Governor declines to pursue removal of Platte commissioners
Gov. Mark Gordon during his 2026 State of the State — photo by Michael Smith
CHEYENNE (WNE) — Gov. Mark Gordon has declined to investigate further a complaint that sought the removal of Platte County Commissioners Steve Shockley, Ian Jolovich and John Baker.
A verified complaint was submitted in November by seven Platte County qualified electors; however, that complaint did not include claims that warranted further investigation, a news release from Gordon’s office said.
The decision was based on a thorough review of the evidence, which found a lack of necessary components to prove misconduct or malfeasance. A copy of the governor’s decision letter can be found online at tinyurl.com/ gordon-platte-co.
Gordon noted that removal of a duly elected official is an extraordinary remedy reserved for substantial wrongdoing, not technical disputes or policy disagreements.
“Attempting to remove a duly elected official, which supersedes the will of the voters, is a serious matter and must never be undertaken casually or without clear, compelling evidence,” he said in the release.
This story was published on Feb. 26, 2026.