Mayor Duane L. Gurule

09/01/2026

‼️As of August 31, 2026, I am officially no longer the Mayor of the City of Rocky Ford.

This page has been with me through nearly five years of public service, beginning when I was appointed to City Council in 2021 and continuing through my time as Mayor Pro-Tem and Mayor. It holds a record of the work we did, the challenges we faced, the progress we made, and a chapter of my life that I will always be proud of. Because of that, I will keep this page active rather than delete it.

Going forward, this is no longer an official mayoral page and DOES NOT REPRESENT the City of Rocky Ford. I will keep the history here as an archive, but I may also use this space from time to time to share my own thoughts about Rocky Ford, rural Colorado, public policy, politics, leadership, and the issues I care about. Any opinions expressed here moving forward are mine alone.

Leaving office does not mean I suddenly stop caring about what happens in Rocky Ford. I grew up in Rocky and spent years working for this community because I believe in it, and that doesn’t disappear with a change in title or address. I will always be connected to Rocky Ford, and I will always want to see this community succeed.

To everyone who followed this page, engaged with the issues, challenged me, supported me, disagreed with me, showed up, or simply paid attention, thank you. Public service is better when people are engaged.

. ❤️💛

08/28/2026

Today, I have the honor of recognizing a very special member of the Rocky Ford community, Mrs. Esther Leyba Guerrero, with an Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award in celebration of her 101st birthday on August 30th.

Mrs. Leyba Guerrero was raised in Rocky Ford and lived and worked in our community. At 101 years old, her life reaches across generations of Rocky Ford history. She is one of the last surviving member of her generation in the Leyba family along with sister, Mary Ruiz, following the passing of her siblings Willie and Jessie. What an incredible gift it is to have someone among us who carries more than a century of memories, experiences, and connection to this place.

Her story also reminds me of the countless families who have called Rocky Ford home over the last century. Families came here from different places and backgrounds. Some worked our farms and fields. Others opened businesses, taught in our schools, served their neighbors, raised children, and built lives here. Each became part of the story of Rocky Ford, and the community we inherited exists because of the generations who came before us.

This recognition is personally meaningful to me as a descendant of the Aragon and Ochoa families, who also made Rocky Ford their home as farmworkers and later became community members and leaders. As I prepare to complete my service as Mayor, it means a great deal to have one of my final recognitions celebrate someone whose life represents so much of the history we share.

Happy 101st Birthday, Mrs. Leyba Guerrero. May this recognition also serve as a celebration of every family, past and present, that has contributed a piece of themselves to Rocky Ford. Our community's history belongs to all of them, and we are better because they chose to call Rocky Ford home.
❤️💛❤️💛❤️💛❤️💛❤️💛❤️💛❤️

08/26/2026

📚 Get Involved at the Library! 📚

Did you know that our Library Board meetings are open to the public? We'd love for you to join us!

Come hear updates, learn about new initiatives, and stay connected with our library community.

We are also still looking to fill one more Library Board member seat. If you're interested in serving your community, please submit your letter of interest in-person or via email to [email protected]

08/26/2026

⁉️So, what happens next⁉️

With my resignation as Mayor on August 31st, Rocky now has an opportunity for someone new to step forward and serve our community. Anyone interested in being considered for appointment should prepare to submit a Letter of Interest explaining why you want to serve and why you believe you’re the right person to take on this responsibility.

Candidates will appear before Council at the September 22nd meeting, where they’ll have an opportunity to introduce themselves and answer questions from Council. Council will then vote to appoint the next Mayor, who will serve the remainder of my term through November 2027. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, registered to vote, and have lived within the Rocky Ford city limits for at least the past 12 months.

If you’re considering stepping forward, I want to share what I believe is one of the most important parts of this job. Being Mayor isn’t only about sitting behind the Council table twice a month. You are an ambassador for this community. You represent Rocky Ford at meetings with community partners and leaders from across the region. You represent us at the state level, and you may be sitting across the table from people considering whether to invest in our community.

Those moments matter. How you talk about Rocky matters. The relationships you build matter. We need someone who can walk into those spaces and make people excited about what’s happening here. We need a Mayor who will represent our people with professionalism and pride while making sure Rocky has a strong voice wherever decisions and opportunities are being discussed.

