WEEK OF DECEMBER 14, 2023
VOLUME 37 | ISSUE 2
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Citizens protest Laydon, Teal over Thomas treatment
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Dan Meyer, of Highlands Ranch, stands at the lectern during the Douglas County commissioners’ meeting Dec. 5, speaking in support of Commissioner Lora Thomas. Area residents gathered to speak in protest of the way PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD Thomas’ colleagues have treated her.
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
About a dozen members of the public decried the way two of Douglas County’s elected leaders have treated their colleague, with some urging the two to return the powers and privileges they’ve taken from her amid a longstanding 2-1 rift. The long train of public commenters came after several actions by Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal to punish or restrict Commissioner Lora Thomas. “We spoke loud and clear when we elected Lora to represent us,” a man said during the Dec. 5 commissioners meeting in Castle Rock, arguing that the two-leader majority’s actions appear to be “designed to negate” Thomas’ voice. The scene was reminiscent of a March commissioners meeting
where about a dozen speakers criticized the commissioners’ actions, with many taking issue specifically with Laydon and Teal. In the months since, the two-commissioner majority has continued to reprimand Thomas in response to what they say is inappropriate conduct. One commenter at the Dec. 5 meeting called the majority “big bullies.” Thomas has been investigated and criticized, but the commenter said Thomas “has been vindicated in all respects.” In response, Laydon said he feels “a great deal of compassion and sympathy for everyone in this room.” “For you to be called here and gaslit and told a lie is really disconcerting,” Laydon said, also calling Thomas “a reckless agitator.” Laydon later implied that the long session of public comment was “sub-
SPORTS: 12 | VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19
jecting (people) to theater,” eliciting an outcry from members of the audience, who objected to that characterization. Tensions ran high, with some in the audience speaking over Laydon and one man using profanity toward him. “For the record, I was not asked to come here,” the man who made the “we spoke loud and clear” comment also said. “It’s not good to gaslight people, and you should stop.” Cindy Dalton, of Lone Tree, helped organize at least part of the group of speakers that came to the meeting. She has called the majority’s treatment of Thomas “unacceptable” and “unethical.” John Swartout, who identified himself as a resident of Highlands Ranch, said he has worked with both Laydon and Thomas on positive matters. SEE PROTEST, P8
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