Longtime municipal officials stepping down

The Colorado Municipal League would like to recognize the following individuals completing their service of eight or more years as elected officials. Their respective commitment to their municipalities represents the essence of leadership, effective governance, and empowerment of their communities for the benefit of all.

“I would especially like to recognize those that served as board members for the League,” said Kevin Bommer, CML executive director. “They include Nancy McNally, Westminster mayor; John Marriott, Arvada councilmember; and Dave Kerber, Greenwood Village mayor pro tem. Also, Stephanie Piko, Centennial mayor, served in leadership roles, including as a board member, for the National League of Cities.” \

Please email Maeve McHugh, CML municipal research analyst, at mmchugh@cml.org with any other officials completing eight or more years of elected service that have not already been recognized. 

Dennis Flores
Pueblo council member serving since 2014
Council member Dennis Flores has served multiple terms as a city councilor at-large for the City of Pueblo, including two years as council president. A Vietnam veteran and former president of the Latino Chamber of Commerce, Flores has consistently championed economic development, education, and civic engagement. He was honored with his late wife Evelyn with the Latino Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 for their “continuous and selfless contributions” to Pueblo’s Hispanic community. He also served on the Pueblo School District 60 board for eight years, with two of those years as president, and he was appointed by former Gov. John Hickenlooper to serve eight years on the Colorado State University System. He believes strongly that Pueblo is about “the wonderful people that live here.”

John Gates
Greeley council member and mayor serving since 2009
John Gates first won a seat on city council in 2009, where he served until 2017, when he became Greeley’s mayor. Before his time at city hall, he spent 25 years in law enforcement before retiring and assuming the chief of safety and security role with the Greely-Evans School District. A lifelong Greeley resident, Mayor Gates’ tenure in office reflects his care and passion for his community, ensuring that it remains a great place to live for generations to come.



Jim Gelwicks
Gunnison council member and mayor serving 1987-1997 and 2017-2021
Jim Gelwicks has served the Gunnison community for many years as an elected official. This is his second time to be on Gunnison City Council. He began on city council in 1987 and served all the way to 1997, serving as mayor from 1993-1995. He was elected again in 2017 and served as mayor from 2017-2021. His term on council expires December. Since his retirement from Western Colorado University in Gunnison in 2024, (formally Western State College of Colorado) as a communications faculty member, Jim keeps busy volunteering his time to help veterans, children, and building relationships with all residents. Gelwicks served on the Colorado Municipal League Policy Committee, City Investment Policy Board, and Region 10 Executive Committee. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing as well as simply living and walking through the streets of Gunnison. His unwavering pride in and support of the community is recognized by everyone who has had the fortunate opportunity to be taught, led, or interacted with Jim Gelwicks.

Zo Hubbard
Fort Lupton council member and mayor serving since 2009
Zo Hubbard has dedicated more than 16 years of service to the City of Fort Lupton. First elected to city council in November 2009, she served as a councilmember until 2017. In November 2017 she was elected mayor, a role she has held with distinction through November 2025. Throughout her tenure, Hubbard championed initiatives that have strengthened Fort Lupton’s future. She led efforts to meet regulatory mandates and modernize infrastructure at the water treatment plant. She ensured the city has the capacity to support growth and provide reliable water resources, including the procurement of needed water shares. She served on numerous committees such as the Weld County Opioid Council, US 85 Coalition, and Hwy 52 Coalition, addressing public health, safety, and regional growth challenges. Hubbard’s leadership, alongside her fellow council members, has been marked by foresight, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring Fort Lupton’s long term resilience. Her final day in office will be Dec. 2, closing a distinguished chapter of public service that began in 2009. 

Anne Ingebresten
Greenwood Village councilmember serving from 1999-2007 and 2017-2025
Anne Ingebresten previously served on city council from 1999-2007. She was elected to serve again in 2017 and was reelected in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Her current term expires in November. She served on the Greenwood Village Planning and Zoning Commission from 1997-1999. In 1999, she was elected to the city council and served until 2007. She came back onto the city council in 2017 and is now serving a second term. She has served on the University of Denver's Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee and has volunteered in local schools through the Catholic Charities Seeds of Hope Program.


Dave Kerber
Greenwood Village councilmember serving from 2003-2011 and 2017-2025
A former CML board member, Dave Kerber previously served on city council from 2003-2011. He was elected to serve again in 2017 and was reelected in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Dave served on the Greenwood Village Planning and Zoning Commission from 1999-2003 and as co-chair from 2002-2003. He also served as a District 2 council member from 2003-2011. Dave was appointed to the Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority in 2003 and was elected chair in 2007. He also previously served as a board member of the Greenwood Hills Homeowners Association.


