Douglas County “home rule” campaign expense reports show hundreds of residents donated to the home rule opposition group, while just five entities donated much larger amounts to the home rule support group.

Meanwhile a recent countywide survey revealed that most residents are opposed to the idea of becoming a home rule county.

Douglas County voters are less than two weeks away from deciding whether the county should adopt a home rule charter and a 21-member commission to draft it, a move the county hopes will supersede some Colorado state laws and provide more local control.

“This is about local control and local control makes a lot of sense,” Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon said at Tuesday’s business meeting.

The June 24 special election will cost the county $500,000. If approved, the home rule committee would establish a charter for voters to consider in the November election.

Since commissioners approved the election on March 25, two committees — one for and one against becoming a home rule county — were formed.

Both groups have collected thousands of dollars in donations and submitted public campaign finance reports on June 3. The committees must submit another financial report on June 20.

‘Yes on Local Control’

The home rule supporting group, called Yes on Local Control, has collected $110,200 in donations from only five donors, according to campaign financing database TRACER.

Ventana Capital, a Front Range developer, donated $50,000, while another $50,000 donation came from The Cundy Harbor Irrevocable Trust. Denver-based real estate developer Westside Property Investment Company also contributed $10,000, records show.

TRACER revealed two other individuals listed as donors to Yes on Local Control: Laura Teal, the wife of Commissioner George Teal, donated $100. Laura Tonner, the wife of Renewable Water Resources Principal Sean Tonner, donated $100. RWR seeks to provide San Luis Valley water to Douglas County.

Of its donations, Yes on Local Control has spent $90,457. The group pored $43,143 into advertising, plus another $15,065 for postage fees, and $31,720 more was spent on consultation with the Colorado Policy Institute, according to the financing database.

‘Stop the Douglas County Power Grab’

On the other side, the Stop the Douglas County Power Grab group opposing home rule, has garnered $30,320 in donations from hundreds of donors, according to TRACER.

The database shows the group received more than 300 contributions ranging between $10 and just over $1,000.

Some donors listed include former Democratic commissioner candidate Angela Thomas, Lone Tree resident Julie Gooden and Rep. Bob Marshall, a Democratic representing Highlands Ranch.

The latter two, along with former Commissioner Lora Thomas, filed a lawsuit against county commissioners claiming they violated open meeting laws during the home rule adoption process. That lawsuit is ongoing.

Of the group’s total, $9,063 has been spent — notably on advertising and consulting services. Signs have appeared in many places across the county reading “vote NO on home rule.”

Opposing residents insist county commissioners rushed the process to “appoint political allies” and “erase oversight and control,” ultimately leaving residents without much information, according to those representing Stop the Douglas County Power Grab.

Recent poll shows majority of residents may oppose home rule

Between April 21 and May 2, Douglas County, using Hill Research Consultants, surveyed residents on a variety of issues impacting the community. One question was whether voters would support a county home rule charter. 

Out of 3,617 people polled, 54% opposed home rule, while 44% said they’d support it. The majority of ‘no’ responses came from northwest Douglas County and Highlands Ranch residents, where 64% of those polled were against becoming a home rule county.

On May 28, Douglas County commissioners and staff held an informational town hall. About seven community members spoke for about 10 minutes during the 60-minute meeting — commissioners and the county attorney spoke the rest of the time. Residents opposed to the idea expressed concerns over commissioner transparency, constituent representation and whether the home rule adoption process was citizen-led.

Weld and Pitkin counties, the only two Colorado counties that are home rule, became home rule under citizen-led initiatives.

During Tuesday’s business meeting, Douglas County commissioners passed a resolution supporting the establishment of a charter. Several people there spoke against home rule.

“I like Colorado. I don’t like some of the laws. But I don’t want to deal with more unique laws in Douglas County,” one resident said during the Tuesday meeting.

Commissioners have planned a public Q & A session for June 17 at the Douglas County Government Building in Castle Rock, one week before voters decide on home rule.

Ballots have already been delivered to mailboxes of Douglas County residents, according to the county clerk’s office.

The poll question reads: “Shall the voters of Douglas County, State of Colorado, elect a County Home Rule Charter Commission to study the structure and organization of Douglas County Government?”

Voters will then be asked to choose the commission members they want to represent their district.