Dan4DougCo

☀️ As we wrap up the long weekend and the unofficial end of summer, I want to take a moment to thank the hardworking men and women whose labor contributes so much to our communities all year long. 💪

It’s also hard to believe we’re just 57 days from Election Day. 🗳️ Where did the summer go?

I’ve spent these past few months meeting people across Douglas County and listening to what they want from their elected officials. I continue to hear the same priorities: transparency, accountability, and good governance.

When I tell people I’m a finance professional with more than 20 years of experience—and that I plan to create meaningful ways to communicate with taxpayers—I see a sense of relief.

I’m not a career politician. I’m a finance guy running for a finance job.

Over the next two months, I’ll be out meeting as many of you as I can, listening to your concerns, and sharing how I plan to bring greater transparency and accountability to the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office.

Now is the time to get involved. We can’t do this without you.

Visit Dan4DougCo.com to volunteer, donate, and learn more about how I’ll serve you as Douglas County Treasurer.

What a week. 🤯

🎂 It’s my birthday this week, and I’ve been trying to spend some time with family and friends. But I’ll be honest: there’s a lot going on, and a lot to process. In 57 years, I don’t know that I’ve ever had this many questions about what’s happening in my local government. (Can we say “BOCC???”)

But this week also reminded me of so much that’s good about Douglas County.

I attended the beam-laying for the new elementary school in Sterling Ranch, heard Clerk and Recorder Sheri Davis talk about the safety of our elections, attended the Lone Tree town hall, and spent time with some of the incredible volunteers and precinct organizers who work so hard for our community.

The good — and the questionable — reinforced exactly why I’m running for Douglas County Treasurer.

We need transparency, experience, and fiscal accountability from the people entrusted with public money. Weeks like this remind me why that work matters.

And since it’s my birthday, I have one small ask:

🎁 Instead of a gift for me, would you consider giving $5.70 to the campaign in honor of my 57th birthday? You can donate now at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dan4dougco.

Every contribution helps us reach more Douglas County voters and keep making the case for honest, accountable local government.

Thank you for being part of this campaign. I couldn’t do it without you.

Democracy only works when we have checks and balances.

On Tuesday night, the Douglas County Republican Party leadership chose to expel former GOP County Commissioner Lora Thomas from their ranks as a Precinct Captain because she refused to play “follow the leader”, and she was willing to work across party lines for the good of Douglas County. Transparency and accountability for elected officials are at the core of American democracy.

If tough questions can't come from within the ranks of their own party, traditional conservative voters in Douglas County need to start looking outside the Republican party for candidates who might be willing to ask the tough questions.

I'm a fiscal conservative. As your next County Treasurer, I will work to bring transparency and accountability to the job every day--just as I have done throughout the two decades of my career in Corporate Finance. It's time to put the right people--people who have the relevant professional experience and who are willing to ask the tough questions--in the right roles.

At the end of the day, Taxpayer Money isn't Red or Blue or even Purple. It's green.

You have a choice when you cast your ballot this November. I hope you choose democracy.

Things have really been heating up ☀️ but that’s not stopping me from getting out in the community and listening to voters across Douglas County. As I start a new week, I want to reflect a bit on the last few weeks…

Throughout the summer, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with so many of you, and one message continues to rise to the top: Douglas County voters want transparency and accountability from their elected leaders.

Whether it’s open meetings, timely financial reporting, understanding how taxpayer dollars are being spent, or simply getting direct answers from elected officials, you deserve to know what your government is doing and why. That’s exactly why I’m running for Douglas County Treasurer.

I want to bring more than 20 years of financial experience to the Treasurer’s office and lead with transparency, accountability, and integrity. Our elected officials should work together, hold one another accountable, and stay focused on one mission: serving the people of Douglas County.

But I can’t do it without you. There are so many ways to be part of this campaign. Volunteer. Donate. Help us spread the word. Or reach out and tell me directly what you want from your next County Treasurer.
Visit dan4dougco.com today to get involved.

