Municipal voter guide: Candidates for City Council District 5

With the Nov. 4 election quickly approaching, Fort Collins District 5 voters will choose between two candidates to represent them on City Council. Both candidates share a passion for community and making Fort Collins a better city, but bring varying backgrounds and perspectives to the table.

The city’s 5th congressional district encompasses Colorado State University’s campus and much of the adjoining area, creating a unique demographic blend of constituents represented.

Amy Hoeven

Amy Hoeven, a fourth-generation Coloradan and CSU alumna, has spent most of her life in Fort Collins. With her background in communications, immigration support and work with nonprofit organizations, Hoeven’s campaign is centered on collaboration and ensuring residents feel supported and heard.

“I’m really running to help build a brighter future for everyone together,” Hoeven said. “I think my experience and my ability to bring people together to solve tough problems is really needed right now.”

Issues Hoeven highlighted in her campaign are affordability, workforce development and community safety. She emphasized her goal to make Fort Collins a place where people can “live, work and thrive” when looking back on her decade of advocacy work in Fort Collins and communication with students.

“I was able to afford housing when I was a student,” Hoeven said. “The challenges students face today, it’s just not right when it comes to housing. We’ve got to work together to create a better place for that to occur.”

Hoeven said she believes collaboration between residents, local leaders and students is needed to make progress in the city. Additionally, she encouraged CSU students living in District 5 to get involved in local elections, noting that many students may not realize they are able to vote in local city elections.

Zoelle Lane

Zoelle Lane brings a unique perspective to District 5 with her background in higher education and nonprofit work as an immigrant. Lane moved to the United States from Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic before landing in Fort Collins. Lane said her experience struggling to find affordable housing and stability in the city is why she is running for city council.

“I’m a young person who would like to be able to buy a home, have kids and retire around the city, and that’s currently not an option,” Lane said. “If you are working in the city, you should be able to live in the city as well.”

Lane currently serves as a human resources professional for the CSU Office of International Programs and said her experiences as an immigrant and  working with international students is what sets her apart from other candidates. Lane’s campaign focuses on sustainability, affordability and workers’ rights.

“I’m the only candidate that has said I do not support more fossil fuel infrastructure in Fort Collins,” Lane said. “I would push for city workers to be recognized as a union and for that city charter language to (be) amended to provide an easier pathway to unionization for the workers here.”

Lane encouraged voters to think past their own individual concerns this election.

“It’s not just making decisions for yourself,” Lane said. “Are you looking out for your neighbor, your kids, your grandkids?”