December 8th 2024.
After experiencing years of tension and conflict with her fellow commissioners, Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas made the decision to resign from her position on Friday. This comes just a few weeks before her term was set to end, and she cited the reason for her resignation as being "evicted" from her office space.
In a post on social media, Thomas spoke out about the struggles she faced while working alongside commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal, describing it as "4 years of hell." She expressed that she had endured constant harassment, suppression, censorship, marginalization, and even being completely shut out from the decision-making process.
Thomas' term was set to expire in January, at which point State Senator Kevin Van Winkle was expected to take over her seat. Thomas was first elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020, but according to the county's regulations, commissioners are limited to two terms in office.
In her post, Thomas shared that on Wednesday, Laydon and Teal had ordered county staff to clear out her office space in order to make room for Van Winkle. Despite there already being a vacant executive office available for Van Winkle's use, Thomas felt that they deliberately chose to kick her out. She stated that this final act of personal harassment was the last straw for her.
The three commissioners have had a tumultuous relationship for years, with Laydon and Teal publicly censuring Thomas, removing her from her position as board chair, and even launching two investigations into her conduct. However, both investigations failed to find any evidence of wrongdoing. In response, Thomas took legal action against her colleagues in 2023 in an attempt to recover the legal fees she incurred during the investigations.
In a joint statement to Denver7, Laydon and Teal denied any wrongdoing and claimed that there was nothing unusual about the timing of Van Winkle's move into Thomas' office. They also criticized the timing of Thomas' interview with the broadcaster, stating that she chose to do it while the county was honoring the family of Kendrick Castillo.
Despite the difficulties and conflicts faced during her time as commissioner, Thomas shared that she is grateful for the peace, positivity, and collaboration that Commissioner-elect Kevin Van Winkle will bring to Douglas County. As she steps down from her position, she hopes that the community will stay informed about Colorado politics by signing up for the weekly newsletter, The Spot.
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