Killer Company's: FROM THE PUBLISHER: Quon-ifying Mijares’ Recall

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Leslie Quon has worked for Montrose County for twelve years. When new commissioners Scott Mijares and Sean Pond decided to force the resignations of County Manager Frank Rodriguez and County Attorney Marti Whitmore there didn't appear to be a plan for the aftermath. Assistant County Manager Emily Sanchez walked out following the resignations of the top two managers. Sanchez saw firsthand how Mijares and Pond treated her colleagues and wasn't going to stick around for that abuse. Reluctantly, HR Director Leslie Quon did, but not for long. At least, not as interim county manager.

In a revealing resignation letter to the BOCC and new county attorney Julie Andress, Quon expressed concern about being targeted and retaliated against like Rodriguez and Whitmore were by Mijares. And while she made it clear that Commissioners Sue Hansen and Pond were supportive of her, let's not lose sight of the fact that Pond enabled Mijares to push out Rodriguez and Whitmore. He plays a tough guy on social media, but in real life he's a jellyfish. There's a school of them forming.

Part of that school is Montrose County Republican Chair Monty George, who's been doing his best Tammy Wynette impersonation by standing by his men, Mijares and Pond.

Grand Junction television station KJCT decided to cover the Montrose County poop show and for some reason George was interviewed. Who named him county spokesperson? He revealed the reason that Pond and Hansen decided to each pull the plug on the only finalist for the Montrose county manager position, Brad Mitchell, was because he came back with a counter offer that was too much for the two to swallow. Where did George get that information? It was never discussed during a public meeting. In fact, when Mijares tried to bait Hansen into revealing why she was against hiring Mitchell in the Monday BOCC special session, she didn't bite, citing it was a personnel issue. He didn't ask Pond during the public meeting. Surely this was discussed in an executive session. Who made the ethical breach by telling George the reason? Yet, George and the other members of the jellyfish school disguised as the Montrose County Republican Party executive board and their operatives continue with the narrative that Hansen is the divider within the BOCC.

Pond, who has been running a three-legged race at a gold medal pace with Mijares as his partner since he took office, now has made subtle moves to try and separate himself. Where has he been? On June 25 he published on his official Facebook page a post of support for the women employed at the county entitled, 'The Backbone of Montrose County' and it in part reads as follows:

"You want to know who really keeps Montrose County running? It's the women behind the scenes who step up, take charge, and keep things moving, often without any of the credit they deserve. I want to take a moment to recognize two women who stepped straight into the fire this year and never flinched. Interim County Manager Leslie Quon and Interim County Attorney Julie Andress. These two didn't just keep the county afloat during a critical leadership transition, they excelled. Leslie brought her HR and strategic planning expertise to stabilize operations, while Julie provided exceptional legal leadership. They've earned my full respect and the respect of everyone paying attention."

Yet, he stood by as Mijares berated and blamed Quon for the current county's situation and as he targeted Marti Whitmore and made Emily Sanchez so uncomfortable she resigned from an organization that she served for 20 years. He's said nothing in work sessions as Mijares chastised Projects Manager Jennifer Murray for executing contracts she was tasked with by the previous BOCC and not directed by the current BOCC to stop. She constantly has to defend herself because she's actually doing her job. And while Hansen pushes back against Mijares, Pond sits on his hands. Mijares swats Hansen away like a gnat. But, if Pond were to take a stand that would have an impact. Social media platitudes don't mean a thing. Pond doesn't post on social media unless he's the beneficiary and in this case it was to cover his tracks of complicity. But when you walk on a trail of manure the stench from your boots gives you away.

But ultimately the dysfunctional environment that is currently on display falls on Mijares. The recall effort is underway and the amount of people currently carrying petitions has grown to over 80 and keeps climbing. At last count each petition carrier has to only garner 55 signatures to surpass the required amount to get the recall on the ballot. Mijares' statement that it's a handful of liberals out to cause disruption doesn't hold water. His other notion that this is coming from forces outside of the county who have done this to others is fantasy. It is a bipartisan effort of Montrose County voters who are up to their eyeballs with frustration at watching Mijares run good people out of their county government.

It's not a matter of whether Mijares should be recalled or should he just step down. We're at a point where he has to resign and hope the Montrose County Republican Central Committee will overcome the few in their midst who are blinded to the fact that a radical candidate can't bring functionality back to Montrose County government.

Keep in mind that the Montrose County Human Resources director stated she was in fear of targeting and retaliation. Words like that at an employment hearing can cost an employer hundreds of thousands of dollars if not over a million. There is precedent in Colorado to back up that statement. Again, I remind you these words are coming from the HR director — someone surely aware of the potential consequences of such legalese semantics.

Dennis Anderson is the publisher of the Montrose Daily Press and Delta County Independent.

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