Resolving family legal issues can be stressful and complicated. Emotions run high, and it can be difficult to see the matter clearly. You need objective legal counsel from an experienced family attorney. Call the Law Office of John Williams in Charlotte, NC. John Williams can assist you if you're filing for divorce. He also handles child custody and guardianship cases.
Arrange for a consultation with a divorce attorney in Charlotte, NC today.
Montrose County Issues
Articles from Past issues
The Truth Behind the Recall Attempt Against
County Commissioner Scott Mijares
Submitted by: Fite4Truth
7/7/25
The recall effort against County Commissioner Scott Mijares is rooted in misinformation and half-truths. Below, we address the accusations and provide a clear, factual account of the events.
Background and Context
1. County Manager Hiring Dispute
Before the November 2024 election, a vacancy arose for the County Manager position. The incumbent Commissioners, led by Commissioner Sue Hansen, opted to fill the role rather than allowing the incoming Commissioners, including Mijares (who ran unopposed), to make the decision. Mijares urged the Board to delay the hiring until the new Commissioners were seated, but Hansen and her colleagues not only proceeded but also lowered the qualifications for the position. As a result, Frank Rodriguez was hired as County Manager. Rodriguez aligned himself closely with Hansen, mistakenly assuming she would remain Chair and that Mijares would have little influence. However, all three Commissioners, including Mijares, were his supervisors.
2. Illegal Hiring of County Health Director
Rodriguez violated Colorado law (C.R.S. 21-1-508), which mandates that the County Board of Health, not the County Manager, hires the County Health Director. Commissioner Hansen dismissed this breach as a “clerical error,” but Mijares and newly elected Commissioner Sean Pond rightfully opposed the illegal action.
3. False Accusations of Racism
Hansen and her supporters accused Mijares and Pond of racism for questioning the illegal hiring of a County Health Director, an individual from Bangladesh falsely portrayed as a U.S. citizen and medical doctor. These baseless claims were used to deflect from the illegal action.
Additionally, Mijares, who is Hispanic himself, faced accusations of racism for questioning Rodriguez during his tenure as County Manager. These claims are not only false but also misleading, as Hispanic is an ethnic group, not a race, encompassing diverse cultures and racial backgrounds.
4. Misrepresentation of “Toxic” Behavior
The local media and Hansen’s supporters have falsely claimed that Mijares’ “toxic” behavior led to Rodriguez’s resignation and other staff departures. In reality, resignations stemmed from accountability measures. For instance, the County Attorney provided questionable, possibly illegal advice to Mijares, prompting him to seek outside legal counsel, which was approved by a 2-1 vote of the Commissioners. The resignations of the County Attorney and County Manager were actually not due to Mijares’ actions but rather a resistance to scrutiny.
5. Commissioner Sue Hansen’s Questionable Actions
Commissioner Hansen, once a respected member of the Montrose County Republican Party, has engaged in several unethical actions:
• Violated Pre-Primary Neutrality: Hansen signed a resolution pledging neutrality during the GOP Primary but supported questionable candidates, including one with multiple federal tax liens who ran against Mijares, a successful businessman who has invested in Montrose without taxpayer subsidies.
• Interfered with Constituents’ Rights: Hansen pressured a constituent to sponsor all Primary candidates at a privately funded Meet & Greet event, attempted to undermine the host’s right to feature only their preferred candidates.
• Violated Colorado Election Law (C.R.S. 1-13-713): Hansen’s actions attempted to interfere with voters’ rights to freely exercise their elective franchise.
• Ignored Financial Misconduct: Hansen and former Commissioners condoned or overlooked the illegal transfer of millions in Public Safety Tax funds, intended for the Montrose County Sheriff’s Department, to the General Fund. Mijares and Pond are pushing for an investigation into this matter.
• Aligned with Discredited Figures: Hansen has associated with a former County GOP Chair who was removed for misconduct, including theft of campaign materials, mismanagement of funds, By-Law violations, verbal abuse, and violent outbursts that violated voters’ First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble.
6. Hansen’s Betrayal of the Republican Party
Despite being elected as a Republican with overwhelming Republican support, Hansen resigned from the Montrose County Republican Party without notice and in secret+, betraying the organization and voters who backed her. Her actions, alongside a disinformation campaign, falsely portray her as a reputable public servant.
Why the Recall Targets Mijares
The recall against Commissioner Mijares is a reaction to his commitment to serve the people and hold government officials accountable. During his campaign, Mijares pledged to prioritize taxpayers’ interests and address misconduct, a stance that threatens entrenched interests. The recall is an attempt to undermine his election victory and silence his efforts to expose unethical behavior.
