned continues on Page 10
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Molly, a zebu that was rescued when the Denver Zoo closed an exhibit, is among the animals that have retired at Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals.
Repeal continues on Page 10