Kellie Case Retires in Grandiose Style
Trevor Phipps
Former Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case has commanded a strong local following through her service as the city’s top elected official, a council member, and finance chief, and now as a real estate business owner.
She was also a hard person to miss at virtually every local event. For the past several years, the Woodland Park mayor attended major social and community gatherings across the Ute Pass region, as well as smaller celebrations and even residents’ birthday parties.
Besides her role as mayor, Case served for six years on the council and previously had an extensive stint as the city’s finance director. In fact, she has been a local government fixture in Woodland Park since the late 1990s.
As a result of her extensive service, the community recently gave the former mayor an official sendoff at the River Room banquet facility at the new Tava House located in downtown Woodland Park.
The large banquet area played host to a standing room-only crowd on May 15. Many people from the local business community attended Case’s farewell party, as well as many government officials and local residents.
The event was rescheduled from late April. Even though Case originally wanted to throw her retirement shindig quickly after she departed from the mayoral seat, the venue was not quite ready for the much-anticipated gathering.
In the end, most agreed that the wait was well worth it. The turnout was great, and attendees particularly enjoyed the complimentary food served, and for many, it was the first time they got to view the new Tava House.
Eventually, the large crowd brought their attention to the podium and the chance to honor Case. Everyone had the chance to say a few words of farewell to the well-respected former mayor/city council member.
Former City Clerk Suzanne Leclercq took the floor first and commended Case for more than two decades of working with the city in some capacity.
Leclercq presented a few highlights of her personal and professional relationship with the former mayor. She even brought up one comical incident during which Case welcomed puppies onto the dais during a city council meeting.
“We have also shared some very tough times together: the loss of our parents, the loss of staff members and their families, the challenges of raising teenagers, lean budgets and tough city councils,” Leclercq said. “Through all of it, Kellie remained sane, calm and supportive no matter what was happening around us. I can personally say how much I appreciated her patience, knowledge and friendship.”
Tava House CEO Derek Waggoner also commended Case for her help in securing the Woodland Station property for the Tava House development. Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams also cited Case’s involvement in improving relations between the city and county. In fact, Commission Erik Stone, echoed similar sentiments, and described how this cooperation took a drastic turn under Case’s leadership. Previously, he noted that relations between the two entities were not good, and credited Case for helping to turn the corner.
Several current members of the Woodland Park City Council also had nothing but good things to say about the former mayor.
Case’s Next Steps as Community Leader
Case would have served another term as Woodland Park’s mayor, except she was term-limited. But her time with the city expanded well beyond her stint on the council.
Case first started working for the city in 1997 in the finance department. She headed the city’s finances for nearly two decades before switching careers in 2014.
After working as a local real estate agent for a few years, Case opted to give back to the city and run for office. She was initially elected on the city council in 2018. Case then served as mayor pro tem from 2020 to 2022.
Case then returned to the dais after getting the nod from voters during the 2022 election. She served for two more years as a council member while Hilary LaBarre became the city’s first female mayor.
Then in 2024, Case decided to make a bid for the city’s top position. She ran in the April 2024 election against resident Jerry Penland and won by a landslide. Case then served as mayor until she was term-limited last April, and current Mayor George Jones was elected to take her place.
Throughout her tenure, Case prided herself on being a multi-generation Colorado native. And even though she has completed public office for the moment, she is not planning on going anywhere.
“I plan to work on growing my real estate business,” Case said. But she did hint at the fact that she is not done with local politics and boards
When asked if she planned to stay involved in community affairs in the future, she quickly fired back with a question of her own. “Did you think I wouldn’t?” Case replied.
In fact, Case has already found her next position. Less than two months after stepping down as mayor, she decided to apply to sit on the Downtown Development Board. Her knowledge and experience will now aid the city in figuring out the economic direction of Woodland Park’s vibrant downtown strip.
