The Glenwood Springs City Council ushered in a new era Thursday night as Marco Dehm was appointed mayor and three newly elected council members took their seats. The transition follows the departure of Ingrid Wussow, who most recently served as mayor, and former mayor Jonathan Godes, who held the position from 2019-2023.

Dehm, who represents Ward 1, had served as mayor pro tem since 2023. He was appointed to council in 2022. At-large Councilor Erin Zalinski was named the city’s new mayor pro tem.

“I’ve got very big shoes to fill,” Dehm said. “We just had two excellent former mayors say goodbye to us tonight. But I am committed to Glenwood Springs. I intend to continue what we started two years ago. We have increased communication with the town, been more transparent and listened better.”

Dehm moved to the Roaring Fork Valley from Switzerland in 1991 and settled in Glenwood Springs in 1993. Since 2003, he has served the city in various volunteer roles, including multiple terms as chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

“I have full confidence this council will carry that work forward,” Dehm said. “I hope we can improve in areas where we’re lacking. I’m thankful and honored, and I’ll do the best I can.”

Councilor Sumner Schachter made the motion to nominate Dehm and Zalinski for the council’s two leadership positions.

“I am nominating Marco Dehm, who has served and led the city formally and informally with great dedication for decades — not years, not months, not days — for decades,” Schachter said. “At the same time, I am nominating Erin Zalinski, who has broken through the new ceiling of city councilor with so much speed and grace and community goodwill and taught us so much.”

Also sworn in during Thursday’s meeting were three new council members. Steven Smith now represents Ward 5, Raymond Schmahl fills the seat in Ward 2 and David Townsley holds the at-large position.

Smith replaces Godes, while Schmahl steps in for Wussow. Townsley and Schmahl ran unopposed. Smith won the city’s only contested race, defeating fellow candidate Jon Banks by 129 votes.

Wussow reflected on her time in office with a message rooted in stoic philosophy, emphasizing learning and humility.

“‘It’s impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows,'” Wussow said. “So coming in here with curiosity, I encourage you to continue to come in not knowing, with the humility of learning when you get here.”

Wussow was appointed to council in 2020 and elected in 2021. Before that, she spent more than four years on the Planning and Zoning Commission and served as a mediator with the 9th Judicial District.

Godes, who served on council for eight years and as mayor from 2019-2023, addressed the new members with clear guidance.

“Base your decision on these documents,” Godes said. “The comp plan, development plans, input from our volunteers — those should guide you. They have guided this council and councils past.”

He urged councilors to broaden their view beyond their immediate social circles.

“Look at the Latino community, the younger community, high schoolers, 20-somethings, 30-somethings,” Godes said. “This new council is going to be a lot of retired people who live in single-family homes. That group is not the whole community.”

He also spoke candidly about the responsibilities that come with elected office.

“Don’t be a community reactor. Be a community leader,” Godes said. “If you took this job to be popular, I got some news for you — it’s the wrong job.”

Godes reflected on a period of progress and resilience, noting projects like the South Midland rebuild, wildfire recovery, short-term rental rules and affordable housing tax measures.

“We’ve had so many things come at this community. We’ve also taken the opportunity to be so proactive,” Godes said. “I got to hit this golden eight-year period.”

As the meeting closed, Dehm shared a quote that he said will guide his time as mayor.

“I was reading a quote the other day, and it was said by Teddy Roosevelt,” Dehm said. “He said, ‘Do the best you can with what you have where you are.’ I think that’s going to be my motto for the next two years.”