Tricia Canonico is a candidate for Mayor of Fort Collins, Colorado. She currently represents District 3 (southeast Fort Collins) on City Council. Canonico serves on the EPA Local Government Advisory Committee, Colorado Communities for Climate Action, the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Front Range Passenger Rail group.
Episode Summary
Host Nick Armstrong speaks with Canonico about why she’s running for mayor in the November 2025 election and how her council experience informs her approach. She outlines priorities in climate action, transportation, water infrastructure, and housing. Specific local contexts include recent water main breaks, completing the Siphon Overpass and the Harmony Road underpass, and planning for growth in northeast Fort Collins. She discusses equity in climate policy (e.g., EPIC Homes loan program and older manufactured housing), small-business support, and streamlining permitting. Canonico supports a Larimer County roads and infrastructure tax measure on the fall ballot and describes advocacy for a statewide “crash prevention” funding model that did not pass last session. The conversation also covers Fort Collins’ first ranked choice voting election and strategies to engage voters who may rank candidates differently.
Key Takeaways
- Infrastructure: Tricia cites water system needs and advancing active modes (bike/ped, transit, and passenger rail) including the Siphon Overpass (District 3) and the Harmony underpass.
- Northeast focus: She argues for prioritizing bike/ped safety and school access in northeast Fort Collins as growth continues.
- Funding & policy: Tricia supports county-level road funding, and she backed a statewide crash-prevention enterprise (insurance surcharge) to fund bike/ped and wildlife crossings.
- Climate & equity: She ties climate work to equity, proposing use of EPIC Homes to replace pre-1976 manufactured homes and partnering with local firms on disposal and upgrades.
- Arts & permitting: Tricia sees the City as a convener and wants to simplify special-event permitting while maintaining support for arts.
- Housing & land use: She favors “missing middle” options (e.g., cottage courts, ADUs) and looking at smaller lots, parking minimum changes on transit-oriented corridors, and corridor optimization.
- Ranked choice voting: Tricia aims to be a collaborative option for voters’ second or third choice to keep elections constructive.
Notable Quotes
- “I’ve really been working in my role as council to take on more leadership roles and build relationships within our community.”
- “Fort Collins has really become my home… This is where we want to be.”
- “We need the community to be involved… with the push for composting facilities and single trash hauler programs.”
- “Art is community to me. And I think that’s what local government is all about: partnership.”
- “What voters really want is a well-run city and to know that they’re heard.”
Resources / Links
- Candidate site: https://triciaforfoco.com/
- The Family Center/La Familia: https://thefamilycenterfc.org/
- Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
- Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins
Leave a Reply