Announcing her run for the Woodland Park City Council, Mary Sekowski reflects on the ideas that motivate her advocacy and investment of time in a range of community and commercial projects.

A resident since 2012, Sekowski’s interests track the city’s amenities.

“This is probably the most beautiful place on this planet,” she said. “We have people here who are good and a history that is fascinating and rich and should be honored.”

In her bid for city council, Sekowski hopes to be in on the action.

“Woodland Park is on the cusp of making some pretty big decisions that will dictate the long-term future for our city in a way that can bring our community together,” she said.

Her campaign slogan, “Forward Together,” is her vision of what can be if all work for positive and sustainable growth.

“As a realtor I spend a lot of time talking to people who were looking at moving here and were not happy with the educational options,” she said.

As a co-founder of Merit Academy, Sekowski opted to be a leader in offering choice.  

“Having good educational options is a cornerstone of what will make our economy and our city thrive,” she said. “If we don’t have people who want to live here, then we die.”

Sekowski has a list of what she’d like the city to offer, in addition to educational choices.

For instance, she said, since the retirement of Dr. Laura Boschert, the town has not been able to attract a pediatrician, which, in turn, would help attract families. A pediatrician would be another attractive amenity in addition to the beauty, educational, recreational, entertainment and dining opportunities, she added.

Sekowski once owned a short-term rental within the city limits but was forced to close after the city’s registered voters approved a measure to establish rules for STRs. As a result, an STR could only be permitted if the owner lived in the home or if the STR was in a commercial district.

The plaintiffs have appealed the decision in Teller County District Court.

“My motivation behind the lawsuit was to challenge something we felt, after reasonable evaluation, could be a property rights issue,” she said.

Running for council while at same time she remains a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city she wants to represent, Sekowski rejects the idea of a conflict of interest.

“Anyone who sits on the dais of city council needs to have in their hearts and minds the importance of protecting the citizens,” she said. “I feel strongly that this (appeal) is protecting their interests and to see it through.”

Volunteer for Junior Achievement and leader of a Girl Scout Troop, Sekowski is an investor in the Tava House project.

“Everything that I’ve mentioned, Tava House embodies all that; it’s the epicenter of community and what we envision for it,” she said. “That melds really well and is why I’m involved in that project, too.”

While the grand opening of Tava is scheduled for late spring, for Sekowski, the opening intersects with the election April 7.

“It is a calling, to take leadership role,” she said. “Everything I’ve done so far has led to this and I’m just excited about serving the citizens of Woodland Park.”

Sekowski is one of five candidates running for four positions on the council.