Charter Groups Begins Process of Compiling First-Ever, Local Constitution
Rick Langenberg
“We had a great win but still have a lot of work ahead of us to continue the momentum. We can’t let our guard down.”
In fact, this commonly used sports phrase could become the winning, action theme of Cripple Creek’s new home rule charter commission, who are faced with the reality of hitting the ground running. Moreover, that means proceeding full-speed ahead, with the nine-member committee confronting a stern deadline: Compiling the first-ever Cripple Creek city charter, amounting to a detailed mini-constitution, within the next six months.
But for now, the group is still reaping the benefits of a big election win, with local voters endorsing home rule by more than a 60 to 40 percent margin during the Nov. 4 municipal election, a result that even surprised city leaders. However, their post-victory celebration lap has been short-lived with the group already having their initial kick-off meeting and making a final appointment to their committee and getting bombarded with sample charters from a score of communities.
At the Nov. 5 council meeting, elected leaders expressed much jubilant surprise over the initial results of a ballot question, authorizing the formation of the charter committee. Mayor Annie Durham publicly thanked the voters for giving the city the opportunity to take the home rule idea to the next and more critical level.
She praised the voters for having confidence and faith in the city’s effort to move forward on home rule, a proposition that will ultimately be decided on next November. “I am excited the voters gave us this opportunity,” said Durham, who admitted she had no preconceived idea on how the ballot proposition would turn out.
Similar sentiments were voiced by Councilman Jared Bowman, who helped orchestrate a pro-home rule election campaign. “I really thought it was going to be a lot closer,” said Bowman. “I really wasn’t sure how it would turn out.” He sent out a mailer to local voters emphasizing the importance of keeping politics local and letting the citizens decide key issues, instead of state officials. But more importantly, Bowman stressed the importance of “giving us a chance,” in the push for home rule. In talks with constituents, he noted that many regulatory concerns over home rule could be addressed in the final compilation of a city charter.
But similar to past home rule efforts in Cripple Creek, the idea was viewed skeptically by some citizens and business operators, who feared a possible hike in taxes and a council with too much power. TMJ New received a few anonymous letters, expressing concerns about the city’s move towards becoming a home rule city, with one letter writer claiming that it would allow the council to develop the regulatory powers of a stringent Home Owners Association, and seeing it more as a power trip for the city administrator and mayor.
However, despite these claims, no real opposition mounted. The city, meanwhile, throughout 2025 conducted an aggressive public information campaign that highlighted the benefits of home rule, featuring expert lawyers, who worked with many communities in Colorado.
The Real Home Rule Charter Work Begins
But now the real work begins. The charter commission held its first formal meeting on Nov. 12, and plans to meet the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 5:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public and will be available on Zoom.
Bowman said the group received about 10 sample charters from other communities. The group even has its own charter committee attorney to help coordinate its effort.
Some of the key issues cited deal with the subject of gaming device fees. Should the city continue the current policy of establishing fees on every gaming device or game showcased by casino operators, or develop a plan that assesses fees based more on adjusted gross proceeds?
During the COVID epidemic, local casinos had to reduce their gaming lineup, a development that generated much lower revenue for the city, which funds many of its operations from device fee revenue. Local casinos never really returned to their previous betting device count, which meant declining revenue for the city.
Also, the subject of vacant, dilapidated, commercial buildings, is a touchy subject that some city leaders hope to improve through the adoption of various fees and new rules, assessed against these building owners. “This gives us a bad image,” said Bowman. “It look really bad as you come into town with all of these vacant buildings on the main street.”
He also cited more control over local elections as a big plus.
The city also hopes to build a better defense mechanism to combat many of the new laws being adopted by state lawmakers through home rule. In fact, this fear actually became an impetus behind the home rule charter movement. Throughout 2025, City Administrator Frank Salvato stressed “more local control,” as the big advantage for home rule cities, which are now in the majority in Colorado, especially for a gaming and tourist town as extensive as Cripple Creek. Cripple Creek’s main gaming rivals, Central City and Black Hawk, all operate through a home rule system.
The current charter committee is comprised of the following citizens, whose names appeared on the election ballot: Bruce Brown, Kirk and Zeb Pennock, Elwood Henson, Kelly Turner, Jonathan Smith, Shawn Naprawa and Steve DiCamillo. And in a recent meeting, the group appointed a new member, Jordan Peak, to bring the total to nine members.
