Pastor Marty Lee Submits Letter of Interest for Rocky Ford Mayor Appointment

Description: Pastor Marty Lee submitted his letter of intent for Rocky Ford mayor consideration, citing public service, city experience, economic development work and community priorities...

9/10/2026
Pastor Marty Lee
303 West Washington Avenue
Rocky Ford, CO 81067
Rev.martyfumcrf@gmail.com
(719)469-0373

To the Citizens of Rocky Ford and Members of the Rocky Ford City Council,

My name is Marty Lee, and I am submitting my name for consideration for the position of Mayor following the resignation of Mayor Duane Gurule. I do so with a deep love for this community, a strong commitment to public service, and a sincere desire to help lead Rocky Ford into a brighter future.

My education consists of a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Regis University, a Master of Science degree from Liberty University in Counseling, and a Master of Divinity degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

I am a veteran of the United States Air Force. I have been a resident of the Arkansas Valley since July of 1992. I worked at Debourgh Mfg. Co. for 22 years. I spent the first 11 years as a production manager and 11 years as the Director of Sales and Marketing. I have served as the pastor of Rocky Ford United Methodist Church for 13 years and Ordway United Methodist Church for 6 years. During my time here, I have been blessed to serve this community in many different ways. Rocky Ford is not simply the place where I work; it is my home. Over the years, I have invested my time, energy, and heart into helping this community grow and succeed because I believe in the people who call Rocky Ford home.

My commitment to Rocky Ford extends beyond my role as a pastor. I served on the Rocky Ford City Council from 2018 to 2019 and later worked for the City of Rocky Ford from 2020 to 2023 as the Economic Development Coordinator. During my tenure, I worked diligently to develop opportunities that would create long-term benefits for the city.

Among those efforts, I successfully helped bring three music festivals to Rocky Ford, creating opportunities for tourism, economic activity, and community engagement. For ten years, I have worked with the Arkansas Valley Fair to produce the opening Family Night free concert, bringing affordable entertainment and community spirit to residents and visitors alike. I also worked with Rick Long in the Public Works Department to administer the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's SEP Program relating to a forgotten civil penalty, helping save the City of Rocky Ford approximately $350,000.

In addition, I worked extensively to renovate the Economic Development building. While grant funding allowed us to make significant improvements, the project remains incomplete because the grant was insufficient to finish the work. Additional funding was requested but not approved. As a result, the building still requires HVAC improvements and fire doors, issues that remain unresolved today.

Through Rocky Ford United Methodist Church, we have continued to serve our neighbors in meaningful and practical ways. For the past twelve years, we have operated the Otero County TEFAP food assistance program. We provide food, clothing, and utility assistance to families and individuals in need. We have also partnered with the Otero County Health Department and YEEHAW to provide emergency cold-weather shelter assistance when life-threatening weather conditions arise.

These experiences have given me a unique perspective on Rocky Ford. I have served our community as a pastor, city council member, city employee, and community advocate. Because of those experiences, I know firsthand what we are up against. I have seen the challenges, opportunities, successes, and setbacks that have shaped our community. I understand our financial realities, our infrastructure needs, and the difficult decisions that city leaders must make.

I strongly believe that if we do not know where we have been, we cannot know where we are going. Our past provides the lessons, our present provides the opportunity, and our future depends on the decisions we make together today. Understanding our history allows us to avoid repeating mistakes while building upon the successes that have made Rocky Ford strong. We must honor our past while planning responsibly for the future.

If appointed mayor, my priorities will be practical, responsible, and forward-looking.

First, we must establish and maintain a balanced budget. Fiscal responsibility must be the foundation for every decision we make as a city.

Second, we must address the budget shortfalls we currently face. This requires honest conversations about our financial situation and a willingness to make difficult choices. While no one likes taxes, we cannot ignore financial realities if we expect to maintain services and meet the needs of our citizens. Therefore we need to look at how we can raise the funding necessary to rebuild our infrastructure.

We must continue making progress on critical infrastructure projects, particularly improvements to our sewer, water, and storm sewer system. These projects may not be glamorous, but they are essential to the future health, safety, and economic growth of our community. In addition we must working toward making our Enterprise Funds whole again so we have the resources we need in case of emergency.

We must also focus on expanding housing opportunities and attracting employers and businesses that create good jobs. We must explore ADU’s and tiny homes.  If we want our young people to stay, our families to grow, and our community to thrive, we must ensure there are opportunities for people to live, work, and invest in Rocky Ford.

Just as importantly, I believe Rocky Ford must restore a spirit of mutual respect and civility. We are a diverse community with many perspectives, and that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. We will not always agree on every issue, nor should we expect to. Healthy communities are built when people can have honest discussions, share differing opinions, and still work together toward common goals.

We need to bring back mutual respect for all opinions and viewpoints. We need to be able to agree to disagree without allowing those disagreements to divide us. Every citizen deserves to have their voice heard. Listening does not always mean agreeing, but it does mean respecting one another enough to consider different perspectives.

As leaders, we have a responsibility to listen to everyone, gather the facts, and make decisions based on what is best for Rocky Ford as a whole. Sometimes those decisions will be difficult. Sometimes they will be unpopular. Leadership is not about making easy choices; it is about making the right choices for the long-term future of our community.

I believe Rocky Ford's best days are still ahead of us. However, we must stop spinning our wheels and focusing on the interests of only a few. Instead, we need a long-term plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of the entire community. We must be proactive rather than reactive. We must work together to solve problems before they become crises.

I envision a city where council members, city employees, business leaders, churches, nonprofit organizations, and citizens work together as partners. I would welcome the opportunity to bring together teams of council members and city employees to help determine how we can turn ideas into action and create a roadmap for Rocky Ford's future.

The future will not be built overnight. Progress happens one step at a time. Those small steps become larger achievements when guided by vision, persistence, and cooperation. If we work together, stay focused on our common goals, and remain committed to serving the entire community, there is no limit to what Rocky Ford can accomplish.

I have worked hard for this community for more than a decade because I love Rocky Ford and believe in its people. I care deeply about our future and would be honored to serve as your mayor. Together, we can build on our history, address the challenges before us, and create a stronger, more prosperous future for the generations that follow.

Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to share my vision.

Respectfully,


Pastor Marty Lee
Rocky Ford United Methodist Church
Rocky Ford, Colorado

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