Dems name new commissioner
Elizabeth Philbrick sworn in to replace outgoing Clyde Church
From left: La Plata County commissioners Matt Salka, Elizabeth Philbrick and Marsha Porter-Norton./ Photo courtesy La Plata County
Local business owner Elizabeth Philbrick was sworn in Wed., July 2, as the newest member of La Plata County’s Board of Commissioners. Philbrick will complete the term of Clyde Church, a Democrat, who announced his resignation June 23. His last day was July 1.
Philbrick represents District 1, which includes western, southern and northern portions of La Plata County including Redmesa, Kline, Marvel, Hesperus, Bondad, Hermosa and Purgatory.
A native of Seattle, Philbrick earned a political science degree from the University of Washington and spent 10 years as a policy analyst in Washington, D.C. She later earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Colorado State University.
She and her husband, Jared Scott, moved to La Plata County in 2017 and live in Hesperus. They own EsoTerra Ciderworks, a cidery with tasting rooms in Dolores and downtown Durango. They also recently opened The Arboretum, a 70-acre orchard and estate winery on the Florida Mesa, southeast of Durango.
“I’m extraordinarily honored to be able to step into Clyde Church’s shoes,” Philbrick said in a news release Wednesday. “I hope to represent our county, both the agriculture and business interests, in the city and outside of the city, and I’m always here to learn more about what I should know.”
Church was elected as commissioner for District 1 in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He cited family reasons for his departure. “I have enjoyed serving the wonderful people of La Plata County,” he said “I’m pleased with the progress we have made during my terms, including the implementation of fire mitigation projects, several major road projects completed in partnership with CDOT, the Tribe and City of Durango with millions in grant funding brought into the community, approval of a new land use code and standing up a public health department.”
Because Church is a Democrat, state statute dictates the appointee be a Democrat. Philbrick will serve the remainder of Church’s term, which runs through December 2026.