Megan Graham, who has served as a voice for La Plata County government for five years, had her last day on the job Friday.
“I’m really sad to leave the county,” Graham said during an interview Monday with The Durango Herald. “I’m sad to leave them all and I’m sad to leave the community because I care about La Plata County.”
As public affairs officer for the county, Graham helped facilitate communication between the county government and the public through public engagement processes, media relations and outreach campaigns.
She is now based in Denver working remotely for a Fort Collins firm providing communications support to local government clients.
“I grew up in Denver and had long-term plans to return here, and a number of family issues that led me to make the move,” Graham said.
Graham arrived in Durango in 1995 and graduated from Fort Lewis College with a degree in English communication. Before becoming spokeswoman for the county, Graham was a reporter and editor for the Herald, leaving the newspaper in 2016 as associate opinion editor.
With the county, she focused on bolstering connections between the organization and community. Her “most enduring” project was the communication and engagement involved in the county’s land-use code update.
The update process included years of public meetings, one of which drew about 1,000 people. The land-use code, which had not been updated since the 1980s, was finalized in 2020.
“I’m really proud of how that turned out because we worked really hard to make sure anyone who was interested in that project had an opportunity to learn about it and give their input in a broad-based way,” Graham said.
County Manager Chuck Stevens said Graham brought in all perspectives on any issue to ensure the board of county commissioners had relevant, accurate and timely information.
“Her dedication and commitment to serving the citizens of La Plata County will be deeply missed,” Stevens said. “Her understanding of our community’s diverse values set the foundation for many meaningful conversations with the citizens of the county. I thank her for her service and wish her well.”
The county will review the job description to be sure that it accurately reflects the needs of the organization then advertise to rehire the position, Stevens said.
Graham kept her last day with the county “low-key.”
“I can’t handle this stuff,” she said, with emotion in her voice. Plus, she had work to do, she said.
“It’s a bittersweet move for me, and I’m just really thankful for my time in the community,” Graham said.
smullane@durangoherald.com
