By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette
Douglas County commissioners voted on Tuesday to explore establishing a home rule charter, arguing the move would allow the county to carve a path that is different than where the state is headed.
Establishing home rule, officials said, gives commissioners and the county more local control.
“Douglas County seeks more local control, freedom from state laws via Home Rule Charter,” the county said in a news release.
If the county ultimately adopts its own home rule charter, it would become the first sole Colorado county to do so in more than 45 years. Only Pitkin and Weld counties are currently under home rule charters out of Colorado’s 64 counties.
“For too long, we have watched as reckless state policies have made Colorado less safe, less affordable and less free,” Commissioner Abe Laydon said at a news conference on Tuesday. “We are pursuing home rule status to assert our right to govern ourselves in the best interest of our people.”