Who is truly behind the recall effort of Commissioner Scott Mijares? 

Is it a truly “bi-partisan” effort or a “Deep-State” plot to keep Colorado moving Blue?

by Michael J Badagliacco, "MJB"

Editor-In-Chief, coDOGEreport

Montrose County, Colorado, a stronghold of conservative values and often considered the state's last truly "Red County," faces a divisive recall effort against Commissioner Scott Mijares, launched on July 7, 2025, by the "Recall Scott Mijares Committee." Led by Jim Haugsness and Stephanie Williams, supported by Phoebe Benziger, Ellen Angeles, Linda Gann, former Montrose County Republican Chair Ray Langston, and groups like "NoKings" and "HandsOff," along with media allies such as the Montrose Daily Press's Dennis Anderson, who consistently portrays Mijares unfavorably, and KJCT in Grand Junction, which distorted a story to the point of near journalistic malpractice, the campaign claims to be non-partisan. In reality, the recall is a politically motivated attack by far left activists and their allies to undermine Montrose's conservative foundation, echoing past efforts to reshape local governance and schools. This article outlines the recall's timeline, debunks its accusations, exposes the troubling history of figures like Ray Langston and Don Coram, and urges residents to support Mijares to preserve fiscal responsibility and community values.

The Ties That Bind

The conflict's origins trace to 2020, when Ray Langston, then Montrose County Republican Chair, attempted to undermine the Republican candidate for Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. His misconduct led to his overwhelming defeat in the February 2021 re-election bid, securing only 8 of 48 votes. Langston further tarnished his reputation by not opposing HB 19-1032, a Democrat-backed sex education bill co-sponsored by Don Coram, the sole Republican supporter. This legislation introduced a controversial survey in Montrose schools, probing children as young as 10 about sexual acts, including "anal sex."

In 2021, Coram opposed four conservative school board candidates, enabling the election of a board that, by 2023, enacted a dress code policy barring staff from addressing students' attire based on gender. This led to incidents such as staff being unable to challenge a male student wearing a girls' sports bra, fueling outrage over far left policies eroding traditional standards. Coram's support for SB 21-067, misleadingly titled "Strengthening Civics Education," further advanced this agenda by mandating teachings on diverse sexual lifestyles to young students, raising concerns about undermining Montrose's values. These actions reflect a coordinated effort to sow division between youth and established citizens, prioritizing ideological agendas over guiding children with time-tested wisdom, a tactic often associated with far left strategies.

Mijares Elected with Overwhelming Support

In November 2024, Scott Mijares was elected County Commissioner for District 1, campaigning on transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. Opposition from far left groups emerged immediately, targeting his conservative platform. On December 18, 2024, the outgoing board committed $25 million to the North Campus project, exhausting capital improvement funds and requiring an additional $10 million in debt. Mijares, not yet sworn in, later proposed pausing the project for review, but the board rejected his motion.

In April 2025, County Manager Frank Rodriguez and County Attorney Marti Whitmore resigned. The Montrose Daily Press, aligned with recall supporters, labeled these resignations as "forced" by Mijares, citing "cultural differences," despite both Mijares and Rodriguez being Hispanic. Mijares clarified that Rodriguez resigned voluntarily, stating, "You'll have it by the end of the day," after previously expressing intent to quit. Whitmore, whose legally questionable advice violated Colorado Revised Statutes, offered her resignation multiple times to Mijares and Commissioner Sean Pond, expressing relief at leaving a job she disliked.

On July 7, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), in a 2-1 vote, rejected county manager finalist Bradley Mitchell, with Mijares voting in favor, but Commissioners Sue Hansen and Sean Pond voting against due to salary concerns. Hours later, interim manager Leslie Quon resigned as interim County Manager but retained her position as County HR Director, citing a hostile work environment attributed to Mijares, a claim that appears inconsistent given her decision to stay in another role. That same day, the "Recall Scott Mijares Committee" filed notice with the Montrose County Clerk and Recorder, alleging Mijares violated the Colorado Open Meetings Law, wasted taxpayer dollars, mishandled the North Campus project, demoted the Public Health Director, and created a toxic work environment.

