By Elizabeth Wood West; courtesy photo

Douglas County Commissioner for District II, George Teal

Douglas County voters elected a new commissioner in November to fill former District II two-term Commissioner Roger Partridge’s seat. They chose someone who has strong community and public service roots – George Teal.

Teal’s public service began with the U.S. Army, where he served for 10 years and was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. After his service in the Army, he and his wife Laura returned to Douglas County in 1997 with their two children, Laurel (who is working on her second master’s degree) and George, Jr. (who is an Eagle Scout and attending college). Teal was a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) assistant scoutmaster with Castle Rock’s Troop 780, where he earned the Wood Badge (the highest achievement for adult BSA leaders). He was also an NRA-certified firearms instructor with BSA’s shooting sports program.

Teal worked as a software project manager and IT business consultant, and established his own software consulting business in 2004. Teal Consulting Resources specializes in logistics management and supply chain data migrations.

Teal ran for and won a seat on the Castle Rock Town Council in 2014. Teal said, “In 2013 and 2014, the Castle Rock Town Council was divided over the issue of potentially repealing the open carry ban that had been in place since 2003. As an ardent defender of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it was an issue I felt strongly about.”

Teal found his six-year service as a councilmember rewarding, adding that he gained valuable land-use, governmental and administrative policy experience that will help him as a Douglas County Commissioner. In addition, Teal has served on the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), Chatfield Watershed Authority, Cherry Creek Water Quality Authority, and as the DRCOG representative to the E-470 Authority.

Once sworn into office in January 2021, Teal will begin working on his priorities for Douglas County. At the top of Teal’s list is home rule. “Home rule opens up the opportunity to address many of the pressing issues we have faced in the 23 years I have lived here, from greater local control of our public health guidelines and activities, to cooperation with federal immigration policies and procedures, water resourcing, and better defining how the people of Douglas County can petition our government,” he stated.

“Home rule is an important step in recognizing our local authority and autonomy as a stand-alone county,” he continued. Other plans include Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), veterans’ support services, bringing portions of state and federal taxes paid by Douglas County residents back to local projects, and looking at allowing Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies to join the Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado.

Teal is looking forward to connecting with Douglas County residents, saying, “Just like I have done the last six years, my personal cellphone number is 303-819-5936, and my personal email is george@tealcr.com. Every resident should feel comfortable giving me a call, text, or emailing me anytime. My door will always be open, I will always be available to residents and their concerns.”