Photo by Will Cornelius
Berthoud Mayor Will Karspeck at Fickel Park.

By Will Cornelius
The Surveyor

Local elections in Berthoud are around the corner and one familiar name has already thrown their hat in the ring. Berthoud Mayor Will Karspeck has announced that he will be running for re-election for a final term in next April’s local elections.

Karpseck said there are “a lot of reasons” he is running again for mayor, but said he feels like he can offer even more to voters now. “You just gain experience over time. You always want to think that you know everything right when you start. But looking back on things, you are like—I have just accumulated a lot of knowledge.”

Originally elected as a trustee in April 2016, Karspeck was then elected mayor in 2018 over former Trustee Jeff Hindman with 69% of the vote. Karspeck then ran unopposed in 2020 and was elected to a four-year term. “You cannot join a government board and leave it without growing, there’s just no way that would happen,” Karspeck said about the insights he has gained while serving on the town’s Board of Trustees.

Asked what accomplishment he is most proud of, Karspeck said, “Trying to grow the unity amongst us.” Emphasizing hearing every point of view has helped build trust and cooperation amongst the board and the Berthoud community, he explained. “We’re fortunate if you look around us—it’s not always that with other councils,” he added.

Karspeck said that being a small town is actually a strength for Berthoud. “We are more nimble, we can come together quicker. You are going to see each other at Hays Market, you are going to see each other at other downtown shops, you cannot be totally evil to one another.”

Another area of accomplishment Karspeck was proud of was expanding public transportation. Since June 2022, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Front Range Passenger Rail District, representing municipalities in northern Colorado. Getting a passenger rail stop in the future for Berthoud would be a huge personal accomplishment he admitted and something that would greatly benefit Berthoud.

In addition, he also mentioned working to grow Berthoud’s Rural Alternative for Transportation—or RAFT—as well as getting federal funding for a micro-transit pilot program. “A direct one would be really helping to push this micro-mobility grant that we’re going to receive from our Congresswoman.” The grant is worth $864,000 and will help Berthoud develop a one-year micro-transit pilot program for first-and-last mile trips.

Asked about the number one problem Berthoud faces, Karspeck had one word, “Growth.” He acknowledged that growth is inevitable, especially in Berthoud. “And that’s really tough, it’s a balance of trying to preserve what you can,” he stated.

Karspeck stressed finding the balance in the middle that can benefit everyone and pointed to the town’s open space master plan and design codes. He also touched on the need for development to grow Berthoud’s commercial space and tax base. “We have a couple of really good developers in town that get it and don’t want to do the bare minimum.”

“What’s the phrase? ‘You get a lot done if you don’t want credit,’” Karspeck said with a laugh. He said during his time as mayor, he has focused less on what he can do and more on what Berthoud as a whole can do. “I want to do everything I can and do my final term here and leave knowing I made an impact,” Karspeck said summarizing his motivation for a final term as Berthoud’s mayor.