Nakai for Council

News & Testimonials

Resist Hate

September 24, 2025

Throughout history, hate has driven some of the world’s darkest moments.

Is there any doubt hate was behind the June 21, 1964, murder of three civil rights activists in Mississippi, young men who only sought equality and justice?
Is there any doubt hate drove terrorists on October 7, 2023, to brutally murder innocent women and children, and then call home proudly to tell their families how many Jews they had killed?

September 10th,2025, hate reared its head again, by silencing Charlie Kirk rather than challenging him through dialogue, the foundation of a healthy democracy.

Sadly, hate has burrowed its way into our national politics. Is there any doubt hate played a role when the Speaker of the House tore up a copy of President Trump’s speech on national television? Rhetoric on both sides of the political spectrum often drifts to the extreme, why, because that’s what drives media attention.

Hate clouds our judgment. It distorts how we see and hear. Our vision becomes blurred by a red haze of rage. We start seeing motive where there is none. We claim corruption without evidence. Our hearing becomes selective, distorted by the constant noise of outrage.
Hate can’t find a foothold here in our little town of Woodland Park, right?

Wrong.

Based on what I’ve seen, heard, and read— it’s here. We all have a responsibility to resist it.
Is the Merit Academy board really trying to line their own pockets? Maybe, just maybe they’re trying to do what they truly believe is best for their children.
Is the city council really trying to harm kids or teachers? Maybe they are trying to be good stewards of the tax dollars of their constituents.

Ask yourself: when someone from the other side speaks… does their voice alone make you cringe? If so, hate has begun to take root. Once hate gets into our hearts, it clouds our judgment, our conversations, and our communities.

In my professional career, I’ve learned that the best way to work productively with those who disagree is to first understand their point of view. Hate makes you skip this step. If you ignore or dismiss someone’s sincere motivations, especially a controversial topic you will never find common ground.

A social media post, certainly an anonymous one, won’t change minds. More often, it only deepens the divide. Social media is a double-edged sword. Yes, it helps inform residents who might otherwise miss local developments. It’s also a place where hate thrives. It’s easy to dehumanize someone online when you don’t have to look them in the eye. Before you hit “send,” pause. Imagine the person you’re about to criticize is sitting right in front of you.

On September 12, 2001, we stood as Americans, not Republicans or Democrats, united in shared grief. But that unity didn’t last long, degrading year after year. I implore us all: resist the hate dividing our communities. Honor those we’ve lost with compassion and unity. Then, maybe, just maybe we can move forward together and heal.

Catherine Nakai
Pikes Peak Courier
Sept 24, 2025

News & Testimonials Archives

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

I am writing in support of Catherine Nakai for Woodland Park City Council. As a 20-year resident of Woodland Park, Catherine brings a breadth of knowledge about the history of how Woodland Park has evolved over that time span. She will continue to use this knowledge to work toward making the right decisions for the future of our city along with ensuring Woodland Park’s rich history is preserved.

Catherine understands the role of municipal government and strives to maintain
the level of city services we have all come to expect and enjoy as well as protect what makes this city a great place to live, work, and play.
She will continue to work toward reducing city debt while encouraging smart growth and adhering to municipal land use codes. She also is committed to maintaining respect and common sense on council.

Clear thinking, initiative and the willingness to work with others, even when civil discourse is present, are just a few attributes she brings to the council. Respect is her No. 1 priority.

Catherine has helped bring new leadership and respect to the Woodland Park Police Department, which has been in a state of dysfunction over the past few years. Along those same lines, she has helped bridge the gap of respect between Woodland Park and Teller County. We are stronger together than apart, and Catherine understands this.

The April 5 City Council election brings with it a significant juncture for our little community. The current council has done a good job of repairing the dysfunction we all saw in 2020 and the early part of 2021. This is in part thanks to the appointment of Nakai last year. She is a calm, reasoned voice on council.
It is without reservation that I encourage you to vote to re-elect Nakai to Woodland Park
City Council.

Jason Mikesell, Teller County Sheriff, Divide
03/30/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

Catherine Nakai has more than proven her value to Woodland Park while serving on City Council for the past seven months, and for 20 years prior she has been actively involved in our community. Her reasoned and informed thinking is a refreshing contrast to those whose purpose on council seems to be mainly carrying the water for special interests.

Her actions and influence during her council service so far have included adoption of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, adoption of a balanced 2022 budget with provisions for generous debt reduction, and contributing to improving the stability of our police department. Catharine’s future emphasis is to continue debt reduction measures, along with updating our land use codes while continuing to seek solutions to our worsening traffic congestion.

Serving as Council Liaison on the Charter Review Committee has provided her with detailed insight into our home-rule governing document, while her role as Council Liaison for our Main Street program has kept her informed about the ongoing workings of our downtown small business community.

