Four years ago, when I announced my candidacy for Mayor of Estes Park, the Town had just held two special elections. Emotions were high, confidence in government was ebbing and concerns about transparency were prevalent. To address these matters, I issued a pledge about what I’d do if elected mayor. It said I would be available, represent all the peoples, foster public trust, engage with town staff as professionals, be transparent and more. In support of the pledge, I began writing a weekly report out to keep the townspeople of Estes Park abreast of what I was doing on their behalf. The Trail-Gazette and Estes Park News graciously agreed to publish them. And Dave Thomas agreed to translate each to Spanish and enter it on the Recursos: Valle de Estes Facebook page. To date, the newspapers have published nearly 175 of what’s become known as the Mayor’s Message. This is the last one I’ll be writing. I’m using it to make three points.
First, I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all who stepped up as candidates during the recent Town election. Serving as a candidate is a time-honored and important part of the representative government process. As is serving the people of Estes Park through an elected role. I salute each of you and look forward to the swearing-in ceremony on April 23, during which the representative process will run its full cycle when the new mayor and trustees begin their service upon this mayor’s final act.
Second, I want to use the vantage point of a soon-to-be former mayor to do some much-needed reflecting about being mayor. I’m doing this because during my campaign for mayor, I often told people to keep me busy. Well, now that I’ve been mayor, I want to look back to see what I’ve been busy doing.
Looking back, I can see that I spent much time dealing with special circumstances. One was COVID-19. Soon after arriving in the United States in January 2020, the virus became a pandemic. That April, at my swearing-in as mayor, it was full on. No aspect of life in Estes Park was unaffected. People became sick, some died. Families sheltered in place to stay safe. Businesses tried to adapt. The Town did its business remotely. I couldn’t run in-person board meetings, build normal rapport with trustees or be available to townspeople in-person. The skillset I’d envisioned using as mayor—public speeches, in-person meetings, hugs, and handshakes and so on— when I announced my candidacy in December no longer applied. The skills of that day were running effective remote meetings, inspiring people via virtual speeches, managing conference calls, exchanging friendly verbal handshakes, using social media and publishing pieces in newspapers. In December 2020, I began using the Mayor’s Message to promote vaccinations for COVID-19, inform townspeople of developments, support businesses and generally keep spirits up. The COVID skill set carried the day through May 2023 when the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended. So finally, the skills I’d once envisioned using, I could use.
Another special circumstance that kept me busy was the Cameron and East Troublesome wildfires — two of the largest fires in Colorado history. The Cameron Peak Fire started August 13, 2020, and burned for 112 days. October 14, 2020, the East Troublesome Fire ignited. On October 21, fanned by 60-mile-per-hour winds in Grand County three spot fires ignited across the tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park. On October 22, the fire came within 10 miles of Estes Park. A Fire Command Center at the Event Center provided daily updates during the progression of these fires.
On October 22, 2020, I participated in an early morning ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new owners of MacDonald Book Shop. Downtown Estes Park had an orange glow. Heavy smoke was everywhere. After cutting the ribbon, I went to the Fire Command Center located in the Event Center at the Fairgrounds. Here, at approximately 11 a.m., I listened to the announcement about evacuating Estes Valley. The East Troublesome Fire was heading toward Estes Park. I called Roger. Told him to gather stuff together. I would go back to my office at Town Hall to get some things, then meet him at our home off Highway 7. Within minutes of walking into the office, I became painfully aware that the evacuation was fully underway. Unable to get home, I drove to Loveland. Roger drove to Longmont. Later we connected and ended up staying with our daughter and family in Lakewood. I spent the next several days going from one fire refugee center to another. Checking in with townspeople and connecting them with resources and each other. Thanks to a snowfall a few days later, the fire did not reach Estes Park and people could return home. The Fire Command Center continued to operate until spot fires in Rocky Mountain National Park were extinguished. On the 29th of October, I met there with U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse, U.S. Michael Senator Bennet, Estes Valley Fire Chief David Wolf and Glen Haven Fire Chief Kevin Zagorda to discuss scenarios and solutions for the fire threats.
I recall someone saying that best friends are born amidst adversity. I’m not sure who she was, but the special circumstances of my mayorship certainly prove her to be correct. Friendships with Congressman Neguse, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and other government officials and their staffs were born amidst our time we spent together during the Pandemic and wildfires. And those friends have borne much fruit since. Resulting in numerous grants for the Estes Valley, including, funding for the Town’s Tree Cable effort that Congressman Neguse supports. And he and his fellow leaders have not been strangers here.
When I wasn’t dealing with special circumstances, I was busy handling the regular circumstances of being mayor—chairing meetings and study sessions of the Trustee Board, developing an annual Strategic Plan and Budget for the Town, meeting with townspeople during office hours, and serving on numerous boards (Larimer County Solid Waste Policy Council, Larimer County Behavioral Health Policy Council, Platte River Power Authority and the Regional Air Quality Council board in Denver). Between the meetings, I kept busy cutting ribbons, reading proclamations, and making speeches. And throughout the year, I was representing the Town at the Catch the Glow Parade, the Christmas tree and Menorah lighting ceremonies, Rooftop Rodeo Parade, Scottish Irish Highland Festival, Frozen Dead Guy Days, as well as events at Rocky Mountain National Park and Bond Park.
Last, the time has come for me to wrap things up literally and figuratively and give the baton to the next mayor. As I prepare to do so, reflecting on the four years I spent as mayor, what do I notice? Was I busy? Yes, I was very busy. Was the pledge I made to the townspeople fulfilled? I sure tried to do so. Am I grateful for having an opportunity to serve as your mayor? From the bottom of my heart, I am eternally grateful that you elected me mayor and that you kept me so busy. It’s been a high point of my life. Do I have any last words? Yes…don’t be a stranger.
Wendy
