Two years ago (May 2021), Douglas County Commissioners released their bi-annual “Citizen Survey” results. It showed a continued decline in things being in the “right direction” (the survey and figures stated here are at https://www.douglas.co.us/documents/douglas-county-voter-opinion-polls-1995-through-2023.pdf/). This trend was dismissed at that time as “due to the increase in Democrats in the county.”

Now another survey has been released, and it revealed the same kind of results: 49% were concerned that we are on the wrong track. The commissioners once again stated that “partisanship was ... a driving force behind opinions.”

What the commissioners are ignoring in this “partisan” reasoning is that Republican participation was almost double Democratic (37% vs. 20%), and unaffiliated was even higher (43%). Almost half of the county concerned about our direction can't be blamed solely on party affiliation, and the survey results proves this.

Results showed “Right Direction” dropped 14% since 2019. That is far more than the 6% reduction of Republicans in the same period. That means that some Republicans must also agree that we're heading down the wrong path.

It is more probable that this concern is driven by actions that commissioners have taken, which have been highly ideological, stubborn, and sometimes personal: opting out of a public health order; accusing each other of leaking “classified” material; approving fireworks during a drought that started wildfires; trying to take over Daniels Park because Denver didn't want handguns in the park; trying to take water from another county; bullying Tri-County Health Department members into resigning and eventually killing TCHD altogether; passing a resolution proclaiming Douglas County a “safe constitutional county” so they could tell the sheriff to not enforce the Colorado red flag law; commissioners stripping another commissioner of board memberships; declaring the pandemic over two years ago; a commissioner's wife criticizing another commissioner on Twitter; and constant bickering and name calling.

If we want to get back on the proverbial right track, it is time for our commissioners to put the community before their own petty grievances and power plays, and start respecting their constituents' opinions. They can say that they value other opinions, but actions still speak louder than words.

Len Whitten

Highlands Ranch