By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
Lora Thomas has resigned from her position as Douglas County commissioner, a term which was to end in five weeks.
According to a Denver 7 report, Thomas cites years of harassment by fellow commissioners George Teal and Abe Layden as the reason for her decision.
In a press release and conference, Thomas reflected on her public service and the personal toll of the ongoing conflict.
Thomas’ resignation ends a career in public service which lasted decades. Before serving as a county commissioner, she broke barriers. She was the first woman captain and major in the Colorado State Patrol. She also served as Douglas County coroner, reducing office costs by 33% and rooting out internal corruption.
Thomas noted her commitment to Douglas County, highlighting a personal investment.
“In 2015, when I decided to run for county commissioner, I took a mortgage on my home for $112,000 because I have been a public servant my entire life,” Thomas shared during the press conference, which can be viewed at Denver 7. “That’s how hard a decision this is for me to make.”
Thomas described enduring years of harassment and exclusion by her fellow commissioners.
“For almost four years, I have been the target of continued and unrelenting attacks, harassment, unfounded investigations and vindictive punishment by my two fellow commissioners,” she said.
The conflict reached a climax earlier this week when Thomas was ordered to vacate her office immediately to accommodate Commissioner-elect Kevin Van Winkle.
“On Wednesday, George Teal and Abe Layden directed staff to evict me next Monday from the office that I have used for nearly eight years,” Thomas stated. “Despite the availability of other executive office space, they insisted I leave.”
According to the Denver 7 report, Thomas’ tenure has been fraught with tensions, including her suspension as board chair in 2022. Thomas accused Teal and Layden of sidelining her in governance decisions, saying, “These guys have canceled me. I have not been able to represent the 129,000 residents that voted for me in 2020.”
Thomas expressed particular disappointment over being excluded from initiatives she spearheaded, including the creation of Judicial District 23, which she described as her most significant achievement.
“The idea of JD23 was entirely my concept,” she said. “Imagine my disappointment when George and Abe took that assignment away from me in June of this year.”
Thomas also criticized her exclusion from the county’s 2024 State of the County event. “In yet another act of censorship, Teal and Layden have denied me the right to appear in any of the videos for the State of the County event,” she said. “These videos feature my colleagues and commissioner-elect Kevin Van Winkle, but not me, a sitting commissioner.”
Throughout her tenure, Thomas has used her weekly newsletter to highlight what she considers wasteful spending and mismanagement. She pointed to a trip to Harvard by Layden, which cost taxpayers $17,400.
“Layden told staff to pay the bill, promising to reimburse the taxpayers, but he reneged on that promise,” Thomas alleged.
Her transparency efforts were met with resistance, which she attributed to her colleagues’ desire for control.
“They don’t want advisors. They want rubber stamps,” she said. “Three individuals have been summarily removed from advisory boards because they did not toe the line.”
The decision to vacate her office prematurely was the tipping point for Thomas. Despite offering to move out by early January, her colleagues insisted she leave immediately: “I offered to be out of my office on Jan. 6, but Teal and Layden insisted I leave immediately,” she said. “I will not face the humiliation, and I’m not going to force staff to have to move my things either. I just can’t do it anymore.”
Thomas concluded her press conference by reflecting on her legacy and expressing gratitude to the residents of Douglas County.
“The most important thing that I have done was the idea to create the new judicial district JD23,” she said. “It has been the ultimate honor and privilege of my life to serve [the people of Douglas County].”
Acknowledging the personal toll of her role, she added, “I toss and turn all night long… My physical health has been affected. I’m looking forward to spending time with my family, resting, and healing.”
Thomas’ resignation underscores the growing tensions within Douglas County governance. As commissioner-elect Kevin Van Winkle prepares to take her place, questions remain about transparency and collaboration among the county’s leaders.
For Thomas, the journey ends with both pride and heartbreak.
“I have done everything I can to represent the people of Douglas County,” she said. “But the time has come.”