Following the resignation of Stephen Varela, who officially stepped down as the Colorado Congressional District 3 (CD3) Board of Education representative on Tuesday, a new candidate has been nominated to fill the vacancy. Sherri Wright, a Republican from Montezuma County and a current candidate in the upcoming special election for the same seat, has been selected as the nominee to replace Varela, according to Pitkin County Republican Party Chair Jon Kelly.
Wright is a seasoned educator and farmer, with over 30 years of experience in education. She also previously served as the Montezuma Cortez RE-1 School Board president, where she guided the district through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership focused on ensuring students returned to the classroom as quickly as possible.
Varela’s departure triggered the formation of a vacancy committee within the 3rd Congressional District to choose an interim replacement. This committee, composed of Republican Party members, will vote on the appointment in a Zoom meeting expected to take place in mid-October. If multiple candidates are nominated, a screening process will be conducted, with recommendations being made to the committee before the final vote.
Varela, appointed to the CD3 Board of Education in January 2023, resigned to accept a position working with special education students in Pueblo District 60. His resignation was necessary due to state law, which prohibits school district employees from simultaneously serving on the State Board of Education. Varela’s tenure has also been clouded by a federal investigation into allegations that he misused union funds during his leadership from 2016 to 2020.
Wright’s nomination comes ahead of the November special election, where she is already on the ballot. She was not available for comment.
