Sekowski Vows to Help Move the City in a Positive Direction
Trevor Phipps
As time runs out for those campaigning for seats on the Woodland Park City Council, local election banter has heated up, especially on social media.
But instead of blocks forming or candidates mudslinging each other, some have launched campaigns to single out only one of the five council candidates.
Out of the five candidates running for the four open seats, resident Mary Sekowski is the sole contender who has not previously sought any sort of political office in the region. However, her name is well known locally due to her vocal stance against the citizens’ short term rental (STR) ordinance (which bars any STR properties in residential areas unless they are owner-occupied) and her opposition against a city council decision in 2025 to take away a portion of sales tax previously given to the school district.
Due to her take on prior issues, some on social media have urged voters to vote for every candidate on the list except for Sekowski. A sign on Hwy. 67 in Woodland Park even reads, “A vote for Mary is a vote for STRs in your neighborhood.”
Time to Move On
But Sekowski says she isn’t looking to overturn decisions that have already been made by the council and voters. Instead, she said she is completely focused on helping the city work through issues that will come up in the future.
Sekowski has been a Woodland Park resident for the last 14 years, and the way she arrived to town is a unique story that she can tell best herself. But after relocating to the city from Georgia, Sekowski soon became involved in different aspects of the community due to her friend group she started associating with.
Over the years, Sekowski has helped bring certain improvements to the community that she and others felt were important. Since she moved to Woodland Park, Sekowski has played a pivotal role in bringing a swim team to the city, along with the Merit Academy Charter School and the Tava House development project.
“My heart is just for seeing this place thrive in a way our community wants, while respecting the history of what Woodland Park is and what has made it such a rich place,” Sekowski said. “God created the beauty of it and the natural surroundings. We have this amazing backdrop that is unlike anywhere else on this planet. And the people created the history. And so, honoring that and moving that forward is my objective.”
Sekowski did say that she thought the city council has made a lot of progress in the last couple of years towards obtaining amenities the city needs. She applauded the council’s development of public park lands and the acquisition of more open space (i.e. the Shining Mountain Golf Course and Avenger open space purchases).
Focusing on the Future
Sekowski spoke positively of the past council’s efforts in being cognizant about the limited water resources in the city. She also said that the Downtown Development Authority has accomplished good things towards economic development of the city’s downtown region.
The rookie candidate believes that the city needs to continue working towards making decisions that will benefit economic development in the near future. One goal she cited was the need to update the city’s comprehensive plan, originally drafted in 2021.
“We have had some community shift of importance in Woodland Park,” Sekowski said. “So, this next council is also really going to have to take the time and effort to hear from the community and what’s important in terms of development, growth, sustainability, open space, etc. Have we changed to a point where our community values a different set of future progress than the 2021 plan? Or not, are we right on track with that?”
Sekowski also said that traffic through the city’s downtown strip is another issue that the council will need to address in the near future. While she agreed that the city council will not be able to solve the local traffic woes in the next two or even four years, she did say that the council could work towards identifying solutions that over time could potentially solve traffic issues through town.
She also stressed the fact that the council needs to be mindful of the region’s limited water resources moving into the future. “I support responsible stewardship of our water supply, sustainable utility planning, and thoughtful environmental practices that protect our mountain community while supporting responsible development,” Sekowski said on her campaign website. “In a mountain community like Woodland Park, water management is also directly tied to wildfire risk and mitigation. Ensuring adequate water supply, infrastructure, and planning to support fire protection efforts is essential to protecting homes, businesses, and our forests.”
Sekowski stressed the fact that she has stayed transparent throughout her campaign. “Major decisions should never surprise the community,” Sekowski’s website states. “I believe residents should be informed before decisions are made and after votes occur so they understand the issue, the reasoning behind the decision, and the expected outcomes.”
The council candidate said that she is available to meet up and have a conversation with any resident if they desire. For information on chances to have coffee with Sekowski, visit her campaign website at Votesmartwp.com.
