To Paul Lundeen, the numbers reveal the truth about how well Colorado's 53 rural counties are represented — or not — at the state Capitol, particularly when compared to the 11 most populous counties that hold the most influence.

Lundeen, who recently served as the minority leader in the state Senate and resigned in June for a new job in Washington, D.C., said these figures have a direct bearing on which issues get primary consideration and what policies ultimately get adopted.

He lamented the lack of representation for rural Colorado at the state Capitol, which he attributed to elected leaders coming from the urban Front Range.

That, he said, is the direct result of their larger voter bases — and it has ramifications for the rest of the state.

“It is not just observation, it’s a fact,”

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