Initiative and Referendum

At the state level and in home rule counties and cities, the citizens have the right to make law (the Initiative) and to stop laws (The Referendum).

The citizens of Boulder County DO NOT have this right.

As Commissioners, the Libertarians will give to the citizens what the Colorado constitution grants them at the state and city levels: the ability to directly ovrerrule the laws made by the Commissioners (i.e. a Citizen's Referendum); and/or make laws (i.e. The Citizen's Initiative).

In general, Libertarians view rights as flowing from the people to the government. In this case, because of a flaw in the Colorado constitution, as your elected representatives we will put into the Colorado constitution what should be there as your right: the ability to overrule the decisions of your county commissioners.

Is this power important? Of course it is!  The Boulder City Council wished to grant an ill-advised variance to a developer and the citizens of the City of Boulder participated in a grass-roots effort to stop the City Council from doing this.  The effort was successful and the City Council did not issue the variance.

At the county level, we have no such right. Commissioners are thus far less responsive to the needs and wishes of the citizens of the county.

We will change the system to make Boulder's government more accountable.