Montrose County government is facing a period of unusual instability following a failed county manager hire, the resignation of the interim manager, and the formal launch of a recall campaign targeting Commissioner Scott Mijares—all within 48 hours.
At a Board of County Commissioners meeting on July 7th, it was announced that the county would not move forward with its lone finalist for county manager, Texas attorney Bradley Mitchell. Commissioners Sue Hansen and Sean Pond indicated they no longer supported Mitchell’s candidacy.
Commissioner Mijares, who had strongly supported Mitchell, voiced disappointment and read a 15-minute letter from the candidate into the public record. He called the decision “a missed opportunity for strong leadership.”
Hours earlier, Interim County Manager Leslie Quon submitted a resignation letter citing a hostile work environment and fear of retaliation, particularly from Commissioner Mijares. Quon, who will remain as the county’s Human Resources Director, had stepped into the interim role after former manager Frank Rodriguez resigned earlier this year.
In her letter, Quon detailed conflicts with Mijares over department leadership and county hiring processes. She said she was unfairly blamed for the board’s decision not to hire Mitchell and documented a phone call in which Mijares allegedly made a comment that felt threatening.
During Monday’s meeting, Commissioner Sue Hansen praised Quon’s work and said she had been harassed as interim manager. Mijares disputed that characterization, asking Hansen to clarify. Commissioner Pond acknowledged “heated discussions” but said no one had yelled.
Later that same day, the “Recall Scott Mijares Committee” filed formal notice with the Montrose County Clerk and Recorder to begin circulating petitions. The group accuses Mijares of creating a toxic work environment, wasting taxpayer money, and undermining the county’s credibility. They estimate the county has lost more than $500,000 in severance and legal fees due to Mijares’ actions.
Mijares, elected in November 2024, dismissed the recall effort as “a political stunt” in a public letter. He said the campaign is driven by activists who didn’t like the outcome of the election and warned it could further disrupt the county’s operations.
If the recall committee collects at least 4,500 valid signatures by August 15th, voters will decide in November whether to recall Mijares and, if so, who should replace him.
Quon’s full resignation letter and Mijares’ public statement are available below.
Leslie Quon’s full resignation letter (c/o Montrose Daily Press)
Dear Commissioners,
This letter serves as my formal resignation from the interim county manager role, effective immediately. I will continue in my position as Montrose County’s Human Resources director unless otherwise directed by the board.
I accepted the interim assignment at the board’s request and with clear communication that I did not feel prepared for the role and that my responsibilities as HR director were already full time and pressing. Despite my concerns, I agreed to help provide stability during a difficult transition.
Since stepping into the role, I have made every effort to support county operations and the board, including:
- Holding regular operations meetings to strengthen board communication, and putting effort toward implementing a basic rules of procedure framework to improve board relationships and efficiency, though these efforts have not been adopted.
- Coordinating governance training through CTSI to help new commissioners better understand their roles, responsibilities, and the importance of acting as a unified board.
- Partnering to move the Kinikin Road project forward, which is now set to resume. Effective July 7, the Public Works project manager will begin providing weekly project updates at board work sessions. A public work session is scheduled for July 8 to update the community.
- Working with department directors to support morale and continuity, including weekly department head meetings to foster communication and collaboration.
While I am proud of these efforts, I now find myself in a situation that I believe is no longer sustainable or appropriate. I have always acted in good faith and in alignment with county policy, my ethical responsibilities, and the legal authority of the full board. However, the environment has become increasingly difficult and at times has felt hostile and personally targeted.
One area of ongoing conflict has involved performance concerns raised solely by Commissioner Mijares regarding the Facilities director and the interim Public Works director. Based on conversations, neither Commissioner Hansen nor Commissioner Pond has expressed similar concerns about these directors. In response to Commissioner Mijares’ concerns, I provided coaching and support to both positions. For the Facilities director, this included guidance on communication strategies and the implementation of weekly capital project updates. For the interim Public Works director, I emphasized team morale and accountability, and several steps have already been implemented, including a department breakfast meeting designed to open the doors of communication between the interim Public Works director and staff, provide a space to hear concerns, and begin rebuilding trust, creation of a road and bridge committee to improve two-way communication, and promotion of an open-door environment.
