Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday appointed state Sen. Kevin Van Winkle of Highlands Ranch to the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners.

Van Winkle replaced Lora Thomas, who resigned on Dec. 6.

Van Winkle was elected to the commission on Nov. 5, succeeding Thomas, who was term-limited. Initially, he submitted a letter of resignation to the state Senate on Nov. 22, effective on Jan. 9, the day before the start of the 2025 legislative session.

The Colorado Constitution does not allow someone to serve in two elected positions at the same time, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Van Winkle is expected to rescind his original letter of resignation and issue another, effective today.

Van Winkle participated in Douglas’ “State of the County” event last week. 

Thomas’ second term was due to end on Jan. 14, just four weeks from today.

The governor has the authority to appoint someone to fill out the unexpired term of an elected official if a county party — in this case, the Douglas County GOP — fails to convene a vacancy committee to select a replacement within 10 days of the resignation. Once that 10 days had passed, the governor has 15 days from the resignation to appoint a replacement.

Thomas resigned after years of what she called harassment and abuse by her fellow commissioners, Abe Laydon and George Teal. The trio has had a long-running feud, and both commissioners have disputed Thomas’ version of events.   

The DougCo GOP chair, Steve Peck, declined to call for a vacancy committee, acknowledging that Van Winkle would likely be the pick, given his victory in November.

Van Winkle served two years of a four-year term in the state Senate. He was initially appointed to the seat in June 2022, after the resignation of Sen. Chris Holbert, R-Douglas County. He was then elected to a full four-year term in November 2022, given that Holbert was already term-limited.

A Douglas County GOP vacancy committee will have to be convened to find a replacement for Van Winkle. 

The names being mentioned for the legislative seat included current Rep. Brandi Bradley, R-Roxborough Park, former state Rep. Kim Ransom of Lone Tree, former University of Colorado Regent John Carson, and Priscilla Rahn, who ran for and lost the primary to Van Winkle for the commission seat in June.