The lone Democrat on the three-person Larimer County Commission quit Monday, saying she could no longer take the verbal pounding from one of her Republican colleagues.
Karen Wagner, the panel’s chairwoman, said what she described as the ear-splitting histrionics leveled at her by Commissioner Glenn Gibson at a June 26 meeting simply proved too much for her.
“He just went into this tirade that had to have been heard all over the office,” Wagner said. “He was yelling at the top of his lungs, and it came out of nowhere.”
“I realized at that minute I couldn’t do this anymore,” said Wagner, who was elected in 2004.
Her experiences with Gibson have led to health problems that her doctor said could be helped only by her resigning, said Wagner.
Gibson said he couldn’t remember anything unusual about the June 26 confab, which was a discussion over the selection of candidates to serve on the county planning commission.
“I don’t have any specifics about what she is talking about,” Gibson said. “Without any specifics, I really can’t address her concerns.”
Gibson, who was elected to the post in 2000, said he treats everyone with respect and that he has served on school and other government boards without the same reaction.
“I was surprised she quit, and I’m sorry she feels this way,” Gibson said. “But you have to have a pretty thick skin to do this job.”
Wagner also says fellow Commissioner Kathay Rennels, a Republican, did not step in to halt Gibson’s escalating verbal harassment. By her inaction, Rennels “has chosen to tacitly condone his embarrassing and unprofessional conduct,” Wagner said.
Rennels couldn’t be reached for comment Monday. However, she told The Associated Press that Gibson is outspoken and Wagner is sensitive and that Gibson has not treated Wagner differently than he treats others.
There has been friction between Wagner and Gibson because of their different views on issues, but Gibson’s comments to Wagner were never abusive, said County Manager Frank Lancaster, who was not at the June 26 meeting.
“Karen’s style and Glenn’s style is very different,” Lancaster said.
A vacancy committee of the county Democratic Party will pick her replacement.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
