The Wheat Ridge City Council has appointed Susan A. Wood, to represent District III, filling a vacancy that opened earlier this fall. Wood was choseBy a majority vote following a public application and interview process held during the council’s December 8 meeting.
Wood has lived in Wheat Ridge for 32 years and served on both the planning commission and the City Plan steering committee. She brings more than 25 years of planning experience at local and regional levels, including 18 years with the Regional Transportation District (RTD). She currently serves as RTD’s planning project manager for environmental programs, overseeing environmental clearance and compliance for major transportation projects and coordinating with agencies across the metro area.
“With her long history of service to Wheat Ridge and broad expertise in community development, transportation, environmental planning, and public policy, Susan is uniquely prepared to serve District III,” Mayor Korey Stites said. “Her knowledge will strengthen both the council and the community.”
The District III vacancy was created after Korey Stites was elected mayor in November. Wheat Ridge City Charter requires a majority vote within 30 days, and the appointed member serves until the next regular municipal election, when voters elect a candidate for the remainder or full term.
The appointment also prompted questions about why the mayor did not step down before the November election. Charter rules allow a sitting council member to run for mayor while retaining their council seat. If they are not elected mayor, they continue serving their council term; if they win, council fills the resulting vacancy through appointment until the next municipal election. A council member who resigns before an election would also have their seat filled by council appointment within 30 days. This year’s mayoral election followed those provisions, and no resignation was required.
