Golden – Patrick Thompson, who has served as Jefferson County’s administrator for nearly three years, is a finalist for a similar position in Ohio and could be leaving his post.
Thompson was the focus of a closed-door session Tuesday by county commissioners. After the hour-long meeting, Commissioner Dave Auburn said, “We know he’s in Cincinnati. We know he’s being considered for a job there. We know he’s got a meeting with them tomorrow.”
During Thompson’s tenure, the county has seen controversy and missteps. In June, files were reported missing from the county attorney’s office. A special prosecutor is reviewing the Sheriff’s Office inquiry.
This summer, a draft audit revealed that more than $1 million worth of county computer equipment could not be located.
The cost of the county’s annual audit jumped last week from an anticipated $200,000 to about $1 million. The amount was later cut to about $646,000.
Thompson oversees the auditor’s contract, which was not put out for competitive bids, and said the huge bill was not a surprise because he kept the commissioners informed.
And in the latest brouhaha, the Arvada Police Department has confirmed it is conducting an investigation into a complaint by county critic Mike Zinna that Commissioner Jim Congrove allegedly forged Zinna’s name on a bill of sale for a truck and identified Zinna in bank documents as a tenant of one of his properties.
The Arvada investigation will be reviewed by a special prosecutor because Congrove and other board members control the district attorney’s budget.
Thompson, 46, has weathered upheaval under two boards during his tenure, which started in January 2003, filling a year-long vacancy.
Thompson, who earns $145,000, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Friction frequently arose among the three board members during 2003 and 2004.
Commissioners Pat Holloway and Michelle Lawrence were term-limited and left the board in January a few weeks after calling for the third commissioner, Rick Sheehan, to resign. They cited concerns about Sheehan’s possible involvement in sending sexually explicit faxes signed “Pinky-T” to Zinna.
Thompson then began working with new commissioners Kevin McCasky and Congrove, who made numerous personnel changes.
In February, Sheehan resigned in the face of a recall drive over the “Pinky-T” letters. Auburn was appointed to take his place.
Auburn said Tuesday the commissioners don’t know whether Thompson has been offered the position of county administrator in Hamilton County, Ohio. The Cincinnati Post reported Friday that Thompson is “emerging as a leading candidate.”
Thompson “said he will call us tomorrow morning,” Auburn said Tuesday. Thompson’s contract with the county states that if he leaves of his own accord, he will not receive severance pay.
Auburn said Thompson told the Jefferson County commissioners Monday that he had been approached by a “head- hunter” and had not been looking for a job. Thompson is not being pressured to leave, Auburn said, adding that news of the Ohio job “was a total shock.”
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
