After 33 years of service to the City of Cortez, Linda Smith is hanging up her Clerk's hat—but rest assured, she has plenty of adventure ahead.
A long-time spark of joy at City Hall, Linda has spent the past 29 years as City Clerk, a role she stepped into after helping in several city departments.
Along the way, she earned her Colorado Certified Municipal Clerk title in 1998 and, more recently, her Master Municipal Clerk certification in 2022. Her dedication and leadership were honored in 2016 when she received the prestigious Colorado Municipal Clerks Association Clerk of the Year award. She mentions that it was an especially meaningful recognition for someone serving in a small, rural community.
Linda credits her mentors from across Colorado’s clerks association for her customer service skills and expertise in city elections. She played a key role in developing Cortez’s licensing and regulations around marijuana sales, helping the city navigate during a complicated time. One of the most challenging chapters in her career came during a city council recall election, when five board members were up for removal—a time she recalls as stressful, but one that proved the importance of her role.
She and her husband Rick, who retired as the Cortez General Services Director last year, met through their City of Cortez jobs in 1997. After Linda’s retirement on the 4th of July, the couple looks forward to traveling to North Carolina and Yosemite National Park.
Congratulations and thank you, Linda!