Please join me and so many of our neighbors in electing Catherine Nakai as an energized advocate for the future benefit of our whole community.

Steve Randolph, Mayor Emeritus, Woodland Park
03/30/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

Teller County and our cities are facing both unprecedented challenge and opportunity. As we continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, move toward economic recovery, and face our future head on, we will need our very best to step forward to serve in local government.

We will need respected members of our community with unique skills and talents, who are invested in its people, institutions, and future, to volunteer. The time of bluster and rhetoric is over. We need men and women of action who understand the proper role and function of government.

Our elected public servants are chosen because they reflect our values, beliefs, and principles. We vote for them so that they will fairly represent us in all matters.

We expect them to lead, make tough decisions, and to get things accomplished. We understand there are matters in which compromise is appropriate and others where compromise would be inappropriate.

In all cases we expect in them decorum, respect for fellow public servants, and most important, respect for those they serve. We empower them to do what is best for the public good and our community. Public service is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others and is an honor.

Catherine Nakai, appointed to her current council seat in the City of Woodland Park, has proven herself to be all these things and more. She is a thoughtful listener who burns the midnight oil in advance of a hearing so that she can make the very best decision possible.

She also works diligently with her fellow council members and city staff to build consensus and makes sound decisions for the benefit of Woodland Park residents. She carries herself with dignity, treats others with respect, and shows real grace, and honor in her interaction with Woodland Park residents.

Catherine understands the responsibility and weight of public service that has been bestowed upon her and has no personal ambition beyond simply doing the right thing for our residents.

Nakai has proven her mettle in her time on council. We have already seen her leadership in action, and she has demonstrated outstanding citizenship in her service to Woodland Park.

If elected, Catherine has the right combination of grit, grace, and ability to take the city to even higher levels. I am asking for your support and vote for her.

I wholeheartedly endorse Nakai for Woodland Park City Council. Working for and together with our residents, in consort and full cooperation with her fellow council members, Catherine will make us all proud to say we know her and will help move Woodland Park into a bright future.

Dan Williams, Teller County Commissioner, Cripple Creek
03/30/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

It is a privilege to write this letter on behalf of Catherine Nakai. Since I gotten to know her over the last few years, 1 have been impressed with her professionalism and commitment to service in Woodland Park.

We elect our leaders because they have asked to act on your behalf, as citizens and as public servants. Catherine has carried this flag and understands this dynamic on her time as one of your city council members. She also understands that it is about all the citizens she serves and not about her ego or personal political gains.

Catherine always educates herself on understanding the issues at hand and diligently
works to gain consensus on the subjects as needed. In the days we live in, of public dissention, it’s never about making grand-standing opinions for Catherine, but having respect for other opinions and listening to other points of view. It is always about presenting herself as a professional, operating with transparency and having dignity while doing so.

Public service is a calling and a privilege for those of us who have chosen to serve, and Catherine epitomizes this trait.

I wholeheartedly endorse Nakai for city council and ask you to support her and vote for her in the upcoming election.

Bob Campbell, Teller
County Commissioner,
Cripple Creek
03/23/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

As a longtime resident of Woodland Park, I feel there are some things that we should expect from our city council that unfortunately haven’t consistently been delivered over the years. The first is for the city council to be a functioning body, able to debate, deliberate and carry on the business of the city with professionalism and decorum. The second is that the council conduct itself with conservative principles, both financially and organizationally. I believe that Catherine Nakai exhibits the temperament and conservative principles to accomplish those two expectations.

It’s also important that members of council have a keen awareness of the history of Woodland Park, and how we got from there to here. Catherine is a 20-year resident of the city and has that institutional knowledge of our city that’s valuable to help ensure a small government that delivers city services efficiently. Her temperament on council is one of quiet confidence and rapt attention to the opinions of her constituents. She adds a calm voice in what has been at times an unnecessarily caustic environment. We need more conservative leaders like Catherine on city council.

Erik Stone, Teller County Commissioner, Woodland Park
03/23/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

It is my pleasure to add my name to the growing list of folks endorsing Catherine Nakai for Woodland Park City Council.
Catherine is exactly what you see every day. Reflecting her long residency in Woodland Park and her professional history as an engineer, she possesses quiet strength, class, dignity and unique deliberative skills.

Catherine entered Woodland Park’s City Council at a time of disruption and drama. The council grappled with a death, two resignations, an un-resignation, budgetary challenges, unprecedented growth, and, oh, by the way, a pandemic.

At a very personal level, she faced hyperbolic insults and contemptuous, judgmental language from an exceedingly small, yet vocal, minority that uses
“gotcha” politics to replace a vision for Woodland Park’s future.

Yet through these disruptions and personal attacks, she was part of the group that held it together and kept the council moving forward, when some around her suggested that she give up, and a few of her peers did.