Yesterday, people came together to celebrate Colorado’s its 150th birthday. I was lucky enough to spend time celebrating it at the Douglas County Fair with so many from around our community.

For a century and a half, people have come to Colorado in search of opportunity…from mining and ranching to brewing, technology, tourism, and countless other pursuits. They built communities rooted in hard work, innovation, and a belief that the next generation should have an even brighter future.

Nearly 20 years ago, my wife and I chose to make Colorado our home and raise our family here. It’s a place where people come from around the world to experience our mountains, our open spaces, and the unmatched beauty of our state. But what makes Colorado truly special isn’t just the landscape, it’s the people.

I’m especially proud to call Douglas County here in Colorado home. The people here reflect the same spirit that built Colorado: hardworking, independent, generous, and committed to leaving things better than they found them.

As your County Treasurer, that’s the standard I’ll bring to the job. I will serve with transparency, accountability, and integrity…ensuring your tax dollars are collected, protected, and paid out exactly as they should be. And even when working alongside other elected leaders who have faced questions about transparency and accountability, I will not compromise on those principles. I will do my part to ensure the public’s trust is protected and that every office is held to the highest standard of responsibility.

Good stewardship today helps preserve the roads, schools, parks, public safety, and quality of life that will allow future generations to celebrate Colorado’s next 150 years.

Happy 150th Birthday, Colorado! Here’s to honoring our heritage while building an even stronger future.

Last night’s fire was a powerful reminder of the incredible men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our families, our homes, and our community. Thank you to every firefighter, first responder, dispatcher, and emergency personnel member whose hard work helped bring the fire under control.

This is government at its best. It’s your tax dollars supporting the people and equipment that keep Douglas County safe when it matters most.

As your County Treasurer, I won’t decide department budgets or tell our first responders how to do their jobs. But I will make sure the taxpayers’ money is managed responsibly, distributed accurately and on time, and accounted for with complete transparency.

Every dollar wasted on unnecessary lawsuits, excessive travel, or poor financial decisions is a dollar that isn’t available for the essential services our community depends on. Fiscal accountability isn’t just about balancing the books and paying the bills, it’s about ensuring the resources are there when our firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency responders need them.

Thank you again to everyone who answered the call last night. Your dedication is something our entire community is grateful for.

Crews from West Douglas fire stayed on scene for the Penley fire all night providing structure protection.

This morning we are happy to report 50% containment has been achieved and the fire has shown no active growth.

West Douglas will support aircraft water refilling operations and structure protection throughout the day and into the evening as needed.

We realize that evacuations are both unsettling and very disruptive to all of our lives, we appreciate all the cooperation we have seen as it makes our jobs a lot easier and trust that we are doing everything we can to reduce that impact.

We ask district residents in the Indian Creek subdivision and all other affected areas to please be mindful of helicopter operations and to keep a safe distance from all air and ground firefighting activities.

As always we extend our gratitude to all the agencies helping to make this fight possible and to the residents who have shown such amazing support.

West Douglas Fire

I spent Sunday morning alongside a great group of volunteers collecting signatures for the 3-to-5 petition here in Douglas County. That included Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher, who's running for Congress this year. I'll also be spending tomorrow reaching out to my neighbors to make sure they know about the petition to get this important measure on the ballot.

My support for 3-to-5 is about the people of Douglas County. It is not about partisan politics. It isn't about giving anyone an advantage or taking power away from the County Commissioners. It is about fair representation that takes into account the growth our county has experienced over the past few decades. I support 3-to-5 because it gives more Douglas County residents a voice. More voices in local government mean more transparency, more accountability, and decisions that better reflect the communities they serve.

When I'm elected County Treasurer, the County Commissioners will be my elected peers, making them my partners in serving our county, regardless of whether there are three or five commissioners. My job will be to work collaboratively with them to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure the Treasurer's Office operates with the transparency and fiscal accountability that Douglas County residents deserve.

