Vote wisely

It is vitally important that Woodland Park voters be well informed about the upcoming City Council election; in order to avoid any adverse implications that may result from uninformed voting. Five candidates are running for four council seats. It is vital to vote for four out of the five candidates and choose one candidate that is not desired.

Woodland Park voters must also be informed about any candidate that may have significant conflicts of interest and may not represent the desires of Woodland Park voters. In my opinion, that one candidate is Mary Sekowski.

Woodland Park voters have already voted to restrict short term rentals in our residential neighborhoods. This effort resulted in much diligence by many citizens, in order to bring the vote to the people. However, Mary has spent significant time, effort, and money suing to oppose the voters will. In addition to the STR issue, Mary has a financial interest in the TAVA development, and as a council member she could vote for the Tax Increment Financing that is seeking $1.5 million in taxpayer support.

The City Council controls what tax measures appear on the ballots. Because Mary is an investor and board member at Merit Academy, she would also have an opportunity to vote on the renewing of the 1.09% city sales tax which would involve getting the City Council back into school funding issues, instead of being overseen by the school board.

Be an informed voter!

Carol Roberts, Woodland Park

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Many Thanks

I am writing this letter to thank the Teller County Sheriff Department, the Teller County Search & Rescue team, and all the good neighbors who came out to search for my wife who wandered away from home last week. It turned out to be a good outcome. Thank you again.

John Weir, Florissant

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Independent voices matter in local elections

As Woodland Park voters prepare for the city council election, an important discussion has emerged about how candidates are choosing to run their campaigns.

Several candidates in the race have presented themselves as a coordinated group, often described as running as a “block.” In addition, the candidate for mayor has publicly endorsed these individuals—even though that position has not yet been decided by voters.

For some residents, this raises questions about how local representation is intended to work. City council members are elected individually. Each seat represents the voters of Woodland Park, and each council member is expected to serve the entire community, bringing their own perspective and judgment to the city’s issues.

When candidates campaign as a block, some voters wonder whether this suggests decisions could be aligned before council discussions are held publicly. Others see it simply as a campaign strategy among candidates who share similar viewpoints. Ultimately, it is up to voters to decide which approach they prefer.

Many residents say they value transparency and independent thinking in local leadership. City councils function best when members openly discuss issues, consider different viewpoints, and work together to reach decisions that benefit the community.

One candidate highlighting that approach is Mary Sekowski. Rather than running as part of a coordinated slate, she has chosen to campaign independently, meeting with residents, answering questions, and sharing her vision for Woodland Park. Please take the time to learn more about Mary to learn why your vote for her is smart.

Suzanne M. Perini, Woodland Park

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City Council incumbent strengths

The March 11, 2026 Forum for City Council candidates gave the people of Woodland Park an excellent opportunity to assess the qualities of each candidate.  The Greater Chamber of Commerce of Woodland Park presented pertinent questions for each candidate.  Our incumbent  City Council members, Seth Byrant, Catherine Nakai and Jeff Geer, answered these questions demonstrating a thorough understanding of the topics, commitment to the City, foresight for the future and the ability to work together for common goals. Also they each demonstrated another good trait – a sense of humor. Their noteworthy achievements include working two years to update the city codes and purchasing the 355 acre Shining Mountain Golf Course and water rights for 3.2 million dollars when it was valued at 6.8 million dollars.

The other two candidates demonstrated less expertise. However, Don Dezellum, who has been a resident over 20 years, demonstrated how his volunteer work with the City in many capacities gives him a good foundation for being an effective Council member.  He is currently on the Planning Commission.

These four candidates, Seth Byrant, Catherine Nakai, Jeff Geer and Don Dezellum, deserve your vote for City Council on April 7^th to continue to move Woodland Park forward.

Gail Gerig, Woodland Park

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Public service with accountability

When someone steps forward to serve in public office, questions become a part of the democratic process. Mary Sekowski knows this, and welcomes the healthy dialogue that strengthens our community and ensures voters are informed. Throughout her professional and volunteer work in Woodland Park, Mary has always operated with transparency and integrity- her commitment to these tenets is unwavering.

If elected to City Council, I believe that Mary will strictly follow Colorado law regarding ethics, disclosure, and recusal, just as any responsible council member should. The rules governing public service exist for a reason, and she fully respects them. Should any matter come before Council that requires recusal under state guidelines, I am confident Mary will abide without hesitation.

Like many residents who serve in local government, Mary brings professional and community experience to areas directly affecting our city- housing, small business, and education, and her resume speaks for itself. I view her breadth of experience as a strength, not a liability. It provides firsthand understanding of the real challenges families, business owners, and neighborhoods face every day. Insight gained from living and working in our community helps leaders make informed decisions that genuinely benefit all citizens.

Mary’s focus remains firmly on Woodland Park’s future: supporting responsible growth, protecting neighborhood character, strengthening our schools, and ensuring our city remains a place families are proud to call home.

She is running to serve this community- not special interests. We need to move Woodland Park forward and Mary is the smart choice.

Chloe Brown, Woodland Park

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