Business owner Angela Thomas is leading Highlands Ranch-based school teacher Julien Bouquet in the Democratic primary race for Douglas County District 2 Commissioner, according to the early, unofficial tally of ballots on Tuesday night.

Thomas is ahead of Bouquet by 16 points, 58.20% to 41.80%, out of 23,366 voters.

The winner will face George Teal, the Republican incumbent, in November to represent Douglas County District 2.

The two Democratic candidates are vying to represent the central and southern portions of Douglas County, a more heavily Republican district.

Thomas, a former social worker and business owner, is campaigning on growth, health, affordable housing and water sustainability.

Her most important issue, she said, is to kill the Renewable Water Project in the San Luis Valley.

“The project can never be successful given that, if water is taken out of the San Luis Valley, it must be returned bucket for bucket. That is not possible. This project is simply investors trying to recoup their losses on a fruitless investment,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the county “must address growth.”

“The county is growing so quickly that our infrastructure needs are being outpaced. We must address the water issues and ensure that developers are providing proof for water not 10-20 years down the road but 100-200 years.”

Another priority, she said, is to improve health services by prioritizing the needs of Douglas County’s health department.

“Affordability must also be addressed,” Thomas said. “Currently, people who work in Douglas County can barely afford to live here if at all.”

“I am best for this position because I have a long history of negotiation and collaboration with others to solve complex issues. I am a problem solver, not someone who seeks a problem for my solution,” she said. 

Bouquet is focusing on healthcare, transportation, education, affordable housing and tax cuts.

“I am the only candidate who has dedicated their career to this county,” he said. “I am also the only candidate in this primary race who has won an election and served as an elected official.”

Bouquet has served as treasurer on the Regional Transportation Board of Directors and, since 2017, has worked as a teacher in Highlands Ranch.

“The biggest issue impacting Douglas County is the mitigation of growth in the county,” he said. “We are one of the fastest growing counties in the entire state, and we are not sufficiently planning on how we conserve our water, protect our natural land and decrease the amount of vehicle traffic we are experiencing.”

Bouquet said residents in Douglas County “feel the current Board of County Commissioners is looking after the best interests of the developers.”

“We need a county commissioner who will be a champion not for the developers, but rather for all our county residents,” he said.

Bouquet said the county needs to expand its healthcare, “particularly for women and seniors.”

Education is another focus for Bouquet, he said.

“Supporting our schools is one of my core principles,” he said. “We as a county commissioner board need to plan with Douglas County School District when it comes to making sure we have the proper amount of schools and facilities for our rapidly growing population.”