Editor’s note: This is the fourth of eight installments of Q&As with Rifle City Council candidates. More Q&As will appear in Friday’s edition of the Post Independent.

Rifle City Councilor Clint Hostettler is seeking a second term in the November election, running alongside incumbents Alicia Gresley and Michael Clancy and challengers Ryan Fideldy, Rick Steffen, Scott Marsh, Aaron Cumming and Jonathan Rice.

Q: What made you run for Rifle City Council?

A: The reason I’m seeking reelection in 2025 is that I still feel there’s more I can do for the city of Rifle. I’m excited about everything we’ve accomplished in the six or seven years I’ve been on council — all the infrastructure improvements that have been made, like the swimming pool, Third Street beautification and the new water transmission line now being installed.

I feel I have the experience needed to continue the great work I’ve been a part of over the last few years, and I’m excited to serve the citizens of Rifle for a few more years. I love this city and the people who live here.

Q: Tell us about your background and why you think you are a good fit for the council. What is something you want the community to know about you?

A: I was born and raised in this valley. I grew up in Silt and graduated from Rifle High School in 1994. I’ve lived and worked in Rifle for the last 30 years, after deciding that college wasn’t the right fit for me. I went to work at Walker Electric in 1997 and have never looked back. I’ve always been involved in the community, serving on boards and coaching basketball, soccer and softball.

Then in 2018, I decided to take it up a notch and get involved with city government by becoming a City Council member. I’ve been appointed to City Council twice and elected once, and I’ve been glad to serve. I’ve been lucky to work with and get to know so many great people and learn so much. The most important thing I want everyone to know about me is that I’m embedded here. I care about our city, and I care about its citizens.

Q: If elected, what is something you are most focused on to help improve the city?

A: I’ll be focused on several things, including attainable housing, transportation and continuing to make the goals of our strategic plan a reality. I’ve been and continue to be focused on the condition of our streets. We have a great staff that has put together a maintenance plan that’s already made a huge difference during my time on council. I’ll continue looking for ways to fund this plan not only for the next four years but well into the future.

A city with bad roads is a city I don’t want to live in. I’m proud of what we’ve already accomplished in this area, and I’m excited to keep working to make our streets and sidewalks the best they can be. Quality of life in Rifle starts with infrastructure, and it’s the job of the council and staff to make that a priority. Once you have great infrastructure, you can move on to the more exciting items — like field houses, bike trails and parks. As long as you maintain your infrastructure, the possibilities are endless.

Q: What do you think is the biggest problem Rifle is facing?

A: I don’t see too many problems in Rifle, but I might be somewhat biased. I’m excited to see the results of the community survey that was just sent out to learn how citizens are feeling about the city.
I think most of our challenges in Rifle are the same ones almost all towns and cities are facing right now. Attainable housing is an issue here, but it’s also a problem across the Western Slope and much of the Front Range. For some longtime residents, it’s nice to see property values rise 50% in the last five years, but where does that leave younger members of our community who are just starting out — those who can’t afford rent, much less a down payment on a home?

I’m also thinking about all the young professionals — nurses, teachers and others — from around the country who might want to move here but can’t afford to live here. All we can do is keep working on the problem step by step, day by day, and that’s what we’ll do.

Q: Recently, Rifle City Council approved a higher pay structure for city employees, including police officers, to be included in the 2025-26 budget. Do you think increasing wages will help retain staff, and how would you balance that with the city’s budget and taxpayer concerns?

A: Regulation and inflation have been major factors driving up the cost of goods across the board, which means wages have to rise as well. The city of Rifle, as part of our strategic plan, aims to continue being an employer of choice. A lot of time and discussion went into this and our 2026 budget, and we decided we could afford to raise wages to stay competitive with surrounding municipalities. Doing so helps us retain current staff and attract quality employees when positions open.

It’s also important to consider the work atmosphere when trying to retain employees, and I believe our city is top-notch in that regard. In future years, we’ll need to keep a close eye on sales tax revenue to ensure we can maintain the payroll program we’ve put in place. Like anything else, it’s all about balance.