COLUMBUS — Colorado County Commissioners Court met on Monday, May 8, for their regular meeting. However, it was far from regular.
What seemed to be a short item on the agenda, which was to 'receive and take action on the committee's recommen- dation to fill the vacancy of the Office of Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3,” sparked a chain of events that changed the course of the meeting. After the death of the Honorable Francis Truchard in March, the long-standing Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3, Commissioner Keith Neuendorff, along with the remaining three justices of the peace from Colorado County, formed a committee to find someone to fill the gaping vacan cy left by Truchard.
Ten applicants were considered for the position, and Commissioner Neuendorff said while reporting on behalf of the committee, 'Each one brought a different level to the table.' He continued, 'This was a very hard decision, especially when you know all the applicants and grew up all our lives together. After lengthy discussions and hashing it out, the committee unanimously recommends Don Clark for the position of Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3.”
Immediately after the commissioner finished speaking, Jennifer Stancik Gar cia stood and said abruptly, 'I would like to say something!' But Colorado County Judge Ty Prause asked Commissioner Neuendorff to explain the process the committee went through to choose and asked her to wait for her turn to speak. The commissioner proceeded to explain the very arduous task set before the committee. He explained that the appointed justice would run again in 2024 during the next open election, along with anyone wanting to run to stay in position. Then another election would have to take place in 2026 with the rest of the justices for a 4-year rotation. Commis- sioner Neuendorff emphasized that this appointment would only be temporary because of next year's necessary election. The commissioners voted, and the agenda item passed. Still, while the commissioner was speaking, Virginia Cowart came from outside the courthouse and began talking to Garcia, who was seated in the second row. She said to her in a manner that was interrupting and distracting to all present.
Before the commissioner could finish his explanation, Gar cia stood, interrupted, and began yelling at the court, 'I have 29 years of experience!' Garcia had worked with Judge Truchard for 29 years as a clerk. Just before she and Cowart stormed out of the courthouse, she shouted, 'We resign effective immediately!”
Stunned, Commissioner Neuendorff continued, 'The position will be open in 2024 for election; open for anyone to speak.'
Garcia later told the Banner Press that she will run in the up coming election. Frustrated, Gar- cia said, "All three J.P.s said they were supporting me as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 but they didn’t. I served 29 years. Now they are treating us like criminals since we resigned effective immediately.”
Judge Billy Heffner, JP for Precinct 1, and Judge Stan War - field, JP for Precinct 4, requested a recess for the commissioners and the judges to discuss the sit- uation. Judge Prause agreed, and the court recessed to discuss.
After about 15 minutes the regular meeting resumed. Still, the talk of the consequences of the outburst of the two continued.
The situation continued across the street at the Justice of the Peace office, where a sheriff had to be involved.
