Aspen City Manager Sara Ott seeks Front Range position

Aspen City Manager Sara Ott has been named a finalist for the city manager position in Louisville, Colorado, signaling a possible shift in leadership for Aspen’s municipal government. 

Ott, who has led Aspen’s city operations since 2019, acknowledged the opportunity but was reassured that her focus would remain on Aspen’s ongoing projects.

“This is an exciting opportunity to continue building my career in public service and to bring my experience and passion for community engagement to a new setting,” she said. “I remain focused on the work at hand and committed to supporting Aspen. We have big things happening in our community that need to move forward every day.”

She manages over $180 million in annual operations for Aspen, overseeing a broad range of services, including renewable energy initiatives, affordable housing, public transit, and parks and recreation. Her career spans over 20 years in public service, including positions in Ohio and Colorado. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas.

Louisville City Council has selected her as one of four finalists for the position. Other candidates include Jay Harrington, county manager for Routt County; Diana Langley, city manager of Yuba City, California; and Jason Rogers, city manager of Commerce City, Colorado.

The finalists will participate in a public meet-and-greet on Jan. 22 at the Louisville Recreation and Senior Center. Louisville City Council will discuss the candidates on Jan. 27, after which a final decision is expected.

Mayor Torre said he appreciates everything Ott has done for the city of Aspen.

“I support her and want the best for her, her family, and her career,” Torre said. “Sara is a very capable and accredited manager — a benefit to any community.”