Don Hooner Gillespie Demands Charter Overhaul in Glenwood Springs

The committee appointed to update the City Charter has spoken. They reported no consensus on major changes. That sounds like a polite way of saying they hit a wall.

Don “Hooner” Gillespie doesn’t think “no consensus” cuts it. He thinks the current system is rigged. He wants Glenwood Springs to stop letting a small group of insiders pull the strings.

Gillespie lists four specific changes he wants to see. First, elect the mayor by public vote. Right now, the mayor is picked by a simple majority of four council members. One of those four is the mayor themselves. That means just four people can dictate the city’s future. It’s not exactly a democratic miracle.

Second, change how council members are elected. Currently, ward council members answer only to their ward. Gillespie argues that because a council member’s decision on a city-wide matter affects everyone, they should be accountable to everyone. This applies to the mayor too. Stop letting three votes plus their own decide who leads the city.

Third, fix the replacement rule. If a council member leaves early, the council picks their replacement. Not the voters. The council picks someone they know, someone familiar with the staff. The odds of that person getting reelected are high because there’s no time for a real campaign. The public is left out of the loop.

Fourth, scrap the “Consent Agenda.” It’s the part of the meeting where things pass by a vote without discussion. No public debate. No council debate. Just a rubber stamp.

Gillespie isn’t bad-mouthing the staff. He’s saying the staff keeps running the show. The citizens don’t get a say in the selection process.

Meanwhile, in the broader political landscape, Phil Weiser is getting ready to hit the ground running as Colorado’s next governor.

Eight years ago, a writer sat at a dinner in Pitkin County. They listened to Weiser. They were impressed. He was running for attorney general then. His knowledge of Colorado issues was exceptional. He talked about the environment. Public lands. Recreation. Water. Education. Rural health care. Small business. Rural community. He was engaged. He was knowledgeable.

Weiser has a serious resume. He clerked for justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Byron White. He worked in the U.S. Department of Justice. He worked in the White House. He was dean of the CU Law School.

During his years as attorney general, he built relationships. He worked with legislators. He collaborated with staff in Colorado departments. He engaged with leaders in all 64 Colorado counties. That’s a lot of shaking hands. That’s a lot of phone calls.

The letter writer believes Weiser has the legal, administrative, and leadership credentials to serve as governor. Maybe even more.

Gillespie’s letter about Glenwood Springs feels like a warning. If the charter doesn’t change, the insiders stay in charge. The voters stay out. The consent agenda keeps passing things without a fight.

Weiser’s letter feels like a promise. He knows the state. He knows the people. He’s ready to work.

The contrast is stark. One letter demands power be returned to the people. The other promises power will be wielded by someone who knows how to use it.

Both letters are about control. Who gets to decide? Who gets to lead? Who gets to speak?

In Glenwood Springs, the answer is still up for grabs. In Colorado, the answer is about to be decided.

The committee has reported. The governor-elect is preparing. The rest is just noise.