Social Media Post Alleging Democrats' Takeover Sparks Lawsuit Over Douglas County Meetings

Plaintiffs Lora Thomas, State Representative Bob Marshall and Lone Tree resident Julie Gooden have filed a lawsuit alleging the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners violated Colorado’s Open Meetings Law in the runup to a March 25, 2025 meeting in Castle Rock that approved a resolution to begin a home‑rule charter process.

The complaint, filed last month, asks a judge to find the commissioners broke open‑meetings requirements, issue an injunction forcing future compliance and invalidate the March 25 meeting, which would restart the county’s home‑rule effort. Plaintiffs contend the board met more than a dozen times in closed sessions to plan the home‑rule election before holding a public meeting that they say merely “rubber stamped” the resolutions.

The March 25 press conference and public meeting at Douglas County government offices drew public attention when a photo showed Commissioner George Teal, District Attorney George Brauchler and Commissioner Abe Laydon at the news conference announcing the home‑rule push. Brauchler framed increased local control as necessary for public safety and accused Democratic leadership at the State Capitol of being “soft on crime,” saying more autonomy was critical to go after criminals in Douglas County.

County officials have defended the closed sessions cited in the lawsuit. A county official identified only as Lung said the meetings were held to discuss administrative planning and legal issues, not policymaking. Commissioner George Teal characterized the lawsuit in strong terms, saying, “The court recognized the lawsuit for what it truly was: a frivolous attempt to undermine our democracy, driven by petty political grievances and personal vendettas.” Teal added, “This victory is not just about today; it is about safeguarding our future. It sends a clear message that we will not tolerate any efforts to manipulate or suppress the democratic process.”

The political backdrop includes a social‑media post that alleges an internal Democratic Party strategy to gain control in historically conservative Douglas County and has prompted accusations of a “takeover.” That post remains unverified in publicly available reporting; the post’s platform, author and date have not been disclosed. State Rep. Bob Marshall said he is “agnostic” about home rule in principle and warned that while home rule “could be a good thing,” it “shouldn’t be presented as a way to sidestep state laws,” a framing he warned could invite costly legal battles for the county.

Internal commission turmoil has also surfaced. Draft minutes show Abe Laydon was appointed chair and George Teal vice chair, a change former Commissioner Lora Thomas called a “planned effort.” Thomas said, “The problem is that they are trying to silence me,” and added, “I won’t be silenced.” Thomas highlighted votes on the C‑PACE commercial financing program, pension plans for deputies, a local building purchase and graywater discharges as flashpoints.

If voters approve a charter, the commission must write the charter and present it to voters in November, with a draft posted within 60 days of the election for public review. Home rule could give Douglas County more local control over taxes, parks and government structure and would place the county alongside Weld and Pitkin as home‑rule counties in Colorado.

Questions over campaign funding remain. The “Yes on Local Control” committee lists Katie Kennedy, a principal of Strategic Compliance LLC, as its registered agent and is required to file a report of contributions and expenditures by June 3. Kennedy did not respond to requests for comment. Douglas County’s roughly 315,000 registered voters are about 50 percent unaffiliated, 31 percent Republican and 17 percent Democrat, a makeup that underscores the stakes for the November ballot.

Douglas County’s recent legal posture against the state — including a lawsuit over $4 billion in property tax relief and suits over immigration laws, plus a resolution backing President Donald Trump’s deportation plans — frames the home‑rule push as part of a broader local effort to assert autonomy. The pending lawsuit and forthcoming campaign finance disclosures will determine whether the March 25 actions stand or the home‑rule process must start over.