Potential candidates express interest in Durango City Council election

Three of five seats up for grabs

Three of five seats are up for grabs during the April 6 Durango City Council election, and already new candidates are signing up to compete.

Councilors Dean Brookie, Chris Bettin and Melissa Youssef are ending their four-year terms on City Council. Since the candidate process opened Thursday, six people have expressed interest in running for their seats. Youssef is also interested in running for re-election.

“I thought about (running) very carefully,” Youssef said. “I still care about the businesses and residents in this community, and I see this position as a way to help people thrive.”

Bettin said he will not run for re-election.

“I truly wish I had the time to commit to council, but alas these last four years away from my family and my work have been all I can commit to at this time,” he said. “It’s been an honor to serve the community, and I hope to be supportive of those who run and those who are elected.”

Brookie is term-limited and cannot be re-elected. He said he was looking forward to more free time after his term ends.

“It’s been a productive eight years,” said Brookie, who served as mayor during the Gold King Mine disaster in 2015 and the coronavirus pandemic response. “I feel good about the contributions I’ve been able to make, but also look forward to getting back to my professional practice and having more personal time.”

As of Friday, the list of residents interested in running for council included Lisa McCorry, Frank Lockwood, Harrison Wendt, Seth Furtney, Jessika Buell and Victoria Mordan.

With the departure of Brookie and Bettin, the council will lose some of its institutional knowledge, Youssef said.

As working professionals, the two councilors also balanced careers with their council duties.

“They’ve done a really good job with that, but we will lose their perspective on operating businesses in our community right now,” Youssef said.

Read the full article on the Durango Herald at: https://durangoherald.com/articles/360783