John Hamrick
Cañon City council member serving from 2017
After eight years of service on the city council, including six as mayor pro tem, John Hamrick concludes his tenure as a dedicated and engaged member of local leadership. Throughout his time in office, he brought a careful, detail-oriented approach to policy discussions and a steady presence in navigating the day-to-day responsibilities of municipal governance. John also chaired the city’s energy and water committees, where his ability to analyze complex information and apply his professional expertise helped inform the council’s work on resource planning and critical infrastructure issues. John’s commitment to understanding the technical and regulatory aspects of city operations was evident in his thorough preparation and thoughtful participation in council deliberations. His attention to detail and methodical approach added clarity to discussions and supported the council’s efforts to address a wide range of community needs. As his service comes to a close, we extend our appreciation for Hamrick’s eight years of contributions and for the time, knowledge, and perspective he brought to the role. His dedication to the responsibilities of public office has been an important part of the city’s work during his tenure.

Roger Hudson
Castle Pines council member serving from 2017
First elected in 2017, Roger Hudson worked to champion local businesses that form the backbone of Castle Pines. Hudson and his family moved to Castle Pines when he became the chief communications officer for the Colorado Department of Corrections in 2013. He has since held similar executive communications positions with the Colorado attorney general and several political campaigns. Hudson is an entrepreneur and small business owner. His companies specialize in communications, nonprofits, political campaigns, and governmental advocacy. Like a growing number of Coloradan, he knows the importance of fiscal responsibility, planning for the future and self-reliance.

John Marriott
Arvada councilmember serving since 2013
John Marriott was first elected in 2013 to serve as Arvada’s representative for City Council District 3. A former CML board member, Marriott also served on a number of local and regional boards reflecting his experience as a business owner and dedication to his hometown.




Brett Payton
Greeley council member since 2017
Council Member Brett Payton was first elected to represent Ward 2 in Greeley before running for and winning an at-large seat in 2021. During his time in office, Payton’s professional experience as an attorney lent itself to thoughtful decision making and care for diverse community perspectives. While in office, Payton will continue to serve Greeley as a distinguished business leader.




Joan Peck
Longmont council member and mayor since 2015
Joan Peck has served the City of Longmont since 2015. Prior to her time as mayor, she was an at-large representative on the Longmont City Council. A commitment to transportation initiatives has been her focus during her time in office and will continue in our region as she plans to remain the secretary of the Front Range Passenger Rail District. Her prior transportation service includes but is not limited to the NW MCC, DRCOG Board of Directors, and Northwest Rail Corridor Governments Committee.



Stephanie Piko
Centennial council member and mayor serving since 2012
Stephanie Piko has served as the third mayor of Centennial, Colorado, since January 2018, following six years on the city council representing District 4. Her journey into public service was driven by her deep commitment to Centennial’s core values and mission, ensuring the city's strategic planning for a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future. Piko’s leadership has positioned Centennial as a regional leader in infrastructure, community development and technology. Piko has served on the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors and continues her involvement through the NLC Advisory Council and the NLC Research Advisory Committee. She co-chairs the first joint committee between the NLC and the National Governors Association on Workforce Development, advocating for policies that support local governments on a national stage.

Aren Rodriguez
Longmont council member serving from 2017
During his 8 years of service to the Longmont community, Council Member Aren Rodriguez has served as the council liaison to the planning and zoning commission. His broad land use knowledge and understanding of land use related issues has solidified his legacy in the Longmont community and he will be greatly missed on both public bodies. 




Jessica Sandgren
Thornton council member serving since 2017
Jessica Sandgren served as Ward 2 council member from 2017-2025, including four years as mayor pro tem. During her tenure, she represented the city on numerous regional and state boards and was a strong advocate for transportation, home rule government, parks and recreation, and senior transit. She represented the city on the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board for eight years, becoming the District 3 chair in 2020 and CML president in 2023. On CML, she was a strong supporter of home rule and spoke out against land use overreach, and as president she introduced the civility toolkit and pledge, which was published in the CML magazine in 2024. She championed public safety initiatives that increased police staffing and improved facilities for first responders, supported affordable housing developments such as Crossing Point, and promoted expansion of RTD and Flex Ride services. Sandgren also played a key role in guiding the city through the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting vital business and community relief programs, and she contributed to long-term planning through the adoption of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan.

Deven Shaff
Broomfield council member serving since 2017
Deven Shaff was elected by Ward 3 in 2017. He was re-elected in November 2021 for his second term and served as mayor pro tem. He and his family have lived in Broomfield for nearly 10 years. Over the years, Shaff has worked in education, nonprofits, and university settings. After college, he started a career as an opera singer and teaching artist at Central City Opera, Opera Fort Collins, and others. He then went on to manage The Dairy Arts Center in Boulder and helped rebuild the Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is currently a substitute teacher working with Boulder Valley School District, and he founded the Turnpike Arts District. Shaff's community volunteer experience includes a number of local and regional commissions and councils, with roles including president of the Broomfield Building Corporation Board of Directors, chair of the Transportation Committee of Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, Colorado Municipal League Policy Committee, and others covering transportation, the arts, and economic development.