State Rep. Libby Szabo has been tapped to fill a vacancy on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.
The Arvada Republican said she put her name into consideration at the urging of people who called her and because she wanted to be in a job where she can “get more things done.” She said she is frustrated that Democrats have killed “common sense” legislation she introduced.
“A lot of the things I bring are not out there or far- fetched,” said Szabo, who has pushed to ease the regulatory burden on small businesses and toughen laws for sexual predators.
” you get to work closer with the people, and that excites me. I hear you can get more things done. That’s why I’m doing this.”
Szabo will be one of two Republicans on the three-member commission. She will join Republican Don Rosier, who was re-elected in November, and Democrat Casey Tighe, who was elected in 2012.
Szabo said she did one-on-one interviews with the vacancy committee Thursday and learned that night she had gotten the post, which will include a bump in pay. Commissioners receive $87,300; Szabo makes $30,000 as a state lawmaker.
Szabo will take the seat of Republican Faye Griffin, who resigned from the board after being elected county clerk in November.
Another GOP vacancy committee, for House District 27, will meet and appoint someone to take over Szabo’s seat. And the House GOP caucus will meet to elect someone to Szabo’s leadership post; she is the assistant minority leader.
Szabo said she did not know when she would be sworn in as a commissioner. She was first elected to the House in 2010.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com or twitter.com/lynn_bartels
