Elizabeth Philbrick was appointed Tuesday as the next La Plata County commissioner after a vote by the county’s Democratic vacancy committee. She was formally sworn into office early Wednesday morning.
Philbrick will fill the District 1 seat vacated by Commissioner Clyde Church, who resigned effective July 1 to care for his wife as she recovers from surgery.
“I’m very honored to be elected, to be placed in this position, following such a wonderful commissioner,” Philbrick said. “I hope to be able to bridge the gap between our city and rural environments, and I really look forward to helping create a prosperity for our county unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. I hope to usher in a new era for La Plata County while still preserving the qualities we love about our region.”
Philbrick, co-owner of EsoTerra Ciderworks in Dolores and a mother of two, said she will step down from her role in the business effective immediately, turning operations over to her husband and business partner.
She campaigned on a platform focused on addressing the affordability crisis for future generations, streamlining the land-use code, supporting rural economic development and reducing bureaucratic barriers for small businesses.
Philbrick ran against Robert Logan, a longtime Durango High School teacher; Erica Henner Max, a commodities trader, business owner and horse breeder; and Susan Hakanson, executive director of the Durango Adult Education Center, who announced her candidacy an hour before the meeting and nominated herself from the floor.
Hakanson reached out to the local Democratic leadership and expressed her interest in the commissioner position several weeks ago, she said.
“I would have loved to have had a little bit more time to do a little bit more work, but you know, we are where we are, and I think from here we just move forward,” she said, adding she is confident Philbrick will do an excellent job in the role.
Each candidate was given two minutes to speak, followed by a two-minute nomination speech delivered by a secondary nominator.
After opening statements, candidates fielded questions from committee members on key issues including the county’s budget shortfall, potential tax increases, staff turnover, public health and their commitment to running in the 2026 election.
Of the 42 members of the La Plata County Democratic Central Committee present, 39 cast a ballot. About 20 members of the public tuned in to watch online.
Philbrick received 17 votes, Logan 11, Hakanson nine, and Henner Max two.
The vacancy committee is made up of precinct organizers, local Democratic elected officials and county party officers. Because Church is a registered Democrat, state law requires his replacement to be a member of the same party.
Philbrick’s openness to exploring creative solutions to long-standing county issues set her apart, said Anne Markward, former chair of the La Plata County Democratic Party and Philbrick’s secondary nominator.
Markward also cited Philbrick’s energy and relative youth as strengths that could help cultivate a new generation of leadership within the party.
“I am thrilled that we chose somebody who is vociferous about being willing to give it more than just two years – instead of just giving it a try and seeing how it goes,” Markward said.
Since the Democratic Party’s defeat in the 2024 presidential election – which saw the departure of many traditional blue-leaning voting blocs – party members across the country have debated the platform’s direction. Some leaders have pushed for a shift.
Markward, however, believes the issue lies more in communication than in ideology.
“I don’t think that the Democratic Party needs to change so much as get their messaging out better,” she said. “And I do think that Elizabeth will be a very effective messenger; she’s well-spoken, she’s forthright and she’s a good listener. I don’t think she is a radical departure.”
Hakanson said calls for younger leadership are not new, neither locally nor nationally.
“There’s always been a call to have younger people step up and participate. That’s not new,” she said. “It’s just that right now, at a national level, it became very apparent that we needed to look at some of the younger, stronger candidates.”
All four candidates emphasized economic growth as a top priority, though they differed on how to achieve it.
Logan proposed a multipronged approach that included diversifying the economy, improving infrastructure and expanding affordable housing. He prioritized land-use code revisions and opposed increasing property taxes to address the county’s budget shortfall – setting him apart from some of the other contenders.
Henner Max advocated prioritizing the growth of medium-sized businesses, which she said would increase the number of professional jobs and provide more economic stability for local youths. She supported increasing both property and sales taxes to address revenue shortfalls.
Hakanson, who previously worked in the La Plata County Commissioners Office as a policy analyst and later as a special projects manager, said increasing both property and sales taxes is likely unavoidable to ensure the county can continue delivering essential services long-term.
County commissioners are paid an annual salary of $108,000.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