But first, voters deserve the opportunity to make this decision themselves. Petition signatures are due July 22. If you're a registered Douglas County voter and haven't signed yet, I hope you'll take a few minutes to do so. Whether you ultimately support or oppose the measure, every voter deserves the chance to have their voice heard at the ballot box.

The last day to sign is 7/22. Haven't signed yet? Learn how: 3to5DougCo.com

Today I had the opportunity to join my fellow candidate, Jim Oehler, at the Douglas County Elections Office to watch the public drawing that determined the order of candidates on the November ballot. 🗳️

The process was simple, transparent, and fair. Candidate order was determined by a random drawing of poker chips, with every step conducted in public and clearly explained. In fact, the Republican representative on the bipartisan Board of Canvass drew Democratic candidates to appear first, and the Democratic representative drew Republican candidates to appear first. It was a great reminder that when clear rules are followed and every step is documented, the public can have confidence and trust the outcome.

My sincere thanks to the bipartisan Board of Canvass and the Douglas County Elections Office staff for conducting a professional, orderly, and transparent process. This is exactly how government should work.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many examples from our Douglas County Commissioners that have raised questions about transparency and accountability. Today’s process reinforced why I’m running: to bring openness, accountability, and sound financial stewardship to the Office of Douglas County Treasurer.

The outcome of the drawing means my name will appear second on the ballot for Douglas County Treasurer—but I’m ready to put my experience to work first. When you receive your ballot, I’d be honored if you’d fill in the circle next to DAN SMITH to help me win.

Transparency isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something we practice.

Visit Dan4DougCo.com to learn more about my campaign, to donate, and to sign up to volunteer. Every dollar and hour counts and I couldn’t do this without your support.

📬 PUT YOUR STAMP ON DAN4DOUGCO! 📬

Did you know the cost of postage is increasing on July 12?

One of the most important parts of our campaign is connecting directly with voters, and postcards are one of the most effective ways to do that. Every dollar we save on postage means we can reach more people across Douglas County with our message of transparency, fiscal accountability, and putting taxpayers first.

I'm a finance guy, not a politician, and as your next County Treasurer, I believe every dollar should be spent wisely—including campaign dollars. That's why we're asking for your help before postage rates increase. If you've been thinking about making a contribution, now is the perfect time.

📮 Sponsor a Roll of Stamps! A contribution of $61 helps cover the cost of a roll of postcard stamps, allowing us to reach more voters before postage rates increase.

To everyone who has already donated—thank you! Your generosity is helping build a grassroots campaign focused on experience, transparency, and responsible leadership. I truly couldn't do this without you. 💙

Can't make a financial contribution right now? We'd still love to have you on the team! 🙌 Whether it's knocking doors, helping at events, or spreading the word, every volunteer makes a difference.

➡️ Visit Dan4DougCo.com to learn more or sign up to volunteer.

📬 Ready to make an impact? Donate today at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dan4dougco and put your stamp on our campaign!

🇺🇸 What an incredible weekend celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday!

Thank you to everyone who came out for the Highlands Ranch Independence Day Parade. It was inspiring to see our community come together to celebrate our country’s founding and the freedoms we all cherish.

A special thank you to the people who carried my signs, the supporters who donated to my campaign, and everyone who helped make our presence such a positive and welcoming one. Your encouragement means more than you know.

As we wrap up this Independence Day weekend, I’m reminded that the ideals our nation was founded on—service, accountability, opportunity, and government that answers to its people—are just as important today as they were 250 years ago.

Those are the values I’ll bring as your Douglas County Treasurer: putting our community first, ensuring transparency and fiscal accountability, and serving every resident with integrity and respect.

I’m excited to continue meeting neighbors across Douglas County, listening to your ideas, answering your questions, and working hard every day to earn your vote.

Thank you for an unforgettable holiday weekend. Here’s to the next 250 years! 🇺🇸

Want to learn more about my campaign, donate, or volunteer? Visit Dan4DougCo.com today!