Stan VanderWerf, a former El Paso County commissioner and Republican candidate for state Senate, announced Tuesday that he was running to be the next mayor of Colorado Springs.

VanderWerf served as a county commissioner 2017-2024 and as chair of the Board of County Commissioners for two years during that time. In 2024, VanderWerf ran for Senate District 12 and was narrowly defeated by Marc Snyder.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade announced in April that he planned to run for a second term leading Colorado Springs. In his campaign announcement, VanderWerf said that the city appeared to be drifting in the wrong direction over the past few years.

“We are not drifting because the people are failing. We are drifting because the leadership is. Colorado Springs has more going for it than almost any city in America,” VanderWerf said on his campaign website.

Some of the priorities outlined on VanderWerf’s campaign website included building a stronger relationship with the City Council, investing more in public safety, refocusing the spending allocated through the 2C road tax, and fighting against state mandates.

In addition to his experience as commissioner, VanderWerf identifies himself as a retired Air Force colonel, military base ambassador and engineer on his campaign website.

The mayoral election is set for April 2027, along with the election for four members of the City Council.