The Cortez City Council has voted to appoint Matthew Keefauver to replace Amy Huckins, who resigned in April 2021.

Keefauver will take the oath of office at the council meeting June 22. His term will run through April 2022.

The other three candidates who submitted letters for the appointment were Mitchell Toms, Alan Rolston and Houston Frizzell. The candidates were interviewed by City Council at the June 8 workshop.

The council voted unanimously to appoint Keefauver.

“Matt is very experienced and knowledgeable about the area,” said Mayor Mike Lavey. “He previously served on City Council, is an educator, and is forward thinking and intelligent.”

Keefauver has worked in education for 26 years and has a master’s degree in linguistically diverse education.

He has worked at Southwest Open School as director and assistant director. He also taught sixth through ninth grade math at Cortez Middle School and fourth grade at Kemper Elementary School.

Keefauver previously served two terms on the Cortez City Council. He is co-owner at Cliffrose Garden Center & Gifts and owns Tierra Madre Herbs, a Cortez business that sells at local farmers markets and to greenhouses and nurseries.

To find out more about who your council members are and how to contact them, please go to http://www.cityofcortez.com/111/City-Council