On July 14, 2020, Elizabeth (Liz) Katherine Smith was sworn in as District 1 County Commissioner. On July 8th, the Vacancy Committee of the Gunnison County Democratic Party (GCDP) selected Ms. Smith to fill John Messner’s District 1 seat as the new Gunnison County Commissioner. Messner resigned his position after Governor Polis appointed him to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Committee.
Ms. Smith is a current co-chair of the Gunnison County Democratic Party. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and she received her Ph.D from the University of Oklahoma. She also serves as a lecturer and program coordinator at Western Colorado University.
First Appointment: July 2020
Current Term Expiration: January 2029