District 1, which covers northeast Fort Collins, has been represented by Susan Gutowsky since Bob Overbeck was elected to County Assessor in November 2018. Now Gutowsky, along with Glenn Haas and Joe Somodi, are running for the seat.

Glenn Haas

Glenn Haas is the Co-owner and Chief Administrative Officer of Krazy Karl’s Pizza, which is the “largest annual grossing among independent pizzerias in Colorado and 25th in the US.”

According to Haas’ campaign website, his platform is built around small local businesses, tourism, Colorado State University, environmental stewardship and land use planning.

Haas worked in natural resources starting in 1980 as a professor in the College of Natural Resources at CSU. He went on to be the department head of Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism and to work with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Aukerman, The Nature Conservancy and Haas and Associates.

“Council provides leadership and wisdom by looking out at the horizon for those challenges which may impact the community and opportunities which may enrich the community,” Haas said. “Council must be ever-diligent in ensuring economic, environmental and social wellness.”

Joe Somodi

Joe Somodi describes himself as a “community advocate” on his campaign website. He serves as the chair of the Marketing and Development Committee for The Family Center/La Familia. He also lists work with FoCo Speaks Out! and the Human Relations Commission.

Somodi, who has lived in Fort Collins for four years, said he wants to look into the future of the quickly growing city.

“In many ways, we are looking at a fresh set of eyes that can look into the future 40 years and see how we can be progressive, how can we be bold, how we can allow for new innovation and attract new businesses into our community,” Somodi said. “And that’s just part of my DNA, that’s just who I am.”

His platform includes “healthy growth, healthy quality of life and healthy diversity and inclusion,” but he said he his keeping is platform and biases minimal so he can listen to and represent the issues of the community as a whole.

“I want to be the most open, the most available and the deepest listener and a person who is ready to see what the whole community needs,” Somodi said. “I feel like I can serve the people who need their voices heard the best on City Council.”

Susan Gutowsky

Susan Gutowsky currently holds the seat for District 1. She was appointed after Bob Overbeck was elected the Larimer County assessor in November.

Gutowsky has lived in Fort Collins for 40 years, 28 of which she spent teaching in Poudre School District. She also served on the Poudre School District Board of Education for upwards of seven years.

Her platform, listed on her campaign website, includes safe neighborhoods, supporting local business, public health, community access to mental health services, land stewardship and the Poudre River, among others.

“I am running for City Council because I want to be a voice for the residents as they share their hopes and dreams and concerns for our city,” Gutowsky wrote in an email to The Collegian. “I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to feel safe, valued and connected.”

On the Issues

Ravyn Cullor can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @RCullor99.