Woodland Park City Councilman George Jones is running unopposed for the office of mayor in the April 7 municipal election. Jones, who still has two years left on his term, will resign his position after the election when he will replace Mayor Kellie Case, who is term limited.

Jones wants to be involved at the higher level.

“I really love the direction we’re headed,” he said. “The acquisition of the Avenger Open Space and the (Shining Mountain) golf course; I just want to continue that direction.”

Jones wants to help guide and be part of the action.

“When those acquisitions go online, I think we’ll become more of a destination, even if for just a day trip,” he said.

While the city has not necessarily seen population growth in last couple of years, Jones said he views recent commercial additions and entertainment attractions leading to more opportunities.

For instance, Derek Waggoner’s America’s Mountain Festival last summer in the former Woodland Station downtown attracted people from around the region.

“We have entertainment now with the festival,” he said.

And the restaurants!  Jones is energized by the number of restaurants in Woodland Park.

“We used to be food desert but that’s all gone away,” he said, adding that the steakhouse by the TAVA Investor Group is scheduled to open in the spring. Waggoner is the chief executive officer of the investors.

In the fall, the city presents the Oktoberfest celebration.

“Oktoberfest will be in multiple locations, Memorial Park, for instance,” he said.

“You can see the excitement over the things we’re doing,” he said. “And I’d love to see the school district get back on its feet. But it’s not anything for which the city has any purview, so I don’t know.”

But Jones acknowledges having a good feeling about the school district.

“I decided to wait to run for mayor until after the school board election,” he said referring to the election of Kassidie Gilgenast, Laura Gordon and Carol Greenstreet who joined Keegan Barkley on the board.  Mick Bates resigned from the board last month.

As mayor, Jones would not attempt to reinstate the voter-approved sales tax of 1.09% to help fund the school district, which the city council repealed.

“I think that was a great thing to separate the schools from the district,” Jones said. “That needed to be.”

While Jones acknowledged the impact of the financial loss to the district – up to $3 million a year – he emphasized that the former board did not satisfy the council on how the district was spending the money.

“There was no accountability,” he said. “You had two taxing authorities: one’s collecting for the other and then taxing the other. It was kind of a mess.”

If the district wants to generate additional revenue, Jones suggests the board go for an increase in the mill levy. 

“Or attract more students,” he said. “Those are the two best ways; not through a sales tax.”

As the co-owner of two downtown businesses, Colorado Gear Lab and Zebz Outfooter, Jones notes the current collective sales tax for purchases in Woodland Park is 8.4%, which includes the 3% city sales tax now that the 1.09% has been removed.

“That’s high; we can’t absorb more, on top of that,” he said. “It’s too much.”

As a city councilor, Jones is the liaison to the Downtown Develop Authority and the Main Street board.  

Despite being unopposed, Jones still plans to be out there in the public eye. 

“I’ll have meet-and-greets, listening sessions throughout the campaign season,” he said.