Grand County government is a toxic environment, particularly for women, commissioner says

Grand County Commissioner Mary McGann said during the commission’s Sept. 2 meeting that county government has become a “hostile, toxic work environment,” particularly for women, alleging that harassment and pressure from county and administrative leadership have driven away staff.

She alleged that at least eight women have resigned under those circumstances. McGann publicly named four she said she had permission to mention — former Commission Administrator Mallory Nassau, former Canyonlands Regional Airport Director Tammy Howland, former Assistant Economic Development Director Sky White and former Assistant Airport Director Tara Collins — and said others privately shared similar concerns.

“Our county, under this commission administrator’s leadership, has hit an all time low,” McGann said.

Grand County spokesperson Melisa Jeffers said in a statement that the county is “treating these statements with the seriousness they deserve and won’t comment on matters involving employees.”

McGann did not identify specific commissioners in the Sept. 2 meeting, but in a follow-up interview with The Times-Independent, she said her concerns included Commission Chair Bill Winfield and Commissioner Brian Martinez. Commissioner Trish Hedin and former staff, including Howland, also named Winfield in interviews describing their experiences.

Winfield, who became chair at the start of this year after the 2024 election shifted the commission to a conservative majority, disputed the allegations. He said he was not aware of any formal complaints against him or any other commissioner and adamantly denied mistreating or harassing colleagues or staff.

“To my knowledge, there has been no commissioner accused … so the accusation of harassment, causing a resignation or creating a toxic work environment — that’s politics,” Winfield said in an interview. “Grand County is a safe and respectful workplace for everyone.”

Commissioner Brian Martinez said he “disagrees” with McGann’s statement and “allegations of harassment directed towards me.”

Winfield, first elected in 2022, said turnover has been a longstanding challenge across multiple departments and not limited to the current commission. He estimated roughly 25 employees have left since November 2020 and said the departures reflect broader staffing instability rather than mistreatment of women, emphasizing that resignations “have been across the board.”

“It’s been a mess for a long time, at least since November of 2020,” he said. “We’re working to clear it up. We are in the process of repairing and we will communicate our way through this with our employees.”

McGann’s remarks came during debate over whether to replace interim Zoning Administrator Cristin Hofhine, who also works in the county attorney’s office, with the county engineer until a new planning and zoning director is hired. McGann opposed the change for procedural, financial and ethical reasons and added that she felt it reflected a broader pattern of undervaluing women in leadership roles. The item passed 4-3, with McGann, Hedin and Commissioner Jacques Hadler opposed.

During the discussion, County Attorney Stephen Stocks cautioned commissioners about discussing personnel matters in open session and suggested moving to a closed session. McGann declined, saying she would not share additional names in that setting but reiterated her concerns about workplace culture. She said she has been removed from most of her board assignments and has had to repeatedly insist on being spoken to respectfully — treatment that led her to consider resigning earlier this year.

“I’m tired of the hostile environment. I’m tired of having to hold my hand up and say I deserve to be spoken to in an appropriate manner,” she said.

Winfield criticized McGann for raising the issue in a public meeting and said the setting was inappropriate for discussing personnel concerns.

“If there is a real issue, then the solution comes from direct conversation with the appropriate parties — HR, the county attorney, the administrator — not in a public meeting,” he said. “That is not how you deal with HR issues. This is an embarrassment on all of us at the county, not just one person.”

Howland, who tendered her resignation in February, told The Times-Independent she filed a formal hostile work environment complaint during her final months with the county but said HR never followed up.

“They said they received it and would be in contact. But it was never addressed again,” Howland said.

Jeffers declined to comment on Howland’s account of the situation. Asked about Howland’s account, Winfield said he had never been informed of any complaint from HR.

Howland said she was placed on administrative leave in March during the final weeks of her notice, describing a pattern of being excluded from key decisions and communications. She added this “harassment” traced back to when Winfield was elected.

“A lot of what I experienced was being undermined by Bill, which I never saw that happen with any of my predecessors … There was no safety net. There was nobody there to protect the worker,” she said, adding that she believes her treatment was in part because she is a woman.

Hedin told The Times-Independent she shares McGann’s concerns and described her own treatment as disrespectful and targeted.

“I’ve never had a relationship as toxic as the one I have with Bill,” she said, calling his tone “extremely rude and condescending.”

Hedin added that while she would describe her treatment from commissioners as mistreatment rather than harassment, she considers it bullying and has walked out of meetings over it.

Winfield countered that “nobody’s ever spoken down to Trish or Mary” in the commission’s meetings.

Hedin said multiple employees have privately expressed similar worries to her and that women, in particular, have left.

McGann and Hedin said the stakes extend beyond interpersonal conflict, arguing that the county’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees is at risk.

“We’re losing good people,” McGann said. “To have good people in this resort community with the skills you need for these jobs is already difficult enough.”

This story was first published by The Times-Independent.