DougCo commissioner Lora Thomas resigns, five weeks before end of final term [Video]

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Douglas County commissioner Lora Thomas has resigned from her position on the board, just five-and-a-half weeks before the end of her second and final term, claiming she was “forced out” of her post by fellow commissioners.

Thomas announced the decision in a Friday news release, which was accompanied by a press conference she held without informing her colleagues.

“I’ve been the target of unrelenting attacks and harassment and vindictive punishment by my two fellow commissioners which culminated last week when they ordered staff to evict me from my office,” Thomas said Friday.

Thomas said the decision came after she was ordered on Wednesday to vacate her office space by Dec. 9 in order to make it available for State Senator and commissioner-elect Kevin Van Winkle, who in November was elected to replace Thomas. Fellow commissioners George Teal and Abe Laydon jointly made the order, the press …