District 3 Commissioner1907 to 1915 and 1917 to 1923Republican
Born 1863, died 1937Robert L. Downes served two elected terms as Commissioner, was appointed by the Governor in January 1917 to succeed resigned Commissioner Enos Keel, and subsequently was elected to another full term in 1918. Downes was born in Bishops Crossing, Quebec, Canada, the youngest of 11 children, and came to Colorado as a young man. He first lived in Morrison where he worked as a blacksmith, then moved to Trinidad, Colorado. After four years he returned to Jefferson County where for many years he operated three ranches in the Evergreen and Bergen Park area. After selling his ranches he retired to Troutdale-in-the-Pines. In addition to his years as a County Commissioner, Downes served Jefferson County as a road overseer and game warden.