A desire to finish a project she helped start as a Wheat Ridge city council member led Janeece Hoppe to her appointment as the city clerk.
The position had been vacant since February 2025, when then-city clerk Steve Kirkpatrick passed away.
An initiative on the Nov. 4, 2025, election ballot would have designated the city clerk and city treasurer positions appointed instead of elected. Voters defeated the initiative and the city charter required the vacancy to be filled by appointment.
The vacancy was advertised Jan.12-23; Hoppe’s application was the only one received. She will serve the rest of Kirkpatrick’s term through Nov. 8, 2027.
Hoppe — a 10-year city council member —began work as the city clerk on Feb. 9, the day her appointment was unanimously approved by the city council and she took the oath of office.
The position’s annual salary is $29,000 plus benefits and Hoppe said the clerk is considered a part-time city employee. She does not directly oversee any employees.
“Janeece brings deep knowledge of municipal government and an ongoing commitment to civic participation,” Mayor Korey Stites stated in a city news release to announce her appointment. “Her experience and vision for the clerk’s office will strengthen our city’s administrative functions and support transparent, professional operations.”
‘Conundrum’ needs resolution
Hoppe wrote in emailed answers to several questions from the Gazette that she decided to seek the appointment to help finish an office redirection effort.
“Being on the council at the time that worked towards redefining the clerk’s office, I felt a sense of duty to complete that mission,” Hoppe stated.
She noted when the ballot measure failed, “I saw the conundrum that put the clerk’s office in.”
She stated Kirkpatrick — at the direction of the city council — had worked with the office’s small staff toward professionalizing the clerk position.”
Trained professionals were hired as senior deputy city clerk and deputy city clerk. After Kirkpatrick died, those two office members helped develop higher standards and professional practices, Hoppe wrote.
She explained the conundrum is that even without an elected city clerk, the office is operating at “a highly professional level.”
Hoppe said the first task is determining how the new work flow affects both elected and trained, employed professionals, and what vision the current city council has for the position.
‘Professional firewalls’ needed
During her Feb. 2 public interview before the city council, Hoppe said the ballot question “was kind of like a no-brainer. We didn’t think we had to do any work to get it passed and when it failed, I felt compelled to make sure the office was set up for future success.”
Her goals are to solidify the roles between the three office positions and set up what she called “professional firewalls” so those who work in the office are insulated from the politics that can affect office operations.
“Whether it’s true or not, there are some who believe some past decisions by the clerk’s office were politically motivated,” Hoppe said. “At the end of my service in this office, I want the community and you to feel confident the office is fair, honest and helpful to anyone who comes in and needs help.”
Hoppe said firewalls that provide several degrees of separation between those who work in the office and those who deal with an elected city clerk can help the city avoid spending tax money on lawsuits and other unnecessary expenses.
Hoppe also hoped to work with Wheat Ridge High School to preregister students to vote as they approach the legal voting age of 18.
“I think we’ve had some missed opportunities to teach about voting rights and the civics process in this country,” she said.
“Regardless of what is done with this position in a year and nine months and whether you have an elected clerk or not, I plan to be successful both ways,” Hoppe stated.
The city charter lists the city clerk’s duties:
• Be the clerk of the council, attend all council meetings and keep a permanent record of proceedings;
• Be the custodian of the city seal, add it to all official and legal documents, papers, documents and records pertaining to the city as required, unless custody is otherwise designated;
• Certify by his/her signature all ordinances and resolutions passed by council;
• Provide and maintain forms for all petitions required to be filed;
• Administer oaths of office;
• Chair the city election commission; and
• Publish notices and other matters required to be published.
Hoppe is undecided if she will seek the elected clerk’s position when her term expires, she stated.
“At this point I have no commitment either way,” Hoppe wrote.
