Jnl Linsacum has spent most of her life serving the cause of education. Now, she seeks to bring that experience to the Craig City Council as the community navigates economic change, plans for its future and celebrates its past.

Linsacum and her husband moved to the Yampa Vampa in 1985. At the time, they had one-year-old twins. Her husband taught and coached in Hayden and Craig. Linsacum joined the Hayden School District as secretary to the superintendent and school board. She eventually became finance director, a position she held for 25 years. She retired after 32 years in the district.

Their children graduated from Moffat County schools, and her grandchildren are now enrolled there.

“Craig was a great place to raise our family, and now I’m watching my grandkids flourish in the Moffat County school system,” she said.

Linsacum’s retirement did not last long.

She served a three-year term on the Moffat County School Board while also increasing her volunteer work, both of which played a role in her decision to seek a city council seat.

“I want a seat at the table as we transition away from coal and the power plant,” she said. “People say Craig will become a ghost town, and I don’t believe that.”

Her career shaped her desire to bring skills to the city council centered on listening, fiscal understanding and clear communication. The years she spent in school finance, she believes, helped her grasp the complexities of property tax and how changes can affect homeowners and local services. Additionally, her strategic planning work in schools, both as an employee and board member, formed her approach to goal setting and accountability.

“I understand the complexities around property tax and the impact it can have on existing property owners,” she said. “We have a tremendous opportunity to shape our community, while keeping our traditions and maintaining Craig’s strong roots.”

Linsacum sees Craig’s current transition as a test of resilience and collaboration. She believes the city has “a lot of people at the table” focused on the best interests of residents and sees value in the momentum of ongoing projects, including the Meadows Apartments, a proposed sports complex and the effort to repurpose the former county building as an event center as examples of investments that support long-term stability and sustainability within Craig.

“People need amenities and improvements that draw them to our community,” she said. “Our opportunity is now. We have the chance to guide growth and make it the best it can be.”

While the transition away from the energy and mining sector has often been the focus of local politics, Linsacum said other challenges demand attention too. She hears skepticism about development and worries about a negative narrative taking hold. She argues that the city can counter that with better outreach.

“I think people are afraid of what’s going to happen and they don’t like change,” she said. “Council goes over things in a very good way, but people in the community don’t hear it. The city needs a better handle on what’s out there on social media and should promote what’s happening so people are more informed.”

If elected, she would hope to take steps to nurture the connection between the residents of Craig and the council, including more consistent posting of videos from council meetings while also reminding residents that records are public and questions are welcome.

She also thinks it would be beneficial to hold casual meet-ups, including what she called “coffee with a council member.” She supports working with media outlets to provide regular articles and updates to keep residents in the loop.

“Transparency is very important,” she said. “I would like to encourage people to call and ask questions and put the information where they can find it.”

Housing costs, she added, are examples of situations where details can potentially change perceptions. She noted that residents often raise concerns about the affordability of new apartments, but also said that some extended-stay hotel rooms already rent for more than the projected apartment rates.

“Those are the kinds of things people need to know,” she said.

Linsacum also wants the city to strengthen youth and family offerings to match the reality that many residents commute to jobs in neighboring towns. She said schools and recreation programs can help attract and keep families in Craig, even if they are working in communities outside of Moffat County.

“You have to build your community for people to thrive where they live,” she said. “There should be things for kids and families to do after school and after work, and the city should make sure people know what’s available.”

When asked why she’s running, Linsacum said she brings time, commitment and a desire to help. She applied twice for appointment to the council in the past due to vacated seats and has since been working to better understand the city’s issues and processes.

“I don’t have an agenda or an axe to grind,” she said. “I’d be privileged to help while we move forward in a positive way.”

Whether discussing school finance or city budgets, Linsacum holds firmly onto a set of familiar themes including listening first, sharing facts, inviting participation and then making decisions that balance the needs of the city today with goals of the city in the future.

“I want to help shape the narrative for Craig’s future,” she said. “We’re headed in the right direction, and I want to be part of making sure we keep going.”