Aspen voters choose Rachel Richards as next mayor

Rachel Richards has been elected Aspen’s new mayor, securing 1,435 votes to opponent Katy Frisch’s 1,189.

Richards, who has spent three decades in city and county public office, has long emphasized proactive leadership and regional cooperation. She has played a significant role in expanding affordable housing, backing developments such as Burlingame Ranch and the Truscott addition. She has also supported policies aimed at protecting residential neighborhoods and managing growth through short-term rental regulations.

“I’m in shock, and I’m in great gratitude for the voters and the faith they put in me,” Richards said during a GrassRoots televised event.

Frisch, a longtime Aspen resident and former president of the Aspen School District Board of Education, campaigned on a platform of fresh leadership and strategic problem-solving. She was a key player in her husband Adam Frisch’s congressional campaign against U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in District 3, which includes Pitkin County.

Beyond politics, Frisch has served on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club, Aspen Public Radio, and the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra, maintaining a strong presence in the community.

“It’s been a grind for a very short amount of time,” Frisch said on Tuesday.