Such strength and dedication, while in performance of unpaid duties, are proof that she possesses the spirit of service that Woodland Park’s residents deserve.
Nakai is humble enough to admit her mistakes, to own them, and to move forward from them. She follows the City’s Charter. She works with people who may disagree with her. She listens to the folks she represents, even when they didn’t vote for her. Catherine is a Free-Market Conservative who also wants Woodland Park’s government to function and to provide essential services to its residents. She embraces the city’s future while preserving the traits that make it special.

You won’t see her playing games on social media. You won’t see her push a not-so-hidden agenda on behalf of organizations with questionable and transformative views. You won’t see her grandstanding on issues that are in our past.

Nakai is the representative that Woodland Park deserves. Strong. Dignified.
Quiet. Humble. Deliberative. She earned my endorsement, and I strongly encourage you to vote for Nakai for Woodland Park City Council.

Mark G. Czelusta, Teller County Treasurer & Public Trustee, Cripple Creek
03/16/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier 

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

I am endorsing Catherine Nakai for Woodland Park City Council. Catherine has been a resident of Woodland Park for over 20 years, she grew up in Colorado Springs, and has lived in Colorado 43 years. Catherine is committed to preserving the spirit of Woodland Park and making positive improvements. She is a team player and works well with others running for city council.

Catherine has enjoyed her time on city council and wants to continue to serve the community she loves by continuing to reduce the city debt and providing the city services citizens have come to rely on. With over 26 years in an engineering environment, Catherine is detail oriented and looks for efficient solutions to every problem with no agenda.

Catherine is a Coloradoan, she has a love of family, is an avid Broncos Fan, animal lover, and loves the Colorado outdoors. Prior to her appointment to city council, she volunteered on the Woodland Park Board of Adjustment, was chairperson the Woodland Park Comprehensive Plan on Transportation and Drainage committee. After her appointment to city council, she has served on the Charter Review Committee and is the Woodland Park Mainstreet Council Liaison. Catherine continues to volunteer her time whenever possible to help move Woodland Park forward without losing the history of Woodland Park.

I believe that Nakai has the best interests of the city in mind and comes with no agenda or alliance to anyone other than the citizens with an independent, reasoned, and thoughtful voice. Please help me support and vote for Nakai for Woodland Park City Council.

Carol M. Kittelson, Florissant
03/16/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier 

Endorsement for Catherine Nakai

Catherine Nakai has proven herself to be an incredibly valuable member of our Woodland Park City Council. She prepares for the meetings, she listens to our citizens, she hears all the reports at meetings before making a decision, and then only after careful consideration does she vote. Her votes are her own. She does not answer to any specific constituent group; all citizens are her constituent group. When she disagrees with other council members she does so in a respectful manner and truly considers their input. She understands the role of municipal government. She understands that her primary responsibility is the safety of our citizens and the fiscal security of our beloved city.
We don’t need to revisit those very recent days of council bickering and ineffectiveness. Catherine has helped us leave that in the past. I encourage you to support and vote for Catherine Nakai to make sure that the past stays in the past and that we move forward in a way that we can all be proud to call Woodland Park home.

David Buttery, Woodland Park
03/16/2022 – Pikes Peak Courier

Set the Record Straight

February 28, 2022

There are some City Council members trying to spin the facts surrounding my appointment into something shady and underhanded.  I would like to set the record straight.

On the early morning of July 1st, 2021, Council member Alfieri resigned for personal reasons related to her refusing to recuse herself from an appointment to the DDA which she herself admitted on the dais to having a personal and intimate relation with.  Later that same day after consulting the Charter, staff and council realized this resignation would trigger a special election due to having 3 vacancies on council.  When this information was relayed to Ms. Alfieri, she chose to rescind her resignation and save the taxpayers the expense of a special election at the cost of approximately $20,000.

After discussions with all parties involved, I was called by Mayor Pro tem LaBarre and asked if I would be willing to serve. She explained the reason for the appointment and the reason for not going the usual path of taking applications. Which was, by taking applications it would have taken at minimum 30 days before an appointment could occur.  The solution to this was to appoint another council member which would allow Ms. Alfieri to resign forthwith.

The appointment process is laid out in the Charter and doesn’t require applications to appoint. Technically council can appoint anyone with or without an application process, so long as they meet the requirements to serve.  The fact is my appointment process was done correctly, legally, and above board. Choosing me to fill the vacancy was considering the voice of 1,978 citizens who voted for me back in Nov 2020.

On the evening of July 15th ,2021 I was appointed. The basic comments above were given as the reason, in public and with transparency.  Ms. Alfieri had told staff and council she would support my appointment and would resign that evening. Clearly, she changed her mind on both, which is her right.

At the end of the day, my appointment was done correctly, and within the rules of the charter.  While my appointment may have differed in process, it doesn’t differ in policy. Appointments have happened in the past and will continue to happen. I am running to continue to keep Woodland Park a great place to live work and play, and by being open and honest and not play politics with facts.

