Political Fight Over State District Maps Gets 'Dirty'
DENVER (CBS4)- Drawing new legislative districts has become a finger-pointing mess between Republicans and Democrats.
Some are calling for Gov. John Hickenlooper to get involved.
"The governor should step in so we have a fair process," said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty.
The Republican representing the 43rd District claims emails show Democrats had an advantage in submitting maps that redraw Colorado's House and Senate districts.
Emails show Republicans were told the deadline for the maps was Nov. 23. But an email to a Democrat shows the deadline as four days later.
"Playing dirty, there's no other way to explain it," said McNulty.
In an email, McNulty called the chairman of the commission, Mario Carrera, a "failure" and said he "sided with Democrats to railroad the process."
"Those are pretty harsh words," said Carrera.
Carrera said Republicans were out-maneuvered by Democrats and that McNulty's letter is simply sour grapes.
"I'm not a party strategist for Republicans or Democrats," said Carrera.
McNulty said it's not that both sides didn't play to win, it's that they played by different rules.
"I think they should be ashamed of themselves," said McNulty.
McNulty also accuses the Democrats maps of targeting Republican women in leadership roles.
The governor's office said Hickenlooper has no authority to intervene and it will be up to the Colorado Supreme Court to decide if the maps are constitutional.
A battle over redrawing Colorado's Congressional districts went before the Colorado Supreme Court on Thursday.
Republican attorneys argue the Democratically-drawn map unfairly puts Douglas County in a district with the Eastern Plains. They liken it to a "square peg in a round hole."
Democratic attorneys argue the two areas share interests like water, oil and gas. They said their map keeps Aurora in one district for the first time ever.
