Stockley to run for District 3 commission seat

Karen Stockley, former member of the Thompson R2J Board of Education, has announced her candidacy for the Larimer County Board of Commissioners representing District 3.

District 3 covers the southernmost portion of the county. That seat is currently held by Tom Donnelly, who has not yet announced any re-election plans.

Stockley recently completed four years as treasurer for Thompson school board, where she also served on the Legislative Coalition. She has been a member of Berthoud’s Planning and Zoning Commission as well as volunteering in the schools and at the Berthoud History Museum.

Stockley owns Front Range Antiques in south Fort Collins and has lived in Berthoud for over 13 years. She is married to Jay Stockley and is the mother of five children, all of whom have attended Berthoud schools.

Commissioners must live in the district they represent, but they run at-large and are voted into office by all voters countywide. Commissioner races are non-partisan.

In 2010, Democrat Stockley was defeated in her bid for the Colorado House District 49 seat by Republican B.J. Nikkel.

In a prepared statement, Stockley said her priorities are high-performance and cost-effective county government, job creation, support for small businesses and rural farms, excellence in education, quality county services, new-energy technologies, safe family-friendly neighborhoods, and open and responsive representation.

“I’m passionate about protecting and improving our quality of life in Larimer County,” she added. “I believe my active involvement in business, community service, and our local schools has given me the knowledge and experience to meet the challenges facing Larimer County today.”