While hundreds of people gathered at the Dolores Public Library to meet with Naomi Dobbs, Southwest Region director for Rep. Jeff Hurd, she was leaving town.
Initially considered a no-show for the League of Women Voters event, Dobbs had in fact arrived, but left after seeing a crowd.
“I don’t want people thinking she didn’t come, when in fact she did,” said Karen Sheek, president of the League of Women Voters of Montezuma County.
When Dobbs arrived Monday, Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin offered to escort her safely in and out of the library.
Sheek added that Dobbs likely did not expect such a large crowd and wasn’t comfortable attending.
When the League and Dobbs were first making arrangements, five members of the League offered to go to her office in Durango and meet with her there, so there was “maybe a misunderstanding about what the size of that meeting was like,” Sheek said.
The first time the League heard from Dobbs since the event Monday was Tuesday evening, Feb. 25.
Sheek said Dobbs sent a “vague” email explaining that “under the circumstances,” she decided to not attend and would be willing to work something out in the future.
The Journal has not been able to reach Dobbs since Monday.
