Libby Szabo always tries to lead by example.
Whether wanting to get a message across to her four kids, coaching youth soccer for 10 years or working across the aisle on a bill in the state legislature, she feels that actions speak louder than words.
“I think the best way to instill something in your children is to actually do it and let them see you do it,” Szabo said.
Now she’s trying to do the same as she ventures into county politics as Jefferson County’s newest commissioner.
Szabo, a Republican, , who vacated her seat with two years remaining in her term to become the county’s clerk and recorder.
The move spurred a sort of musical chairs in the state Republican Party as
When she started in Jeffco, fellow commissioners Don Rosier, a Republican, and Democrat Casey Tighe both said they were excited to have someone with legislative experience fill the seat.
“Coming from the legislature, she’ll have a good understanding of the issues that are affecting the county from a statewide perspective,” Tighe said.
Szabo felt she could get more things done at the county level and is already noticing less partisanship among her fellow commissioners than she felt in the House.
“Even though there are two Republicans and one Democrat, most stuff we agree on philosophy-wise,” she said.
Bipartisanship was something Szabo believed in strongly while serving in the legislature from 2011-15.
“I know that she really worked hard to work across the aisle from the times I worked with her,” said state Sen. Cheri Jahn, a Democrat from Jeffco.
Szabo has already witnessed firsthand the contentious issues that often come up in county politics, such as land rezoning for development.
On one particular site where developers sought a , she voted with Rosier to allow the rezoning while Tighe voted against. It’s the only split vote they’ve had since she took office.
Regarding retail , she’s on board with Tighe and Rosier in taking a “wait-and-see” approach.
An Arvada resident representing the north side of Jeffco, Szabo, 51, has lived in the county since age 10, attending Maple Grove Elementary School and later Wheat Ridge High School.
She said she was first exposed to politics at a young age, going to caucus meetings with her mother, Gloria Perry.
“She always instilled in me that this is where you can have a voice and these are things that are going to affect your life,” Szabo said.
After her mother passed away, she began working as a mortgage lender, which she did for 11 years. Her husband of 32 years, Denes, co-owns Mile Hi Machine — a business manufacturing company — with his father.
Szabo had always been active in working on campaigns and volunteering before deciding to run for office.
But her life is certainly not all about politics, as friend Rhoda Schultz will attest.
“I don’t have many friends I’ve been friends with my entire life,” Schultz said. “She’s very precious to me.”
Szabo first ran for state Senate in 2008, losing by a slim margin to Democrat Evie Hudak. Two years later, the Republican Party urged her to run for the state House in her district. This time she was successful, to her family’s delight.
“My mom has always been a fighter,” said daughter Nissa Szabo, who works for the Colorado Technology Association. “She has always been very passionate and always passionate about the community and effecting change.”
Joe Vaccarelli:303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com
