Scott Mijares recall, Montrose County, Colorado (2025)

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Scott Mijares recall
Officeholders
Scott Mijares
Recall status
Scheduled
Recall election date
November 4, 2025
Signature requirement
4,540
See also
Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Colorado Colorado recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports

An election to recall Montrose County Commissioner Scott Mijares is scheduled for November 4, 2025. The effort was launched on July 7, 2025, after organizers filed a recall petition with the Montrose County Clerk and Recorder. Organizers submitted their collected signatures on August 18, 2025. On August 21, the designated election official notified recall organizers that 4,942 valid signatures were submitted, surpassing the 4,540 necessary signatures to trigger a recall election.

Recall vote

Scott Mijares recall, 2025

Scott Mijares is facing a recall election in the Montrose County Commissioner District 1 recall on November 4, 2025.

			Recall  Vote	%	Votes
			Yes
			No
			Total Votes

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Recall official and candidate page updates

Recall supporters

Recall organizers cited the following reasons for Bitner's recall on their website:

“

Commissioner Scott Mijares has and continues to violate transparency, fiscal responsibility, and public trust. Lack of Transparency Violated state law: Scott Mijares repeatedly violated Colorado Open Meetings Law, CRS §24-6-402. He conspired with another commissioner to force the termination of the county manager and county attorney. Two commissioners, including Scott Mijares, have made and continue to make key decisions regarding county government outside of public meetings. He secretly fired the top team. Commissioner Scott Mijares forcefully removed our county manager and attorney, then prevented the public from speaking. That is not leadership; it is a power grab. Poor Fiscal Responsiblity Wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. Over half a million taxpayer dollars have been wasted on severance packages, backfilling positions, and unnecessary outside legal fees. Scott Mijares risked our money. Mijares attempted to halt a twenty-four million-dollar building project at the North Campus. The penalty for breaking the contract would have been three million dollars, paid directly from taxpayer funds. He backed down only after facing significant public pressure. Public health flip-flop. Scott Mijares discharged our Public Health Director without a valid reason, then retreated after public outrage. County health is not a game of musical chairs – it’s about providing access to vital public healthcare Violated Public Trust No voice for citizens. At key meetings on the terminations, Scott Mijares shut down public comment, refusing his opponents the opportunity to speak. He works for us, not the other way around. Pattern of chaos. Scott Mijares has and continues to cause fear, waste taxpayer resources, and damage staff morale. County work should be consistent, not a soap opera. Toxic and fearful work environment: Mijares’s unpredictable actions have created instability, resulting in a toxic and fearful workplace at one our communities’ largest employers, Montrose County.

”

Recall opponents

In a statement submitted to Ballotpedia, Mijares said the following:

“

Montrose County Commissioner Scott Mijares has violated transparency, fiscal responsibility, and public trust and should be recalled on the following grounds: 1. Mijares violated Colorado Open Meetings Law, CRS §26-6-402. He conspired with another commissioner to force the resignation of the county manager and county attorney. Key decisions regarding county government were made and continue to be made outside of public meetings. Response: There was no violation of CRS 26-6-402, no secret meetings. Rodriguez and Whitmore made it clear to the two new commissioners that they had no respect for the voters to choose who they wanted to lead our county forward. Their “WE’LL SHOW THEM WHO RUNS THIS COUNTY” attitude lead to their voluntary resignation when they realized the game was over. 2. Over half a million taxpayer dollars have been wasted on severance packages, backfilling positions, and unnecessary outside legal fees. Response: County Manager and County Attorney were awarded a severance payment equal to 6 months of their trailing salary. The total severance paid was $177,395.00. The BOCC approved up to $10,000.00 for outside council if needed. Not $500,000.00 as claimed by recall committee. 3. Mijares attempted to halt previously approved North Campus construction project, exposing the county to a breach of contract penalty and wasting staff hours, before retreating under public pressure. Response: On December 18th, 2024 the outgoing board committed the County to a $24,000,000.00 North Campus building. This decision was of grave concern to our Finance Department. As a result Mijares made a motion to pause the construction to review the implications of the project on the County Budget. This was a hasty decision made just 27 days prior the old board leaving office.His motion was not seconded - there was no impact on the project. 4. Mijares demoted the Public Health Director, then changed his decision weeks later, eroding confidence in the county’s ability to provide essential health services. Response: Colorado Revised Statue 25-1-508 states, “The Public Health Director SHALL be selected by the County Board of Health”. This did not occur. The BOCC voted to follow Colorado law and a new Public Health Director was appointed by the Board of Health. There was no loss of essential services to citizens. 5. Mijares’s unpredictable actions have created instability, resulting in a toxic and fearful work environment for county employees. Response: Commissioner Mijares has increased integrity and accountability to the BOCC by following the law and increasing transparency. This comes despite the efforts of certain individuals who wish to undermine his efforts and sow chaos. This recall effort is without merit and hurts the people of Montrose County. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN THIS PETITION. THEY ARE NOT AFTER SCOTT, THEY ARE AFTER YOU. SCOTT IS JUST IN THE WAY.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in Colorado

No specific grounds are required for recall in Colorado. The number of signatures required for a recall to qualify for the ballot in Colorado depends on the office type. After the petition is approved by the relevant election office, petitioners have 60 days to gather signatures.

Recall context

See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report

Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.

The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.

See also

• Ballotpedia's Recall Report
• Montrose County, Colorado
• Recall campaigns in Colorado
• Political recall efforts, 2025
• County commission recalls

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Montrose County Clerk and Recorder

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