Call to Action
Do not be deceived by the recall campaign against Commissioner Scott Mijares. He is fulfilling his mandate to serve Montrose County with integrity.
Oppose this unethical and anti-democratic attack on a dedicated public servant.
Note: Colorado Statute C.R.S. 1-13-713 prohibits intimidation or interference with voters’ rights to freely participate in elections.
“It is unlawful for any person directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person in his or her behalf, to impede, prevent, or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of the elective franchise of any elector or to compel, induce, or prevail upon any elector either to give or refrain from giving the elector’s vote at any election provided by law or to give or refrain from giving the elector’s vote for any particular person or measure at any such election”.
"WHILE YOU WERE OUT" ENJOYING YOUR SUMMER.....
7/7/25
ATTENTION: Montrose Mayor, City Councilors, and Montrose taxpayers
As overseers and hiring/firing authority of City Manager Mr. William Bell, and ultimately responsible for every tax dollar spent, y'all take time for a closer look. Remember "EXPECT WHAT YOU INSPECT?" Are we coming in loud and clear yet? The funneling of taxpayer $$$$!
Is it no surprise that Bill Bell, Conner Bell, Sydney Bell, and William Woody (of Steve Woody fame) won the HopeWest Hospice Golf Tournament on June 21st held at Cobble Creek? The foursome that tied them did not spend YOUR taxpayer money. They were runner-up with the same score!! Well, it gets better!!
When there is one, there is more than one
$1,000.00 6/10/25. "Operating Fund".
Bill Bell's family and friend, winners of the
HopeWest Hospice Golf Tournament.
$1,000.00 5/8/25. "Public Safety Fund".
Police Chief Blaine Hall's "Golf Team".
HopeWest Hospice Golf Tournament
$8,000.00 5/19/25: Remington's (Bridges)
Get this! RE: "Self-Insurance Medical, Dental, Vision"
$4,000.00 5/19/25: Remington's (Bridges)
RE: No category assignment-time to go back and check?
$1,280.00 5/19/25: Remington's (Bridges)
RE: "Self-Insurance Medical, Dental, Vision"
$ 640.00 5/19/25. Remington's (Bridges)
No category assignment - check with legal first!
$5,530.00 10/17/24. Links at Cobble Creek
RE: "City Championship Green Fees
and Prize Money".
$5,530.00 10/17/24. Bridges Golf Club
NO KIDDING:
RE: "Payment for City Championship"
Why not hold this at Black Canyon (owned by the City)?
Hmmmmmmmmmm $5,530 X 2 = $11,060.00
Two City tournaments? or "prize money?"
Let's see… does the City of Montrose own Black Canyon Golf Course, the one that runs in the red every year by hundreds of thousands of TAXPAYER dollars???
Or is this Bill Bell's Golf Course?
This information should be published in Bill Bell's "Fact versus Fiction" prank in the Montrose Mirror.
You do the Fiction Mr. Bell. Montrose Citizens' DOGE can do the Facts.
TOTAL $26,980.00 spent on The Bridges and Cobble Creek!!
Expenditures endorsed by City Mayor David Frank, and City Council's J. David Reed, Judy Ann Files, David Glaspell, Ed Ulibarri. City Attorney? "No "there there?" Any conflicts of interest?
Only lawsuits and elections can fix this travesty and abuse of YOUR taxpayer funds.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS!!
Subterra Insights, LLC: Targeting Conservative Municipalities to Flip Elections?
By Leah Vandersluis, Concerned Citizen of Montrose
7/7/25
I attended a meeting at the United Methodist Church in Montrose on June 26, which Ellen Angeles announced at the last MCSB District meeting. It was sponsored by Subterra Insights, LLC. Although Subterra promotes itself as a neutral organization on their website, I discovered that there seems to be a hidden agenda to affect change in conservative areas, and they are targeting the upcoming Montrose County School Board election in November.
Led by Rob Rogers and Melissa Hendrix, the website states:
“At Subterra Insights, we are committed to pioneering innovative solutions that drive transformative decisions. One of our most groundbreaking contributions to the political landscape is the Citizen Lifetime Value (CLV) metric. This advanced tool, adapted from marketing analytics, enhances voter targeting and digital advertising, providing a comprehensive, data-driven approach to understanding and engaging voters.” (https://subterrainsights.com/revolutionizing-voter-targeting-with-citizen-lifetime-value-clv/)
This sounds harmless, but at the beginning of the presentation, several videos of Betsy DeVos, her husband and Lance Wallnau talked about the need to take over education (which Mr. Rogers called Christian Nationalism). At the get-go, the stage was clear: to make people think that all conservatives are Christian Nationalists, and how imperative it is to elect people outside of this ideology. There might be some “Christian Nationalists” who want to bring Christianity into the public classroom, but to make a sweeping statement (or impression) is dangerous.
