DENVER — A Colorado state lawmaker has resigned after what she calls false allegations against her.
The Denver Post reports that Rep. Rochelle Galindo announced she is resigning in a statement sent to the newspaper Sunday.
Gallindo says the “allegations against me are false.” But she did not specify details of the allegations or their source.
Galindo says in the statement that she will not put her constituents through “a recall campaign based on political smear tactics and false allegations.”
The first-term Colorado House Democrat has faced two previous recall efforts, including an attempt by conservative groups after she voted in favor of oil and gas regulation reforms and other progressive policies.
Galindo could not be reached for further comment Sunday. Speaker of the House KC Becker of Boulder confirmed Galindo’s resignation and referred questions about the allegations to Galindo.
A Democratic committee will name her replacement. Had she stayed in office and been recalled, Republicans could have run for the vacant seat.
In a statement Sunday, Becker and House Majority Leader Alec Garnett of Denver said they “agree with Rep. Galindo’s decision to step down at this time and allow someone else to serve the people of House District 50.”
Colorado Politics, quoting Jefferson Thomas, who has been running the recall effort, reported Sunday that Galindo’s opponents claimed to have collected “5,000 verified signatures” for a recall election. Opponents needed to collect 5,696 valid signatures before June 3.
Galindo, who represents Greeley, has faced opposition since voting in favor of oil and gas regulations, which Gov. Jared Polis has signed. She won last year’s general election with 53.37% of the vote to Republican Michael A. Thuener’s 46.63%.