I hope someone steps forward who genuinely loves this community and believes deeply in improving the quality of life for our people. If you’re considering applying and want to know what this job is really like, please reach out to me. I’d be happy to talk about my experience and answer questions about the responsibilities that come with serving as Mayor. I’ll also be paying close attention to those who step forward, and I would be proud to give my endorsement to the person I believe is best prepared to represent Rocky.

And to our citizens who aren’t interested in becoming Mayor, you have an important role in this process too.

Pay attention to who steps forward. Learn about the candidates and what they believe Rocky needs. Ask questions. If there is someone you believe would represent our community well, make your voice heard. Share a Facebook post. Write a Letter to the Editor at the Daily Gazette. Write a letter of support for that person. Stick a hand-drawn sign in your yard. Most importantly, contact your City Council representative and tell them who you support and why.

Council may ultimately decide the appointment, but that doesn’t mean the community should be silent. Your elected representatives need to hear from you.

I want this process to reflect the will of the people of Rocky as much as possible. This is your city, and the person chosen will represent you through November 2027. Stay engaged and make your voice count.

Whether you’re considering putting your own name forward or helping make sure the right person is chosen, this is an opportunity to participate in Rocky’s future.

Make sure our community leads the way. ❤️💛

08/25/2026

📢ANNOUNCEMENT📢

After a lot of reflection, I’ve made the decision to resign as Mayor of the City of Rocky Ford, effective August 31st. I recorded this video because a decision this personal deserved more than a written statement. I wanted to speak directly to the people who gave me the incredible privilege of serving and leading our city.

Serving as Mayor has been one of the greatest honors of my life. When I first stepped up to serve on City Council in 2021, I couldn’t have imagined where this journey would take me. You later trusted me to serve as Mayor, and then you trusted me again. I’ve never taken that trust for granted. Every time I walked into City Hall or represented our city somewhere across Colorado, I understood that I was there because the people of Rocky gave me that responsibility.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last several years. We didn’t solve every problem, and there’s still important work ahead, but we moved Rocky forward. We built a foundation that I believe the next generation of leaders can build upon.

That’s why I’m leaving this office with so much hope for what comes next. I believe in Rocky. I believe in the people who live here and the people who get up every morning to serve this community.

And so you all know, on August 31st, I’ll stop carrying the title of Mayor, but I won’t stop carrying the responsibility I feel for this community. A title didn’t create my commitment to Rocky, and giving up that title won’t end it. I’ll continue doing whatever I can to improve the quality of life for our people and help create opportunities for this community.

Wherever life takes me and whatever rooms I have the opportunity to enter, Rocky will enter those rooms with me. I’ll continue telling our story and looking for opportunities to bring value back home. And you can be certain that I’ll continue wearing my Rocky Ford red and gold with pride.

THANK YOU for giving me the extraordinary honor of serving as your Mayor. 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

P.S. I’ll always be a Meloneer. ❤️💛

08/25/2026

Exciting News for Rocky Ford Residents!

The City of Rocky Ford is pleased to announce that Clean Valley Recycling will soon be offering Free Curbside Recycling to residents.

This service is designed to make recycling more convenient, helping residents reduce waste, protect the environment, and keep our community clean and sustainable. By participating in curbside recycling, households can divert recyclable materials from landfills and contribute to a greener future for Rocky Ford.

Additional information regarding service start dates, accepted recyclable materials, collection schedules, and program guidelines will be shared in the coming weeks.

We are excited to bring this valuable service to our community and encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to recycle at no cost.

Thank you for helping make Rocky Ford a cleaner and more environmentally responsible community.

https://www.cityofrockyfordco.gov/free-curbside-recycling

08/20/2026

🎡🎠🎢 WELCOME TO FAIR WEEK 2026! 🎢🎠🎡

08/14/2026

08/13/2026

Small Town Project’s After School “SPROUT Club” is starting soon. Monday-Thursday from 4-6pm at the Rocky Ford Public Library & Resource Center

08/13/2026

🥹…so exciting!!!!!