We have two conservative school board members currently, and they are anything but “Christian Nationalists,” however, they both have a desire to see our public schools effective in raising up well-educated and well-adjusted future leaders of our country.
Mr. Rogers also claimed that “Christian Nationalists” are appealing to voters’ fears to get their support by using deception. Again, this does not apply to Montrose County.
Another disturbing issue was their view on charter schools. They do not believe that charter schools should be public schools. They claimed that certain people are given preference to attend over others, which does not align with the rules of charter schools. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and if there are more students than spaces, a lottery occurs. All children are accepted: ethnicities, genders, disabled, etc. The impression given was charter schools self-ruled and had little accountability, however, that is not true.
In a recent article in The Epoch Times: Why Charter Schools Received $60 Million Boost, it was noted:
Charter schools receive “much less than what lower-performing public schools get” (about $3,500 less per student). According to a 2023 report from Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, in 18 cities across 16 states, public-funding for charter schools over the 2019-2020 school year averaged $7,147 per student, or about 30% less than what traditional public schools receive. (MCSD will receive about $11,500 per student this next school year.)
“Charter schools across the nation are scoring better than traditional public schools in math, reading, and college readiness assessments.”
“According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, 60.5% of charter schools are black or Hispanic, compared with 41.9% of traditional public school students.”
“Nationally, charter schools provide an average of 16 more days of reading instruction per year than public schools according to a 2023 report by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University.”
The report “involved data comparisons from more than 6.5 million students before the COVID-19 pandemic, states that low-income and minority students experienced more academic growth in charter schools. Eighty-three percent of charter schools produced reading scores that were equal to or better than their neighboring public schools…while 75% produced superior math scores.
“Perhaps the most revealing finding of our study is that more than 1,000 [charter] schools have eliminated learning disparities for their students and moved their achievement ahead of their respective state performance.” (https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/why-charter-schools-nationwide-just-received-a-60-million-funding-boost-5875921)
My son went to a charter school in Boulder County and it resembled a public school. There was no elitism, favoritism and unaccountability, and the student population was very diverse. I was very involved.
One last point… Mr. Rogers stated that public schools shape civic identity, workforce readiness and basic trust in institutions. Charter schools do this as well, and those that use a classical curriculum instill truth, values, and critical thinking more so than other charter and public schools. As a matter of fact, students in many charter schools learn about civics and how are government is run. Unfortunately, that is not the case for most public school students. Check out this article from the American Federation of Teachers: https://www.aft.org/ae/summer2018/shapiro_brown.
I will give Mr. Rogers credit in that he says that everyone should care about public education in Montrose, and all of us should be familiar with our school board and what is going on in our community. Absolutely!
Preserving Montrose County's Values:
A Battle Over Governance and Family
by Michael J Badagliacco, "MJB"
7/7/25
Montrose County, Colorado, stands at a crossroads, grappling with challenges to its conservative roots and family-centric principles. A contentious recall effort against County Commissioner Scott Mijares and opposition to educational choice reflect a broader struggle over local governance and parental rights. These conflicts, driven by a small but vocal group of activists, threaten the community's traditional values of family, transparency, and democratic choice. This article explores these issues, their implications, and the path forward for Montrose County.
The Recall Effort Against Commissioner Mijares
Commissioner Scott Mijares, sworn into office in January 2025 after winning the Republican primary for District 1, has faced relentless opposition from a self-described "bi-partisan" group seeking his recall. This effort, led by figures such as Jim Haugsness, an 81-year-old former political candidate and member of the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority Board, and Stephanie Williams, a 54-year-old Montrose native and Vice President of the Montrose Public Library District Board of Trustees, alongside activists Ellen Angeles, Linda Gann, Phoebe Benzinger, and Ray Langston, mirrors tactics seen on the national stage. Critics argue these tactics resemble those used by the Democratic Party to challenge former President Donald Trump, employing legal and procedural maneuvers to undermine elected officials when electoral victories elude them.
