Park County conducts executive‑session interviews for county manager; two finalists give public introductions

The Park County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 conducted executive‑session interviews for the county manager position and heard short public introductions from the two finalists, Clarice Navarro and Lucas Meyer. The board recessed to executive session under Colorado law for personnel deliberations and then returned to receive brief statements from the candidates; commissioners said they expect to make a decision in about a week.

During the public comment period before the executive session, several residents spoke for and against one of the finalists. Kimberly Gregory offered public support for Lucas Meyer, saying she has known him four years in a professional capacity and has come to trust his integrity and conflict‑resolution skills. Gary Fisk also spoke in support of Meyer, saying he has known him for about five years and believes Meyer would work well with the commission.

Other speakers raised concerns. Mead Hopkins urged the board to re‑read the abandoned‑property draft for spelling and grammatical errors and opposed Meyer’s candidacy on the basis that, the commenter said, Meyer lacks public‑management experience. Joe Weidner asked that an email exchange involving Commissioner Elsner be made part of the public record; County Attorney Erin told the board that county policy does not permit the board to accept submitted documents into the public meeting record during verbal public comment. Weidner and Hopkins also raised questions during public comment about a business structure tied to Commissioner Elsner (a foreign LLC and PO box), wanting transparency on whether the LLC or associated entities have done work in Park County; commissioners did not act on those questions at the meeting.

After the public‑comment period, the board entered executive session under the Colorado Open Meetings Law provision cited in the meeting (recorded in the motion as CRS 24‑6‑402). The board reported participants in the executive session included Assistant County Manager Cindy Garst, County Commissioner Dave Whissel, County Commissioner Amy Mitchell, incoming County Commissioner Jason Gemmer, former County Commissioner Lenny Walker and Public Information Officer Emmy Glancy West (West attended by Zoom). The board said Nathan J. Bisch, originally one of three finalists, withdrew his candidacy during the process.

Clarice Navarro summarized her experience in local and state government, including time as a city councilwoman, six years as a Colorado state representative for Pueblo/Otero/Fremont areas, service as the state executive director for the Farm Service Agency (managing multiple offices and staff across Colorado), and roles in rural housing and community development. Navarro told the board she has more than 15 years of public‑service experience, emphasized relationship building and stakeholder outreach and said she wants to “embrace Park County and become part of it and make this my home.”

Lucas Meyer described a background that includes Eagle Scout leadership, military service during Operation Iraqi Freedom, work in law enforcement and recent regional leadership in church operations across Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Meyer said he wants to rebuild county reserves, manage funds carefully, plan for growth while preserving Park County’s natural character, and increase transparency and professionalism in county government. Meyer told the board, “I care deeply about every single one of you, in this room and within this county.”

Commissioners thanked both finalists for participating and for traveling to meet with the interview panel. The board said there would be no public deliberation at that time and that they anticipated making a selection in about a week.