As I noted yesterday, some 11 counties in Colorado held a referendum yesterday on the question of whether to pursue the idea of seceding from the state. As it turned out, the measure failed in a majority of the counties it was held in:
Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway said the 51st state movement is halted — at least in his county — but there were positive benefits from the secession campaign.
“Weld County voters said this is an option we shouldn’t pursue and we won’t pursue it,” Conway said Tuesday night. “But we will continue to look at the problems of the urban and rural divide in this state.”
Weld County voters Tuesday soundly rejected the 51st State Initiative 58 percent to 42 percent.
But in five of the 11 counties where the secession question appeared on the ballot, the measure passed by strong margins.
In Kit Carson County, 52 percent of voters directed county commissioners to explore secession and 48 percent voted against. In Washington County, 58 percent were for the initiative and 42 percent against.
Phillips County went 62 percent for and 38 against; Sedgwick went 57 percent against and 42.9 percent for; Cheyenne County voters cast 62 percent of ballots for and 37.7 against; and in Yuma County, 59 percent of the vote went for the breakaway and 41 percent against.
In Moffat County, the question failed, with 54.8 percent voting against secession. In Elbert County, 74 percent of voters said “no” to the idea of breaking away. In Lincoln County, 55.5 percent voted against.
The ballot question, intended as a straw poll, asked residents whether their county commissioners should takes steps to secede from the Centennial State.
Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton said Tuesday night that secession probably would not succeed. But he said the publicity would shed light on rural Colorado’s grievances.
“We not only want to be at the table,” he said, “but we want a voice at the table as well.”
So, don’t go investing in 51-star flags or anything.
