O’Reilly and Minary: What Douglas County’s Home Rule vote revealed—and how we move forward

By Chuck O’Reilly, Russ Minary | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Voters in Douglas County turned down the proposed Home Rule initiative by a wide margin—71% to 29%. But the result wasn’t simply a rejection of the idea itself. It also reflected deeper concerns about how the process unfolded and how residents were—or weren’t—brought into the conversation. It revealed how important transparency, timing and public trust are in shaping major decisions about the future of our county.

As longtime Douglas County residents, we believe in responsive, local government. Home Rule can offer benefits when done right—but how we get there matters just as much as the destination. This election offered a case study in what happens when voters feel left out or rushed.

Here are some of the major concerns we heard from our neighbors across the political spectrum:

The process needed daylight from the start

The March 25 announcement really caught people off guard. Most hadn’t even heard anything was in the works. There were meetings happening, sure—but most folks had no clue. Nothing was really shared with the public. And when word finally got around, it seemed like the decision had already been made.

That left a lot of folks frustrated and wondering why it had to move so fast.

Perceptions of insider advantage

The rollout on March 25 raised concerns for some voters about the role of political groups and pre-selected candidates. A coordinated announcement of Charter Commission candidates—combined with substantial donations that appeared immediately—left many wondering whether decisions were made before the public even had a chance to weigh in.

Concerns about special interests and major projects

Voters worried Home Rule might become a shortcut for expensive projects, pushed through without public input. When tax money is involved, people expect a say. They want real transparency, especially on issues that affect their neighborhoods and bottom lines.

Questions about fairness and balance on the Charter Commission

Letting current elected leaders and party officials serve on the Charter Commission didn’t sit well with everyone. Even if it followed the letter of the law, it gave the sense that the process might favor political players over everyday residents. That feeling made it tough for some voters to trust the effort was truly grassroots.

A lack of clarity and preparation

The proposed Charter was expected to address over 60 complex issues—but few details were shared with the public. Voters were being asked to greenlight a fast-track process without knowing how critical governance questions would be handled. That understandably gave many pause.

Compressed timelines and costly execution

A $500,000 special election held during summer months—when families are traveling and tuned out of politics—gave voters little time or context to digest the implications. In contrast, Weld County’s Home Rule process took about a year, with thorough public hearings. Weld County’s slower, more inclusive approach offered a striking contrast—one that emphasized openness, patience and public involvement from the start.

Rebuilding trust to work together

No matter how you voted on Home Rule, now’s the time to take a breath and restart the conversation. What we heard loud and clear from voters is that they want to be part of the process from the ground up—not just asked to weigh in at the finish line.

We believe it’s time for Douglas County’s leaders—across all parties and affiliations—to listen more closely to grassroots concerns. 

The Douglas County GOP played a major role in supporting the initiative. And while many involved meant well, the way things played out didn’t sit right with a lot of voters. Plenty of folks felt uneasy watching how the whole thing was handled. It brought up bigger questions—not only about the plan, but about how choices like this are getting made in the first place.

Still, recognizing what went wrong doesn’t mean calling anyone out. It just means saying, hey, this didn’t go the way it should have—and next time, we’ve got to do better. You start by talking to the people who live it day to day. Small business owners. Parents. Ranchers. Retirees. Folks who feel the impact when things change.

Conservatism, when you boil it down, isn’t about top-down decisions. It’s about listening first—and trusting the people to help lead the way. That’s limited government at its finest.

By building coalitions grounded in shared principles and transparent processes, Douglas County can chart a path forward—whether that includes a future Home Rule initiative or other important reforms.

Chuck O’Reilly is a member of the Non Partisan Election Committee and former DC GOP treasurer. He can be reached at [email protected].

Russ Minary is a retired business owner, sales executive and political enthusiast.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.