I believe my adherence to proper process, including not taking personnel actions without cause or formal board direction, has contributed to increasing tension. Additionally, it appears I am being associated with or blamed for the board’s decision not to move forward with Commissioner Mijares’ preferred county manager candidate. That decision was made by a majority vote of the board. While I was involved in the process in my capacity as Human Resources director, the final decision rested solely with the board.
I also feel it is important to document a phone call I had with Commissioner Mijares on June 18, 2025, prior to the BOCC meeting. I expressed concern that his direct meeting with Road and Bridge staff had bypassed the normal chain of command and caused unease among department leadership. During that conversation, Commissioner Mijares stated that the board were the “CEOs” of the organization and that he would speak to whomever he wanted. When I clarified that the county manager acts as the CEO and reports to the board, he responded, “Then who should we hold accountable? I guess that’s you.” I reminded him that I accepted the interim role only at the board’s request and explained that I did not believe it was fair to place that burden on me. Given the longstanding and well-known challenges within the Road and Bridge department, this remark felt not only unfair and misdirected, but also like a threat to my employment if I did not act in alignment with his personal direction.
I also have serious concerns about the potential for retaliation if I remain in this assignment. That concern is not hypothetical, it is based on a pattern of behavior previously directed not only at former County Manager Frank Rodriguez, but also at former County Attorney Martha Whitmore. Additionally, there have been other issues and concerns that I have chosen not to list in this letter, but which have contributed to my decision.
This resignation is not made lightly. I have proudly served Montrose County for 12 years. I care deeply about the organization and those who work here. It is also time for me to return to the core responsibilities of my position in Human Resources, which I have not been able to focus on since taking on the interim county manager role. I remain committed to the county’s success and believe that stepping away from this temporary assignment is the right decision for everyone involved.
I appreciate the professionalism and collaboration I have received from Commissioners Hansen and Pond throughout this process. I also want to clearly state that my concerns are being submitted in good faith and in alignment with the County’s Prohibited Conduct policy (Montrose County Personnel Policy, Chapter 3, Section 3-13). I respectfully request written confirmation that this resignation applies only to the interim county manager role and that no retaliatory action will be taken as a result.
I am happy to assist with any transition support needed. Please let me know how you would like to proceed.
Sincerely,
Leslie Quon
Human Resources Director
Montrose County
CC: County Attorney Julie Andress
(Edited in accordance with Associated Press style)
Statement from Commissioner Scott Mijares to Montrose Daily Press
It comes as no surprise that a small group of progressive activists — joined by a handful of so-called Republicans — have launched a recall effort against me. They told me six months ago they would do this, and now they’re following through. This effort is not rooted in principle or public interest — it’s a political stunt, plain and simple.
I’m confident it will fail. But even in failure, it could damage our county, stall important progress, and disrupt our search for a permanent county manager. That’s the cost of their reckless actions.
Let’s be clear: this recall is not about me. It’s about a small group trying to reverse the outcome of an election they didn’t like —a n election where 18,129 Montrose County voters demanded change.
When I ran for office, I made my platform crystal clear:
- I would represent the people—not the establishment.
- I would not “go along to get along.”
- I would support Donald Trump’s America First agenda at the local level.
- I would bring transparency and accountability back to Montrose County government.
That message resonated because it reflected the values of our community — constitutional principles, conservative ideals, and a desire for real leadership.
This recall effort is an attack not just on me, but on every voter who dared to challenge the status quo. It’s an attempt to silence their voices and drag our county backward. It will not succeed.
The people of Montrose County are smart. They see what’s happening. And when this effort fails — as it surely will — it will send a loud and clear message: Montrose County cannot be bullied or bought.
More updates will follow as these activists try to do what they’ve done in other counties — sow chaos to gain control. I won’t let that happen. I was elected to lead, and that’s exactly what I will continue to do.
