In a near about-face compared to just six days prior, two of Douglas County’s elected leaders engaged in a conversation to try burying the hatchet after a long climate of animosity.

The public doesn’t care whether Commissioner Abe Laydon is right or Commissioner Lora Thomas is right, Laydon said.

“They just see a board that is duking it out in public meetings,” Laydon said.

His comments came in a March 20 work-session meeting of the commissioners titled “Governing with Civility & Professionalism” on the county’s posted schedule. The conversation between Thomas and Laydon, partly supported by an outside mediator, saw some progress in moving past a conflict marked by public insults, investigations and changes in power on the board.

Thomas quoted Commissioner George Teal as having said he doesn’t think she has the “capacity” to be a county commissioner. It’s an example of the type of tone she wanted to end. Teal was not present at the meeting.

“Any personal attacks, ad hominem attacks, I will not tolerate,” Laydon responded.

Chalk that up as one of the statements in the meeting that provided some hope that the dynamic on the board could change. Aside from a moment of back and forth between Thomas and Laydon over whether Laydon was interrupting her — and although the two commissioners aired some policy disagreements — the meeting mostly consisted of what appeared to be constructive conversation.

Thomas contrasted how, she says, Laydon acts deferential to Teal but cuts her off and doesn’t let her talk. Laydon responded in what seemed to be an earnest tone: “Well, I’d like to.”

“I want to work with you. I think you’re an exceptional leader; I’ve seen you do exceptional things,” Laydon said.

Laydon voiced that he wanted more support from Thomas on proposals the board is trying to accomplish. Thomas said that she, at times, has felt out of the loop on certain matters, such as a part of the county’s potential response to homelessness.

“I will be pleased to (provide) as much granular information as possible” so that “everyone is up to speed,” Laydon said.

Laydon and Teal recently removed Thomas from serving on outside leadership boards in the community, including the Northwest Douglas County Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, a group that represents the local business community; and the Mile High Flood District, which oversees matters such as flood management and stormwater around the Denver region.

That was a sticking point for the outside mediator, who said residents in District III, Thomas’ area of the county, are confused as to why Thomas is not on some boards. The mediator suggested considering reinstating Thomas to some position to help move forward.

“I would be thrilled to reappoint you to the committees that you were removed from,” Laydon said. He added: “But if I feel that the county is being undermined at every step, it makes me lose trust.”

Investigations of Thomas — partly stemming from her circulating an anonymous letter that criticized employees of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, allegedly to support her 2022 campaign for Douglas County sheriff — came up in the conversation. Thomas maintains she has been cleared. A criminal investigation didn’t move forward, which Laydon has argued is because authorities misinterpreted the law.

(This story cannot delve into details due to space constraints. For more context, see previous coverage at tinyurl.com/CommissionersConduct.)

Laydon asserted in the meeting that there’s “a ton of evidence” for Thomas having committed civil wrongdoing.

“And those are really significant (issues),” Laydon said.

Ultimately, though, Laydon said: “I’m very willing to move away from the past in the interest of those I serve and put those committee appointments back on the table.”

“And I am deeply sorry for the way that my behavior has affected you,” Laydon added.