In the past 30 years, KC Hume has served as a police officer in Craig, Moffat County Sheriff, fire chief and as a member of the Moffat County school board. A life of public service dedicated to the place he loves and has called home his entire life — Craig.

Retiring in July 2025 as the Moffat County Sheriff, Hume took a position as the head of security operations at the Yampa Valley Regional Airport. And while he “thoroughly enjoyed the work” there was something missing — “it was not Craig or Moffat County — my home.”

When the position of City Manager for Craig came open as a result of the retirement of Peter Brixius, Hume said he saw it as an opportunity to give back to his community. “It’s a community that I’ve dedicated decades to. This is the community that has been a part of my fiber….the fiber of our family. My wife’s family is multi-generational in the valley and Craig. This is the community that have been a part of our lives and that I’ve dedicated to.”

Driven by his devotion to his home town, Hume decided to apply for the position. In February, the city council announced Hume as one of four finalists. Two of the other candidates had experience administering municipalities and the other was Craig Police Chief Michael Cochran.

After interviewing, Hume was seemingly offered the position until it was removed from the council’s March 10 agenda. At a special meeting held on March 12, the council was divided on offering a contract to Hume. The council stalemate was ended when Mayor Chris Nichols broke the tie.

Hume does not want to dwell on the roller coaster of events surrounding his hiring. Rather, he is focused on the present and meeting the challenges that will face not only his role as city manager, but those that will be facing the city of Craig in the coming months and years.

Formulating a vision is an integral part of the city manager’s position, according to Hume, but it is not just his vision, but a part of a collective vision emanating from the city council. “I’m appointed by the council and my role is tied to their vision. My role is to support vision policy and direction from the elected representatives of the citizens of Craig,” said Hume.

Hume emphasized that it was important to take the vision and goals of the city council and implement them across the various departments in the city. “The city has a little over 100 members that are a part of our organization filling a number of functional roles… and elevating (those roles) for the betterment of the community of Craig,” said Hume.

Hume was emphatic that his leadership style rests on the importance of strong relationships in the city organizational structure as well as in the community. “Our circle of influence is ever increased by the relationships that we hold and foster and those that we develop as we move forward. So, taking that, and the again as I mentioned, elevating that so that we move forward and have a vision for how we not only provide core services, but how we as a community coalesce around a unified vision.”

When asked about the challenges of leading the city of Craig during a period of economic and social uncertainty, Hume emphasized that those transitions are not just occurring locally but throughout the state and nation. When dealing with change and difficult transitions, Hume feels it is important to utilize effective means of communication and transparency when facing challenges. “It is all about communication and a focused effort to to embrace and respect communication.”

Hume further expounded on the changes facing the Craig community by examining impending transitions through a metaphorical crystal ball. “I think if the crystal ball was clear and in high definition, things would be much easier. It’s not however, and is often very hazy. It’s because of factors and influences that you don have control over and it’s important to manage those things in a positive fashion and that clears up some of the cloudiness,” Hume said.

Facing uncertainty in which the community may have little control over outside influences or circumstances, Hume emphasized that it is “vitally important in how we lead and how we move forward with uncertainty.”

Looking toward the future, Hume thinks that the city needs to be forward thinking, particularly as it it pertains to economic development and harnessing a number of key focus areas that have already been initiated, including the expansion of recreational opportunities that may chart a course for revitalization in the tourist industry in Moffat County.

Hume was also quick to praise the work of his predecessor, Peter Brixius for the “phenomenal job he did as well as our elected officials. The council is working diligently in the best interest of the city and that we are positioned extremely favorably to continue the good work that was soldiered and led by Peter and the council.”