They insist that the Board of County Commissioners, or BCC, July 16 acceptance to explore all options and establish ground rules for Gina Janett's five-commissioner initiative referral was somehow formal approval. They know very well that formal approval during a public comment or a work session is not legitimate.

Such an unconditional commitment without revised ballot language to include all choices, without public process, and without assurance of support is unacceptable.

The leadership of this political group is aware that the BCC cannot make official decisions during public comment. Appropriate public process is required. BCC decisions, including referring initiatives, must be published in the BCC agenda for public notice prior to formal action during our Tuesday administrative session.

Commissioner Kathay Rennels and I made it perfectly clear, even though we both disagree with their five-commissioner proposal, that voters are capable of making informed choices. We also insisted that all choices be made available for voter consideration. If Gina did not agree with the recommended choice additions, she had the opportunity and responsibility to turn in the petitions prior to the deadline.

After reading Gina's comments in the July 21 Coloradoan to not support the BCC alternative, I realized that providing Gina the same opportunity to refer her initiative as we did Foothills Gateway and the term-limit-removal petitioners was questionable. The leadership and advocates of these previous two referendums conducted themselves in a very cooperative, professional manner and in concurrence with the county formal decision-making process.

Even though I was the only dissenter on the term-limit referendum because of a last-minute language revision, both groups did assure us that a positive, informative campaign of support would be conducted. Our attempt to contact Gina's committee for negotiation and agreement on the revised ballot language only resulted in Gina vindictively reprimanding our assistant county manager. Gina made it quite clear that she is in charge and in control of the group.

Gina did allow two members of her committee to meet with me. I left the meeting believing that they would attempt to gain the committee's full cooperation to negotiate and agree on the ballot language and obtain Gina's full support for the BCC proposal. I'm sure they left knowing my position for public process and complete assurance of Gina's committee support was needed for my decision.

Gina and her supporters have made it clear that complete assurance of support and public process was not forthcoming. I'm sure that Nate Donovan and Dian Spaulding did their best to reverse Gina's opposition to our alternative. Gina's conduct as spokesperson and the subsequent threats and slanderous comments by her political associates to advance her agenda has done serious harm to their reputation with voters and working relationship with the BCC.

Our giving preferential treatment by exempting any group from established procedure and public process in this or any case in never in the public interest and only violates public trust.

I believe that the citizens of Larimer County deserve up-front representation by all political groups and commissioners who trust voters to make sound decisions with all facts and choices made available to them when considering serious changes to the structure of their county government.

Tom Bender is a Larimer County commissioner.

Originally published in the Coloradoan Thursday, August 22, 2002