Mayor Kirk Crespin

06/01/2026

Over the past few weeks, many people have asked who I will support in the upcoming Governor's race. As an Independent voter and a nonpartisan municipal leader, support and endorsements are not decisions I make lightly.

As an Independent Voter, I look beyond party affiliation and evaluate leaders based on their record, relationships, and ability to deliver meaningful results. As Mayor, I must also consider what is in the best interest of our community and whether a candidate's leadership will help advance the long-term goals and future success of the City of Lamar and Southeastern Colorado. It was through both of these lenses that I reached my final decision.

After careful consideration, I have decided to endorse Senator Michael Bennet for Governor of Colorado.

My decision is based on his demonstrated commitment to Southeastern Colorado and his understanding of the issues that matter most to our communities. He has supported our efforts to improve water, wastewater, and transportation infrastructure, strengthen public safety, support agriculture, and advance regional growth through past support of initiatives like the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.

His work on the Senate Agriculture Committee, support for critical water projects such as the Arkansas Valley Conduit, and efforts to secure resources for rural communities have shown a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Southeastern Colorado.

For too long, rural communities like ours have felt overlooked in statewide conversations. Senator Michael Bennet has consistently engaged with local leaders, agricultural producers, and communities across our region. That engagement matters - and - as Governor, I believe that engagement will matter even more for our future!

Transparency is important to me, which is why I am sharing my full endorsement letter below. I encourage you to read it and better understand how and why I reached this decision.

Whether you agree with my choice or not, I encourage you to research the candidates, learn about their records, and most importantly, make your voice heard by voting.

Rural or Urban, from the Plains of Colorado to the Western Slopes… Every community matters, Every voice matters, and EVERY VOTE MATTERS. So, be sure to Vote in the upcoming 2026 Election!

05/30/2026

One of my all-time time favorite duties as Mayor is welcoming new businesses with an official Ribbon Cutting event! Thank you to all who participated in the welcoming of the new Summer Vibes Tan & Spa to the City of Lamar!

05/27/2026

Community Update:
I have spoken with the Lamar Light and Power Superintendent regarding the recent outages. The Lamar Light and Power team is currently investigating a 69 kV main breaker that has been tripping intermittently. They are working with a consulting engineering firm to identify the cause and return the system to normal operation.

This issue is impacting the northern section of Lamar, Wiley, McClave, Bristol and Holly.

Lamar Light and Power will continue providing updates through social media, their website and text alerts as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding as they work to resolve this issue.

05/27/2026

It was great to meet Seth and Eliese Varner with Wandermore in Colorado during their visit. We had a wonderful time discussing the history and highlights of the City of Lamar!

Thank you for Experiencing Lamar!

05/23/2026

As we all recognize Memorial Day weekend, I encourage our community to also take time to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice is the reason we enjoy the freedoms we have today, and they deserve our deepest respect.

I also want to share my sincere appreciation for the City of Lamar Parks & Recreation staff. They have been working hard to prepare our cemeteries so they look their best for families and visitors paying their respects this holiday. Their care and attention reflect the pride we take in honoring those who serve our country and respect towards our loved ones.

I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend safely as we remember the true meaning of Memorial Day, remember our loved ones, and the heroes who will never be forgotten.

05/23/2026

I was proud to represent the City of Lamar at the Colorado Municpal Leagues District 6 Meeting in La Junta. With Mayor Pro-Tem, Brent Bates, and City Administrator, Mitch Hammes, we had the opportunity to discuss issues that are important to every community in Southeastern Colorado.

Thank you to Mayor Joe Ayala and the La Junta City Council, Chamber and City Staff for being such great hosts! We are looking forward to hosting the next CML District meeing in Lamar this fall.

05/23/2026

Great news! Thank you Lamar Parks & Recreation!

05/20/2026

It has been one week since we introduced the WIN LOCAL Campaign, and we want to share an update of the next steps we are working on to continue Winning Local Business Back to Lamar.

Over the next few weeks and months, we will be preparing a series of community‑focused events designed to support our local businesses, strengthen customer experiences, and build a long‑term mindset of choosing Lamar First. Here are some examples of what we are working on:

✔ “Lamar First Town Hall Meetings” -- these simple meetings will bring local businesses and community members together to discuss what encourages residents to consider “Lamar First” when shopping. This will be a continuation of the original Facebook discussion of “How do we encourage people to shop local.” Whether it is pricing, value, selection, or service… These open and guided conversations will give businesses honest, constructive feedback from the people they serve, which can help them adapt to an ever changing marketplace and strengthen our ability to “Win Local Business Back to Lamar.”
✔ “Customer Experience Roundtables” -- scheduled to bring business owners and frontline staff together for open, supportive conversations about customer service. These are not formal trainings, but guided round table discussions that highlight how our local employees are often the first impression for visitors and tourists. They create a space to share best practices, ideas, and suggestions that help make everyday interactions a vital part of “Winning Local Business Back to Lamar.”
✔ “Experience Lamar Workshops” -- designed to help ambassadors, community members, and local businesses learn more about Lamar and the surrounding area. This includes events, attractions, and hidden gems. Guest speakers for area events and attractions are welcomed to attend and share their information. These sessions will equip local business staff and residents with the knowledge they need to confidently guide visitors, answer questions, and help more people truly “Experience Lamar!”
✔ “Lamar Shout‑Out Sessions” -- created to encourage and train our businesses, ambassadors, and community members to share their great experiences. These sessions will highlight simple, effective ways to support local businesses with word-of-mouth advertising. From learning how to effectively post online reviews, to giving personal recommendations - we want to help showcase the wide variety of products, services, and hospitality available in Lamar to strengthen our ability to “Win Local Business Back to Lamar.”

We will share dates and details of these events as soon as the plans are finalized. If you would like to become a Win Local Ambassador, Business, or Volunteer… Please message me, the City of Lamar, the Lamar Chamber of Commerce, or Prowers Economic Prosperity for more information.

Together, we are keeping the momentum going… and continuing the work to “WIN LOCAL BUSINESS BACK TO LAMAR.”

05/19/2026

Please read this important post concerning the Prowers County Market soft opening.

As we quickly approach opening day, we want to be transparent about what the first few weeks will look like.
We made the decision to open as soon as we could because our community needs grocery options now — and we didn’t want to keep you waiting any longer than necessary.

Here’s what to expect during our soft‑opening period:
• Our team will still be training and getting into a rhythm
• We have prioritized essential grocery services — some departments will continue to be fully set up and stocked over the next several weeks
• Décor and signage will roll out in stages
• Bakery & deli offerings will be limited as equipment and recipes come online
• We are still waiting for our liquor license from the state, so no alcohol sales for now
• SNAP & WIC may not be available immediately, as those offices require us to be open before granting full access — this is high priority and will be up and running ASAP

Thank you for your patience and excitement as we get everything polished. We’re working hard to build a store our community can be proud of. 🧡

05/19/2026

I really appreciated the opportunity to have in-depth conversations and answer questions from both the Prowers Economic Prosperity and the Lamar Chamber Board Members, as well as many community members who care deeply about the City of Lamar’s future.

What excites me most about the WIN LOCAL movement is the growing momentum toward collaboration, communication, and working together to help Earn and WIN LOCAL Business Back to Lamar.

I’m looking forward to the development of training sessions, seminars, town hall meetings, and the continued conversations that will help us better understand what it takes for our community to choose local businesses first - so we can all work towards strengthening Lamar’s future.

Together, we can continue building a community people are proud to support, promote, and invest in.

So... Let's keep moving forward and let's WIN LOCAL Business Back to Lamar!