Pete Strecker confirmed as Aspen’s city manager
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen City Council announced Pete Strecker as the new city manager following a unanimous vote during a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 20.
Strecker has been serving as interim city manager since March, following the resignation of Sara Ott. He has also worked for the city of Aspen since 2012, and “brings a wealth of experience and deep institutional knowledge to the role,” according to a press release. He previously served as Aspen’s assistant finance director prior to 2018, and finance director from 2018 to early 2025.
“I am truly honored to have the support of Council to continue on in this role for the organization and for the benefit of the Community,” Strecker said in the release. “Knowing this role is able to make meaningful contributions towards the preservation of the fabric that makes Aspen so special is not lost on me and I am excited to further the work of past leaders in this vein.”
Strecker began his career as an actuary before transitioning into public service and has more than two decades in state and local government. He has served as budget director for Colorado’s Health Care Policy and Financing (Medicaid) and Agriculture departments, as well as chief of economic forecasting under Gov. Bill Ritter Jr.
“Pete has proven himself to be a thoughtful, steady, and strategic leader who has earned the trust of Council, city staff, and the community,” Aspen Mayor Rachael Richards said in the release. “His long-standing commitment to public service and his deep understanding of Aspen’s values and priorities make him the right person to lead our organization into the future.”
He and his wife moved to Aspen in 2011 with their two daughters to be closer to family, the press release confirms, and for the area’s landscape and lifestyle. As city manager, Strecker will oversee all city departments, lead organizational strategies and operations, and work with City Council to advance community priorities, which include sustainability, accessible and affordable childcare, housing, and infrastructure investments.
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