Shirley Peel is a former Fort Collins City Council member and current candidate for mayor. She has lived in Fort Collins for nearly 25 years, raising her family in the community. Her campaign centers on service, infrastructure, and supporting local businesses. She emphasizes reducing government inefficiencies and fostering a city where residents feel safe and included.
Episode Summary
In this episode of Dear Fort Collins, host Nick Armstrong interviews Shirley Peel, who discusses her motivations for returning to public service and her priorities if elected mayor. Peel focuses on infrastructure, economic sustainability, land use flexibility, and community inclusion.
She outlines concerns about declining sales tax revenue, water scarcity, and debates surrounding Platte River Power Authority’s proposed natural gas-to-hydrogen transition. She also speaks about supporting small businesses, strengthening nonprofit partnerships, and encouraging inclusive neighborhoods.
Peel reflects on the city’s first ranked-choice voting election, explaining why she avoids endorsements to broaden her appeal. She also discusses public safety perceptions within the LGBTQ+ community, encouraging continued engagement to distinguish between local and national sentiment. The conversation includes her views on traffic, transit, housing, and her long-term vision for an interconnected Fort Collins.
Key Takeaways
- Community Service: Peel’s decision to run again is rooted in a desire to solve problems and engage with residents.
- Economic Sustainability: She highlights declining sales tax revenues as a key budget challenge and wants to create a business roundtable to strengthen small business support.
- Infrastructure & Land Use: Peel advocates for more flexible, innovative land use codes to address growth, housing, and resource constraints.
- Water & Energy: She identifies water scarcity and energy debates (e.g., PRPA’s hydrogen transition proposal) as significant upcoming issues.
- Nonprofits & Partnerships: She sees nonprofits as essential partners and suggests the City can act as a convener and amplifier for their work.
- Inclusion & Safety: Peel notes that many LGBTQ+ residents and visitors report feeling safe in Fort Collins, and she expresses interest in continued conversations to address both local and national concerns.
- Ranked Choice Voting: Peel views the system as an opportunity to engage voters across political lines.
- Transportation: She identifies traffic congestion as a concern and supports expanding mass transit rather than road expansion.
Notable Quotes
- “I miss solving problems. I miss interacting with people and helping them with their issues with the city.”
- “We have more people coming to the area, which means there’s strain on our water.”
- “I would just really be interested to know if they’re just feeling unsafe because of the national sentiment…or if we’re actually really making them feel unsafe in Fort Collins.”
- “I’m not taking endorsements either because I feel like that further divides people and puts people back in those camps.”
- “Right now, the traffic… is it my imagination or are there more cars out there?”
Resources / Links
Candidate website: https://shirleyforfoco.com
Contact: shirley@shirleyforfoco.com
Nonprofits mentioned: Realities For Children
Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com
Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins
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