This summer, the Tri-County Health Department Board demanded that Douglas County comply with the mask mandate. This was despite the recommendation from TCHD’s executive director that we be exempt from the mandate due to our far fewer COVID-19 case numbers than Adams and Arapahoe Counties. That was the culmination of numerous examples proving Douglas County needs the freedom to make its own decisions; that the one-size fits all approach of TCHD isn’t serving our growing county well.

Douglas County commissioners were right to stand up and explore what’s best for our county. We should be able to make our own public health decisions without Adams and Arapahoe counties deciding for us. Seventy percent of Colorado counties have their own health departments and Douglas County deserves that autonomy as well.

Importantly, we can still access the same TCHD health services that we were able to previously. In fact, Douglas County commissioners are discussing a new collaborative and creative governance model with TCHD where they’ll continue delivering public health services to Douglas County. This new model won’t raise taxes and would preserve and improve services for our community.

As county commissioner, Lora Thomas’ first priority is the health and safety of our community. To achieve this, she knows we need freedom to make the right decisions for our county. Our performance proves she and the other commissioners made the right call and their creative problem-solving gives us a better future. Let’s reelect Commissioner Lora Thomas to continue standing up for Douglas County!

Will Johnson

Highlands Ranch