Second term Douglas County Commissioner Lora L. Thomas, a fourth-generation Coloradan who has called Douglas County her home for 31 years, has been appointed as the local government representative to Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission (IEC). The IEC was created by voter initiative in November 2006 with the passage of Amendment 41 to the Colorado Constitution.
Commissioner Thomas was first elected Douglas County Commissioner, District III, in November 2016 and began serving her first term in January 2017. She was re-elected in November 2020 and began serving her second term in January 2021. Thomas first ran for public office in 2010, was elected and served a four-year term as Douglas County Coroner, from 2011 to 2015.
“I am truly honored to be selected by the current board members of the Independent Ethics Commission for this important assignment to serve the public interest and represent our local governments,” said Commissioner Thomas. “Please know that I will bring the same diligence and commitment to this Commission that I have always applied to my lifetime of public service. I look forward to working with such esteemed and accomplished individuals on this Commission who have set an impressive standard of thoughtful and considered thoroughness and fairness.”
In addition to her fundamental responsibilities as a County Commissioner, Ms. Thomas also serves as a representative of Douglas County, by way of Board appointment, to many local, regional and statewide organizations including on the Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI) Board of Directors as Secretary. She was appointed by CCI to represent counties on the State Department of Human Services Works Allocation Committee and in December 2020 was appointed to the Public Safety Communications Subcommittee. She also serves on the National Association of Counties Justice and Public Safety Policy Steering Committee.
In 2018, Ms. Thomas was appointed by the Governor to serve on the State Emergency Medical Trauma Services Advisory Committee as well as Chairman of its Prevention Committee. She was reappointed to these boards in 2023.
The IEC consists of five members, one appointed by the Governor, one by the Colorado House of Representatives, one by the Colorado Senate, one by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, and one by the other four commissioners. The fifth commissioner must be a representative of local government.
Because the IEC’s jurisdiction extends to counties and municipalities, it is important that the local government commissioner position is available to provide perspective about the administration and operation of local government bodies.
The IEC’s commissioners serve without pay but are reimbursed for expenses. No more than two members may be from the same political party. Each member serves a four-year term. Terms are staggered and a member may serve multiple terms.