By Annie Durham, Mayor of Cripple Creek

On November 4th, Cripple Creek voters will be asked the following on Ballot Question 2B: “Shall the City of Cripple Creek form a Home Rule Charter Commission for the purpose of drafting a Home Rule Charter?”

There are currently 108 home rule municipalities in the State of Colorado, which means Cripple Creek is in the minority as a statutory city. Being statutory, we are subject to rules created at the State level where local matters are concerned.

The formation of the Home Rule Charter Commission will allow elected citizens to write a home rule charter. The writing of the charter would start in December of 2025 and conclude in May of 2026. Once the charter is completed, it would be made available at Cripple Creek City Hall to all citizens who wish to review it prior to the election in November of 2026. If citizens vote to approve the charter in November of 2026, Cripple Creek would become a home rule municipality; if voters do not approve the charter, Cripple Creek would remain statutory.

It is important to note that all citizens would be strongly encouraged to attend any Home Rule Charter Commission meetings to understand how the charter is being written, and to provide valuable feedback during the writing process. This is truly a citizen-led effort that would ultimately allow a much greater degree of local control for matters that affect our community instead of local matters being dictated by legislation enacted at the State level.

Since the inception of home rule in Colorado in 1904, not one home rule municipality has chosen to revert back to being a statutory municipality. I strongly believe that becoming a home rule municipality would be a significant win for the future of Cripple Creek. Therefore, I implore Cripple Creek citizens to vote YES on 2B.