Respectfully

Catherine Nakai

Please support Catherine Nakai for City Council

October 13, 2020

As chairman of the Board of Adjustment, I’ve worked with Catherine Nakai since she joined the Board last September. She has been invaluable, not only as a Board member, but also in taking the lead to develop proposed changes to the Rules of Procedure and City Code that resulted from an Appeal that came before the Board last year. Her proposed changes will help clarify some ambiguities we encountered and will improve the transparency of the Board’s practices in the future. As an engineer, I am impressed by Catherine’s attention to detail and her ability to look at things objectively and logically. I, along with the rest of the Board, value her insight and opinions on the issues presented to us. Aside from her clear thinking, her initiative and her ability to work with others, what impressed me about Catherine is that she truly wants to help Woodland Park. She has often told me she wants to do what is best for our City. She wants to preserve those things that make Woodland Park, Woodland Park and to make sure the City only gets better as it faces future challenges. I will miss her contributions to the Board when she becomes a member of the City Council, but I think her becoming a Council Member will help make Woodland Park an even better city for all of us. The Board’s loss will be the City’s and the community’s gain. Please support Catherine Nakai for City Council.

Lou Ramon
Woodland Park

Elect Catherine NAKAI, the right choice for Woodland Park city council.

October 12, 2020

Catherine Nakai purchased her Woodland Park home in 2001, and for nineteen years has been active in our community, currently as a volunteer on our Board of Adjustment. She has the professional experience and the relevant knowledge to excel as a member of our City Council. More importantly, she has the temperament, the discipline, and the ethics to maintain the high standards of conduct we expect of our elected officials.

Her role thus far in our small town politics has shielded her from the discord that has kept this council seat vacant since April. And her calm demeanor will offset, rather than add to, the frequent strife that can arise when disparate interests clash in the pursuit of incompatible goals. She owes no allegiance to hidden agendas and existing factions. She will make informed, not influenced, decisions on our behalf.

Catherine was appointed to the Board of Adjustment by our city council. But our city council could not achieve a consensus to appoint someone for this important vacancy, so now we voters get to choose for ourselves. I am confident we will make the right choice.

Please join me and so many of your neighbors in electing Catherine Nakai to serve our whole community, with no strings attached.

Steve Randolph,
Mayor Emeritus
Woodland Park

I enthusiastically and unequivocally support and endorse Catherine Nakai for Woodland Park City Council

October 6, 2020

This special election for the Woodland Park city council seat vacated by Noel Sawyer has a critical significance as it very likely will determine the path forward for our community. The current council is largely dysfunctional—sadly lacking all semblance of consensus-building leadership, which has precipitated the otherwise unnecessary election and the attendant expense, disruption and hassle.

There are three good people running for the seat to fill a short term that expires at the next city election in April 2022. Of the three, only Catherine Nakai has all of the requisite skill, experience, integrity, demeaner and open-mindedness to fill what will likely be a decisive vote role. Of these characteristics, the one that immediately stands out is integrity.

Catherine has conducted herself with impeccable and unquestionable integrity in her volunteer service on the city’s Board of Adjustment and in all facets of her life. I’ve personally observed other council members who operate from prearranged agendas; no amount of citizen input will sway them from their predetermined positions and decisions. I assure you that Ms. Nakai has no such hidden agenda and, on the contrary, will listen carefully to all viewpoints before making fair and impartial decisions based solely on what is best for the people of Woodland Park.

For this reason and many others, I enthusiastically and unequivocally support and endorse Catherine Nakai for Woodland Park City Council.

Dar (Darwin) Naccarato Woodland Park

CATHERINE NAKAI for Woodland Park City Council
The ONLY choice on the ballot in November

September 29, 2020

I have known Catherine since we were in Mrs. Lane’s 4th grade class, at James Madison Elementary in Colorado Springs. We were friends and classmates all through our junior high and high school years – enjoying all kinds of activities:  birthday parties, football games, science classes, and so much more. After graduating from General William Mitchell High School, we went our separate ways, only to have life bring us back together seventeen years later in Woodland Park – a small world story at its finest.

As a 19-year resident, she loves the city of Woodland Park and has been an active citizen for 10+ years, attending planning commission and city council meetings on a regular basis. Her passion, dedication and love for Woodland Park are obvious to anyone who knows her. She wears her heart on her sleeve and will be a great asset to all citizens, the City of Woodland Park and our City Council. She has no hidden and/or apparent agendas– pretty refreshing if I do say so myself.

Her common sense, respect for others and integrity will not only benefit our City, but our citizens and businesses alike. Please support and elect her to represent our little paradise we call home and keep Woodland Park, Woodland Park.  WP = WP
VOTE Catherine Nakai for City Council

Paula Levy
Woodland Park