Debunking the Recall's Allegations

The recall's accusations are misleading and lack evidence, misrepresenting Mijares's commitment to conservative principles.

1. Violation of Colorado Open Meetings Law: This claim is baseless. Rodriguez offered his resignation voluntarily, never formally accepted by the BOCC per his contract. Whitmore independently offered her resignation to Mijares and Pond without coercion. No decisions were made outside public meetings, ensuring compliance with the law.
   
   
2. Wasted Taxpayer Dollars: The recall's claim of $500,000 in severance and legal fees is unsubstantiated. Severance payments to Rodriguez ($86,746.50) and Whitmore ($90,648.50) equaled six months of their salaries, as mandated by their contracts and approved by the BOCC. No additional funds were spent on backfilling or excessive legal fees, reflecting Mijares's focus on fiscal responsibility. Although $10,000 was allocated for outside counsel, the funds were never spent, as it was unnecessary.
   
   
3. North Campus Project: The outgoing board's $25 million commitment to the North Campus project, requiring $10 million in debt, was made before Mijares took office. His proposal to pause the project for the new board to assess its budgetary impact was rejected, and no breach of contract occurred, demonstrating his commitment to prudent financial oversight.
   
   
4. Public Health Director: The initial selection of the Public Health Director violated Colorado Revised Statute 25-1-508, which requires the County Board of Health, not the County Board of Commissioners, to appoint the director. As BOCC Chairman, Mijares convened the Board of Health to follow a lawful selection process, reviewing candidates and appointing the director. No demotion occurred, as the position was not legally filled, showcasing adherence to legal standards.
   
   
5. Toxic Work Environment: This vague accusation lacks evidence. Mijares has prioritized transparency and accountability, addressing inefficiencies such as Whitmore's questionable legal advice and Rodriguez's lack of qualifications. His leadership aims to restore community trust, not disrupt it.
   
   

A Far Left Agenda Exposed

Despite its non-partisan billing, the recall reflects a clear ideological divide. Langston's 2020 opposition to conservative candidates, his 2021 election loss, and his disruptive outburst against a speaker exposing Coram's support for HB 19-1032 and SB 21-067 reveal a pattern of aligning with far left agendas. These bills, backed by Coram, introduced controversial sex education and diverse lifestyle teachings to young students, undermining Montrose's traditional values. Groups like "NoKings" and "HandsOff," known for importing out-of-town activists, align with this agenda, seeking to impose urban, far left ideologies on Montrose. The Montrose Daily Press, under publisher Dennis Anderson, fuels this narrative by amplifying unverified claims and misrepresenting Mijares's role in the failed county manager hire, ignoring the 2-1 vote where Hansen and Pond held the majority.

This pattern of opposition threatens Montrose's conservative identity. The recall mirrors earlier efforts to undermine conservative leadership, using sensationalist reporting to discredit Mijares while sidelining his perspective. The lack of substantive evidence for the $500,000 cost claim and the misrepresentation of resignations as "forced" reveal a coordinated effort to destabilize conservative governance.

A Call to Action

Montrose's conservative majority, concerned about fiscal responsibility and local control, must reject this recall as a politically motivated attack. The 2023 dress code policy, the controversial sex education survey from HB 19-1032, and the misleading civics education mandate of SB 21-067, all linked to Langston and Coram's actions, stem from the same far left agenda eroding the county's values. Residents demand transparency from the recall committee, including a detailed cost breakdown for their financial claims, and call for the Montrose Daily Press to prioritize factual reporting over advocacy.

By supporting Mijares, Montrose can uphold its commitment to accountability, fiscal prudence, and community-driven governance. His efforts to address the North Campus project's financial burden, ensure legal compliance in public health appointments, and maintain transparency in BOCC operations reflect the conservative principles residents value. The fight to preserve Montrose's identity begins with rejecting this recall, ensuring local governance remains true to its conservative roots.