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December 18, 2023 03:01 PM UTC

Another Freshman Lawmaker Abruptly Resigns Before Next Legislative Session

  • 10 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols
Rep. Said Sharbini (D-Adams County)

We wrote last week about efforts from Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie to help make the workplace culture at the State Capitol a little less acrimonious by changing some House Committee assignments — notably the removal of Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Bob Marshall from the coveted House Judiciary Committee. Despite McCluskie’s efforts, another freshman Democrat has decided to walk away from the legislature.

As Marianne Goodland reports for the publication formerly known as The Colorado Statesman:

State Rep. Said Sharbini, D-Brighton, a first-year lawmaker, announced Monday he is resigning effective Dec. 31.

Sharbini is the second first-year legislator to resign in recent weeks. Rep. Ruby Dickson, D-Greenwood Village, announced on Dec. 1 she would resign, effective Dec. 11, citing a “vitriolic” environment in the state House.

A vacancy committee will choose Sharbini’s successor, who will become the 29th current lawmaker — out of 100 — to gain a seat in the legislature through the vacancy process.

Sharbini, who represents House District 31, is an attorney. He cited financial pressures as the major reason, but he, too, said the vitriol of the chamber is a factor. [Pols emphasis]

Financial constraints are certainly an issue for state lawmakers — something we’ve long discussed in this space. Elected lawmakers should absolutely be making more money than the $41,000 plus per diem expenses that are offered. It’s difficult to do a job that is classified as “part time” but is really a full time effort, and it’s even harder for someone like Sharbini who is also trying to maintain a law practice at the same time.

Rep. Elisabeth Epps shouted at lawmakers FROM THE GALLERY during November’s special legislative session

Obviously, Sharbini knew (or should have known) what he was getting into in terms of legislative salaries, but he had no way of forseeing just how toxic the State Capitol work environment might become because of the self-centered antics of a handful of Boebert-esque lawmakers. Chief among that group is Epps, whose childish and pointless shouting and carrying on during the November special legislative session was one of several reasons McCluskie cited in making committee changes. Most legislators run for office because they want to serve their communities — not because they plan on acting out the kind of pointless performative politics that drives Epps and Marshall.

Sharbini is even sympathetic toward Epps’s cause du jour of supporting Palestinians in their conflict against Israel. As Marianne Goodland notes:

Sharbini, who has Palestinian roots, took part in a pro-Palestinian rally on Nov. 9, when he said he is seeking a ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel conflict.

What Sharbini did not do, however, was ignore decorum and common decency in his protests — he didn’t accuse his colleagues of promoting genocide, for example — or run up to the House gallery to shout at lawmakers from above. You can disagree and have discussions with colleagues, but you don’t have to be an asshole about it. Like Rep. Ruby Dickson before him, Sharbini apparently decided that he wasn’t interested in continuing to work with toxic co-workers who distract from the important work that needs to be done at the State Capitol.

As we wrote before, every office has its share of toxic employees. But elected officials can, and should, be held to a higher standard because they serve to represent all of their constituents — not just those few who cheer on their particular brand of performative politics.

Everybody likes to feel like they are the hero of their own story. It’s harder to recognize when you are really just the heel.

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10 thoughts on “Another Freshman Lawmaker Abruptly Resigns Before Next Legislative Session”

  1. Wow, they're dropping like flies! Best to him I guess, but I'm not crazy about the timing of the effective date of resignation. Whoever wins the vacancy committee deserves at least a couple hours lead time in advance of the start of the session, to if nothing else figure out where the Capitol bathrooms are located. Oh yeah, and minor stuff like deciding which bills to run and learning the ins and outs of a state of 104,000 square miles and 6 million people.

    1. Selecting someone at the start of the even-year session can be dicey.

      Remember when Doug "the Kicker" Bruce was trying to manipulate his swearing-in date so as to be able to run for four more terms? Because of inter alia the kick, the censure, and generally being diliked by most of his colleagues because he was such an asshole, there would not be the dilemma of whether Doug Bruce would get three full terms or four. He never made it through the next primary.

  2. When calling out the toxic behavior, we're called racist because the toxic person is black. The House leadership is called racist for calling out the toxic behavior of the black person who is at the center of the storm of toxic behavior.

    I'll say it again, I admire Rep. Epps for her justice work outside the legislature but you can't act the way she has and not understand the damage being done to her fellow House members. 

     

    1. SWDem, has anyone actually called you a racist, or are you just thinking that “they” might do so?

      As far as I know, nobody’s casually tossing that trope around.

      Those of us who call for a humanitarian cease fire in Gaza are often accused of  being anti-Semitic, though. It’s always easier to call names than engage in politicl discourse. If we disagree with Netanyahu’s ” one state solution” there are folks quick to statet that we disgree with Israel’s right to exist.

      I can’t defend Epps’ behavior in trying to make the Gaza conflict a Colorado legislative issue. No doubt, she feels strongly about it,as many on both sides of tthis conflict do. It would behoove our political leaders to model civil discourse in this tense time.

       

    2. SWDem, has anyone actually called you a racist, or are you just thinking that “they” might do so?

      As far as I know, nobody’s casually tossing that trope around.

      Those of us who call for a humanitarian cease fire in Gaza are often accused of  being anti-Semitic, though. It’s always easier to call names than engage in politicl discourse. If we disagree with Netanyahu’s ” one state solution” there are folks quick to state that we disgree with Israel’s right to exist.

      I can’t defend Epps’ behavior in trying to make the Gaza conflict a Colorado legislative issue. No doub, she feels strongly about it,as many on both sides of tthis conflict do. It would behoove our political leaders to model civil discourse in this tense time.

      As for Rep. Shabini, it sounds like financial concerns are behind his resignation, but that he, too, is now caught in the crossfire of  Gaza, so to speak.. Laying it at Epps’ feet is probably a bridge too far.

       

      1. Over on X (formerly known as Twitter) plenty of younger D's are calling Speaker McCluskie racist and anyone who dares to defend her, well they're called racist too. I guess I should have clarified that this was happening on X.

        I could post a screenshot of what I'm talking about but don't know if Pols will allow, in the past I haven't been able to post links or screenshots.

        1. No, spare us having to see anything that comes off X.  The sooner that platform goes under, the better the world will be. 

           

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