DENVER - The Senate passed a bill Monday by Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, to allow county voters to elect their commissioners by district.

Currently, voters throughout the county elect commissioners, even though the commissioners represent different geographic districts.

SB 84 passed 35-0.

In 2012, a Senate committee shot down a nearly identical bill sponsored by Roberts and former Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio.

Colorado Counties Inc., a statewide group that advances the interest of county commissioners, stood strongly opposed to SB84.

SB84 now goes to the House. If it succeeds in that chamber and is signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper, counties with populations of 70,000 or less would be able to hold a vote to elect commissioners by district, instead of at-large.

joeh@cortezjournal.com