The proposed boundary changes for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District is not in the best interest of our agricultural communities that define the Western Slope.

I respectfully disagree with your editorial in the Sept. 8 edition of The Journal. One of the major issues Colorado agriculture faces is the urban population that neither understands our agricultural base or cares until there is a supply chain issue that affects what they see in the stores they shop. The intent of the most recent map is to have front range urban dwellers, who trend progressively in elections, be a dominant force in all of our congressional districts. No, thank you. Rural Colorado deserves fair representation.

The first proposed map, which saw extensive public meetings, did not split the Western Slope’s CD3. The current proposal is nothing short of gerrymandering and was ill-advised.

The Independent Commission is charged with the mission of creating competitive Districts. The last race was competitive. Rep. Lauren Boebert won with 51.4% of the vote. Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush had 45.6%. I suspect the real goal of the proposed new map is to divide a united voice on water and land policies on public lands, with a corresponding impact on our private lands.

As a friend of mine is fond of saying, the cavalry isn’t coming. We are the cavalry.

Allen Maez

Lewis