Opposition to SB26-150
My name is Kathleen Chandler, and I am one of 15 elected Directors on the RTD board. I represent District F – the eastern side of Aurora.
I am writing regarding Senate Bill 26-150 and its proposed changes to the governance structure of the Regional Transportation District (RTD). Currently there are 15 elected directors for the 2,342 miles district with a total population of 3.1 million residents. District F is home to about 200,000 residents.
After careful consideration, I am unable to support SB26-150.
At its core, SB26-150 shifts authority away from officials who are directly elected by the voters and places it in the hands of unelected gubernatorial appointees.
This represents a significant change in governance. RTD is funded by taxpayers and serves the public, and its leadership should remain directly accountable to those same voters. Reducing elected representation while increasing the role of appointed positions risks weakening that accountability and diminishing the voice of the citizens we are entrusted to serve. The bill changes the 15-member elected board to a 5-person elected board with 4 gubernatorial appointees for a total of 9 members.
Elected board members are accountable to their constituents through regular elections. They are not only representatives, but citizens who bring real-world experience, community knowledge, and a direct understanding of the needs of the people they serve. The idea that elected citizens are somehow less qualified to govern than appointed individuals overlooks the value of that lived experience and the legitimacy that comes from being chosen by voters. Appointed members, while often highly qualified in specific areas, do not carry that same direct line of accountability to the public.
The appointed members, as proposed, are not accountable to the communities that are serviced by RTD but to the governor. At the very least, the cities and counties that reside in the district should have a voice on who those members are. Instead, the governor, a state-wide elected official, appoints those 4 members.
I appreciate the intent to strengthen governance and bring additional expertise to RTD. However, I believe there are ways to incorporate expertise—through advisory roles, staff support, and stakeholder engagement—without reducing the role of elected representation. Public institutions function best when they are both informed and accountable, and those principles should work together, not in tension. We want democracy, that is the election of our representatives. SB26-150 does the exact opposite. It takes away the vote of the people in their local community.
For these reasons, I respectfully oppose SB26-150.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Chandler
RTD Board of Directors
District F