Mijares' critics cite his leadership style and decisions as justification for the recall. However, his actions, such as questioning the hiring of a county manager at the end of the previous board's term and the approval of the financially questionable North Campus project, stem from a commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility. For example, Mijares raised concerns about the legality of the hiring process for the public health director, Mr. Ahmed. While Ahmed's qualifications were undisputed, Mijares insisted on a lawful and transparent process, which was ultimately followed. These actions reflect legitimate governance concerns, not personal vendettas, as his opponents claim.
Since becoming Chair of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Mijares has prioritized openness, allowing greater public participation in BOCC meetings. While this has occasionally led to disorderly discussions, it has fostered a more inclusive environment compared to the less accessible meetings of the past. The recall effort, which began even before Mijares was sworn in, appears less about his performance and more about ideological opposition to his conservative stance. The ousting of former Chair Sue Hansen, following the swearing-in of Mijares and Commissioner Sean Pond, further fueled personal and political tensions, with accusations and conflicts orchestrated by the same activists.
This recall is not merely about Mijares but represents a broader attempt to shift Montrose County's governance from its conservative foundation toward progressive ideals. The activists' agenda, critics argue, prioritizes ideological goals over community interests, threatening the values that define Montrose.
Opposition to Educational Choice: The Montrose Classical Academy
Parallel to the recall effort is the opposition to the Montrose Classical Academy, a proposed tuition-free charter school set to offer a classical education for grades K-5 starting in fall 2026, with plans to expand to K-8. The academy, rooted in the Core Knowledge Sequence, aimed to provide a rigorous academic alternative aligned with traditional values, offering parents greater educational choice. However, activists like Angeles, Gann, and Benzinger, the latter a former school board member, led a campaign against it, framing the school as a threat to public education.
The Montrose County School District's rejection of the charter application, influenced by these activists, underscores a resistance to school choice, despite majority support among Montrose voters. This decision perpetuates educational challenges, with only 30% proficiency in reading and 28.2% in math among Montrose County students, according to district data. Critics argue that the school board's alignment with teachers' unions prioritizes standardized approaches over tailored education, stifling innovation and parental choice.
This opposition reflects a deeper pattern of activism that seeks to override the majority's will. In 2021, a similar group, including Gann, Benzinger, and former Commissioner Sue Hansen, supported the "Building a Better Colorado" ballot initiative, which contributed to the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment. This repeal shifted the tax burden from commercial to residential property owners, increasing property taxes to fund schools and government operations. While presented as a community benefit, these efforts often prioritize government control over individual choice, a trend evident in the rejection of the Montrose Classical Academy.
The Erosion of Parental Rights
At the heart of these conflicts is a troubling erosion of parental rights in Montrose County. Years ago, educators and community leaders urged parents to engage deeply in their children's education, emphasizing their role in fostering academic and moral development. Parents responded, attending school board meetings, volunteering, and overseeing homework to align with the community's values of responsibility, family, and unity.
However, this partnership has deteriorated. Schools, influenced by activists like Angeles, Gann, and Benzinger, have increasingly excluded parents from critical decisions. For instance, regulations requiring parental consent for minor medical interventions, such as administering aspirin, marked the beginning of institutional overreach. This trend has escalated, with schools withholding vital information about curricula, leaving parents unaware of what their children are being taught or whether it aligns with family values.
More alarmingly, some Montrose County schools have concealed life-altering decisions from parents. In certain cases, educators have supported or facilitated a child's pursuit of an abortion without notifying the family, a profound betrayal in a community that values family unity. Similarly, schools have allowed children to adopt new names or pronouns without parental knowledge, driven by activist-driven curricula or social pressures. These policies disrupt the family's ability to provide love, stability, and moral guidance, undermining the traditional family structures cherished in Montrose.
A Call to Action: Strengthening Montrose's Future
The challenges facing Montrose County, whether the recall of Commissioner Mijares, the rejection of the Montrose Classical Academy, or the erosion of parental rights, share a common thread: a small group of activists prioritizing ideological agendas over community values. These efforts threaten the democratic will, family unity, and educational choice that define Montrose.
To counter these forces, Montrose County must reinforce its commitment to traditional values. Community resources, such as parenting workshops and family counseling offered by local churches and organizations, can empower parents to navigate these challenges. Parents must remain vigilant, engaging with school boards, questioning policies, and advocating for transparency and choice.
Montrose County's future depends on its ability to protect the family as the cornerstone of the community. By defending parental rights, supporting educational options like the Montrose Classical Academy, and upholding transparent governance, residents can ensure their children grow up in an environment that nurtures their potential and anchors them in love and stability. The time to act is now. Montrose's values and democratic principles hang in the balance.