News
VAIL, Colorado — The Vail Valley is married to Jared Polis until death or redistricting do us part.
New congressional district maps from both Republicans and Democrats leave the valley in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, anchored in Boulder and represented by Boulder Democrat Jared Polis.
“I think that's exactly what we have to look forward to,” said Kaye Ferry, chairman of the Eagle County Republican party.
Maybe.
For now, the Democratic map would add Lake County and the Roaring Fork Valley side of Eagle County to the 3rd Congressional District with most of the rest of the Western Slope. Right now, the 3rd Congressional District is represented by Republican Scott Tipton.
The Democratic map could split off a few neighborhoods in the Gypsum/Eagle end of the valley, and move them into the 3rd congressional district. But that won't be decided until the end of the year.
Here's why.
Congressional district maps are redrawn every 10 years when there's a new Census. Redistricting is supposed to be done by state lawmakers, but as in 2000, they failed to nail down a plan during this year's legislative session.
So, down the path to Lawsuit Land we all go, and what a long and winding road it is.
State Republicans and Democrats submitted their maps to Denver District Court earlier this week, and the case goes to back to court in October.
The deadline for the courts to decide is Dec. 14.
“Now it's the lawyers going back and forth. The elected officials and constituents have no more to do with the process,” Ferry said.
Richard Westfall agrees. He's a Denver lawyer representing Republicans in the redistricting lawsuit.
“This is a legal process, not political gamesmanship,” Westfall told reporters.
Republicans dubbed their map “Minimum Disruption 1.”
“It's like doctors taking The Hippocratic oath. The first thing is to do no harm,” Ferry said.
Democratic strategist Scott Martinez called the Republican model “Incumbent Protection 1.” He says the Democratic map is much better.
“Our map's going to be chock-full of competitive districts,” Martinez told reporters. “We start from the concept that there's a problem with Washington, D.C. Competitive districts yield moderate candidates that know they have to work with the other side.”
Ferry says the maps Democrats now oppose are the same maps they submitted 10 years ago.
“Now the math doesn't work for them,” she said.
Not so, says Martinez.
“It's as if the seven congressional members sat in a room and picked their favorite district,” Martinez said, criticizing the Republican map.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.
New congressional district maps from both Republicans and Democrats leave the valley in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, anchored in Boulder and represented by Boulder Democrat Jared Polis.
“I think that's exactly what we have to look forward to,” said Kaye Ferry, chairman of the Eagle County Republican party.
Maybe.
For now, the Democratic map would add Lake County and the Roaring Fork Valley side of Eagle County to the 3rd Congressional District with most of the rest of the Western Slope. Right now, the 3rd Congressional District is represented by Republican Scott Tipton.
The Democratic map could split off a few neighborhoods in the Gypsum/Eagle end of the valley, and move them into the 3rd congressional district. But that won't be decided until the end of the year.
Here's why.
Congressional district maps are redrawn every 10 years when there's a new Census. Redistricting is supposed to be done by state lawmakers, but as in 2000, they failed to nail down a plan during this year's legislative session.
So, down the path to Lawsuit Land we all go, and what a long and winding road it is.
State Republicans and Democrats submitted their maps to Denver District Court earlier this week, and the case goes to back to court in October.
The deadline for the courts to decide is Dec. 14.
“Now it's the lawyers going back and forth. The elected officials and constituents have no more to do with the process,” Ferry said.
Richard Westfall agrees. He's a Denver lawyer representing Republicans in the redistricting lawsuit.
“This is a legal process, not political gamesmanship,” Westfall told reporters.
Republicans dubbed their map “Minimum Disruption 1.”
“It's like doctors taking The Hippocratic oath. The first thing is to do no harm,” Ferry said.
Democratic strategist Scott Martinez called the Republican model “Incumbent Protection 1.” He says the Democratic map is much better.
“Our map's going to be chock-full of competitive districts,” Martinez told reporters. “We start from the concept that there's a problem with Washington, D.C. Competitive districts yield moderate candidates that know they have to work with the other side.”
Ferry says the maps Democrats now oppose are the same maps they submitted 10 years ago.
“Now the math doesn't work for them,” she said.
Not so, says Martinez.
“It's as if the seven congressional members sat in a room and picked their favorite district,” Martinez said, criticizing the Republican map.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.
