Fort Lupton Ward I candidates both have some council experience

The two candidates for Fort Lupton's Ward I both have served on Fort Lupton's City Council. But this will be the first November election for both of them.

The incumbent, Wendie Dietrich, was appointed in July 2006 after Shannon Crespin vacated her seat to become mayor following the resignation of Jim Bostick. Dietrich began attending meetings once her children moved out of the house and became fascinated with the process of government. She applied for the seat once it was vacated.

"It's been the best learning experience of my life," Dietrich said.

She admits being a little naive about government before she was appointed and was surprised at the work it took to be a good councilwoman.

"It's the hardest job I've ever done outside of motherhood because of the demands on your time," she said. "If you want to give the best decision you can make, you really have to research a lot of things."

Betty Hernandez was appointed to the council in 1997 after a council member left to become the city's administrator. She declined to run for her seat once her appointment was done because she wanted to finish school. She decided to run this time after encouraging others to run against Dietrich because she wants to encourage residents, especially Latinos, to get involved.

"I would actually step aside if anyone else would try it," Hernandez said. "But I thought, 'what the heck, let's bring in some new ideas.' "

Hernandez wasn't specific on what those new ideas would be, stating she wasn't familiar with the issues facing Fort Lupton because of her time away from the council. Still, she believes her bilingual skills would help her small ward with a high concentration of Latinos, as well as her ability to relate to them. Her former position as a teacher in the Fort Lupton School District would help as well.

"I've always talked to a lot of parents, and I've dealt with a lot of people in the community," she said. "I really want to encourage others to get involved."

The biggest issue the council and Fort Lupton face is the Union Pacific railroad proposal, Dietrich said, because that affects everything else, including water, traffic and commercial and residential development -- other issues the council faces in the next few years.

Fort Lupton is still a small town, but the UP proposal shows it's on the verge of becoming a city, not just a town, Dietrich said.

"We're going to have to develop the community while trying to keep our small-town feel," she said.

Two candidates for Ward I in Fort Lupton

» Wendie Dietrich

Age: 49

Occupation: Expecting her first grandchild in January, so she's holding off working again until that happens.

Previous council experience: Appointed to the council in July 2006. She is the incumbent.

» Betty Hernandez

Age: 44

Occupation: Former paraprofessional and substitute for the Fort Lupton School District.

Previous council experience: 1997 appointment to the council. She chose not to run for the seat once her appointment was up so she could finish school.