Pitkin County holds nine interviews for District 2 seat; appointment hearings set Feb. 26 and March 3

The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners spent Feb. 17 interviewing nine applicants for a vacancy in District 2 and set a short timetable to make an appointment.

Chair Jeffrey Woodruff opened the work session and reminded listeners that the county’s Home Rule Charter (Section 2.6) directs remaining commissioners to fill a vacancy by majority vote, and that any appointee “shall stand for election at the next regular primary and general election” to finish the term. After roughly three hours of candidate interviews, Interim County Manager Karis Silbernockle told the board it will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 10:00 a.m. for a first reading of the resolution to appoint the vacancy, accept public comment, and then hold a second reading and public hearing on Tuesday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m.; the oath of office is scheduled for noon March 3 on the courthouse steps.

Candidates varied in background and emphasis but commonly highlighted housing, growth management, airport planning and fiscal responsibility. Megan Ruby told the board she would press for “complete mitigation” on new development to protect water, infrastructure and local services. Max Ben Hamu said “housing affordability and workforce retention” should be top priorities and urged careful, data-driven budgeting. Scott Wooley, who cited APCHA experience and a county housing needs study, called for balancing large capital projects with protection of the county’s credit rating and ongoing civic engagement.

Several applicants framed the appointment as a short-term but consequential responsibility. Katie Grish said her priority would be execution of the county’s major capital projects — notably the airport bond program — while Emily Colby, a longtime local business owner, urged protecting the Healthy Community Fund and said she would support a ballot effort if the board coordinated outreach and resources.

The board and applicants also discussed how to balance countywide goals such as Vision 2050 and the county’s urban growth boundary with near-term pressures from reduced federal and state funding. Commissioners emphasized that the appointment process will include public comment at the Feb. 26 and March 3 meetings; the board will vote after the public hearing on March 3.

The board did not vote at the Feb. 17 work session. The county manager’s schedule for the resolution and public hearings, and the planned oath of office on March 3, provide a clear procedural timeline for the appointment and public input.

What’s next: The board’s special meeting for the first reading of the appointment resolution is Feb. 26 at 10:00 a.m.; the second reading and public hearing will be March 3 at 10:00 a.m., with the oath of office at noon on the courthouse steps if an appointee is selected.