by Mike Smith
Mike Smith officially served Park County for two years and five months, beginning in July 2022 and ending in November 2024. He first served as Director of Development Services, then as Director of Operations, Assistant County Manager, and finally Interim County Manager.
He is currently a small business owner in Guffey, Colorado.
The Logic of Destruction in Local Government – And How to Resist It
Inspired from an article by Dr. Timothy D. Snyder.
What is a County?
A county is defined by the way its people govern themselves. Park County exists because its residents elect those who create policies, allocate resources, and execute decisions in the community’s interest. The foundation of good governance is the principle that individuals have dignity and rights and that local government serves the people, not the other way around.
However, in Park County, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is moving to dismantle this fundamental principle. Instead of upholding their duty to serve the public, they are consolidating power, marginalizing professional expertise, and disregarding the county’s long-term fiscal and structural health.
A Coup of Local Governance
The current BOCC is acting not as representatives of the people but as usurpers of democratic governance. They operate under the belief that only a select few—those who align with their interests—deserve authority and that their primary right is to dominate decision-making, regardless of the consequences.
Their actions make it clear: they do not recognize the county as a collective of engaged citizens, nor do they value transparency, fiscal responsibility, or professional administration. Instead, they are
systematically weakening the institutions that ensure fair governance, replacing expertise with cronyism, and pushing the county toward financial and operational collapse.
The Logic of Destruction
A county government does not function by accident—it is the product of decades of structure-building, policy refinement, and dedicated public service. A well-run local government ensures that roads are maintained, law enforcement is funded appropriately, development is regulated to protect property rights, and services for residents are accessible.
Yet, under the current BOCC, the goal is not governance but dismantlement. They have no sustainable plan to improve the county, only a drive to accumulate power and eliminate the checks and balances that ensure accountability.
Think of the county government as a fire station. The citizens fund it through taxes, expecting it to be ready when a fire breaks out. But now, imagine the commissioners deciding that firefighters are unnecessary, selling the fire trucks, slashing the budget, and insisting that volunteer bucket brigades are sufficient. When fires rage and homes burn, their response will not be to rebuild services but to blame others and claim more control.
This is the logic of destruction.
Financial Mismanagement and the Road to Insolvency
The county’s budget crisis is not an accident. It is a direct result of BOCC decisions that prioritize ideology over practicality. They reject necessary tax measures while simultaneously approving irresponsible expenditures. They devalue the expertise of financial professionals who warn of impending insolvency, instead choosing to silence opposition and obscure the facts from the public.
Meanwhile, essential services—road maintenance, law enforcement, and emergency response—suffer, and residents bear the consequences. The commissioners will deflect blame, claiming that outside forces are at fault while continuing to make decisions that weaken the county’s financial standing.
Destroying Public Trust and Expertise
To maintain control, the BOCC has systematically undermined county employees, disregarded professional recommendations, and dismissed those who challenged their authority. This is not governance; it is a purge of competence.
The removal or silencing of experienced professionals is not about improving efficiency—it is about ensuring that no one remains who can challenge their decisions. The goal is to create a system where the only voices that matter are those who echo the commissioners’ own interests, regardless of the damage to the county.
How to Resist the Local Coup
This takeover of local government is not inevitable. It can and must be resisted if Park County is to remain a functioning community.
- Engage in Public Meetings: Attend BOCC meetings, demand transparency, and refuse to allow them to operate in secrecy.
- Hold Commissioners Accountable: Pressure them to explain their decisions and force them to answer for the financial mismanagement and erosion of county services.
- Utilize Legal Challenges: If the BOCC’s actions violate county regulations, the state constitution, or administrative laws, legal recourse must be pursued.
- Support Local Officials Who Defend Good Governance: If there are county employees or elected officials working to uphold accountability, they need public backing to counteract the BOCC’s
efforts to sideline them. - Mobilize Voters: Elections determine the future of the county. If the current commissioners continue to act against the interests of residents, organizing and electing new leadership is the
only long-term solution. - Expose the Truth: Commissioners thrive on misinformation and secrecy. Publicize their actions, share financial data, and ensure every resident understands what is happening.
The Fight for Local democracy
What is a county? It is the way its people govern themselves. When the people in charge work to dismantle that governance, it is up to the residents to resist.
This is not about politics—it is about survival. If unchecked, the commissioners’ actions will lead to financial ruin, deteriorating infrastructure, and a community stripped of its ability to govern itself.
Resistance is not optional. It is necessary. The future of Park County depends on it.
Dr. Snyder’s essay below:
